GarethOz

Hello, I was wondering if any of you could help me,

I�¢â�¬â�¢m a 21 year old male, and was born as well has having
lived in England all my life. I used to look after my niece in
England whilst she was an infant. My sister, who married an
Australian, decided to immigrate to Brisbane, Australia in
September 2004, and take their daughter with them. At the time,
I worked in a public house with my sister and brother-in-law. I
lost three loved ones and my social life.

I suffered pretty bad depression, panic and anxiety attacks for
18 months. It was very bad. Agoraphobic, and couldn�¢â�¬â�¢t
face anyone without having a panic or anxiety attack. I was in a
right old pickle. In May 2006, I came out to Australia on a
working visa to live with my sister, brother-in-law and niece -
and the latest addition to the family - my nephew. For the past
7 months, I�¢â�¬â�¢ve never ever been happier. I�¢â�¬â�¢m free
of my troubles, and have helped my sister through poste-natal
depression. But in May, when my working visa runs out,
I�¢â�¬â�¢ll be losing my family I am close to once again.

In England, I live at home with my parents and younger brother.
But my parents and I have a very rocky relationship. I have no
reason to return to England. All my friends I made at the pub
have moved on elsewhere, and in general, my preference would be
to stay in Australia as it�¢â�¬â�¢s a better country. I feel
settled here, I�¢â�¬â�¢ve made friends, I�¢â�¬â�¢m working.
I�¢â�¬â�¢ve integrated with ease, and I can see myself here for
the rest of my life. The lifestyle suits me.

I have no qualifications, though I am easily capable of
learning. I missed out on it with the rocky spell I went through
back home, and I�¢â�¬��m keen to make up for it.

I know I can extend my working visa by 12 months if I do
seasonal work, but it only delays the inevitable of returning
home. Something which I passionately wish to avoid.

With my parents and brother back home, I don�¢â�¬â�¢t think I
could apply for a remaining relative, which is a shame, as the
relationship I have with my parents is a polar opposite to the
one I have with my sister, brother-in-law, niece and nephew. Can
I be granted acceptance on the basis of compassion? I doubt it,
but I still hold out hope. I have wrote to the foreign minister,
local mayor, local MP and the premier of Queensland explaining
my situation asking for assistance. I�¢â�¬â�¢m currently
awaiting replies from all four of them before I contact an
immigration lawyer. Is there anything else I could be doing?

Thanks,
Gareth

Ws99

> Hello, I was wondering if any of you could help me,
>
> I�¢â�¬â�¢m a 21 year old male, and was born as well has having
> lived in England all my life. I used to look after my niece in
> England whilst she was an infant. My sister, who married an
> Australian, decided to immigrate to Brisbane, Australia in
> September 2004, and take their daughter with them. At the time,
> I worked in a public house with my sister and brother-in-law. I
> lost three loved ones and my social life.
>
> I suffered pretty bad depression, panic and anxiety attacks for
> 18 months. It was very bad. Agoraphobic, and couldn�¢â�¬â�¢t
> face anyone without having a panic or anxiety attack. I was in a
> right old pickle. In May 2006, I came out to Australia on a
> working visa to live with my sister, brother-in-law and niece -
> and the latest addition to the family - my nephew. For the past
> 7 months, I�¢â�¬â�¢ve never ever been happier. I�¢â�¬â�¢m free
> of my troubles, and have helped my sister through poste-natal
> depression. But in May, when my working visa runs out,
> I�¢â�¬â�¢ll be losing my family I am close to once again.
>
> In England, I live at home with my parents and younger brother.
> But my parents and I have a very rocky relationship. I have no
> reason to return to England. All my friends I made at the pub
> have moved on elsewhere, and in general, my preference would be
> to stay in Australia as it�¢â�¬â�¢s a better country. I feel
> settled here, I�¢â�¬â�¢ve made friends, I�¢â�¬â�¢m working.
> I�¢â�¬â�¢ve integrated with ease, and I can see myself here for
> the rest of my life. The lifestyle suits me.
>
> I have no qualifications, though I am easily capable of
> learning. I missed out on it with the rocky spell I went through
> back home, and I�¢â�¬��m keen to make up for it.
>
> I know I can extend my working visa by 12 months if I do
> seasonal work, but it only delays the inevitable of returning
> home. Something which I passionately wish to avoid.
>
> With my parents and brother back home, I don�¢â�¬â�¢t think I
> could apply for a remaining relative, which is a shame, as the
> relationship I have with my parents is a polar opposite to the
> one I have with my sister, brother-in-law, niece and nephew. Can
> I be granted acceptance on the basis of compassion? I doubt it,
> but I still hold out hope. I have wrote to the foreign minister,
> local mayor, local MP and the premier of Queensland explaining
> my situation asking for assistance. I�¢â�¬â�¢m currently
> awaiting replies from all four of them before I contact an
> immigration lawyer. Is there anything else I could be doing?
>
> Thanks,
> Gareth

This is just my opinion but I don't think you'll get a visa on
compassionate grounds.

