Sorry!! its the 115 points thing again.
 

I realise that this doesn't affect all of you, as many of you have already sent off your applications already, but this is really devastating for us. We are almost ready to submit my husbands skills asst. but we only have 110 points. Our agent says not to worry (thats not an option!) We don't have AUS $100,000 to invest for 1 year, and really don't want to down the state nomination route. Is it really possible that this is a temporary measure? Meanwhile how can we just continue as normal like our agent suggested?

Any advice or comments are most welcome, Thanks Carol.

Re: Sorry!! its the 115 points thing again.
 

I really wish you all the best of luck.

Fingers crossed that the 115 points is only a temp measure.

Love Helen

Re: Sorry!! its the 115 points thing again.
 

Hi

Having just (literally_ started reading through the myrad of forms and not even
reached the point issue yet, it seems a *lot* of people here have 110, when 115
are needed.

Can anyone enlighten me (briefly) as to why it's increased and why 110 seems
so popular?

thanks

neph

Re: Sorry!! its the 115 points thing again.
 

Hi Carol Can I ask why you don't want to go down the state/territory route?

Your options are:

1. Apply for migration as normal anyway. Your application will go into the pool and
be held there for 2 years. During this time you would get a visa if either:
a. the pass mark came down; or
b. you went on the Skill Matching database and a nomination from a regional
government or employer came up.

I don't think anyone can speculate as to the possibility of the pass mark going down,
but 'if you're not in you can't win.' You don't get the AUD1,125 application fee back
if your application is refused after the 2 years.

2. Apply for a Skill Matching visa. The cost initially is low, AUD150 (plus the
skill assessment fee), and the balance would only become payable if a regional
nomination was made. You go on the Skill Matching database, but you don't go into
the 'pool' - so would not benefit if the pass mark did come down.
http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/skl-mat.htm

3. Consider New Zealand instead? There would be nothing stopping you taking option 1
or 2 alongside option 3.

In answer as to the other poster's question as to why the pass mark went up, the
answer is simply a very high demand for visas. While the Australian government has
increased the supply, they would have needed to make available another 20-30,000
visas to have kept the pass mark at 110. At the end of the day, if demand goes up,
the Australian government has only three options:

4. Let waiting times increase to such an extent they it would deter applicants
(which does not necessarily select the people Australia wants). This has already
happened, as many stuck in overseas posts can testify.

5. Increase the supply of visas.

6. Decrease demand by changing eligibility requirements (such as pruning the MODL of
many IT occupations recently) or increase the pass mark.

If demand were to drop in the next few years, the options would be a mirror image of
these. The good news out of this is that for those who have the new pass marks, the
waiting times should hopefully drop to a reasonable level.

Jeremy

    >On 11 May 2002 20:20:06 GMT, summers family <[email protected]> wrote:

    >I realise that this doesn't affect all of you, as many of you have already sent off
    >your applications already, but this is really devastating for us. We are almost
    >ready to submit my husbands skills asst. but we only have 110 points. Our agent says
    >not to worry (thats not an option!) We don't have AUS $100,000 to invest for 1 year,
    >and really don't want to down the state nomination route. Is it really possible that
    >this is a temporary measure? Meanwhile how can we just continue as normal like our
    >agent suggested?
    >
    >Any advice or comments are most welcome, Thanks Carol.
    >
    >
    >
    >--
    >Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Re: Sorry!! its the 115 points thing again.
 

    | Can anyone enlighten me (briefly) as to why it's increased and why 110 seems so
    | popular?

It's probably increased for one of the same reasons it was instituted: to control
numbers (as well as to ensure 'quality'). 110 would seem so common because these are
the people who are going to be more vocal about their situation. How many people with
120 have let everyone know ?

Note that family-sponsored applications still only require 110 so the Oz government
can choose the segment that is likely to be more of a drain on the coffers as one to
start limiting.

Just a thought. I don't imagine the number will change any time soon. I guess we just
need to get more creative on securing those elusive additional 5 points.

