What's the Scoop?

Well, no sign of any work being done on my 457 visa. The same message from March 17th is still there, saying "processing commenced" but when I emailed them, I was informed last week that a case worker has not even been assigned yet as they are very busy. Great. What does THAT mean? Are we looking at a few extra weeks or a few extra MONTHS?

I managed to find someone to certify my documents as true copies. For some reason that process baffles some folks. I went to the RCMP detachment first, as peace officers, JP's and commissioners of oaths are on the list. They told me they don't do it and told me I should go to a Notary. Yeah, right. That's like going to the hospital for a band-aid - OVERKILL, not to mention very expensive. I checked it out. Notaries charge at LEAST $50 per document. I don't need someone to verify my information, just to put their damn stamp on it that it is an true copy of the original. THAT IS IT. So I stomped out of there, muttering to myself. My doctor gave me enough grief about doing my degrees, so I didn't really want to go back to her. So I checked out the next person on the list - the pharmacist at SDM and he was happy to do it for me, for no cost. Thank-you Mr Pharmacist. I really appreciate finally finding someone who could do this for me.

So with certified copies in hand, I was next off to have them scanned for the visa application, only to find out later that for the 457 visa, they only need to be certified if I am sending a paper application. Scanned images of my passport and birth certificate that are not certified are just fine. Oh well, at least I have them for my RSMS visa application. Well, the passport one anyhow as the RSMS visa requires the long form birth certificate. I ordered that last week to the tune of $35, and should get it next week sometime I reckon.

The costs are adding up. Here is a breakdown of what I've spent so far:

1. visa application fee - $265
2. 6 passport photos - $50
3. criminal record check - $50 (overpriced - I've never paid more than $25 for the MANY I've had)
4. medical exam - $150
5. x-ray - $70
6. lab work - $100
7. long-form birth certificate - $35
8. private health insurance in Australia - $381 (for 2.5 months)

And for the RSMS visa, I'll have to go out and do most of it all over again. Most of what I've paid for will be reimbursed when I get to Australia which is great. The fees for the RSMS visa are even higher, with the application fee alone being $1735 if I am still in Canada when it is granted, and $2575 if I am in Australia when it is granted. I don't quite know how that works though as you have to pay when you lodge the application, not when it is granted. Either way, I am very happy to say that my employer is paying that fee! The fees are even greater if English is not your first language at $7165. Holy shit. I'm glad I speak English very well...

The sooner the RSMS visa is granted, the less time I will have to cover with private health insurance. Once the RSMS visa is granted, I am then a permanent resident and eligible for Medicare. Yay! With the 457 visa you must have private health insurance or they won't even look at you.

So there you have it. The latest. I login to the immigration website every day to check for progress. I shall be super excited when I finally see some.

The Waiting Game

Well, I had the medical exam for the 457 visa and it went relatively well. First I had to check in with the receptionist who prepares all the forms that will be needed, and affixes several of my passport photos I was required to bring to these forms as they are used for identification to make sure the right person is showing up for the various portions. Then I was brought in to see the doctor. The medical exam was fairly short, with just some regular poking and prodding - listen to my lungs, test my reflexes, look in my ears, eyes, and throat, feel the neck for lumps, height, weight, go through any medications I was on, and then check my blood pressure. That's where we stumbled slightly. The first reading was pretty high, but she recognized I was a little stressed out about the medical - it had been looking like the only real hurdle, and such an unknown as I had no idea what to expect. So we left the BP alone for a bit and continued the exam, and tried again - too high, but significantly lower than the first one and still not a pass. So she suggested that I lay down on the exam table, she turned out the lights and told me to relax. Just as she left the room, Eric Clapton came on the radio just outside the door somewhere and so I went to my happy place - he was playing a tune he played in concert last month. By the time the doc came back into the exam room 5 minutes later, I was well rested, and my blood pressure was normal and within the acceptable range. Phew. And I paid $150 for this pleasure.