Could you get an employer to sponsor you (I know its only a temp
solution).

Or become a student in Australia and get a student visa, which depending
on your course could lead to a PR visa?

Leechy100

> Hello, I was wondering if any of you could help me,
>
> I�¢â�¬â�¢m a 21 year old male, and was born as well has having
> lived in England all my life. I used to look after my niece in
> England whilst she was an infant. My sister, who married an
> Australian, decided to immigrate to Brisbane, Australia in
> September 2004, and take their daughter with them. At the time,
> I worked in a public house with my sister and brother-in-law. I
> lost three loved ones and my social life.
>
> I suffered pretty bad depression, panic and anxiety attacks for
> 18 months. It was very bad. Agoraphobic, and couldn�¢â�¬â�¢t
> face anyone without having a panic or anxiety attack. I was in a
> right old pickle. In May 2006, I came out to Australia on a
> working visa to live with my sister, brother-in-law and niece -
> and the latest addition to the family - my nephew. For the past
> 7 months, I�¢â�¬â�¢ve never ever been happier. I�¢â�¬â�¢m free
> of my troubles, and have helped my sister through poste-natal
> depression. But in May, when my working visa runs out,
> I�¢â�¬â�¢ll be losing my family I am close to once again.
>
> In England, I live at home with my parents and younger brother.
> But my parents and I have a very rocky relationship. I have no
> reason to return to England. All my friends I made at the pub
> have moved on elsewhere, and in general, my preference would be
> to stay in Australia as it�¢â�¬â�¢s a better country. I feel
> settled here, I�¢â�¬â�¢ve made friends, I�¢â�¬â�¢m working.
> I�¢â�¬â�¢ve integrated with ease, and I can see myself here for
> the rest of my life. The lifestyle suits me.
>
> I have no qualifications, though I am easily capable of
> learning. I missed out on it with the rocky spell I went through
> back home, and I�¢â�¬��m keen to make up for it.
>
> I know I can extend my working visa by 12 months if I do
> seasonal work, but it only delays the inevitable of returning
> home. Something which I passionately wish to avoid.
>
> With my parents and brother back home, I don�¢â�¬â�¢t think I
> could apply for a remaining relative, which is a shame, as the
> relationship I have with my parents is a polar opposite to the
> one I have with my sister, brother-in-law, niece and nephew. Can
> I be granted acceptance on the basis of compassion? I doubt it,
> but I still hold out hope. I have wrote to the foreign minister,
> local mayor, local MP and the premier of Queensland explaining
> my situation asking for assistance. I�¢â�¬â�¢m currently
> awaiting replies from all four of them before I contact an
> immigration lawyer. Is there anything else I could be doing?
>
> Thanks,
> Gareth

I would look into the student visa option. Not sure about all the ins
and outs though. But I think if you train for a trade it can lead to
permanent residency. I am sure somebody else will clarify this.

All the best.

Nicky x

Chris96

> Hello, I was wondering if any of you could help me,
>
> I�¢â�¬â�¢m a 21 year old male, and was born as well has having
> lived in England all my life. I used to look after my niece in
> England whilst she was an infant. My sister, who married an
> Australian, decided to immigrate to Brisbane, Australia in
> September 2004, and take their daughter with them. At the time,
> I worked in a public house with my sister and brother-in-law. I
> lost three loved ones and my social life.
>
> I suffered pretty bad depression, panic and anxiety attacks for
> 18 months. It was very bad. Agoraphobic, and couldn�¢â�¬â�¢t
> face anyone without having a panic or anxiety attack. I was in a
> right old pickle. In May 2006, I came out to Australia on a
> working visa to live with my sister, brother-in-law and niece -
> and the latest addition to the family - my nephew. For the past
> 7 months, I�¢â�¬â�¢ve never ever been happier. I�¢â�¬â�¢m free
> of my troubles, and have helped my sister through poste-natal
> depression. But in May, when my working visa runs out,
> I�¢â�¬â�¢ll be losing my family I am close to once again.
>
> In England, I live at home with my parents and younger brother.
> But my parents and I have a very rocky relationship. I have no
> reason to return to England. All my friends I made at the pub
> have moved on elsewhere, and in general, my preference would be
> to stay in Australia as it�¢â�¬â�¢s a better country. I feel
> settled here, I�¢â�¬â�¢ve made friends, I�¢â�¬â�¢m working.
> I�¢â�¬â�¢ve integrated with ease, and I can see myself here for
> the rest of my life. The lifestyle suits me.
>
> I have no qualifications, though I am easily capable of
> learning. I missed out on it with the rocky spell I went through
> back home, and I�¢â�¬��m keen to make up for it.
>
> I know I can extend my working visa by 12 months if I do
> seasonal work, but it only delays the inevitable of returning
> home. Something which I passionately wish to avoid.
>
> With my parents and brother back home, I don�¢â�¬â�¢t think I
> could apply for a remaining relative, which is a shame, as the
> relationship I have with my parents is a polar opposite to the
> one I have with my sister, brother-in-law, niece and nephew. Can
> I be granted acceptance on the basis of compassion? I doubt it,
> but I still hold out hope. I have wrote to the foreign minister,
> local mayor, local MP and the premier of Queensland explaining
> my situation asking for assistance. I�¢â�¬â�¢m currently
> awaiting replies from all four of them before I contact an
> immigration lawyer. Is there anything else I could be doing?
>
> Thanks,
> Gareth

