iamnomad

I'm totally for it. I have always believed that if America embraces more immigrants, it will increase demand for housing and domestic consumption and will accelerate the economy. But what I'm trying to point out is, the president is not capable of increasing the annual limit of green cards. Immigration is not an executive order, it's legislative. And with a Republican-dominated Congress, I doubt that they will give in to the president's wishes.

Yes. For subclass 189, you submit an EOI first. For subclass 190, state sponsorship first, usually.

I could be wrong, but isn't Congress the only body of government that can alter the number of green cards to be given?

No. There's no onshore/offshore classification under SkillSelect.

At the Federal level of processing, subclass 190 has faster processing time. But the thing is, state sponsorship to secure a 190 nomination could take months.

it was around $300 last year. I don't know now. Visit anmac.org.au.

well I was told that NSW is only sponsoring 1000 applicants every few months. Their last intake was October 2014. Their next intake will be February 2015. And from Feb-June 2015, they will only sponsor 2000 applicants. And that's a very low intake. One of my co-worker waited the day NSW opened the application last October. He applied online (I think) the very first hour it was opened, and he couldn't get through because of the number of applicants applying at the same time. State sponsorship tends to change a lot because it needs to reflect the migration plan of the State. They have a say on what occupation they want, regional area they want immigrants to settle into, the number of application they will take, etc. Regarding the "need" for nurses. Well in all honesty, it's very difficult nowadays to find a job, much more a sponsorship. I have this feeling that Australia is now saturated with nurses. A lot of Australians are now taking up nursing. International students are finding it hard to find a job. And before, there are a lot of vacant new grad positions. Now, because of a sudden increase in nursing graduates, they all compete for limited new grad positions. Others have to wait for months and years just to get into a new grad position. You get the picture. BUT. It's not all negative. You just have to be determined. Broaden your search into different nursing fields, such as aged care, mental health, etc. And don't confine yourself to the cities. Go regional. Good Luck.

There are no talks yet, as far as I know, in regards to changing any major components of the SkillSelect. If there will be some changes, it may be announce next year. And if there will be some changes, it would probably be in regards to the occupation ceiling. What changes a lot, though, is the State Sponsorship that is required for subclass 190.

i'm not sure. I know he finished his bridging program around July 2013. After that I had no contact with him. Then just recently I found out that he got his PR. During my PR application (June 2013), the processing time was 1-2 months. That was the quickest I have ever seen and was not repeated after that.

Just for technicalities, there is no such thing as PR Modified Skills. It's actually two separate process. The ANMAC Modified Skills Assessment is one of the requirements for PR application. It's for those with AHPRA registration. Alternatively for those without AHPRA registration, they can apply for a full assessment, although this is not applicable to all. I have heard of RPS migration. One of my friends got a PR through Victoria State Sponsorship and was processed by RPS. He's affiliated now with RPS. But I don't know how they work, or what their track records are. But I doubt they can get you a PR visa after 7-8 weeks. Published processing times depending on your visa category is from 3-6 months.

Immigration and nursing registration of overseas nurses are JUST privileges, NOT rights! There's a big difference. But it must be a very difficult and painful situation for you guys to go through this lengthy battle. I guess these situations are beyond the applicants' control, unless you all file a class suit. But that would prove to be very counterproductive. The best way to deal with this, I know it's probably just easy to say, is to look back as to why you guys wanted this registration in the first place - which is for most is to have a better life. The registration process is just one part of the journey, there are a lot more challenges to come. And if in this instance a lot of you are already crying foul, then re-assess yourself if this is the best path for your goal. Nobody said that the path is easy. Perseverance, determination, and prayers are the key. God bless everyone.

