and yes, I'm now proudly to tell the whole world that I am a Permanent Resident of Australia as of Nov 2010... hurray!!
So we shall now have some Q&A session with Ms Kimberly Chia..
Reporter: Hi, Ms Kimberly, my name is Anastasia, nice to meet you.. Kimberly: Hi Anastasia, nice to meet you too..
A: I heard of the great news, congratulations to you.. K: Oh yes, thanks alot.. ^_^
A: so I would like to ask a few question in order to help some of our readers who are interested in getting their PR in Australia as well, and hope you can give some insight as well.. K: oh yes, definitely, just ask me whatever you want...
A: So, we would like to know which Subclass you have applied to get your PR? K: I applied under Skilled Migration (Subclass 886), in another word is under the sponsorship of relatives..
A: oh cool, so who is your relatives that sponsored you? And what are the requirements that falls under the relatives category? K: my brother - Andrew is the one that sponsor of my application. Well, usually it falls under the same family tree or your parents' siblings will be able to be the sponsor as well. Besides, they have to be a PR / Citizen of Australia as well. In another words, the Australia Govt would want to confirm that if anything happen to you, your sponsor will be able to look after you or able to pay for your living, if you have became dependent.
A: Oh, I see, I see.. So what occupation have you chosen that is falled under the 'skilled migration'? And why have you chosen that? K: Accountant. Why? Oh well, there is once I have heard this from my friend, it says that good timing (economy), companies need accountants, bad timing, companies still need accountants, so why not?!
A: Okay, so are you working in a related field now? K: Well, more or less, yes. I'm working as an Accounts Administrator now. Though not much of Accounts related of what I have learnt in University, but there is still abit of knowledge requires to perform my work.
A: I see, so are you planning to take up CPA / CA? K: Well, not at this moment yet, as I don't think I am able to handle well juggling with work and studies at the same time. I have been having hard time by just doing studies itself, what more about work and study together?! But not too sure in the future, will see how my journey goes, and what God has instore for me.
A: So what was the basic requirement to be able to lodge in the PR Application? I know that there is a point system, and how much do you require to under your subclass. K: Age, Occupation nominatted, IELTS, and 2 years spent in Australia before lodging application are the basic requirements required to be eligible to lodge in the PR Application, and the point is 110.
A: So, I heard that when you lodged in your PR application, that was the GEC hit, and Australia was in a bad shaped. Did that affect your PR application and what was it? K: Well, more or less, yes, it did affect, but not much. According to the occupation that I've nominatted which is Accountant, I can get into the CSL (Critical Skilled List). However, due to the overflowing of Accountants that are applying for PR as well, the Govt of Aust has make the requirement stricter, which is IELTS result must have all sections band 7 and above. After a few attempts to the IELTS test, I wasn't able to get to all sections of band 7, only average of Band 7, therefore, I was not eligible to be in the CSL. Besides that, nothing much changes.
A: Thank you for that. So, one of the requirement is that you have to be in Australia for 2 years as an international student. Did you do 2 years of studies? K: Yes, I have fulfilled that 2 years of studies requirement, but I did 2.5 years of studies instead.
A: Why is it so? K: It was because when I 1st came to Perth, was to finish my final semester of my degree. In order to meet the PR requirement, I will need to take up another studies to meet the 2 years of requirement. Therefore, I've chose to studied Master of Accounting which offers 1.5 years of studies. However, in the middle of my Masters, the PR rules changes again.
A: What was that? K: It was not only to be a student in Australia for 2 years, but you must have fulfilled the CRICOS code. In another word, you need to have 100 credits for each semesters for 4 semesters.
A: So, what makes you studied for another semester? K: Well, it was because I got exempted from 12 units to 10 units, which is a good news especially for an international students like us, we can save as much as we can. So, when this new rules came, I was reluctantly to take back my exempted units to study just to fulfil the requirement.
A: I see, thanks for that. So, how long have you waited for the Aust Govt to grant you the PR? K: 1 year and 8 months.
A: Wow, that is quite a long period of time. So, were you allowed to work? Is there restriction of hours? K: Nope, there isn't any restriction of hours, you can work as much as you can, that is one of the good thing while you are on your Bridging Visa A.
A: So, were you allow to travel overseas while you are on your Bridging Visa A? K: Nope, I will need to apply Bridging Visa B (current price $95) to sort of inform them I will need to take this period of time to go out of the country and give them reasons of why that I need to go out of the country. This is just incase they are reviewing my application, they will have an idea of where was I or where will I be.
A: Okay. Thanks alot, Kimberly, we are happy for you and thanks for all the helpful information. I hope that our readers will gain some knowledge from it too. Any word of encouragement for those who are planning to apply and who are in the midst of waiting? K: Yes, I would like to encourage those who are planning to apply, just think well before lodge in, but is a good decision to be a PR of Australia. To those who are in the midst of waiting, just continue to wait, meanwhile, build up your career resume.
Let me end with one verse: Have I not command you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9
A: Thanks alot, Kimberly, we wish your future will be all well. K: Thanks Anastasia. Thanks for your time.
