Newbie Problems

ArchillesDavid · April 2016

Good Morning to all!

Im new in this forum and I have some few questions with regards to the skills assessment.

I am a graduate of BS Psychology and obtained a Masters degree in Guidance and Counseling. I am also a licensed Guidance Counselor. I have been working in an academic institution as a guidance counselor for more than 5 years now.

Recently I have a classmate that moved in to Australia and that made me decide to try acquiring a Visa for myself as well.

I've checked all possible state and territories where my skills or occupation is open and found 3 states. NT, ACT and NSW.

1. NT - Counsellor nec - 272199 (VETASSESS)
2. ACT - Student Counsellor - 272115(VETASSESS) (this will re-open in july 2016)
3. NSW - Educational Psychologist - 272312 (APS)

My first choice would be NSW since my dad and 2 half sisters are Aus citizens and they live in Sydney.

Second choice would be ACT because it near NSW

Last choice would be NT.

I have collected all necessary documents for skills assessment and now im ready to do the assessment.

This is my problem, Im not sure which skill or occupation should I get assessed? out of the three occupation the best match would be the Student Counsellor, followed by Counsellor and Educational Psychologist.

1. Will I pay double if I decide to get assessed on 1 and 2?
2. Should I choose NT or wait for ACT in July?
3. Is there a higher possiblity of approval in NSW since my dad and sisters live there?

Btw I was planning to get an agent but Im still not decided.

Any help or Input would be appreciated.

sunflower · April 2016

Hello, @ArchillesDavid!

Since you listed different territories, I am assuming that you are aiming for Visa 190, wherein you'll have a moral obligation to stay in your nominated state for at least two years.

As far as I know, if you have family members living in a certain state, yes, there would be a higher change of approval in the state where they are in, especially if they are blood relatives. There might be a chance that the other states (meaning, the ones other than the one your relatives live in) wouldn't give you an invitation to apply.

I did a quick search and found that the following occupations are listed in the Skilled Occupations List (SOL), which means that you are also eligible for Visa 189 (wherein you wouldn't need to nominate a state):

Clinical Psychologist ( 272311)
Educational Psychologist (272312)
Psychologists nec (272399)

So you might want to look into that as well.

Regarding your question about the assessment payment, you'll have to inquire from the Australian Psychological Society (APS), the assessing body (http://www.psychology.org.au/).

Good luck!

ArchillesDavid · April 2016

Thanks @sunflower for the reply.

Yes you are correct, I am aiming for atleast Visa 190.

Can I choose different visa subclass and states on my visa application?

If i may ask whats the difference between CSOL and SOL?

Actually the best match for me would be Student Counsellor followed by Counsellor and Educational Psychologist. Both Counsellor and Student Counsellor have the same Assessing Body which is VETASSES while Educational Psychologist is being assessed by APS.

Thank you in advance!

OZwaldCobblepot · April 2016

@ArchillesDavid hi

I'm not sure about the details of your occupation but you may want to check SOL list. Included naman dun ung Educational Psychologist (272312). If pasok dun ung background mo, then you can apply for visa 189. Atleast no moral obligation to stay in a state for 2 years pag visa 189.

https://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Work/Work/Skills-assessment-and-assessing-authorities/skilled-occupations-lists/SOL

ArchillesDavid · April 2016

@OZwaldCobblepot Thanks, I will take note of that.

tooties · April 2016

Nominate the anzsco code you have the most experience in as your skills assessment will primarily based on experience first then education.

As to visa 190 you have a better chance on being granted by NSW as your family is there because ACT and NT might not grant you as they will question over your commitment on why you chose their state over NSW or include a condition to your visa that you MUST have already a valid work offer.

For visa 189 you must have more than 3yrs experience in your nominated experience that must be acknowledged by the skills assessing authority of your occupation.

ArchillesDavid · April 2016

@tooties Thanks for your reply, correct me if im wrong, I am not eligible for 189 if my occupation is under CSOL.

Based on what i have read, my dad cannot sponsor me in NSW because they live in Sydney and Sydney does not allow family sponsorship (visa 489).

Im also having second thoughts in applying visa 190 in NSW because Student Counsellor is not open there, only Educational Psychologist is open which is not the best match for my work experience.

Can I just justify the reason why I chose ACT/NT over NSW is because my profession is currently close in NSW and is open in ACT/NT

TIA!

ArchillesDavid · April 2016

Good PM, I need your inputs with regards to the guidelines of ACT for nomination. I read their guideline regarding 190 Visa nomination and it states that

If you, or any dependents, are living or have lived in another Australian state or territory
within the last twelve months, you are not eligible to apply for ACT nomination.

I have a family member in Sydney, NSW (Dad and 2 half sisters) they ate technically not my dependents right? or are they? They are Australian Citizens btw.

tooties · April 2016

@ArchillesDavid Hhhmmm...not really sure on CSOL occupations can or cannot apply for 189 visa. better ask somebody else.

As to 190 act/nt sponsorship. they might ask you to provide a strong justification on why you chose there state over nsw. using the reason as that the occupation is only open to these state might not be enough. they might impose a condition that you must already have a valid job offer in your applied state the reason being states that will sponsor you would like you to stay more than the stipulated 2yrs work commitment and keep the taxes you earn within the state and not go to the other state however allcthis will still depend on your case officer. alternatively you can not put down your parents name and risk applying on your own.

ArchillesDavid · April 2016

so can i not just mention that my dad and sisters are in australia?

tooties · April 2016

@ArchillesDavid its up to you. its a risk. because there is a section in the EOI that you will need to input data on family and friends.

I too did not put my cousins name in brisbane and Hobart but then again iba2x yung surname namin and its harder to trace...