Hi all,
I am just wondering if anyone knows whether at the end of the two-year wait period, SIR-visa holders will have to go through the same DIMIA red tape again? Do we have to get police clearances and redo medical check-up and so forth?
Any replies are much appreciated.

I don't think we will need to. The idea is that it should be a simple process once STNI or RSMS sponsorship has been secured, and involve only a small fee.

Or they could change their minds (again) by then......

Desiree
:D :D

We'll know more information this July, but I don't think so. There's bound to be some various things to provide but I would imagine it will be more along the lines of proving where you've worked and for how long etc.

We are all waiting with baited breath for the guinea pigs (sorry guys!) to go through this year.


:sign03: For all of you doing so this year, we are all routing for you :D

Heather x

DIMIA advised me that the SIR permanent stage application involves another medical and police check. In addition pay slips, tax details and other proof of earnings etc will be required.

V

Boz has just been invited to an 'SIR Stage 2' explanatory meeting next week which should address all of these things. Has anyone else been invited? Well post on here if not and let you know what they say

Seeing we did'nt get an invite, we'd definately be interested!! Or perhaps someone, somewhere has already penciled in a departure date for us..... <_<
This visa is turning me both cynical AND paranoid! :unsure:

Desiree
:D :D

It would be really interesting to hear what they have to say. Everyone seems to be in the dark at the moment and some information from those in the know would be a huge help for us on the SIR.
Look forward to hearing what Boz finds out.

Thanks
Deb

That would be fab, looking forward to reading it.

I cant believe that the SIR permanent stage application involves another medical and police check, dont they think that we've gone through enough already to get here :angry:

I'm really surprised no one else sems to have an invite. Maybe it's something to do with how long ago your visa was granted or something (ours was jan 05). Anyway i'll get boz to take as many notes as possible. He goes on Thurs evening so watch this space :)

HIya

I would say its all the red tape again, as we are putting in for a 136 permanent, and its the full process again.. only shorter timeframe :rolleyes:

Karen

I'm really surprised no one else sems to have an invite. Maybe it's something to do with how long ago your visa was granted or something (ours was jan 05). Anyway i'll get boz to take as many notes as possible. He goes on Thurs evening so watch this space





Hi

We've not heard anything about a meeting, and our visa was granted in Dec 04 and we arrived in Jan 05!!! I think we where one of the first to arrive in Adelaide on the new visa.

I hope that doesn't mean they've forgotten about us!!! Has anyone else had a questionarre from them? we had one about 6 months after we arrived and they said they would send us another on a year later. (so they know our address!!)

It will be a pain if we have to have medicals and police checks again.

Does anyone know if time spent out of the country in your two years has to be added on at the end before you can apply for PR? We are going back to the UK for 3 weeks later in the year.

I would be really interested in what they have to say at the meeting so please Jo get Boz to remember as much as possible and post it on here!!! By the way where's the meeting being held?

Jenni

This visa is a bit of a joke me thinks to be honest <_<

After speaking to others that are on this visa also, it turns out that they have different restrictions to us even though we both come under the SIR subclass 495. I rang DIMIA to check out what what actually correct as i had gone into a state of panic and even they couldn't help me because nobody knew. They had to refer to a manual, then to the computer system and then back to the manual, all at my expense coz i'm paying the bloody phone bill :crying:

Eventually they gave me some limited info but god help anybody who rings them with a more complex question :happy45:

babs :D

any news on that meeting yet? there are a lot of people wanting to know, so lets cross our fingers they dont throw another spanner in the works

steve

hi all, just returned from sir meeting tonight , you do have to do meds and police checks again as your applying for diferent visa. same thing as what we already know 2yr live in s.a 1 year work.need to get sponsorship again through s.a gov
*meet all dima criteria e.g work/live in s.a
*demonstrate continue to live/work in s.a
*worked in skilled occupation that is within ASCO 1000-4000
{www.immi.gov.au/skills/skill-code.htm}

don,t confuse this list with skills list on demand apparantly completely different lists. :what?:

looks like stni best and easier route. they said 3 weeks for sponsorship,6 months + for stni permanant visa.

complete load of ****ocks me thinks making the whole episode drag on for ever.
cheers derek

HI

Thanks for the information Derek. I can't believe that you've got to go through the whole rig moral again of medicals, police checks and then the LONG wait to hear whether you've been successful again, I don't think I could stand the stress of it all!!

