X.Death of the Agent

At the start of January 2011, Bert sent a greeting. I greeted back and along is a follow up on our application. He said he will just give me info when he has one. Even way back, I had an idea that our license in Philippines is not accepted elsewhere and that we can only work as tradesmen if we migrate, or even just work, in other country.

Believing that the chance of getting a positive result is high, I grabbed the chance when another employer asked me to work for them as an automation engineer. This is a specialised job and would be beneficial if experience from it is carried to Australia than as Project Engineer. (Learned later that working as a tradesman also needed a license and can be obtained even before migrating)

After some more months, there were no updates from him so I sent him an email. Thinking he was busy, I gave him time. But after 2 weeks, I gave him a ring on his main phone line, then the other line and did not make contact with him. Got busy with my application with the other company and I know he was doing he job, more time was given.

After 2 months, working for the other company happened and after settling in, I remembered my application. I gave Bert a ring but have the same result. I also called my wife to tell her what is happening and told her that I hope nothing happened to him as I did not have any doubts that he will back out on me (considering payments have been paid in full already).

I "googled" him and was surprised by the sad news. It was August then and Bert had died a month before - while I was planning to working with the current company then. I was devastated as I do not have an idea what to do and have tried to contact the immigration office before but they said they will only talk to my agent as I used one.

There was an autoreponder to emails but none was sent to me. In the article, the reply to mails going to his email was:“Due to his passing, any matters regarding Immigration will need to go to the Australian Immigration Office,” I did my research and fortunately contacted the right person and by filling up some forms, I got to continue my application


Previous blogs:
I.The opportunity
II.Initial preparations
III.Agent Wanted
IV.Initial Assessment
V.Start of Application – Fees
VI.Application – Instructions
VII.Application – Batch 1
VIII.Assessment Result
IX.Second Batch

Continue reading...

IX.Second Batch

The second batch requirements involves the family documents. At this point, fortunately, there was only one form that was replaced, needed to be completed and sent to Bert. It is more of form filling but because I am working in Papua New Guinea and the documents are in the Philippines, it took a bit longer. The forms also involved my wife and I signing in so it had to be done from Philippines, sent to me then me sending it to my agent in Australia.

The requirements for the second batch includes forms that will be given after the Assessment result comes out positive, family and work related document. The list was only sent after the payment is received by Bert and is confidential.

It was not a smooth one as documents and answers to questions had to be resent to Bert. Beign busy with work, collating requirements and following up with wife, who is busy with my 2 kids, was not easy. But, really wanting to go to a better place, kept us moving. And on August 2010, my application was received be General Migration Australia. An acknowledgement document was sent to me together with the receipt of the payment to Immigration.

Notes:
1. Sometimes forms changes and I had to complete and resend one.
2. Price also increase and there was a time when I had to send Bert the difference.
3. Bert said it takes at least 6 months to receive the result of the second bath, depending on the criticality of the trade one has.



Previous blogs:
I.The opportunity
II.Initial preparations
III.Agent Wanted
IV.Initial Assessment
V.Start of Application – Fees
VI.Application – Instructions
VII.Application – Batch 1
VIII.Assessment Result

Continue reading...

Vision

Today marked my 9th month stay here in Australia. Was here on 05 Feb 2012, fixed all required paper works in less than a week. Had training for 4 weeks and a job after 1-1/2 months. I believe it won't be easy had I not prepared or migration many years ago. Having a vision of migrating to a better country led to a lot of practice and research which opened a lot of new challenges. Those challenges were accepted, faced and surpassed. They then opened new doors that led to the vision.

Grabbing all opportunities that may lead me to it, worst thing that happened is learning something. The more tries made, the more knowledge and experience gained might it be relevant or not to the goal. I have also faced obstacles that came in e.g. negative input from other people etc, but they never stopped me as it is very clear that getting it will make life easier in the long run. Being a fan of Tony Robbins, I knew that to get what you want one must put more pain if I don't get it (e.g. staying in a very corrupt country etc.) and putting a lot of pleasure if you get it (e.g. my kids will have a better future etc.). Sometimes ending up with making mistakes but instead of dwelling on it, they were just considered lessons. Being short of money was never an issue as I have learned that there is always a way to get it and whenever we have some, we allot them for the vision.

Without the vision, I would have just settled for what I had and be scared of what bad thing may happen. I am earning good money and getting good benefits back in Philippines, but those are not enough to get where I want to be. Now that a vision have been achieved, more of them are made as I know one will get it as long as he/she is ready to commit and sacrifice for it.

Continue reading...

VIII - Assessment result

The assessment takes 12 weeks for Engineer’s Australia. On March of 2010 the positive result was sent thru email by Bert. It just mentioned that the appropriate occupational classification in my case for migration purposes is Plant Engineer ASCO 2126-13. It created some excitement but more excitement came in when he listed the ways in which visa can be obtained. Attached with the Assessment result is seemingly good news as within the email are 3 ways of applying for an Australian visa.

The first way is thru sponsorship by the state government of Victoria. This is the fastest as processing takes only 2-3 weeks. Bert asked for some requirements before lodging the application and came back after the said timeline with a negative result. The second is the family sponsorship, which needs a relative residing in Australia. This did not work either my relative is cousin of my mother. She was used as a reference though.