Get a student visa and train for a trade, maybe a pivot point package or
something, you'll have to do a registered course for two years and
you'll only be able to do paid employment for 20hours per week.
Queensland has plenty of training institutes.
Best of luck Chris96.

George Lombard

> Hello, I was wondering if any of you could help me,
>
> I�¢â�¬â�¢m a 21 year old male, and was born as well has having
> lived in England all my life. I used to look after my niece in
> England whilst she was an infant. My sister, who married an
> Australian, decided to immigrate to Brisbane, Australia in
> September 2004, and take their daughter with them. At the time,
> I worked in a public house with my sister and brother-in-law. I
> lost three loved ones and my social life.
>
> I suffered pretty bad depression, panic and anxiety attacks for
> 18 months. It was very bad. Agoraphobic, and couldn�¢â�¬â�¢t
> face anyone without having a panic or anxiety attack. I was in a
> right old pickle. In May 2006, I came out to Australia on a
> working visa to live with my sister, brother-in-law and niece -
> and the latest addition to the family - my nephew. For the past
> 7 months, I�¢â�¬â�¢ve never ever been happier. I�¢â�¬â�¢m free
> of my troubles, and have helped my sister through poste-natal
> depression. But in May, when my working visa runs out,
> I�¢â�¬â�¢ll be losing my family I am close to once again.
>
> In England, I live at home with my parents and younger brother.
> But my parents and I have a very rocky relationship. I have no
> reason to return to England. All my friends I made at the pub
> have moved on elsewhere, and in general, my preference would be
> to stay in Australia as it�¢â�¬â�¢s a better country. I feel
> settled here, I�¢â�¬â�¢ve made friends, I�¢â�¬â�¢m working.
> I�¢â�¬â�¢ve integrated with ease, and I can see myself here for
> the rest of my life. The lifestyle suits me.
>
> I have no qualifications, though I am easily capable of
> learning. I missed out on it with the rocky spell I went through
> back home, and I�¢â�¬��m keen to make up for it.
>
> I know I can extend my working visa by 12 months if I do
> seasonal work, but it only delays the inevitable of returning
> home. Something which I passionately wish to avoid.
>
> With my parents and brother back home, I don�¢â�¬â�¢t think I
> could apply for a remaining relative, which is a shame, as the
> relationship I have with my parents is a polar opposite to the
> one I have with my sister, brother-in-law, niece and nephew. Can
> I be granted acceptance on the basis of compassion? I doubt it,
> but I still hold out hope. I have wrote to the foreign minister,
> local mayor, local MP and the premier of Queensland explaining
> my situation asking for assistance. I�¢â�¬â�¢m currently
> awaiting replies from all four of them before I contact an
> immigration lawyer. Is there anything else I could be doing?
>
> Thanks,
> Gareth

Hi Gareth,

Student visa is the obvious solution. Australian immigration
authorities don't care about your problems, unfortunately. From what
you've stated, if those conditions are severe you might fail the
medical on mental health grounds. Letters to all those officials
aren't likely to help.

Cheers,

George Lombard

GarethOz

> Hi Gareth,
>
> Student visa is the obvious solution. Australian immigration
> authorities don't care about your problems, unfortunately. From what
> you've stated, if those conditions are severe you might fail the
> medical on mental health grounds. Letters to all those officials
> aren't likely to help.
>
> Cheers,
>
> George Lombard

Thank you so much for all the replies.

I'm not holding out on a reply from the officials. I'll probably receive
some pre-typed letter from their secretary with an information pack on
Australia, I expect.

