Hi,

We have just been told that we can not be upgraded to the best visa, (495 skilled I think) as my trade is now on the MODAL list and that we can only apply for the upgrade once in Adelaide on the SIR.

We have done, TRA, meds and got back fine, police checks and are now waiting for visa's.

Could anyone help with some information please.
I am currently a self employed painter and decorator in UK and this ocupation is what has got us out there.

1) Do I have to work as painter and decorator on SIR or can I land and do any job of my choice?
2) Can I be self employed on SIR?
3) Does anyone no of what the process is for applying for the better visa, (495) once out there. Is it hard, easy, long time or short and is there a good recomendation of a migration agent out there?
4)Any other info regarding this would be greatly appreciated.....


Thanks for the help

I have just read some info at the top of the page that explains quite alot. It seams that I will be able to apply for the upgraded general skilled visa as soon as we land....

Great

1) Do I have to work as painter and decorator on SIR or can I land and do any job of my choice? Yes any job as long as you work 37 hours a week.2)
Can I be self employed on SIR? Yes

3) Does anyone no of what the process is for applying for the better visa, (495) once out there. Is it hard, easy, long time or short and is there a good recomendation of a migration agent out there? Not sure

4)Any other info regarding this would be greatly appreciated.....

Regards

Nick

hi,

thanks for the help

The 495 was replaced on the 1st Sept by the 475. You can no longer apply for the 495. However, once you are a resident of Oz, you can apply for any onshore visa which you qualify for, as soon as you land. There may be a visa you qualify for which entitles you to PR - therefore it would be 'better'.

Hope this helps

hi,

That sounds great. Does anyone no if that is possible???

Can I land in Oz on my SIR visa and apply for a perm resident visa straight away or would I apply for the skilled migration visa first and then wait.

Thanks

It's definately possible if you qualify for the onshore visa. Check out the DIAC and follow the skilled visa onshore visa links for the visa conditions.

You will notice that you get 10 points for 1 year's Aussie work experience. So I know it is possible to work for a year and get the extra 10 points. If you are on a 475 and get work in the skill you have your skills assessment in, you can then apply for PR a full year before you can if you follow the conditions of the 475. HOWEVER there will be no concessions and the full visa fee is payable, so unless you want to get PR desperately it is probably worth waiting an extra year and paying much less!

Hope this makes sense!

If you are applying for a Skilled Independent Regional (Provisional) visa you are seeking the grant of a subclass 495 visa.

There is (I recall) nothing to stop you lodging an application for another offshore visa (probably subclass 175) if you meet the requirements of that subclass. However, being an offshore visa you would be required to depart Australia when the time comes for the permanent residency visa to be granted.

You might even apply for a subclass 175 visa now if you want to seek permanent residency ASAP.

If you are content to remain on a subclass 495 visa you would move to an onshore subclass 887 (Skilled - Regional) visa once you have been living and working in Australia for the required periods.

If you would like to discuss further please feel able to telephone my colleague Marina Towner in the UK on 023 80 488777, or Stephen Dickson on Melbourne number 03 9935 2929 (from the UK: 00 61 3 9935 2929).

Hope this helps.

hi,

Thanks for the post Alan Collett.

I think that with all the info we have now got we like the look of going on our SIR 495 as planned as we should have this anytime now. Then once in Oz we can plan our next move.

Do you no what the time frames are with the SIR. Like how long do you have to have been living and working in Oz before you can move to another visa class.

Once the time has passed and we obtain an onshore subclass 887 (Skilled - Regional) visa, what does that mean?? Is this subclass a route to PR??

Once again thanks for all the help, this site is great.....


p.s With my trade in Painting and Decorating and my quilifications in that trade I do currently meet all the requirements for the best visa its just at the time of applying Painting was not on the MODAL list....

Hi, the 887 is a PR visa so no worries there, Im not sure how soon you can apply for another visa, but it will cost you! so weigh up if its worth it to you, I think it will be if you have kids and can claim benefits etc.

For information as to the period you are required to have lived and worked in Australia have a read here:
http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-ski...n/887/index.htm

Best regards.

I want that one! :blink:

gimme gimme gimme!! :dance:


(sorry having a silly moment, I cannot WAIT to get this visa :sign03: )

Hi,

Thanks for all the help....

Thats great. So on my SIR it sounds like the best thing to do is to live and work out in Adelaide for two years having worked at least one year full time and then apply for the 887 PR visa.....

Thanks

Sturt, there seems to be some confusion about what exactly it is you want to know and what the options are available to you.

If you qualify for a subclass 175 PR visa now, you can apply for one now. You don't have to wait until you are in the country. You will have to withdraw your 475 visa application and submit a new 175 application, which will then of course take a long time to process.

If you are close to visa grant, having applied for the SIR visa already, you can let that go through and be granted and then as soon as you land here, you can apply for the 175 visa, which if I read your post right, you qualify for already because your job has been added to the MODL list. You can do that the next day after you arrive if you want. You will have to jump through all the hoops again and pay another big fee, so it's up to you whether you think that's worth it. Then, when DIAC is ready to grant your visa, they will let you know and you then book a week or 10 days in some exotic location out of Australia and let them know when you'll be gone so that they can grant your visa in your absence.

Hi Annette,

Thank you very much for your post. I was slightly confused with some of the answers and that is proberly down to myself not adding enough info on my posts.

What you have said makes perfect sense and should we wish to apply for the 175 visa soon after landing then thats great.


Cheers

Hubby a P&D & I recall a similar thread a month or 2 back about the same skill being added to the MODL.

SA have their own MODL (I believe, please correct if I am wrong). P&D was not on it when I last looked.

I was wondering whether the costs add up to apply for PR earlier on the SIR495 or to wait until the 12mths working criteria has been met.

Does anyone know for certain if its worth applying for PR now? We have been here since 6th Sept & hubby started a permanent job 2 weeks later.

I do get confused with the different visas, hence why I am asking for your help. Perhaps I should email our original case officer ? Not sure what to do for the best, all advise welcomed.

Cheers
Angela