So the exam went well enough with no failures. Then it was time to head to the lab a block away. There I took a number and waited just a short time to be shown into the lab rooms where the tech took my blood, and then I had to pee in the cup (oh joy). I was about to leave when they noticed there was another blood test the doctor ordered that they just noticed and needed me to pay MORE money for. The first lot was $60, and now I had to pay another $40 AND get another needle stick...great. Let's get it done.

From there I went down the hall to the x-ray lab and checked in. This was a bit longer of a wait as there were peeps in front of me, but before long, I was shown in, and told I was the last x-ray of the day. Great, just made it. I was just getting dressed again when the receptionist noticed I had the wrong forms. The gal at the doctor's office had given me immigration forms for CANADA. I am not emigrating to CANADA. I am emigrating to AUSTRALIA. So panic set in - the doc's office is ONLY open on Thursday afternoons and Thursday afternoon was pretty much over. She tried to call the doc's office several times, but the phone was busy. Finally got through and she attempted to explain to her the forms were the wrong ones. She agreed for me to head back over, get the right forms, but then I would have to come back to the respective labs in the morning with the right immigration forms. Great - now I have to stay in town as I am not driving home only to come back again in the morning. So I went over to the doc's office where the receptionist could not figure out why the were the wrong forms. I helped her with that. See the Canadian flag and the words "Citizenship and Immigration Canada"? This is incorrect. We need to use forms that say "Australian Government - Department of Immigration and Citizenship". I should have checked when she handed me the forms, but the lab slips were stapled to the top, a map to the back, and I assumed she knew what she was doing since I was paying so much for it. Apparently not. So we got the right forms, signed, stamped, passport photos attached, and I was on my way.

I stayed the night with friends in Victoria, and in the morning took the correct forms to the labs and THEN I was finished. Now becomes the waiting game. I have nothing left to add to the visa application, so it is just a matter of time. The doc seemed to think that it would take 3 weeks to get the lab and x-ray results back to her and then she would send the whole package off to the Australian Embassy in Ottawa via X-presspost, and from there it would go by diplomatic pouch to Australia. However, the receptionist at the x-ray dept told me the info is usually ready within a week and a half or so, not 3 weeks. We shall see. At the earliest, maybe by the second week in April is my guess, and more likely to be towards the end of April. Which is not a big deal - my lease here at the cabin is up at the end of April. If I still don't have my visa by then, I'll probably hang with some friends in Victoria for a week or two while I wait.

So that is all that is left to do - wait.

Taking Stock

As part of the move, the shipping company requires a detailed inventory of all items being "uplifted" to Australia for me. So begins the latest paper task. They have headings such as linens, crockery & cutlery, glassware, electronics, recreational, clothes, etc. They will ship just 7 cubic metres of personal items, and they only ship one-way, so I don't want to take anything that I would regret having to ship back later. Good thing is, that apartment fire last year on New Year's Day pretty much took care of anything like that. All that I own right now could fit into my van, so it didn't take long to list everything. I want to pick up a few other things before the movers come to ship over with my stuff. I wish I could take my mattress, but in its absence, I am bringing a thick foam topper, still in the vacuum packaging so it takes up way less space.

I have a fair amount of food to eat up before I go, as they won't ship that stuff. What is leftover I'll probably give away here somewhere or bring into my friends in Victoria. I've been trying to use up certain things and not repurchase as I run out. I couldn't tell you how many times I've set up a kitchen, buying all the stock items like flour, sugars, spices, condiments, sauces, etc. I'm curious to see how much adapting I'll have to do in Australia with their supermarkets. One of their chains is Coles Supermarkets. Another is BI-LO. There are two malls, the Alice Plaza Shopping Centre; and The Yeperenye Shopping Centre There is also a weekly open-air market, so looking forward to finding some local crafts at that. I also found out they have a Woolworth's, another chain I thought folded up some 20 years or more ago, although this chain seems to be just grocery now. They also have Kmart, which I also thought folded up it's tents.

So lots of places to spend my money. At least I will be making good money!

G'Day Mates

Well, I have just uploaded the final document for my visa application. The only outstanding portion is the medical exam I have booked for this Thursday. Once they forward that information by X-presspost to the embassy, it should just be a matter of about 10 business days or less and I'll either have my visa or a rejection. I'm hoping for the visa...