Re: Sorry!! its the 115 points thing again.
 

Hi Carol,

It may be temporary, but it may not. Can't understand why your agent wants you to
proceed, unless he or she wants to be liable to a MARA complaint. Read the code of
conduct (linked to our home page) and then ask the agent for a refund unless or until
you are eligible again.

If you have a skilled occupation which you could find work in here, you may need to
get six months work experience up as an alternative to bonus points. Any chance of
finding a sponsor for six months or more? It has never been easier to get an employer
sponsored 457.

Cheers

George Lombard

www.austimmigration.com.au

summers family wrote in message <[email protected]>...
    >I realise that this doesn't affect all of you, as many of you have already sent off
    >your applications already, but this is really devastating for us. We are almost
    >ready to submit my husbands skills asst. but we only have 110 points. Our agent says
    >not to worry (thats not an option!) We don't have AUS $100,000 to invest for 1 year,
    >and really don't want to down the state nomination route. Is it really possible that
    >this is a temporary measure? Meanwhile how can we just continue as normal like our
    >agent suggested?
    >
    >Any advice or comments are most welcome, Thanks Carol.
    >
    >
    >
    >--
    >Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Re: Sorry!! its the 115 points thing again.
 

George Agree with you in general, but it may be reasonable to do so if the client has
110 points, clearly understands that it is an outside chance that the pass mark will
fall within 2 years, and is prepared to lose the application fee if it doesn't (an no
regional nomination comes up).

But as it's possible to get access to the regional schemes by putting in a Skill
Matching application for a much smaller initial fee, that seems a more sensible route
for the majority.

Jeremy

    >On Sun, 12 May 2002 12:48:33 -0700, "George Lombard" <[email protected]> wrote:

    >Hi Carol,
    >
    >It may be temporary, but it may not. Can't understand why your agent wants you to
    >proceed, unless he or she wants to be liable to a MARA complaint. Read the code of
    >conduct (linked to our home page) and then ask the agent for a refund unless or
    >until you are eligible again.
    >
    >If you have a skilled occupation which you could find work in here, you may need to
    >get six months work experience up as an alternative to bonus points. Any chance of
    >finding a sponsor for six months or more? It has never been easier to get an
    >employer sponsored 457.
    >
    >Cheers
    >
    >George Lombard
    >
    >www.austimmigration.com.au
    >
    >summers family wrote in message <[email protected]>...
    >>I realise that this doesn't affect all of you, as many of you have already sent off
    >>your applications already, but this is really devastating for us. We are almost
    >>ready to submit my husbands skills asst. but we only have 110 points. Our agent
    >>says not to worry (thats not an option!) We don't have AUS $100,000 to invest for 1
    >>year, and really don't want to down the state nomination route. Is it really
    >>possible that this is a temporary measure? Meanwhile how can we just continue as
    >>normal like our agent suggested?
    >>
    >>Any advice or comments are most welcome, Thanks Carol.
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >>--
    >>Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Re: Sorry!! its the 115 points thing again.
 

Jeremy,

These are fair points - I can't see how the skilled migration program is going to hit its increased target numbers unless the points threshold drops back to 110 at some point over the next 12 to 15 months, or unless there is a re-focussing of the allocation of points to make it somehow easier for more intending applicants to attain the 115 points target.

And as such with 110 points it might be worth having the visa application in the system in the hope the points threshold is going to drop back - which could happen once the backlogs experienced in posts like London have been substantially cleared - mixed with a Skill Matching/STNI application.

That's unless the intention is to fill much of the increased skilled program quota with Australian-qualified students ...

Best regards.

Re: Sorry!! its the 115 points thing again.
 

    >It has never been easier to get an employer sponsored 457.

really??? how do you get one then? could i go to Oz on a tourist visa for 3 months,
search for a job and then get a 457 if i found an employer or agency? what's the
restrictions?

hmm.... i already tried that towards the end of my one year working visa and it was
fruitless... what made you say that George? i'm intrigued!

bigman 110 point no-hoper.

