December 2016 Visa 189/190/489

engineer20 · March 2017

Jaehaerold said:
Keep safe @Teng10! Matindi nga daw si Debbie dyan sa QLD.

Hi Batchmates,

Musta? Hopefully halos lahat saten may grant na by this time. Kung wala pa, keep the faith, darating din yan.

Anyway, here are some updates about my BM planning:
1. Planning for a two-month-long tourist visit this May, multi-city (Perth, Adelaide, Tasmania, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane) tapos side-trip sa NZ just to get a feel of the country I will call home for the many years to come.
2. Already opened bank accounts and started depositing with help from friends in Oz to alleviate forex fluctuations.
3. Already enrolled to an online class in Project Management (TAFE) for upskilling and expanding job prospects (since down pa rin mining industry but slowly picking up).
4. Constantly on-search for cheap flights and accommodations, also looking for long-term rental flat/house for the big move.
5. Already have an Aussie SIM and Skype number on roaming for possible job interviews.
6. Aussified my resume and on non-stop job-hunting mode. So far 5 leads, one with final consideration (hopefully eto na Lord!).
7. Created an excel file for budget for one year worst case of no job.

Super excited to start a new life, but also bittersweet since I have to part with friends and loved ones, for a while.

Good Luck and God Bless Everyone! I'll keep you posted!

@Jaehaerold pwede malaman yung course na inenrol mo? any link?

towbee · March 2017

@Jaehaerold and @SAP_Melaka, thank you for sharing some of yoir BM preparation tips.

Based on what you shared, we can open a bank account now, Aussiefy the resume, and look for a job.

Anything else we can do offshore?

Jaehaerold · March 2017

@engineer20 https://www.tafensw.edu.au/courses/tafe-nsw-online/choose-a-course/project-management-courses -Good thing dito is fully online. But you have to provide an Australian Address more specifically in NSW/ Sydney Area, dun kasi nila isesend ung Diploma.

Jaehaerold · March 2017

@SAP_Melaka Ako naman sa WestPac nag-apply hehe, pero no worries sa in-bound fees for remittance kasi what I do is just contact my friends na nagpapadala ng pera dito sa Pinas, sabi ko ako na lang papadala sa family nila basta pondohan nila ung account ko sa AUD and ang rate na gagamitin is kung ano ung nasa Google, so we both win on exchange rate, wala lahat ng added fees

Jaehaerold · March 2017

@towbee Research on potential suburbs and areas that you will be living in for the first few months! Prefer near train stations or some cities (like Perth) have free bus transports (what they call CAT), also keep in mind the prices per week of rent and utilities (trend is the farther you are from the city, the cheaper it gets). I also do online window shopping of furniture (IKEA AU) and groceries (Woolworths/Coles) para di ako mabibigla sa prices pag sa actual na hehe. Ang mahal ng rice BTW, Php 100+/kilo! Although mura ang salmon and steak cuts kaya mag offset lang hehe.

SAP_Melaka · March 2017

Jaehaerold said:
@SAP_Melaka Ako naman sa WestPac nag-apply hehe, pero no worries sa in-bound fees for remittance kasi what I do is just contact my friends na nagpapadala ng pera dito sa Pinas, sabi ko ako na lang papadala sa family nila basta pondohan nila ung account ko sa AUD and ang rate na gagamitin is kung ano ung nasa Google, so we both win on exchange rate, wala lahat ng added fees

@Jaehaerold clever idea!! Oo nga noh, good move yan.

engineer20 · March 2017

Jaehaerold said:
@engineer20 https://www.tafensw.edu.au/courses/tafe-nsw-online/choose-a-course/project-management-courses -Good thing dito is fully online. But you have to provide an Australian Address more specifically in NSW/ Sydney Area, dun kasi nila isesend ung Diploma.

@Jaehaerold salamat. try kong magenrol bago magBM.

towbee · April 2017

Thanks for the tips @Jaehaerold ! Pati dito sa link for the project management course online.

Teng10 · April 2017

Hi guys! Graduate nb lahat sa December Batch?

Jaehaerold · April 2017

Hi Guys! Its official I am flying to Perth this July for my Big Move! Just booked this morning dahil sale hehe

2pe · April 2017

@Teng10 Ako di pa. hehe... Natagalan ako sa ITA eh kc nag pro rata ung occu ko. Then I also prepared for PTE superior. Buti nalang nakahabol pa sa invi round nung March 29 kaya ayun, di ko na kailangan ng PTE superior. Praise God. Now waiting game na kme for the grant.

2pe · April 2017

@Jaehaerold if all goes well, target din namin July BM, if in case ma-grant na ng May or hopefully within the month. All the best sa BM mo.

2pe · April 2017

Hi guys, di ko na masundan yung tracker. Anyways, just got my CO contact today. Form815 lang for my son ang hinihingi nila. Will send it immediately. Konti nalang...

@2pe | 189 | 05 Apr 2017 | 20 April 2017 / Form 815 for my son | GSM Adelaide l Date Granted | NSW | Initial Entry Month/Year

Teng10 · April 2017

@2pe good luck mate! Parating na yan!!!

Teng10 · April 2017

By the way I just got a seasonal job after 2 weeks arriving here in Brissy...very simple fish processing job..but it surely pays the bills! Maybe even twice higher salary than a semicon manager in Ph..
Kaya dun sa mga naghihintay, kapit lang...its all worth the wait..

hayrOHOiro · April 2017

hello December batch, kamusta kayo? congrats sa job @Teng10 ..

nga pala, after the 457 visa abolishment, citizenship requirements naman yung binago nila.