Now to get on with the rest of my life...selling the van and settling Stormy in somewhere soon. The rest will all fall into place I reckon. Moving is something I do well.

Visa Nomination is IN!

So later last night the visa nomination came in and so I began the online process. I had a few questions along the way so was able to get answers fairly quickly as it was already well into the business day in Darwin. Far enough that by the time I had one last question, it was over, so I must wait today for them to open up tomorrow. I must buy some health insurance at some point today, and finish the application. I think I have all of the documents here that are required, but I won't know for sure until I actually finish the online application. They allow you to save your application as you pull the information together, which is great!

The time change things is going to be interesting. I hope for patience from my family and friends who try to contact me once I'm in Australia. One thing I've done is set the little clock at bottom right on the computer for a few different time zones - Darwin, London, and here. I can just hover the mouse and get all three time clocks at the same time. Right now it is 4:07am on Thursday in Darwin.

So things are moving right along. Now I just need to sell my van and place Stormy somewhere permanent.

The Waiting Game

So not much new, just that the visa nomination has been lodged. Now we wait for an assigned number so that I can proceed with a visa application online. I expect to hear either tomorrow or next week (as tomorrow is Friday in Australia) about it, and then it becomes my turn to fill out my application online, and upload my documents. It almost seems surreal, like it isn't happening to me but to someone else in a foreign land. Who is this person? This soon to be immigrant? And why is she leaving her beloved Canada? Sometimes it frightens me a little, to know that I won't be in my home and native land, the true north strong and free. But then I remember - I have traveled through my country, from one end to the other and back again a number of times, having slept at least one night in ever single province and 2 of the 3 territories. If I could drive to Nunavut, it would have been all of them. I've nearly run out of places to explore. I've worked and/or lived in 2 territories and 5 of the 10 provinces. I've camped in all of the provinces except for PEI (stayed with friends) and in those two territories. It's time for a new adventure; a new country to explore from one end to the other.

Australia - here I come, an immigrant from Canada, aka an ex-pat seeking adventure in your beautiful country with a thirst for the open road of a new land. I hope you're up for it. I know I am.

Hello Monday

Well, I had several emails back and forth with the coordinator in Australia last night - funny - she was in her office on a Monday and I was at home on a Sunday evening and it was the same time period. Ah the time zones. In any event, she is lodging my visa nomination this week, and once that is done, I will get a number to go ahead and apply online for my 457 visa. She is optimistic that my visa could be ready in just 10 business days, and that barring any hitches, I could possibly be flying to Australia in early April, just 4 weeks from now or sooner! I went to town today and picked up my criminal record check - always scary to get that done, as you hope nothing will show up on it. I always worry about identity theft and whether someone has used my name in a crime somehow, but alas - it was clear. Phew! That didn't take long, just a couple of days.

I found out I do not need to forward any documents for the 457 visa as it is completed online, but for the RSMS (Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme) visa, they will be looking at everything in great detail. That visa will be applied for once I make it to Australia, and takes several months to process. That one is for permanent residency, allowing me to stay in Australia indefinitely, should I choose to, and provides me with all the rights and privileges of any other Australian resident, such as medicare, and the ability to work elsewhere should I wish to leave the agency that is sponsoring me. I am to commit for 2 years minimum with them, and I'm totally okay with that. I may even like it and stay for years - who knows?

I was able to go to the local Work Centre in Sooke and have them scan my criminal record check so have since emailed that on to the recruitment agency. Apparently that is the last document I need to send them, as the rest will go to the immigration folks from here on in - thankfully. I need to get some passport photos taken so will probably do that later this week when I'm in Victoria. Wal-mart does them on the spot for cheap, so I'll probably get a couple of sets, as I'll need a set for the RSMS visa along with the 457 visa.