"George Lombard" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Hi Carol,
    >
    > It may be temporary, but it may not. Can't understand why your agent
wants
    > you to proceed, unless he or she wants to be liable to a MARA complaint. Read the
    > code of conduct (linked to our home page) and then ask the agent for a refund
    > unless or until you are eligible again.
    >
    > If you have a skilled occupation which you could find work in here, you
may
    > need to get six months work experience up as an alternative to bonus
points.
    > Any chance of finding a sponsor for six months or more? It has never been easier to
    > get an employer sponsored 457.
    >
    > Cheers
    >
    > George Lombard
    >
    > www.austimmigration.com.au
    >
    > summers family wrote in message <[email protected]>...
    > >I realise that this doesn't affect all of you, as many of you have already sent
    > >off your applications already, but this is really devastating for us. We are
    > >almost ready to submit my husbands skills asst. but we only have 110 points. Our
    > >agent says not to worry (thats not an option!) We don't have AUS $100,000 to
    > >invest for 1 year, and really don't want to down the state nomination route. Is it
    > >really possible that this is a temporary measure? Meanwhile how can we just
    > >continue as normal like our agent suggested?
    > >
    > >Any advice or comments are most welcome, Thanks Carol.
    > >
    > >
    > >
    > >--
    > >Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Re: Sorry!! its the 115 points thing again.
 

I'm a bit intrigued by this too, as often Australian citizens and PRs can't find a
job easily.

There's nothing illegal about looking for work on tourist status, although you should
avoid carrying evidence on arrival that might make an immigration officer think you
were planning on doing more than just looking.

I think how easy it is to get a 457 depends on your profession, and where you are
willing to work. If you're in a profession with a shortage in Australia (eg nurses,
teaching), if you have specialised skills, or if you're willing to work in
country/regional/remote Australia you may be able to find someone to sponsor you.

My impression is that a substantial proportion of 457 holders are transferred to
Australia by their company overseas.

Maybe there are agencies which specialise in recruiting people for 457 sponsorship -
but I don't have details.

Jeremy

    >>It has never been easier to get an employer sponsored 457.
    >
    >really??? how do you get one then? could i go to Oz on a tourist visa for 3 months,
    >search for a job and then get a 457 if i found an employer or agency? what's the
    >restrictions?
    >
    >hmm.... i already tried that towards the end of my one year working visa and it was
    >fruitless... what made you say that George? i'm intrigued!
    >
    >bigman 110 point no-hoper.

Re: Sorry!! its the 115 points thing again.
 

Hi Bigman,

Yes, you do need a sponsor first :(

But once you have a sponsor the rest is much easier these days.

Cheers

George Lombard

www.austimmigration.com.au Bigman wrote in message ...
    >>It has never been easier to get an employer sponsored 457.
    >
    >really??? how do you get one then? could i go to Oz on a tourist visa for 3 months,
    >search for a job and then get a 457 if i found an employer or agency? what's the
    >restrictions?
    >
    >hmm.... i already tried that towards the end of my one year working visa
and
    >it was fruitless... what made you say that George? i'm intrigued!
    >
    >bigman 110 point no-hoper.
    >
    >
    >
    >"George Lombard" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    >news:[email protected]...
    >> Hi Carol,
    >>
    >> It may be temporary, but it may not. Can't understand why your agent
    >wants
    >> you to proceed, unless he or she wants to be liable to a MARA complaint. Read the
    >> code of conduct (linked to our home page) and then ask the agent for a refund
    >> unless or until you are eligible again.
    >>
    >> If you have a skilled occupation which you could find work in here, you
    >may
    >> need to get six months work experience up as an alternative to bonus
    >points.
    >> Any chance of finding a sponsor for six months or more? It has never
been
    >> easier to get an employer sponsored 457.
    >>
    >> Cheers
    >>
    >> George Lombard
    >>
    >> www.austimmigration.com.au
    >>
    >> summers family wrote in message <[email protected]>...
    >> >I realise that this doesn't affect all of you, as many of you have already sent
    >> >off your applications already, but this is really devastating for us. We are
    >> >almost ready to submit my husbands skills asst. but we only have 110 points. Our
    >> >agent says not to worry (thats not an option!) We don't have AUS $100,000 to
    >> >invest for 1 year, and really don't want to down the state nomination route. Is
    >> >it really possible that this is a temporary measure? Meanwhile how can we just
    >> >continue as normal like our agent suggested?
    >> >
    >> >Any advice or comments are most welcome, Thanks Carol.
    >> >
    >> >
    >> >
    >> >--
    >> >Posted via http://britishexpats.com
    >>
    >

