Things to do first Before going to Australia

hotshot · September 2012

@paris_hipon : taga SG din po ako. tingin ko hindi na natin kelangan kumuha ng CFO if we'll be going to OZ from SG (kasi haharangin lang naman ang mga walang CFO sa PH na immigration e). ang question ko na lang is....what if nasa OZ na tayo at ganap na PR na dun....then nagbakasyon tayo sa pinas. pag babalik na ba tayo ng oz...hahanapan pa din tayo ng CFO sticker kahit naka-initial entry naman na tayo sa OZ at dun na tayo nakatira?

lock_code2004 · September 2012

tama ba ako? cfo sticker is only a requirement by Phil Immigration (sa airport sa pinas)..
so kung hindi ka nman dadaan sa pinas... wala nmn sguro kaso yun..

but the issue raised by @hotshot is a valid one.. panu pag nagvacation ka sa pinas (coming from AU).. malamang harangin nga sa pinas ...

TasBurrfoot · September 2012

tama ba ako? cfo sticker is only a requirement by Phil Immigration (sa airport sa pinas)..
so kung hindi ka nman dadaan sa pinas... wala nmn sguro kaso yun..

but the issue raised by @hotshot is a valid one.. panu pag nagvacation ka sa pinas (coming from AU).. malamang harangin nga sa pinas ...

Yeah, this is a valid concern - and yes, if you are originating from Singapore (or anywhere else apart from Pinas) CFO sticker does not mean anything to these immigration officials.

Suggest you email them regarding this concern... When the time comes that you will come back for vacation, chances are they will require you to undergo the CFO seminar by that time. Nonetheless, this should not be too much of a problem.

k_mavs · September 2012

@stoneheart Di na po need ng CFO sticker pag naka 475 visa ka. Yung mga PR visas lng ang required for CFO stamping.

LokiJr · September 2012

@JClem

Thank you @stolich18 and @icebreaker1928 for that information. Unfortunately, di ako nakapag-inquire today. But I'll check those links @icebreaker1928. By the way, girl po ako.

@LokiJr, preferred sana namin Australian bank na parang walang charges pag nag-withdraw. Pwede actually BPI, BDO and even Metrobank to withdraw internationally or any local ATMs na may Cirrus ba yun. Kaya lang mga 100-200 pesos per withdrawal transaction ang charge.

Naku antaas ng withdrawal charge nila a! To think ampangit din ng conversion rates nila...
Hehe kelangan din pala magtingin tingin ng Aussie banks kung ganun hehe

lock_code2004 · September 2012

Aahhaha.. just got my passport from AU embassy washington..
naglagay ako ng cover letter... sabi ko i'll be travelling to different southeast asian countries before finally going to AU... at baka ung ibang countries eh hindi pa implemented ang visa label-free...

ayun.. tinatakan naman nila... astig...

JClem · September 2012

@LokiJr mag-oopen kami ng account in any of the following Australian Banks: Commonwealth, Westpac or National Australian Bank (NAB). Nag-aallow sila to do it online tas dedeposit mo na lang yung money through your local bank account. Meron sila ibibigay na swift code. NAB yata ang pinaka-ok kasi wala sila monthly charges.

JClem · September 2012

I just inquired this morning sa ANZ. They do facilitate bank account opening in their branch in Makati pero may account opening fee sila ang ang mahal! AUD 50 or 75% of 1% of the money na idedeposit mo, whichever is higher. So example, 500K ang dedeposit mo. 1% nun is 5K, tas 75% nun is 3750. Then convert it to AUD, that's $83 (exchange rate is 45 pesos). So yan yung fee na babayaran mo sa kanila. Then may documentary stamp pa na 30 cents for every 200 pesos na dedeposit mo. Tapos pag-natransfer na pera mo sa selected branch mo sa AU, may transfer fee pa na AUD 13 ang babawas sa dineposit mo. Grabeh! Parang wala na ata matitira sa pera mo bago makarating dun.