Did they say anything about when you would be entitled to full Medicare and child benefits? Do you have to wait until you've been granted PR or do you're entitlements change once the visa application has been sent in?

Why do I get the feeling that in a years time this could all fall through and we'll be on a plane back to cold cold England.

Were there many people at the meeting last night? I don't know why we didn't hear anything, we;ve been here long enough. I nearly phone them up about it, but we wouldn't have been able to go anyway as it was our Daughters bithday yesterday.

Jenni

Thanks Derek for the update, cant believe that we've got to do the whole thing AGAIN !!! more bloody expense, what's the point ! :angry: :(

Didn't think I'd get so sceptical about this - but looks like they are going to get a heap more money going through their systems <_<

Lets hope that everyone sails through when the time comes otherwise the DIMIA could end up with egg on their faces and no one applying for the regional visa and therefore not acheiving what they set out to do in the first place.

Heather

This visa is turning into a total farce IMO, as so much seems to have completely changed from the original info given when this visa was first introduced after the points change in 04.

One thing that is not made clear enough tho, is the minor detail that, once you have an SIR visa, you CANNOT apply for any other visa class until you have done 2 years SIR (apparently).

The official blurb promoting this visa also indicates you will be able to change region under this visa. Dimia have advised us you can, but will have to start the 2 years afresh (what's the point?), whereas other states have advised they will be happy to continue the SIR, but we would need the PERMISSION of S.A to do so.

We're already putting up with no FTB/childcare benefit, only reciprocal medicare, hugely inflated visitor fees for those that want to take out a health fund, having to pay overseas fees on further education courses (if we can even get on them that is) just for the chance to be here. And let's face it, between us, we've put some fat dollars through the local economy. So far, we've not really got anything in return - so let's hope S.A step up to the plate with those nominations when the time comes for PR status.

Rant over (for now)

Desiree

I remember being at a migration agents' seminar in Melbourne over a year ago and several were saying then that there ought to be an automatic grant of permanent residency if a SIR visaholder complied with the requirements as to living and working in a regional area. However, there was (and still is) no automatic right to p/r ... obtaining p/r involves a separate and new application, which in turn requires police reports and medical examinations - that is nothing new I'm afraid. Retirement visaholders have to address these requirements every 4 years from now until their dying day.

Because the pathway to permanent residency will (in my view) be via a State Nomination and a subclass 137 visa for 99 out of every 100 cases the issue has always been whether a State Nomination will be a straightforward process with few questions asked as to occupations while living in the State. I had a written assurance from the SA Government long ago that there would be NO requirements as to working in a skilled occupation in the context of SIR visaholders securing a State Nomination.

If the goalposts have been shifted that is a significant issue, and I'd appreciate some further information as to who is making those assertions - those who have information should feel able to send me an email.

Anyone who is concerned about their position and their permanent residency visa strategy should feel able to contact me - I have access to the Migration Regulations and DIMA policy material (as should all registered agents to be fair).

Best regards.

Thanks Alan, that is in part reassuring. This is originally what we understood, however the way the following statement is worded on immigration sa website is a little unsettling:

Important Information
Following 2 years residence in SA and 12 months employment, applicants may seek sponsorship for a permanent visa. It is expected that candidates will be employed in a skilled occupation.
http://www.immigration.sa.gov.au/site/Skilled_Visa_sir.php

I'm not sure how many SIR holders would be qualified to take up work in another skilled occupation other than the one that earned them the state's nomination in the first place? And if they have not been able to secure work for 12 months in their occupation, is the above statement pre-emptive to rejecting STNI nominations at the second stage?

I guess all we can do is wait & see.

