Marisawright

I haven't heard that specific example but IMO, I would believe it. Home Affairs are not known for being lenient or compassionate about anything, rules is rules. When flights were scarce, I'd hope they would've given people a break - but now there are so many flights coming in, with thousands of people arriving every week, I'd expect them to be back to "business as usual". If he's only going to activate the visa, why does he have to go to Perth? Is there no way he can get a holiday in the next seven months?

There is absolutely NO chance a decision has been made to close the borders more strictly. If there was, it would be all over the media here by now, and there isn't even a single mention of it.

I sound like a broken record, but your easiest solution is to book a consultation with a good MARA-registered migration agent. It will be free (if they ask for a fee, go somewhere else). Try Suncoast Migration or Go Matilda. They won't go into much detail in that consultation, but they'll be able to tell you whether you stand a chance or not. Australia is now a mature country that largely trains its own workforce, so migrating is not the easy path it used to be. To get a visa, either yourself or your partner must have an occupation that's on a short "skilled list" of occupations. On top of that, you must have the qualifications and experience specified. On top of that, you must be able to score a certain number of points on a points score. Finally, even if you meet all of those requirements, you're not guaranteed a visa. The application process is a competition, like a job application. Only the candidates with the highest points get chosen. Currently, you only need 65 points to apply - but you'd be mad to, because only people with over 90 points are getting a visa, so you would just be throwing your money away. The 189 visa is the Rolls Royce of visas, which lets you live and work permanently anywhere in Australia - but it's also the hardest to get. Then there's the 190 visa, also permanent, but offered by the individual states - so if you get the visa, you are obliged to live in that state for a few years. Each state has its own extra requirements and rules - but the 190 is easier to get than the 189, because the points score isn't as important. The 491 visa is another step down, but easier to get than the two permanent visas. It's a provisional visa. You have to live and work in a regional area for four years, after which you can transition to permanent residency if you've met all the requirements. The visa was introduced because most migrants settle in the capital cities, whereas the government wants them to populate country areas - and their hope is that by the time you've spent four years somewhere, you should be so settled that you'll stay there. Finally there's the 482, which is employer-sponsored. But that's not "moving permanently to Australia". That's getting a temp contract for 2 to 4 years, with a vague promise that just possibly, if everything goes smoothly and your employer doesn't renege, you might be able to apply for a permanent visa at the end of it. It used to be a common pathway to a permanent visa but it's become more and more difficult and is now very unreliable and stressful. If you find a good employer who'll pay your relocation costs, it's a great opportunity to have an adventure for a few years. However if the employer isn't generous, it can be an expensive adventure. Good luck!

You do know what you're up against - as I said, no one with less than 90 points has been granted a 189 visa for a long time, in any occupation. Since they keep setting the bar higher, not lower, it's reasonable to assume that threshold will go up. For the state (190) visas, points are less important and they will look at the actual demand for your skills in their state. A190 is a permanent visa so you would not, AFAIK, pay school fees. My concern would be whether any of the states (except ACT) would have a demand for interpreters/translators.

I suggest you book a consultation with a good migration agent. The first consultation should be free. They won't give you a lot of detail, but they'll be able to tell you whether it's worth taking it further or not. Try Suncoast Migration or Go Matilda. I don't advise looking for employer sponsorship. Most employer sponsorship is just a temporary contract for 2 to 4 years. There is a chance that you might manage to apply for permanent residency after that, but it is only a "might" - there are lots of things that can go wrong. If it's a well-paid job and you've got a good buffer of savings, you can see it as an adventure - but you should budget on the basis that you'll have to move your family back to the UK at the end of the contract, because that's the most likely outcome. I know you want to go to Queensland, but you may have to take a longer-term view and start in one of the other states first. It may mean that you can't move to Queensland for several years, but at least you'll be in Australia.

We know that. That hasn't changed since 29th March. Dusty Plains posted claiming that ScoMo's announcement, a few days ago, meant that the ban would get even more strict - which nearly caused AliQ to have a panic attack . I haven't heard anything to suggest that's the case so I've been asking DP to justify that opinion. I dont know if you've noticed but on some other threads, new visas have been granted, too, so those people will now be able to travel as well.

No, I meant it’s your privilege to prefer Sydney just like it’s someone else’s privilege to prefer Perth.

And that's your privilege. Everyone is different. My only concern with Sydney these days is that it is by far the most expensive city in Australia. I firmly believe people need to be forewarned about that and consider whether their budget can stand it. I have known too many migrants come to Sydney and go home because they can't afford it, to say nothing.

It is an impasse, because I see no different language from the PM's office over the last few days. The 85% drop in immigration was mentioned weeks ago. International travel (for visitors and temp visa holders) was stopped weeks ago. The ONLY difference is that at one time, they were mentioning "till September" or "at least six months" as the duration of the existing travel bans - whereas now he's talking about mid-next year. I cannot, for the life of me, get why you think there's going to be more stringent regulations of any kind, and since you can't quote me anything, I'm no further forward. We'll agree to disagree. And I repeat, in case you hadn't noticed, that all you have to do is check some other threads to see partner visas etc are still being granted, and people are being granted exceptions to travel all the time.