Okay, I'll look into a student visa tonight once I get home from work
tonight. If I am granted the visa, I assume I should take a trade that
Australia is crying out for to increase my chances of staying put? I
expect I may have to study something I wish not to live my life doing,
as I would like to be a sports scientist, sports psychologist or a guide
dog trainer. And I very much doubt Australia are crying out for those
jobs. Can I apply for a student visa whilst out here on a working visa,
or do I have to return home first?

What is a pivot point package? I assume by the term, it means by
studying the course they're looking for, and once qualified, you'll gain
sufficient points to ensure permanent residency.

-Tking

> Thank you so much for all the replies.
>
> I'm not holding out on a reply from the officials. I'll probably
> receive some pre-typed letter from their secretary with an information
> pack on Australia, I expect.
>
> Okay, I'll look into a student visa tonight once I get home from work
> tonight. If I am granted the visa, I assume I should take a trade that
> Australia is crying out for to increase my chances of staying put? I
> expect I may have to study something I wish not to live my life doing,
> as I would like to be a sports scientist, sports psychologist or a
> guide dog trainer. And I very much doubt Australia are crying out for
> those jobs. Can I apply for a student visa whilst out here on a
> working visa, or do I have to return home first?
>
> What is a pivot point package? I assume by the term, it means by
> studying the course they're looking for, and once qualified, you'll
> gain sufficient points to ensure permanent residency.

Hi

You can apply for a student visa whilst on a Working Holiday Visa. The
biggest stumbling block for most people is the fees for International
Students. For an Undergrad degree at UQ, fees are from $6000 - 10000 per
semester - and you'd need a minimum of 5 or 6 semesters - so that's
$30000 - 60000. Lots!!!

You also need to make sure you're qualification would enable you to gain
PR (and the rules change all the time). My personal suggestion would be
nursing - as you can earn while you study and there's likely to still be
a shortage in 3 years time. But who knows!

Best of luck with everything!

Ptlabs

> Thank you so much for all the replies.
>
> I'm not holding out on a reply from the officials. I'll probably
> receive some pre-typed letter from their secretary with an information
> pack on Australia, I expect.
>
> Okay, I'll look into a student visa tonight once I get home from work
> tonight. If I am granted the visa, I assume I should take a trade that
> Australia is crying out for to increase my chances of staying put? I
> expect I may have to study something I wish not to live my life doing,
> as I would like to be a sports scientist, sports psychologist or a
> guide dog trainer. And I very much doubt Australia are crying out for
> those jobs. Can I apply for a student visa whilst out here on a
> working visa, or do I have to return home first?
>
> What is a pivot point package? I assume by the term, it means by
> studying the course they're looking for, and once qualified, you'll
> gain sufficient points to ensure permanent residency.

You choose a course, then apply for the student visa, not the other
way round.

Peter

GarethOz

> Hi
>
> You can apply for a student visa whilst on a Working Holiday Visa. The
> biggest stumbling block for most people is the fees for International
> Students. For an Undergrad degree at UQ, fees are from $6000 - 10000
> per semester - and you'd need a minimum of 5 or 6 semesters - so
> that's $30000 - 60000. Lots!!!
>
> You also need to make sure you're qualification would enable you to
> gain PR (and the rules change all the time). My personal suggestion
> would be nursing - as you can earn while you study and there's likely
> to still be a shortage in 3 years time. But who knows!
>
> Best of luck with everything!

I certainly don't have that sort of money, unfortunately.

It's ironic too that I may fail on mental health grounds. By being
forced to return home, it seems I'm being pushed to go through it
all again.

I guess the only other option would be to find out about a visa brought
in in November 2005, where you are trained (the company/government? pays
for your education) and then will be 'stationed' so to speak in regional
Australia which is in need of the trade which you have been trained in
for 3-5 years or so. At least I think it came in.

GarethOz

> I certainly don't have that sort of money, unfortunately.
>
> It's ironic too that I may fail on mental health grounds. By being
> forced to return home, it seems I'm being pushed to go through it
> all again.
>
> I guess the only other option would be to find out about a visa
> brought in in November 2005, where you are trained (the
> company/government? pays for your education) and then will be
> 'stationed' so to speak in regional Australia which is in need of the
> trade which you have been trained in for 3-5 years or so. At least I
> think it came in.

Out of curiousity, when speaking to an immigration lawyer, are there any
that talk free of charge, but charge only if you decide to go through
the process with them?

I was also reading the points list for general skilled migration, and
there were jobs such as tennis coach and dog handler. I thought the list
of needed occupations were a lot slimmer in variety, and limited to
child care, nursing, manual trades and such.