And the last way, should the first and second one won’t work, is the independent visa category. This takes the longest time but I had no choice then. Bert gave me a breather when he said that it may take it less time as the occupation is on the critical skill list. Needed to take the longer road and I am very positive that this will work. Batch 2 is next.

Note: Australian regulation changes often that forms filled up, regulations and even critical skill list may vary. Be aware on the latest list they provide. April that year, changes will be made so he asked me to be quick in sending the documents needed before they implement the new rules.

Previous blogs:
I.The opportunity
II.Initial preparations
III.Agent Wanted
IV.Initial Assessment
V.Start of Application – Fees
VI.Application – Instructions

Continue reading...

VII - Application – Batch 1

Batch 1 is all about the applicant only. This is where one has to prove that they are capable of working on the occupation you are in. The first batch is the assessment by Engineers Australia. Other occupations, of course, have their own assessment agencies. Aside from the usual papers from college or universities, the ones that took me sometime are: Professional engineering summary and the Career narratives which I believe this is common to all occupations.()

It was not easy doing these things as I have been a generalist (no specialization) and been in different engineering environment for almost 10 years that I have worked and had different positions taken. I have sent and reset them for Bert to check and give comments. Although there is an Engineer’s Migration skills assessment kit sent, it was not easy for especially the Career narratives which ended up him sending some samples sent. The said samples made the task easier but still needed Bert’s comment. These career episodes are easier if one has a specialization as he/she just need to narrate how one progressed and specific task’s step were taken.

Although she knew it won’t be easy gathering the other documents in Philippines, my wife Joecy, had no choice but to go back to my previous companies to get an original Certificate of employment. Also, she has to go to the IELTS office as it has to be sent directly from the office to an address written in the instructions.
For the other personal details, I believe they are open to what is really available and what original document one can provide. Processing was 2 to 3 months for the first batch.

Below his instructions is a big warning “Be advised that Immigration will investigate, verify and check your claims, so it is important that you provide only truthful information and genuine documents.” It took me 4 months to accomplish all written tasks and compile all documents needed before Bert lodge my assessment application.


Previous blogs:
I.The opportunity
II.Initial preparations
III.Agent Wanted
IV.Initial Assessment
V.Start of Application – Fees
VI.Application – Instructions

Continue reading...

VI - Application – Instructions

July 13, 2009, money was sent thru telegraphic transfer from ANZ Bank for the upfront fee, the receipt was sent immediately after clearing and the Guidelines for Batch 1 and 2 was sent immediately after that – it was overwhelming! It was a long list and before the Batch 1 and 2 requirements are what he calls “Important Instruction” which generated a lot of questions and email sent back and forth because of the following:()

    1. You and your wife and dependent children live together presently in PNG (Papua New Guinea).
    2. All your dependent children are below 16 years old
    3. You have no children under 18 years old who are not living with you and who are not going to be included in your application.
    4. You have no other dependents, whether living or not with you.
    5. Your occupation has not changed since the last resume you sent to me which was the basis of my assessment and proposal, and thence these guidelines.
    6. You and your wire and dependent child are all are in good health and are unaware of any major medical concern.
    7. You and your wife have no past disclosable criminal records or civil liabilities
    8. You and your wife will be able to obtain your NBI clearances from the Philippines and Police clearances from PNG (n.b. I will provide instructions later)
    9. You and your wife and children have only lived in the Philippines and PNG and no other country during the last 10 years.

The queries I had were a bit sensitive issues and cannot be listed herein. If you think the list means nothing and that there are no issues that may hinder you from continuing, then congratulations. Actually, I never felt the bad temper that my friend told me about the agent as he answered everything I asked promptly.

Continue reading...

V - Start of Application - Fees

Receiving the result of the assessment, attached to it is the proposal from Bert’s company, The Migration Specialist, is the fees that will be incurred should processed commence. It was quite a lot (based from some migration forums) but out motivation to migrate is bigger so I paid the initial fee. My agent also had my trust when he listed the reasons why my fellow applicants did not make it and why I passed which is very consistent and means that he will not accept applicants and take their fees should they stand no or small chance of making it.()

Fees back in 2009 are the following (to be sent to agent):
    1. Professional Fee – Upfront fee of A$2,000
    2. When the skills assessment result is positive - A$ 750
    3. 1st Stage - Skill Assessment - A$450.00
    4. 2nd stage - Application With ASPC - A$2,525

Other fees (applicant’s responsibilities):
    1. IELTS
    2. Medicals Examination

In the first stage, Assessment with Engineers Australia was emphasized together with the need for IELTS (which I already have passed before entering this process) and also later needed for spouse, if any. December 2011, I have checked and the current score/band needed for applicants is down to 6.0 only (previously 7.0) for all areas and same 4.5 band/score for spouse.

In some forums, people and even agent are surprised to hear that there is an upfront fee. One should make sure that he is ready to undergo the process as part of the guideline for termination of the service will mean he/she will pay the agent A$300 per hour of service rendered.

The family is included in the application whether they are coming or not. If they are coming, Bert said, they should be there before a timeline that will be given by Australia immigration. Otherwise, they have to undergo the same process all over again. Sounded good – payment sent!

Continue reading...