Document requirements are: passport, visa, and one more valid ID

rbolante · September 2012

Kaya nga balak namin is magdala na lng ng AUD papunta dun then dun na lang namin i-open ng account kesa dito. Madami talagang hidden charges yang mga ganyan. Tsk tsk..

aldousnow · September 2012

@rbolante actually kahit nga wala ka pa AUD pwede ka mag open ng account sa NAB. hehe. ganun ginawa ko.. e wala pa ko pera, pero pwede naman mag open yun nga lang zero balance. tapos nung nagkawork ayun binigay ko account sa company as my salary account. dun pa lang nagkalaman sa first sahod ko. hehehe. :P

rbolante · September 2012

@aldousnow Ah ic. Pwede pala yung ganun. Dito kasi sa pinas may minimum pa para makapag-open ng new account. Hehehe. Astig tong Westpac walang monthly fees ung basic account nila.

http://www.westpac.com.au/personal-banking/bank-accounts/everyday-accounts/low-cost-account/

aldousnow · September 2012

@rbolante mahirap sa westpac hindi ganun kadami atm nila (dito sa melbourne). sa NAB madami atm tapos wala monthly fee din, wala din minimum amount yung maintaining balance. (sa pinas 200pesos na ata binabawas kapag hindi mo namaintain yung balance)

rbolante · September 2012

@aldousnow Ah i see. Sa Adelaide kami bro di ko sure kung konti din ATM nila dun. Tanong ko sa sis-in-law ko baka alam nya. Actually sa Westpac sya mismo nagwo-work. Thanks for the info bro.

rbolante · September 2012

Oo nga astig ang NAB wala ngang monthly service fee!

http://www.nab.com.au/wps/wcm/connect/nab/nab/home/personal_finance/5/6

JClem · September 2012

I'll go for NAB. Walang fee ang account opening and yes wala din monthly charges. Tas madami din sila ATMs. Dun na lang siguro kami mag-oopen. Kainis tong ANZ Philippines kung makasingil e!!! X( Kaya people, don't bother considering opening an account through their branch in Makati.

annie23 · September 2012

hi everyone! na grant po yung visa namin last tue but we did not receive any visa grant letter. is it the same as the visa entitlement info na nasa VIVO page (ie http://www.immi.gov.au/managing-australias-borders/compliance/working-legally/evo-for-visa-holders.htm)? if no, was it possibly sent to my sponsor/employer instead? thanks!

lock_code2004 · September 2012

hi everyone! na grant po yung visa namin last tue but we did not receive any visa grant letter. is it the same as the visa entitlement info na nasa VIVO page (ie http://www.immi.gov.au/managing-australias-borders/compliance/working-legally/evo-for-visa-holders.htm)? if no, was it possibly sent to my sponsor/employer instead? thanks!

congratulations..
if your employer/sponsor appointed a migration agent, then its possible that the confirmation letter was sent to them..

Normally, in the application form, they will ask you, who should be the point of contact for all information/questions during process... so kung sino ang nakalagay dyan, then dun nila isesend lahat ng information regarding your application..

but yes, if the VEVO says your visa has been approved, then its approved.

TasBurrfoot · September 2012

Aahhaha.. just got my passport from AU embassy washington..
naglagay ako ng cover letter... sabi ko i'll be travelling to different southeast asian countries before finally going to AU... at baka ung ibang countries eh hindi pa implemented ang visa label-free...

ayun.. tinatakan naman nila... astig...

What does the label look like boss @lock_code2004?

lock_code2004 · September 2012

@psychoboy - cream and pink colored paper with australia insignia..

tpos nakalagay folowing info :

Name, visa type and visa conditions, Initial entry date
Date granted, multiple travel, must not arrive after (visa exp date)
Holder permitted to remain in australia indefinitely

pinaka gusto ko ung last statement.. hehe

TasBurrfoot · September 2012

@psychoboy - cream and pink colored paper with australia insignia..

tpos nakalagay folowing info :

Name, visa type and visa conditions, Initial entry date
Date granted, multiple travel, must not arrive after (visa exp date)
Holder permitted to remain in australia indefinitely

pinaka gusto ko ung last statement.. hehe

Ah yeah.... Parahas lang sa talaga sa 676 visa ko; to be honest it looks horrible and the printing is almost ineligible BUT STILL, I would give a lot to gain that 189/190 visa label. Eheheheh!!