Re: Sorry!! its the 115 points thing again.
 

Hi Jeremy,

The outsourcing companies such as Lesters and Free Spirit do a roaring trade. Look at
www.lester.com.au and www.freespirit.com.au . In each case they hold PQBS status and
they sponsor the visa holders who they then outsource. The introduction of compulsory
monitoring for 457 visas must have changed something but I'm not sure what.
Considering the benefits of the LAFHA, this is a pretty good arrangement for people
who don't have settled migration plans for Australia.

Most 457 visas are initiated onshore, afaik; if there is a large proportion of
offshore grants, I would be surprised, since the most attractive and practical way to
do it is bring the employee here on a 956 and then apply onshore when you are sure
the arrangement will be productive.

Cheers

George Lombard

www.austimmigration.com.au

Cheers

George Lombard

JAJ wrote in message <[email protected]>...
    >I'm a bit intrigued by this too, as often Australian citizens and PRs can't find a
    >job easily.
    >
    >There's nothing illegal about looking for work on tourist status, although you
    >should avoid carrying evidence on arrival that might make an immigration officer
    >think you were planning on doing more than just looking.
    >
    >I think how easy it is to get a 457 depends on your profession, and where you are
    >willing to work. If you're in a profession with a shortage in Australia (eg nurses,
    >teaching), if you have specialised skills, or if you're willing to work in
    >country/regional/remote Australia you may be able to find someone to sponsor you.
    >
    >My impression is that a substantial proportion of 457 holders are transferred to
    >Australia by their company overseas.
    >
    >Maybe there are agencies which specialise in recruiting people for 457 sponsorship -
    >but I don't have details.
    >
    >Jeremy
    >
    >>>It has never been easier to get an employer sponsored 457.
    >>
    >>really??? how do you get one then? could i go to Oz on a tourist visa for
3
    >>months, search for a job and then get a 457 if i found an employer or agency?
    >>what's the restrictions?
    >>
    >>hmm.... i already tried that towards the end of my one year working visa
and
    >>it was fruitless... what made you say that George? i'm intrigued!
    >>
    >>bigman 110 point no-hoper.
    >

Re: Sorry!! its the 115 points thing again.
 

We're on a 457, but my husband wont subit the LAFHA application!!!!! His company IS paying for our rental, but he "doesnt want to make waves" doesnt know how they are classifying the payment for their tax purposes!!!!!!! 2 years into 457, what a waste.

Re: Sorry!! its the 115 points thing again.
 

blimey, I'd be straight in there. First $27,000 tax free !! He must be mad. I know a guy who is applying for residency and already has LAFHA. Once his residnecy papers are thorugh he isn't actually going to take the PR for a year, so he can continue getting the LAFHA.

Re: Sorry!! its the 115 points thing again.
 

"George Lombard" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]... The introduction of compulsory
monitoring for 457 visas must
    > have changed something but I'm not sure what. Considering the benefits of the
    > LAFHA, this is a pretty good arrangement for people who don't have settled
    > migration plans for Australia.
    >
    > Most 457 visas are initiated onshore, afaik; if there is a large
proportion
    > of offshore grants, I would be surprised, since the most attractive and practical
    > way to do it is bring the employee here on a 956 and then apply onshore when you
    > are sure the arrangement will be productive.

Sorry - what exactly is a 457 visa? Cheers.