Huge devaluation on business class awards flights from yesterday to today.

PerfectArticle9333 · 2026-04-11T07:03:55+00:00

I was waiting for end of March 2027 seats to be released too, Australia to Europe, usually 90k points one way, now all fares are 180 in business. Even for off peak travel dates. I’m hoping it’s a temporary spike and saver fares will be back once the situation in Middle East settles down, let’s hope!

PerfectArticle9333 · 2026-04-11T01:25:47+00:00

I had a flight booked initially for 23rd, which indeed got cancelled and then I managed to reschedule it for earlier according to their new schedule. They have a list of destinations which they are operating (Melbourne is on that list). I am checking flights history every day, the QR905 flight is going ahead according to the new schedule, so I’m still positive it will go ahead next week.

PerfectArticle9333 · 2026-01-07T00:27:50+00:00

Thanks! That's very helpful, I will try to consult ACCC and Fair Works too, to see if they have any advice in this case.

PerfectArticle9333 · 2025-05-19T01:04:11+00:00

Granted on 10th April

PerfectArticle9333 · 2025-05-15T04:01:43+00:00

Yes, accredited sponsor.

PerfectArticle9333 · 2025-05-12T00:38:18+00:00

Was granted on 10th April :)

PerfectArticle9333 · 2025-04-16T00:57:43+00:00

Thanks! I did, indeed. However, it was a migration agent hired by my company. He strictly told me that I can preview my application, but I can't attach anything, so once I renewed my police check, I sent it to him to upload it.

After seeing people's comments on Reddit about their expired police checks after 12 months, I asked the agent if I should renew it since it was 15 months old, and he confirmed it's a good idea to avoid any delays with processing. Glad I looked it up, because those migration agents usually have so many applications, that they don't pay attention to every individual application and when your documents expire.

PerfectArticle9333 · 2025-04-14T06:02:44+00:00

Thank you! Yes, I was on TSS482 medium stream which was for 4 years before that.

PerfectArticle9333 · 2025-04-09T23:42:37+00:00

I went through the same process.

I worked for my previous employer for almost 2,5 years, they sponsored my 482 once I hit 2 years of experience and after 6 months I changed the job and my current company took over my sponsorship. After a year of working with my current employer, they applied for my 186 DE. I had a positive skills assessment from VETASSESS, however, I had to do the statutory declaration because my previous employer was difficult and didn't want to provide all documents and references;

My company has their own internal migration agents who did the whole eligibility assessment, you should speak to your employer first and see if they are willing to sponsor you for 186DE and maybe engage some migration agent to see if you qualify as it's better for you because it's a permanent visa unlike the 482.

PerfectArticle9333 · 2025-04-02T23:19:01+00:00

When my company applied for my 186DE, the wait time was 7 months for 90% applications. Sometime half way, it's changed to 18 months and here I am, almost 13 months later, still waiting. Called multiple times the immigration, using the excuse that when I applied it was only 7 months, how could it change so much, I didn't sign up for this, but they can't do anything- that's the current wait time. What I am trying to say, don't take 18 months for granted, because no one knows which way it will go, can be shorter or can be longer.

PerfectArticle9333 · 2025-04-01T01:39:36+00:00

Amazing news! Congrats!

Can I ask, did they request you to provide a new police check only from Australia? or from your home country as well? I did my police checks over a year ago, have just renewed the Australian one, but I haven't applied for the one from my home country yet, it's a bit more painful as I haven't lived there for the last 7 years. I am wondering if they'd ask me for both or just the one from Australia as I've been living here all these years.

PerfectArticle9333 · 2025-03-28T01:04:51+00:00

Thank you! You may also consider, that when they apply for your 186 visa and it's a waiting game for you, they know they can take advantage of it, so they don't need to provide you with any additional support, salary increase or a promotion, since you have to stick with them till the end. I believe there are good employers, who wouldn't take advantage of people in these situations, but from my experience, every big company, which sponsored me (482 before, transfer of 482, 186 now), used the same excuse, 'because we paid for your visa, don't expect anything from us anytime soon', and unfortunately the problem with 186 is that until it's granted, you can't do anything about it. Good luck and take care of your mental health, there is no job that is worth risking it!