With the 457 visa, I have to show proof of private medical insurance as I will not be covered under their medicare until I have the RSMS visa. I checked into one website that runs quotes through a number of companies and came up with a policy for 6 months at $900 - steep! So I may have to check around a bit. It would cover doctors visits, hospital visits, x-rays and blood work, that sort of thing. I've had travel health insurance this past year while I've been travelling but it isn't enough. They want proof of real health insurance, so I'll have to get that soon enough too. I'll wait until my visa application is launched though, as I don't want to buy something with a timeclock ticking before I need to. I already have that kind of healthcare in Canada.

So that is the latest and greatest - while there is a lot of paperwork, it will be worth it in the end!

Now THAT'S more like it

Alice Springs is about where the red dot is

Finally received my written letter of offer from Australia today. Actually, it came in during the wee hours of the morning. I was up browsing through the Northern Territory government website, reading an action plan that has resulted in the positions being created that I am being hired for. It was such an interesting and important document, I couldn't understand why we hadn't been sent it before, as the recruitment agency sure sent us enough to read. In any event, I wrote to the recruiter about the report and suggested that recruits be sent this, and the one in London, England wrote back quite quickly - it may have been 2am my time but it was the beginning of her workday there. She then forwarded me all of the documentation - written letter of offer with terms, my reference documents (what my references had to say about me) and my interview assessment report.

Today I put in a request for a Criminal Record check with the RCMP to the tune of $50. The desk clerk said there has not been an increase, but that is so not true. I have been getting these criminal record checks for years, ever since I have been volunteering and working with vulnerable populations and have NEVER paid more than $25 if anything at all. Whatever, I didn't have much choice, and the Aussie gov will be reimbursing me for all of these fees when I arrive, so I just have to keep all of my receipts.

I also faxed her certified copies of my 3 degrees. I'm not sure what comes next. The visa nomination has to be made sometime within the next few weeks, once they receive the CRC and other documentation. The CRC is to be completed within 2-5 business days, so probably sometime next week.

My last stop was at the library where I signed up for a library card so I could check out some books regarding Australia. They were pretty limited with what they had onsite as it is a rather small library, but I found a couple of interesting ones, including a book titled "Cold Beer and Crocodiles: A bicycle journey into Australia." Should be good for a laugh.

My proposed arrival date in Australia is May 1st, and beginning work on May 4th. That is exactly 2 months away - holy cow. I hope time flies as I am sooooo ready to return to work!

The Waiting Game

Well, I had a call from the recruiter in London today to assure me that all was well, it just wasn't moving along very fast. I am still waiting for the formal offer to arrive via email as promised. It's now been nearly 6 weeks since the interview and 2 weeks past when the agency promised we would hear from them. The recruiter explained that the Australian government agency has gone through major restructuring and this has caused some of the delay. As well, they are processing the last wave of successful applicants and the current wave of 25 they hired (I was one of 25). I can understand there is a lot of work to do, however I don't understand why they were not better prepared for this work. I mean, if asked to hire 45 employees in the coming year, you would make sure you had the appropriate amount of staff to carry this chore out. Perhaps they had no way to gauge this, I'm not sure. All I know is that I hate the waiting game. There is a great deal to do when emigrating to another country, and I can't really do ANY of it until I at the very least, have something in writing. Right now, all I have is the word from an unreliable recruiter in Toronto who has broken more promises than she has kept about time frames, so has stopped making them.

What the recruiter did say is that once the visa nomination is made, the visa processing time has been rather quick, usually 2 weeks and they're ready...that is good news, if it is to be believed.

Time is running out, and I have just 2 months left in my lease for my current housing, and less than that in employment insurance. I started this in November, and thought 6 months would be enough time to go through this process, but now I'm concerned it is not going to be, and I'll be homeless and broke come May 1st. So I've explained to the recruitment agency that I cannot continue to wait without making back-up plans, particularly with no formal offer on the table. I'm going to start applying for jobs in Canada this week. I've been browsing for months, but now will have to start getting down to business. As of May 1st, I have to be working SOMEWHERE. I really don't want to sign another lease, so will have to depend on the kindness of friends if it looks like it might only be a week or two, but otherwise will have to find yet another place to live. It is a lot of hurry up and wait. Sigh...

So that is the latest. Stay tuned...