Desiree
:D :D

hi again, forgot to mention fees from last nights meeting i,m sure its only going to be a small fee around 2-3 hundred dollars, hope someone else puts me right on this. also i can,t see any problems most people getting permanant visas from the feel of the meeting. they did say that they expected you to work in your nominated occupation for 12 months over 4 years if need be.they think this is easily achievalble.
forgot to mention small fee +meds,police checks=large fee
cheers derek

I think its that very grey word 'expected' that causes the concern. This is what my dictionary says about it -

to think that someone should behave in a particular way or do a particular thing:


Even in that there is the use of the word 'should' which is also a dark shade of grey.

Nothing in life is guaranteed but it would be good to know that having committed your family and finances to SA that there were no grey areas or moving goal posts.

Heather

With reference to the "required occupations" issue, here are extracts from emails received from Immigration SA in July 2004 and December 2004:

"Q. For the Second Stage (Permanent Visa Application) after the 2 years in SA, will SA approve their Permanent Residency application even though their nominated occupation is not on your state sponsorship list (STNI) but on the SOL?
A. To be eligible for a permanent visa under the on-shore STNI provisions, the applicant and their family unit would have to demonstrate that they have resided in regional Australia or a low population growth metropolitan centre for at least two years and the principal applicant (or their partner) has been employed for at least 12 months in any occupation. Having done so, the applicant may seek to apply for the onshore STNI Visa.

Q. Does the 12 months out of 2 years work experience have to been in their nominated occupation or any on the SOL?
A. Please see above. i.e. ‘has been employed for at least 12 months in any occupation’"

and

"Hello Alan

Things have not changed since I spoke to you in July or thereabouts. While we would encourage and expect that SIR visa holders will work in a skilled occupation, there is no requirement for them to do so. They can work in any occupation to qualify for permanent residency, provided they have done so for 12 months and lived in regional Aust for 24 months. I have revised our fact sheet on the web to reflect this a bit more clearly."

I am going to raise this issue with Immigration SA, as I believe in holding people to account, particularly when they have given assurances in response to specific questions asked of them.

I'll report back ...

Best regards.

Alan

You are a total star :love29:

Thank you!

Heather

reply to alan, it.s now 2006 update your records.meetings in town halls could help.

Thanks Alan, your input is always appreciated here, and there are many here who will look forward to clarification.

Desiree
:D :D

From what the nice people at DIMA said at the seminar on Thursday, you have to have worked for one year out of the 3 years of the SIR visa, but not necessarily in your nominated profession, as long as it's a skilled preofession from the ASCO codes 1000-4000. This is a much bigger list than the migration skills list.

The good news is if you're doing something other than your nominated profession, you won't have to do another skills assessment. If the primary applicant cannot satisfy the work requirement, you can also apply for an STNI on the skills of the spouse of the primary applicant instead. In this case the spouse will have to go through a skills assessment.

If you can't satisfy either of the above, there is always the option of the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) where your employer can sponsor you, as long as it's for a skilled job in a proven legitimate business.

You will still have to have mediacls and police checks to get the STNI. The good news is that the visa application only costs $180 on the basis that they have already done skills assessment.

One thing they did stress is that the SIR is a 3 year visa, and although you can apply for STNI after 2 years, you still have the full 3 years to satisfy the criteria and submit your application. You will be eligible for a temporary bridging visa from the end of your SIR while you have an STNI visa application being processed. From what they said this could still be several months, although regional visas do have priority.

The same rules apply about proof that you have been living and working in regional Australia, so keep all your payslips, bank statements, utility bills, rental agreements or property deeds, car rego etc.

I hope this helps clarify things. This is just a summary, so don't take my word for any of this, check with DIMA or a migration agent

regards,

dwp (boz).

I agree ASCO Occupations in the 1000 to 4000 groups include more occupations than are on the SOL.

However, what if a SIR visaholder decided to have a career change and after arriving in South Australia decided to (say) deliver pizzas because the SA Government (or a migration agent based on information given to him or her) had told the visaholder that s/he could do this and still obtain a State Nomination?