I lived in Sydney for 30 years and at one time, when we realised we were being priced out of the city, I suggested moving to Melbourne. My oh, who has lived in Sydney since childhood, dismissed Melbourne (as most Sydneysiders do). To be honest, I wasn't that enthusiastic either, but considering Melbourne house prices were dramatically cheaper, i was being practical. A few years later, circumstances landed us in Melbourne. Now, my oh often says, "I don't know why we didn't think of moving to Melbourne sooner. It's a great place." .... Not saying it's better or worse than Melbourne, just different, like every other city in Australia. A lot depends on your hip pocket.

All you can do is try for an exemption. It's just an online form and the worst they can do is say no. You are allowed to apply again if rejected. I don't think they are granting WHV's at the moment, but they are granting 600 visas so you could try for that (if you get the exemption).

You say you have an agent. A good agent should have answered all those questions for you already, that's their job. You've paid the money, you're entitled to go back and ask them. If you've applied for an employer-sponsored PR then it's based on the fact that your current employer needs you, so you can't change employer AFAIK.

No, I do not. That is why I am asking you to link to the reports you say are in the media. All the reports quote Scott Morrison as saying "international travel will not resume" until next year. The wording is the same as Josh Frydenberg and others used when the bans were first inroduced, when they said "international travel is not likely to resume until September". At the time, it was clear what they meant (the ban on all visitors and temporary visa holders). I don't see any evidence to suggest they've changed the definition. I can't understand why you would imagine otherwise. Perhaps I have missed something, so I'm inviting you to show me.

This just illustrates that anyone who says, "Come to (insert name of town here) - the lifestyle is great!" needs a good whack around the head. One lifestyle does not fit everyone. Some lifestyles are presented as idyllic - the "Escape to the Country" lifestyle, or the Tropical Island Beachfront lifestyle - but while I like the idea for a short break, I'd soon die of boredom if I tried to live that life permanently. Whereas other people would think it was heaven. Likewise, I know a lot of people who don't like Melbourne, but I'm loving it (somewhat to my surprise).

It is his lawyer so it is his job to sort it out.

Try Homely for reviews of various towns/suburbs in the area: https://www.homely.com.au/find-suburb-by-region/richmond-tweed-new-south-wales Tweed Heads is very popular with retirees. I'm not sure how good it is for families with young children. https://www.homely.com.au/tweed-heads-tweed-richmond-tweed-new-south-wales/questions/where-are-the-bad-areas-for-crime-and-troublemakers-and-wher

Can you please provide links to the announcements where there were references to EXTENDED border placements and EXTENDED immigration cuts. The 85% drop was announced weeks ago, and in a subsequent press conference, ScoMo clarified that drop would be due entirely to the current border closures - and that when border restrictions are lifted some time in 2021, numbers would go back to normal. I can find plenty of reports saying "international travel will not resume" till mid-2021, but not one single report saying, "we are going to extend the border restrictions".

If your employer is not willing to sponsor you, there is nothing you can do

It is odd but just pick a date in 2 or 3 years time when you think the pandemic may be over

The 189 is the Rolls Royce visa. You don’t need a state to nominate you or a job offer, you just apply. The catch is that it’s all based on points- it’s a competition and only those with the highest point score succeed. Currently only those with over 90 points stand any chance of success, the rest just lose their fee. The 190 is nominated by a state, and each state has their own rules, including whether or not you need a job offer. It’s not as strictly points-driven but it’s still competitive. What languages do you cover?

The 115 visa is pretty useless, because the waiting time for approval is around 30 years.

I think it's Dusty who over-reacted. I haven't seen anyone anywhere suggesting that ScoMo meant anything other than "the current travel bans are staying in place" - which is, of course, bad news for a lot of people, but it's old news really. Qantas's prediction of the bans lasting till mid-next year shouldn't have come as a surprise to anyone who's been paying attention.

I love animals too, and I can fully understand why people are willing to go through all the rigmarole and expense to bring them to Australia (or vice versa). But this is a different situation in a global pandemic. Sense of proportion is all I'm saying.

For goodness sake, it's a dog not a baby. At a time when hundreds of people are stuck in other countries, separated from their partners and children due to the travel bans, saying it's a "nightmare" to be separated from your dog is getting things a bit out of proportion.

I can't find a transcript of his exact words, but here's what the press are reporting: Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Friday that with the spread of the virus accelerating in parts of the world, it was "not unreasonable" to assume international travel will not resume until July, except to New Zealand. Note the word "resume". Not "we are going to make our bans on international travel even more strict'. I guess it's possible ScoMo has changed his mind, but here's what he was thinking on June 18th: https://www.businessinsider.com.au/australian-travel-ban-business-travellers-exemptions-2020-6 https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/tourism-industry-braces-for-55-billion-hit-with-overseas-travel-likely-banned-until-july-20200625-p5563k.html