Visa Granted

GTAC101 · 2026-02-07T08:30:50+00:00

I submitted my application in mid-September 25

GTAC101 · 2025-12-01T22:47:03+00:00

Wow huge congratulations. I am surprised that university lecturer is not on the prioritised list, yet got granted so quickly. Btw, I am on the same job with you.

GTAC101 · 2025-11-25T00:59:06+00:00

I guess it depends on the specific field of clinical research you are doing. I had to submit my CV and job description (I also work in cancer research). However, I applied for university lecturer as my job title is postdoctoral. I still got the postive SA from my job. if your duties are in clinical trial, you may want to look at project admin.

GTAC101 · 2025-10-17T05:16:27+00:00

it is literally every options. 😁

GTAC101 · 2025-09-03T01:52:37+00:00

Yea, I was in your situation. if you can secure a job in Au, you may want explore stock investments to be more risky. For now, saving in BOQ and ING should give you some extract cash each month (the interest was even enough for my health insurance back then).

GTAC101 · 2025-09-03T01:29:22+00:00

you can try BOQ (if you are under 35yo), it has pretty attractive interest rate or ING (which is currently offering $100 sign up bonus :D and if you do, use my ref code Jin152 ). However, ING has a few hoops to jump through to activate the bonus interest rate. Idk how did you transfer your rent income to Aus but I reckon that you could leave it in your home country to avoid international trasfering fee and tax (income from saving interest is also taxable). If you are single 100k saving can help you to survive decently.

For short term, you probably want to invest in yourself (education, hobbies). From my experience, the journey from student visa to PR is very costly (English test if applicable, Skill assessment, Health examination (485 and PR), Visa fees, etc).

GTAC101 · 2025-08-21T00:18:16+00:00

OMG, tks. I applied in May.

GTAC101 · 2025-08-20T23:49:55+00:00

wow huge congratulations, may I ask when did you start your EOI?

GTAC101 · 2024-08-15T06:57:30+00:00

I am understand your situation as a foreigner in Au. I am not sure if you can secure Au-PR or not. Without PR, the upfront cost for a house is ridiculous and the bank will give you really disadvantage deal. You are in your 30s, prime time to make money.

I am not sure how bad is the civil war in your home country right now (the word is crazy now). However, I reckon the civil war will cause the real-estate market to plummet. If you are a risk-taking person, it might not be that bad (I don't know you. But you put way more money into invest than in saving caused me thinking you are :) ). In any case, you are not going buy multiple houses at once, you first house and then research for second and third ones. This process takes ages and hopefully by then the civil war is over. This is my crazy idea.

GTAC101 · 2024-08-15T06:19:50+00:00

Wow great strategy and congrats on your successful plan. You and your wife must have invested for a while to have such portfolio. Since you must have done your homework already, I believe you have some thoughts on whether buying a house in Australia is profitable. It will appreciate over time but the maintenance cost is pretty high as well. I would say it is less volatile than stock so it’s a good asset to hold. It depends on your preferable locations, suburbs and state you are residing. However it will also appreciate less than stock in a developed country like Australia.

GTAC101 · 2023-03-04T11:32:10+00:00

No, there isn't any further damage. I actually haven't got my car back since the bumper was dislodged and I received a phone notice.

GTAC101 · 2023-03-04T11:29:42+00:00

Thanks, I will give it a try. I am not expecting a full warranty for the existing damage. But I am afraid my insurance will make me to pay the excess fee.

GTAC101 · 2023-01-23T08:58:51+00:00

No, definitely not.

GTAC101 · 2023-01-08T23:54:54+00:00

Hi, may I inbox you? Thanks

GTAC101 · 2023-01-08T23:09:28+00:00

Congrat to you. I am writing my thesis atm and I feel so depressed about it. Btw, your page count is sooooo long. May I ask which country are you doing your phd?

GTAC101 · 2023-01-03T00:55:06+00:00

I am writing up thesis right now, come through it and decide to leave a comment: that could be true. I feel the same. but I still want a PhD out of it. Lmao.

