Skilled Indepenent - 136

Tanvi Tusti · Feb 20, 2007

Hi

I am a UK born and trained RN in Sydney for the second time on a 457 temporary business long stay visa. I can change employers but the new employer has to log an application for said visa, this hasn't been a problem for friends that I know have done this. It also allows you to easily apply for a 121 permanent visa while you are here in Australia. Any nurses wanting to work in Oz permanently, I would advise to go that route as the application for the 457 along with registration with the appropriate nursing board, only takes around 4 months, then you can begin the longer 121 visa application whilst you are actually here.

The longest part of the process for me was the registration with the NMB, this took just over 8 weeks, whereas the online visa application took only 4.

You need 12 months post reg experience to be considered for most jobs although some will accept you with less.

Good luck :mad:

fejao · Feb 20, 2007

Hi
I am a UK born and trained RN in Sydney for the second time on a 457 temporary business long stay visa. I can change employers but the new employer has to log an application for said visa, this hasn't been a problem for friends that I know have done this. It also allows you to easily apply for a 121 permanent visa while you are here in Australia. Any nurses wanting to work in Oz permanently, I would advise to go that route as the application for the 457 along with registration with the appropriate nursing board, only takes around 4 months, then you can begin the longer 121 visa application whilst you are actually here.
The longest part of the process for me was the registration with the NMB, this took just over 8 weeks, whereas the online visa application took only 4.
You need 12 months post reg experience to be considered for most jobs although some will accept you with less.
Good luck

First of all, thank you for taking the time replying to my post

Just a few questions on your post. Am I correct in saying I have to wait 2 years before I can lodge a 121 permanent visa and I must stay with the employer whom is nominating the application for two years prior to the application and I cant change position within the hospital i.e theatres to general surgery for example?

What is the process for applying for the visa? Do I need to get a job offer first? Do I apply for registration with Queensland Nursing Council before getting a job offer?

Also how does nursing in Auz compare with the UK? How is the pay and quality of living compare? I hear a lot of people are worse off financially staying in Auz but their quality of life is better, is this true? Am hoping to move to Brisbane, any suggestions on good hospitals to work at.

Thank you

Fejao.

Tanvi Tusti · Feb 21, 2007

Hi,

to apply for a 121 visa you have to have been working in Oz full time for 2 years but only 1 has to be for the employer who nominate you. As far as I know you can change position in the hospital, its not the job, its the employer who provides the nomination so as long as you stay with that employer for at least a year you can move areas.

In order to apply for 457, the first step would be to register with Queensland Nursing Council. Im resgistered with the NMB NSW but Im sure its pretty much standardised. You can download the forms off the website, get all your certificates notorised, provides letters form current and previous employer, send it all off and wait the 8 or so weeks. Then find yourself a job, which is VERY easy, either go via a recruitment agency such as http://www.profco.com/, or ring around hospitals yourself, either option is good. Once you get the job offer they will provide a nomination letter which has your nomination number on, then fill in your online application at: http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/skilled-workers/sbs/index.htm, this takes all of 3o mins to do and you will get a response, usually within 4 weeks, although I have heard that there have been delays of up to 8 weeks just recently. During the wait find yourself somewhere to live, this is a good place to start: http://www.realestate.com.au/.

Book your flights and your away!

Working here is great, work practicies are much like in the UK, the people are very helpful and friendly. We are in Sydney, which is considered an expensive place to live, and yes the quality of life is overall slightly better than in the UK. The weather certainly helps too. I would say that financially I am slightly worse off here, but the lifesytle more than makes up for it and if we were to buy rather than rent then the type and size of house that we could get would be way better than in the UK. Anything else I can help with dont hesitate to ask. :monkeydance:

lavalin · Feb 22, 2007

hi, i have been looking at this visa for a while and would like some advice please.
i am a level 1 rn in the uk and have one year post registration experience (full time) in plastic surgery. i am looking to move to either brisbane or townsville. i would rather go for this visa (skilled independent -136) rather than being tied to one employer or position with the other visa. from what i gather from the dima point assessment i have 130 points, so i am eligible for this visa. some questions i have are:
how long normally does this visa take to get?
already been answered
i must apply for registration with queensland nursing council before i apply for the visa?
if you are applying for the 136 general skilled migration, you just need to present a positive assessment as from anmc.
can i only apply after 18 months of being qualified as the visa documention says. i must have worked at least 12 months of the 18 months prior to application.
under 136 general skilled migration you have to present a certificate of employment to anmc and dimia.
is there any other visa which is easier to apply for, which will allow me to apply for citizenship if want to and does not tie me to one employer or nursing position?
already been answered by tanvi tusti. 457 visa (working visa) and then as explained further you can apply for the 121 visa (employer nominated scheme category - permanent resident).
hope someone can help.
fejao

X-treme · Mar 11, 2007

I'm from Canada and have also though of nursing on a visa in hope to obtain permanent residency. From other forums this is what I gathered. I'm still confused as to what visa to get.

If your nursing qualifications are recognised in Australia you should get enough points for a 136 skilled visa. That is the one to aim for. It allows you unconditional residency (you can live and work where you like). Also, as soon as you arrive, you will be classed as a permanent resident (you can stay forever with no need to extend visas or anything else). You can apply for full citizenship after 2 years (though this may change to 3 or more years soon).

Another - STNI visa which means we are sponsored by the WA govt and need to stay in the Perth area for 2 years. But this visa gives you permanent residency on arrival unlike the 136 independant - although you are free to go anywhere with that.

Other visas have conditions to be met such as living in a designated area for 2 years and doing a certain type of job before you can apply for permanent residency.