- must hold PR visa for 4 years prior to application
- citizenship test can be taken maximum 3 times, new format
- more in depth background checks
- Sit English Test, competent English required, (IELTS 6.0 all bands)
- Demonstrate community integration.

siguro mamaya PR application naman ang babaguhin nila.

goodluck sa application mo @2pe

2pe · April 2017

@Teng10 thanks. Oo nga eh. Buti nga di na naghanap ng ibang docs. Yung PCC ko kc ng Jeddah is Nov pa un. Kinakaba ko na bka yung ang hingiin. Nuti nalang di na kc 2weeks processing din yung PCC.

@hayrOHOiro salamat.

2pe · April 2017

Guys got my grant today WOOOHOOO!
I'll update the tracker once I have access sa laptop. Medyo mahirap dto sa phone mg edit eh.
Naka finish line na din. Target BM July2017.
Thank you Lord.

hayrOHOiro · April 2017

congrats @2pe ! hindi na ata active ang December batch. :P

2pe · April 2017

@2pe | 189 | 05 Apr 2017 | 20 April 2017 / Form 815 for my son | GSM Adelaide l 21 April2017 | NSW | Sydney | Initial Entry Month/Year

Di ko na mahanap yung last tracker update. Hehe. Kindly refer nalang po sa signature.

Kitakits po sa Sydney. Thanks.

rami · April 2017

@2pe Congrats!!!!

2pe · April 2017

@rami thanks.

2pe · April 2017

Guys, sa mga nkapagBM na, ano bang airlines ang medyo mura mura na maganda. of course given na cebupac and air asia. Pero since na matagal ang byahe to Sydney gusto ko sana kahit papano ung comfortable ung mga kids. We are 5 to travel. Tinry ko yung promo ng qantas for 1st time Migrant flyer pero mahal din aabot din ng 120K+ kmeng 5.

Appreciate any advice. TIA.

lca · April 2017

Hi dec pips! Ako ata ang last na may grant sa atin. Kakareceive lng namin ng email from the agent. Praise God! Thanks sa lahat ng kinulit ko at sumagot sa paulit-ulit na tanong hehe

ska1119 · May 2017

Congrats december batch!

Jaehaerold · May 2017

@2pe San ka manggaling? Kung from PH, Singapore Air.

In my case though dahil mag-isa lang naman ako, I chose AirAsia, Php 13k (AUD 347) inabot MNL-KUL-PER with 40kg baggage, priority seating, travel insurance and 2 meals. 3 hours lang din lay-over sa KL, Perth kasi destination ko wala pa direct from PH e hehe.

Ask ko lang din, required pa ba tayo magbayad ng Travel Tax (php 1620) or pwede na mag-apply for exemption? Nalilito kasi ako sa conditions, may nagsasabi dapat daw nakalipad ka na before and been living in the PH for less than a year before ma-exempt, ung iba naman sabi is go lang apply ka lang ng exemption. I travelled last September (pero not as PR pa) so does that count as not living for more than one year in PH? hehe

Updates naman on my Big Move:
1. May laman na Aussie Bank Account ko! Yey!
2. May 2 serious job prospects na ko! Yey ulit!
3. Meron na akong accommodation (will be staying in a share house with friends with very low rent at AUD 120 p/w)! More yey!
4. Already booked one-way flight! See paragraph above
5. Mga pending to-dos:
a. Attend PDOS (scheduled on June)
b. Get OQU (Overseas Qualifications Unit) for WA (on-going)
c. Renew driver's licence (scheduled on June)
d. Officially Resign from current work (on-going)
e. Pack things

jomski · May 2017

Jaehaerold said:

Ask ko lang din, required pa ba tayo magbayad ng Travel Tax (php 1620) or pwede na mag-apply for exemption? Nalilito kasi ako sa conditions, may nagsasabi dapat daw nakalipad ka na before and been living in the PH for less than a year before ma-exempt, ung iba naman sabi is go lang apply ka lang ng exemption. I travelled last September (pero not as PR pa) so does that count as not living for more than one year in PH? hehe

Nung flight ko, sabi nung nasa travel tax na counter kapag first time mo na lalabas ng bansa as Aussie PR magbabayad ka, next time na alis mo ng pilipinas as PR wala na daw bayad. This was last April 6. Not sure if it has changed

2pe · May 2017

@Jaehaerold Cebupac kme direct flight. Ave kme ng 10k each with 20kg baggage, priority seats (front row kme ni misis), 2 meals. But with no insurance (there's a note from cebupac website na hindi valid yung insurance nila kpag PR k ng AU).

Yung sa travel tax not sure din. Tumawag kme sa cebupac to inquire, iapply ko sana ofw status ko kaso sabi cebupac ppwede lang ofw kpag same country ung work and destination. Sa Jeddah kc ko now til May31 pa. So malamang bka magbayad din ko travel tax. Pero ttray ko pa din magapply, bka nman makalusot. hehe...

delorian · May 2017

bakit po kaya ang bagal pag sa Saudi or galing KSA ang applicant? Vineverify ba ng DIBP ang KSA government? bagal pa nman ng mga Saudi gumalaw..

so frustrating na.. Waiting for 5 months+ already..