Visa and Migration

Hello again,

I thought I take this time to post about my experience with the migration process

I recently received my 190 visa.

The journey was longer than most, but I got there eventually.

I first came to Australia with a 482 short stream temporary skills shortage visa. This was after I got my AMC part 1 and a job as a RMO in Queensland.

After I got my general registration in 2019, I applied for the state sponsored visa. However there were some unforeseen issues led me to move to Victoria.

I transitioned into the 482 medium stream visa to work as a GP. I tried again for the state sponsored visa (190). One of the benefits of picking the 190 visa is the extra 5 points.

So to those who are not familiar with the PR points system, is that the Australian government want migrants who can contribute to their economy. So there are certain parameters that give a migrant points. The minimum required points is 65 in order to be invited to express your EOI.

They assess a migrant based on their age, education level, English proficiency, work history, professional years in Australia, your partners skill and English proficiency and if you applied via State sponsored visa. This is a brief overview, for a more detailed read, please click on this link:

https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/skilled-nominated-190/points-table

From experience, I would strongly suggest using a migration agent. The immigration process in Australia is complex and it is best to have people who are experienced to navigate you through this.

I learned the hard way. I applied for the visa 190 in 2020, I tried to get the maximum points that I could, i.e. getting the top English scores, using my overseas work experience as well. I scored 90 points. However because I used my overseas work experience to get those points, I was required to show proof that I did work for the Malaysian Ministry of Health. I provided them with my completion of internship letter, a letter from my HOD stating which postings I have done, my EPF statements. However it was not enough, they wanted payslips from 2010 till 2018. I could not produce them and the bank would not print out the statements unless I present myself in person. It was in the middle of the pandemic and flying back was almost impossible. So my application got rejected.

I decided to use a migration agent to help with my appeal. They advised me that the appeal would be sent to the Administrative Appeal Tribunal (AAT). I waited for 3 years to only get a reply saying that the AAT just reviewed by appeal and found that I provided adequate proof that my points claimed were valid and sent it back to Home Affairs to get it processed. Needless to say it caused me much anguish and affected my mental health badly. Here I was, a GP working in regional Australia with shortage of doctors during one of the worst pandemics in a hundred years and my application for PR was rejected just because I could not produce my payslip from 2010. My local MP said she would help but why should she? I could not vote for her and who was I to her? Needless to say I felt jaded from the whole affair that I wanted to just leave this country and try NZ.

It was ThinkVisa (who I would recommend to anyone who is looking for a great migration agent) that suggested I reapply for the 190 as I was eligible. I was skeptical about it as I spent thousands of dollars on the first appeal and the AAT, but I was at my wits end at the point.

I paid their fees and for the new application of the 190 visa that ended up being AUD 5000 (agents fees) + Main applicant fee AUD 4640 + Partner Applicant AUD 2320 = AUD 11960. But the money was put into good use. The agents were great in helping me prepare my documents, they combed through every detail that needed to be given to Home Affairs, they helped me clarify my questions. My wife and I had to sit for our English exams and get a health check again. In less than 3 months I got my visa approved.

So the moral of the story is, please get a migration agent to assist you with your PR. You can do it yourself but one wrong move and you get set back for years. I hope you learn from my very expensive lesson and that your own PR application goes smoothly.

Till next time.