I specifically asked this question of the SA Government more than 18 months ago and you can see the responses above.

Best regards.

To you all on SIR visas,any information you get guys, please add it to this thread. I think we have all leant more in a day with this topic, than in the last two years of searching for answers.
If we can all go out there with a list of do's and dont's, we should all get through the second stage and get PR, (I'll organise a party).After all thats why we are going , and we only went down this route, because most of us had no choice!!!.

thanks to you all and fingers crossed

steve

Hi
I do not work in the trade I was sponsored into but have a professional job. Here and as part of of my employment i pass course with the people of DTED or SA immigration if you would prefer.
They are still finalising(ready for july) the sir visa apps for PR as is the DIMIA. so I wouldnt worry just wait.

Nick

Could somebody help me out please as there is still abit of confusion on my part :unsure:

Ok so when we come to apply for PR after SIR and having lived in regional Aus for 2 yrs and worked for 12 months, we have to have police checks, meds and submit a new visa application for on-shore STNI but does this also mean that we have to live in regional Aus for 2 yrs and work for a further 12 months on this visa and if so how do the relevant bodoes go about checking that you have stuck to this????

It was my understanding that once you had applied for and gained PR then you were free to go to another state if you pleased. Is this not the case????

Any help would be appreciated

Babs :D

Hi Babs,
I have just dug out all our immmigration info but cant find that bit. I am sure we had to sign to say that it was 2 years for sir and then a further 2 years for stni making you stay in SA for a minimum of 4 years. As to the work thing on stni dont actually think any conditions are in force.
Like you say i dont know how they enforce this unless you have to fill out questionaires at various points in time.

Liz

At present there is no mechanism by which a Skilled - State Nominated Independent visa can be cancelled by the Department of Immigration ... over the years in which the State Nomination program has been in existence the obligation to reside in the Nominating State has been more of a moral one entered into when one signs the application seeking a State Nomination.

There are though whispers among the migration agent fraternity that a visa condition might be introduced for the Skilled - STNI visa (and the Skills Matching visa where a visa has been granted as a result of a State Nomination), which would allow the DIMA to cancel the visa if the visaholder had not complied with a requirement to reside in the Nominating State. However, there is nothing I have seen in writing as yet that indicates this is definitely going to happen.

Best regards.

There are currently other states indicating they would be willing to nominate STNI for SIR holders in other regional areas, so may be worth looking into closer to the time to check their criteria.

Desiree
:D :D

As I have stated in the SIR concerns topic, why does'nt Andy collect all these SIR related posts as an attachment, then e-mail them with a covering letter to DIMIA and SA immigration.

V

Thats interesting :)

Will be looking into that nearer the time as always nice to be given an option ;)

Thanks for that info Liz, this area really does seem abit grey to me with no definate answers but if you find anything else out, please let me know and vice-versa.

babs :D

When we applied for our SIR 495 in 2005, SA were guarenteeing state sponsorship for a permanent visa if they sponsored your 495, and you met the 2 year/12 months criteria. The info was on the SA Central website, and I saved the links. just checked, and the pages have been deleted. Reading all the posts about this and other visa issues, we are rapidly coming to the conclusion that SA are not really to be trusted. All the blurb, and sweet talking by their reps at the immigration shows etc all seem to add up to squat!!! I reckon they know that once you are in country on this visa you have little choice but to comply with any whim they see fit to employ. we are still in the UK awaiting our house sale, but all this just adds more doubt and fear to a situation thats scary enough already!

As one of the interested parties Vespasian, why don't you handle this? If you ask people to pm to you, or to add to a thread specifically for the purpose, you could then send it on if you wished. By all means use the forum as an information collecting mechanism.

These things are generally best tackled by someone with a personal interest, to get the best result. I think we already get a lot of unpaid hours from Andy just through keeping an eye on the site in general :cool shake:

Well that's supportive Elaine. At least you did'nt make your normal contribution and suggest that we look in the FAQ section.

V

I suspect people will be falling over themselves to give you a hand V <_<