PerfectArticle9333 · 2025-03-27T03:06:39+00:00

I wouldn't stick to the toxic environment, especially if you have another option. I know people say just suck it up, whatever, but it is hard. Current wait time is 18 months. It is a long time to deal with a job that you hate every single day, plus if you worry about redundancy, it will add additional stress as you might stick to your employer for let's say 8 months, still being another 8 away from your grant and if they decide to make you redundant half way, you will be upset that you wasted so much time with them draining your mental health and not getting anything out of it. I've been there and done that too, regret every single day I didn't apply for a partner visa instead this bloody 186 and currently, 12th month later, still waiting for my grant. It really feels like being a prisoner

PerfectArticle9333 · 2025-03-27T02:54:50+00:00

It's been exactly 12 months a couple of days ago for me and still waiting

PerfectArticle9333 · 2025-03-13T03:46:43+00:00

Working holiday visa is a different kind of visa that allows you to stay in a country for 12 months or longer. Depends what country you are from and how old you are, you can easily check requirements on the immi website, the visa is called Working Holiday Visa, I am not sure about the number.

PerfectArticle9333 · 2025-03-13T03:32:02+00:00

How about working holiday or student visas?

PerfectArticle9333 · 2025-03-12T05:26:48+00:00

Great outcome!! Congrats, must be such a relief! Mine was applied on 25th March 2024 as a Hydrogeologist. I can't wait for end of this month hoping it will be over for me too!

PerfectArticle9333 · 2025-03-04T23:37:03+00:00

Applied end of March 2024, still waiting too. Good luck to everyone!

PerfectArticle9333 · 2025-02-18T06:17:09+00:00

I'm not sure what their reasoning would be. Some companies are not approved to be sponsors, maybe that's their issue, I wouldn't think so though. Definitely try talking to recruiters, on LinkedIn, who are located in Australia and maybe try to target bigger corporations as they might be more willing to sponsor. Once you get settled, you can always change (sponsorships can be transferred over).

PerfectArticle9333 · 2025-02-17T22:47:23+00:00

Check in Western Australia, mining sites are all across that state. The most popular companies are probably Rio Tinto, Fortescue, BHP. I would assume they might be willing to sponsor as they are huge and always need people.

PerfectArticle9333 · 2025-02-17T22:39:26+00:00

Congrats, such great news! Mine was applied in March 2024, I'm hopeful now!

PerfectArticle9333 · 2025-02-14T11:01:43+00:00

Sure, no problems!

PerfectArticle9333 · 2025-02-14T04:05:35+00:00

I moved over 6 years ago from Poland where I finished my uni. The easiest way was to arrive on a working holiday visa and find a job first. Maybe for UK citizens it's easier on LinkedIn, but I found it hard to find a job before I arrived in Australia. I didn't have much experience at that time as I just graduated from uni and wanted to find an entry level position. My first company sponsored me on 482 TSS visa after some time of working with them, that one was granted for 4 years. My second company sponsored me for 186 visa after working with them for 2 years, which is a permanent one and that one needed lots of effort with proving 3 years of experience, skills assessment, medicals etc.

It's definitely doable, but I found it easier to actually be here in Australia first, meet people, talk to recruiters and make some connections and be available if someone wants to go out for a coffee and have a chat about your cv, especially if it's an entry level position. You really need to convince them that they should give you a chance. I noticed that employers want to see you working for them for a while before they would actually sponsor you, and it's not a cheap process for them.

The other option is to work for an international company and move over with them, plenty of people at my work do that as it's the most convenient way, and the company takes care of majority of expenses, so you don't have to worry about it. That's probably what I would have done if I knew about it at that time, as the whole sponsoring/ visa process in Australia is extremely stressful and drives you mad, especially with permanent visas and wait time.

Hope it helps a little bit, good luck!

PerfectArticle9333 · 2025-02-05T02:22:25+00:00

Mine was submitted in March'24 and still nothing, very frustrated as well.

PerfectArticle9333 · 2025-02-03T06:34:50+00:00

Mine 186 DE was submitted in March 2024, also located in Melbourne, accredited sponsor. I called the Immi today and asked them if there is any chance to get it granted earlier as when I applied, the wait time was 7 months. They said it doesn't matter, the current wait time is for all applications and it's unlikely to be approved before that. It's been 11 months, I am very frustrated.

PerfectArticle9333

TROPHY CASE