Very, very, very valuable...

annie23 · September 2012

@lock_code2004 thanks! yup, yung nilagay kong point of contact is si employer. ask ko na lang na forward saken so i can print and use to request for OEC.

annie23 · September 2012

pwede pala magdala ng electric items like nebulizer for my son? magagamit kaya yun pagdating dun, anu po ba power supply voltage gamit sa aus? thanks ulet!

icebreaker1928 · September 2012

pwede pala magdala ng electric items like nebulizer for my son? magagamit kaya yun pagdating dun, anu po ba power supply voltage gamit sa aus? thanks ulet!

same question... may nebulizer din kami e...

Bryann · September 2012

220 po dito sir. Kailangan lang ng universal adaptor kasi iba yun dulo nun plug.

LokiJr · September 2012

I just inquired this morning sa ANZ. They do facilitate bank account opening in their branch in Makati pero may account opening fee sila ang ang mahal! AUD 50 or 75% of 1% of the money na idedeposit mo, whichever is higher. So example, 500K ang dedeposit mo. 1% nun is 5K, tas 75% nun is 3750. Then convert it to AUD, that's $83 (exchange rate is 45 pesos). So yan yung fee na babayaran mo sa kanila. Then may documentary stamp pa na 30 cents for every 200 pesos na dedeposit mo. Tapos pag-natransfer na pera mo sa selected branch mo sa AU, may transfer fee pa na AUD 13 ang babawas sa dineposit mo. Grabeh! Parang wala na ata matitira sa pera mo bago makarating dun.

Document requirements are: passport, visa, and one more valid ID

@JClem, May advantage ba para gawin to? Parang nagbayad lang ng malaking fee sa ANZ! hahaha

cind3r3lla · September 2012

Okay lang ba magdala ng medicines and vitamins..tulad ng biogesic, neozep, bioflu, centrum.. for adults and some vitamins for the kids?

how cold is cold dyan?

WA-bound nga pala kami. advantage ba na may dalang thermal wear para sa mga taong lamigin ?

tia!

Bryann · September 2012

@cind3r3lla
Okay lang po ma'am, madami po ako dala niyan nun pagpunta ko dito. Declare mo lang as medicine. Yun ako hindi ko dineclare pero tinanong ko sa customs officer na nakatayo sa malapit sa pila. Sabi niya okay lang daw sa kanila yun, next time na lang daw declare ko. Ayun okay na. Pero advice ko po huwag na magdala masyado kasi hindi mo naman po magagamit. Ako sa more than 1 month ko isang paracetamol pa lang nagamit ko. Hahaha. Madami din naman gamot dito sa Pharmacy.

glaiza1210 · September 2012

@Bryann , how about milk ng bata? Any idea po kung pdeng magdala ng ilang cans?

Bryann · September 2012

@glaiza1210
Yep pwede po yun. Basta travelling with a child. Pero if I were you konti na lang if ever dalhin niyo, kasi madami naman dito. Yun baby ko Nan HA 3. Meron din dito S26. Affordable dito, if dito ka sumusweldo (for me ha). Price range A$19-25. Yun Nan HA 3 A$20 for 900g. Yun ang sa baby ko. Sa Woolworths ko nakita.

glaiza1210 · September 2012

@Bryann ah, hindi din pla nagkakalayo ang prices nila jan compare dito sa pinas. Madami din bang milk jan for kids pang 4 yrs old? and another question sir, mauna po kse ako punta jan sa AU if ever pde ba yung sumunod nlang yung husband and son ko kahit hindi ako ksma pagpunta nila dito. Naisip ko kse baka hindi pde kse ako yung primary applicant. Thanks.