Applying Australian Visa (PR SI 189)

I pondered so many times that when would the time to actually apply VISA/PR would come. This was it. Almost 5 months went into getting me to this spot. And still - my parents asked me this 'you really want to apply?' - Gawd!

So here I was on leave on 17th - waiting for my brother to come from his office (if you don't remember - he is in Melbourne) - to apply for Visa. Why was I waiting for him, you ask? Well, he had a debit card which can pay out 3060$ as Visa fees for starters and then he would be able to resolve any questions I had while lodging Visa. When I started out the process - it had long forms to fill in with my information, this was something I could have done before my bro came from office - but I did not know that, so have to go with the flow now. After long forms, I made the payment which went through without any issues. So Visa is now lodged and need to upload each and every document I had which was required to prove me worthy of those precious 65 points. Using the link for eVisa login page - I was able to upload the documents. 

For information on Visa lodging and eVisa page you can check this eVisa information page.

Only part left from my side was to do Medicals. I read in Expat Forum, that we should wait till we get acknowledgement mail of Visa lodge - this is a automatic mail that comes after lodging Visa - it can come anytime between few minutes to several days from lodging Visa. Of-course, later I came to know acknowledgment isn't really required for doing Medicals, only thing you want to do is click on the 'organize health examination' link available under each applicant on eVisa page. You can refer to eVisa information page for more information on this. I received acknowledgement on 21st Dec - that is - after 4 days of applying Visa. Some don't even receive acknowledgment, ever!

I went ahead and got my medicals done at nearby clinic on 28th Dec - it was smooth experience and we both were done in an hour. We were told that result would be uploaded in couple of days, I was okay with it as it was a weekend. Next Tuesday, I inquired about meds from clinic - they said its uploaded. But, according to my information Med links on eVisa should have disappeared if meds are uploaded, but they did not until couple of more days. Still my med link got removed but wifey's med link was still shining on eVisa page. On asking persistently to clinic's receptionist, she passed on the call to lady in charge of uploading things, and she mentioned she is facing difficulty in uploading her Meds and sent a query to concerned DIAC team. It took another week to get that sorted out.

Now, situation was that meds were uploaded by CO was not assigned and delays in getting CO was increasing by the day. Another hurdle was that sometime Meds get referred to MOC - which is another body and generally Meds are referred when the person supposed to finalise the Meds is not able to take a call. When this happens it adds couple of more months to the process cycle.I found a way to confirm if our Meds are finalized or not - you can check Medical status page for more information on this. As per this, my medicals were finalized. Some relief.

Now the wait for CO goes on..

Next: Applying Australian Visa (PR SI 189) - Part II