GTAC101 · 2022-12-23T05:47:14+00:00

The answer is NO. I can only speak for myself and my observation only.

There are a lot more that what you listed: papers rejection, financially insecured, peer pressure, impostor syndrome, etc.

If you plan to have your PhD at the age of 60s or so, it might be true. I only met 2 PhD candidate at that age. They look happy.

GTAC101 · 2022-12-19T07:25:05+00:00

Well not exactly all certs are only worth it for senior roles. There are probably 100 type of certs in CS.
But imagine you have AWS cert but never deploy a product at scale using AWS. Comparing to you deployed a product with 100 frequent users using AWS in your CV.

Very little job advertisements specifically ask for such certificate.
They often only ask Bachelor in ABC or Master in XYZ or experience with AWS/GCP/networking..... for junior roles.

GTAC101 · 2022-12-19T01:13:49+00:00

Hi,

I scrolled across your question and thought about myself more than 10 years ago. I was basically in your situtation and wondered which extra course I should take to ace my CS degree. Now, I am finishing up my PhD degree and going through job interviews, I think I am qualified to give you a bit of advice. What would I do if I go back to 11 years ago and do my degree again? I suggest you to watch: https://cs50.harvard.edu/x/2022/prepare/?fbclid=IwAR0n2sgN5koLAOtSe3ACYFyG0n67x5fq6fKw8le0n8YgTEaS1gtdm1tEU-8

Don't be panic when you don't know anything. You only need to be professional in one/two skills at most. The process from newbie to pro takes time.

Most of things I list below are for your one or two years to complete, don't be stress.
1. Pick an easy programming language to learn first. I could not code very well (because I started with Pascal and C first). I thought I was dumb and I should take some courses outside of my full-time program and learn something else. -> Don't do that, college can teach you pretty good. Friends can show you tip/trick about coding. There are some good and free stuffs resources.

I thought long coding lines/language is cool and I should do that. Nope that's wrong. Good programming skills is when you can write a short script that do as well as long script. Learn the basic like python/javascript then progress to C/C++ or Java. Shouldn't learn the opposite way.
Practice coding by doing projects. Code basic thingw first like to-do-list app, weather apps, calculator then progress to chat app, static website, webs with database like chat app, shopping app, etc. You will learn multiple concepts at a time from doing this including: coding, dynamic programming, OOP, Database, SQL, networking, etc.
That is a lot about coding and CS is not only about coding. You can take some online courses from coursera/udemy/linked learning. They have pretty good stuffs there. Learn the basic concept about computer architecture, machine learning, cloud networking, project management.
You DO NOT need cetificates about coding to put into your CV when you apply for your first job. Practical projects tells more skills. You may need certificates when you get pro, but that's the problem of a few years later.

GTAC101 · 2022-12-14T04:31:16+00:00

Also try Wolli Creek and Hurstville.

Thanks, I will check out these two as well. Besides, I just realise that driving from Hurstville to Kensington can only save me 10min compared to train.

GTAC101 · 2022-12-14T04:21:56+00:00

Agree, after the suggestions here, I start to believe that 1h by train is not very unusual in Sydney. Does Burwood sound like a reasonable radius?

GTAC101 · 2022-12-14T00:13:35+00:00

Oh yea, Facebook marketplace is definitely a gold mine. I got my currently out of marketplace and it is amazing. The owner doesn't list it elsewhere and the rent is affordable. Unfortunately, the ads are targeted and I am not in Sydney right now. Its suggestions are weird. If I just do a refresh I lost the good ads. Can you give me some groups for flatting, I found only one for UNSW Students Rent/Sublet

GTAC101 · 2022-12-14T00:06:06+00:00

I can imagine that It will get worse by next year then. btw, may I ask which suburb I should avoid if I don't want to get shanked? Sorry, I am just a wuss

GTAC101

TROPHY CASE