So I read the petition made by the Filipino nurse and it is flawed. 1. It is not the Australian government's fault that she took a very expensive bridging program. A simple research of the whole process, from registration, to employment situation, to immigration would have guided her to decide whether to pursue it or not. 2. There are job vacancies but it can also be attributed to movement of people. Nurses quit jobs and have to be replaced. It's not because a lot of hospitals just decided to beef up their staffing. 3. Comparing Filipino new grads to Australian new grads is flawed as well. We all know that we don't have a real system of new grad programs in the Philippines. Australian new grads apply for a new grad position, get new grads salary, gain experience in the process. That's how it works. They have on-site nurse educators to follow through the progress. That's how they gain experience. It's flawed to suggest them to work for free just so they can get experience. That would disrupt the whole system. 4. The petitioner asked in the end to tell her if she has the right to work to Australia just because she had difficulties in life. The answer is no. It is not her RIGHT to work in Australia. Period. 5. The petition is asking to remove the "red tapes" imposed on 457 visa processing. I don't see any red tape of some sort in the process. What I'm seeing is the government trying to protect its own workforce. 6. Lastly, the petitioner even commented about basic human rights and equality for all. In what way? Is it not fair to look after a country's own citizens first before overseas professionals? Equality on what? To be able to work wherever? Does she really think it's possible? I just don't get it. There's to much whinging going on around here. All your efforts would be more productive if you focus on what to do to overcome the difficulties. I know I'm sounding a bit negative with my post but if Filipino nurses continue act like this, on international discussion boards, we would become the most hated group of nurses everywhere.

I do realise that a lot of Filipino RNs are stressed and anxious about the registration process. Most of you are frustrated because of the changes in the rules and the amount of time you have to wait for a decision. But I would like to give my opinion regarding some of the issues that penetrated this thread. And I hope my fellow Filipinos take this constructively. 1. Finding an employer to sponsor is quite difficult these days. I know someone who had to go home because he didn't find a job to transfer his 457 visa to. The process is much simpler than filing a new 457 visa as technically he still has a 457 visa. And yet, he couldn't find one sponsor. But I'm not saying that since he didn't find one you all would not find one either. It all depends on where you want to work, your qualifications, and a lot of determination. But again, it's not very easy. 2. It is not a right of anyone to petition any foreign government to change its rule just so to accommodate citizens of other countries. So asking the Australian government to relax its 457 visa regulations is a waste of time and energy. It's not up to the foreign nationals to do that. If there's really a need for 457 visa changes, it will be lobbied by the Australian people as they see fit. 3. Asking AHPRA to change its rules, expedite the registration process, and demand certain things is also a bit off to me. I waited 7-8 months before they approved my registration and I didn't resort to any bad mouthing of some sort. I always tell other overseas RNs that registration, whether in Australia or the US, is not a right but only a privilege. A right won't be taken away from you, but a privilege can be taken away. I was once refused registration in Australia when the registration was still under each States. I did not complain. I focused my attention to where I can work and moved on. I'm not saying that you all give up and look somewhere else for a job or where your registration will be recognised without any problems. But if you are really determined to uplift your lives, then you can do all things to realise it, regardless of where you are. 4. UK nurses have the legalities to challenge AHPRA when they were refused registration. They migrated to Australia because they had a positive skills assessment from ANMAC. ANMAC is the body responsible for screening nurses for migration purposes. It's framework for assessment is identical to AHPRA until AHPRA changed its rule. So in order to rectify the differences, AHPRA had to compromise since they can't just tell them that they have to go back to the UK where in fact they have a legal basis for migrating. The same reasoning can't be applied to Filipino nurses. 5. There's a lot of discrepancies when it comes to whether a Philippine Bachelor's is equivalent to an Australian Bachelor's or not. I was even caught in this dilemma when I applied for a postgraduate degree. I was thinking that since ANMAC and AHPRA recognised my degree as equivalent to a Bachelor's degree, then the universities will recognise my degree as well. Well, no. The AEI-NOOSR has various interpretations. So I have to do a bachelor's degree here in Australia just so I can do that postgraduate degree. Postgraduate degrees in nursing is different. They rely mostly on the fact that you have AHPRA registration. But the other postgrad degrees, you really have to have a bachelor's. What I'm trying to say is that because we are the ones asking the Australian institutions to do us a favour, we have to make sure that we are worthy of that favour. It is not up to the Australian institutions to give in just so we get what we want. Anyways, I'm not totally familiar with all what's happening now so some of my arguments may be a little too off to some of you. But I wish you all the best and I hope you all get your registrations. It would be very nice to see more competent, talented, Filipino RNs here in Australia.

I'm guessing, just like most other countries, you would have to study the language first and forget nursing at least for a while until you are proficient enough. I'm pretty sure there are French language courses around that area, if it's metropolitan enough. Courses start with beginner level up to advanced level. The cheaper way to do that as of now, if you are still in the Philippines, is to enroll at Alliance Francaise I think.

applicants will undergo a bridging program.