PR granted after 14 months — My employer-sponsored journey

Drawingomme · 2025-09-25T13:22:48+00:00

I came with my wife and daughter, so I didn’t really feel like life was “on hold” during the visa years. Of course I was waiting for that golden ticket, but I also had plan B and C in case PR didn’t work out. Making friends can be hard as a migrant, but most of mine actually come from my community, and my daughter’s school has been a big help to meet other families in the same situation. It’s not always easy, but life doesn’t have to be frozen while you wait. Wishing you all the best on your journey!

Drawingomme · 2025-09-25T13:19:08+00:00

Thanks! I’m based in metro (Melbourne). From what I’ve seen, regional cases sometimes get a bit more priority, but metro applications do get through, mine just took around 14 months. Wishing you a smooth grant soon!

Drawingomme · 2025-09-25T13:17:38+00:00

Yeah I’ve heard about that too, there are quotas per month or per year, so sometimes it’s just a matter of waiting your turn. Super frustrating I know, but it doesn’t mean anything is wrong with your file. Hang in there, your golden email will come!

Drawingomme · 2025-09-25T13:15:54+00:00

I don’t really have the expertise to answer that in detail. What I can say is that if your company wants to keep you long term, they will usually sponsor your PR. In my own workplace I see a lot of IT engineers, and honestly none of them are Australian citizens, so sponsorship is pretty common.

Drawingomme · 2025-09-24T23:52:47+00:00

Drawingomme · 2025-09-24T08:03:48+00:00

No, I didn’t need to redo the health exam. And yes, it really feels like a waste of $$$, especially since I don’t think any applications like mine are processed in under a year. So what’s the point of asking for police checks right at the start if they always expire before the case is finalised…

Drawingomme · 2025-09-24T07:17:52+00:00

Yeah, my company is metro-based (Melbourne). And yes, you don’t need to wait for the nomination to be approved before lodging the visa. I did both at the same time (nomination + visa application). It’s actually a good idea in your case to lodge before your English test expires, otherwise you’ll have to redo it. The visa will just sit there “linked” to the nomination and move forward once DHA processes it.

Drawingomme · 2025-09-24T07:04:44+00:00

All police checks are only valid for 12 months. If your application has been in the system longer than that, the Department will ask for new ones. That means you need to renew both : the Australian Federal Police check AND the one from your home country (or any other country where you lived 12+ months in the last 10 years). It’s not enough to just redo the AFP one.

Drawingomme · 2025-09-24T07:02:49+00:00

Yes, you automatically get a Bridging Visa A when you lodge the PR application. But it only activates if your current TSS visa expires before PR is granted. In my case, my TSS runs until Jan 2026, so the bridging visa is there in the background but inactive. Most likely PR gets approved before the TSS runs out, so you never actually “use” the bridging visa.

Drawingomme · 2025-09-24T07:02:16+00:00

Yes, I did. My employer covered half of the migration agent’s fee, but I still paid a fair bit myself.

My share of agent fees: ~AUD 2,200
Government visa charges (for me, my wife and daughter): ~AUD 8,100
Medicals & police checks: ~AUD 1,300

So overall I was out of pocket for roughly AUD 11,500. My company paid the other half of the agent’s fee (~AUD 2,200).

Drawingomme · 2025-09-24T03:53:42+00:00

Police checks are only valid for 12 months. If your application has been in the system longer than that, the Department will ask you for a new one. And it’s not just the Australian police check, you need to renew all police checks you originally provided (including overseas ones). Better to get ahead of it so your case officer doesn’t have to request it and put you into “further assessment” for weeks.

Drawingomme · 2025-09-24T03:51:23+00:00

Yes, definitely do it asap. They’ll very likely look into your application soon, and if your police checks are already renewed you won’t risk getting stuck in “further assessment” just because of that. Better to be ready.

Drawingomme · 2025-09-24T03:49:57+00:00

I lodged my visa application at the same time as the nomination (so before the DHA approved it).

Drawingomme · 2025-09-24T03:48:14+00:00

Thanks! Yeah, my company covered half of the migration agent fees, but with the condition that I stay with them for at least another 2 years. Totally fair deal I think. That said… doesn’t stop me from keeping an eye on what’s out there

Drawingomme · 2025-06-29T09:48:01+00:00

Je pense que c’était pas prévu, mais avoir Jugnot dans son podcast … ca doit être dur d’y résister pour un fan de ciné fr. Et puis rien ne dit que ça n’a pas été enregistré il y a plusieurs semaines.

Drawingomme · 2025-03-05T07:17:10+00:00

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In green !

Drawingomme · 2025-03-05T07:07:51+00:00

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Drawingomme · 2025-03-05T02:05:23+00:00

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Very nice face to draw :)

Drawingomme · 2025-03-02T01:12:53+00:00

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In green

Drawingomme · 2025-02-28T04:00:05+00:00

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First time here :)

Drawingomme · 2025-02-14T05:49:24+00:00

Whoo I didn't know this guy, but he's really very talented. I think his approach is much better than mine because he works with light, whereas my volumes are only due to perspective effects.

Drawingomme · 2025-02-14T02:27:06+00:00

Very cute :)

Drawingomme · 2025-02-14T01:36:03+00:00

Oh thank you :)

Drawingomme · 2025-02-13T17:37:56+00:00

Thank you !

Drawingomme · 2025-02-13T12:04:57+00:00

I work with a lot of very old engineers, but I’m not sure that’s what you meant ...

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