The Analyst Down Under

The document checklist lists Form 26EH - Medical Examination for an Australian visa as the requirements for each family member as well as Form 160EH - Radiologist report on chest x-ray for all the adult applicants. I suppose this means that I need to follow the instructions on this page : "You must arrange your health examination with a panel doctor and/or panel radiology clinic nominated by the Australian Government. Unless otherwise indicated, health examinations conducted overseas are only acceptable if conducted by a panel doctor/radiologist." As I was to learn afterwards, the medical exam could be deferred to a later time, after a case officer would specifically request it. In the email reply to my query, the DIAC mentions: "Applicants for an 'offshore' General Skilled Migration visa can undertake health and character checking prior to their application being allocated to a case officer. The benefit of applicants undertaking health and character checks may b...

I finally submitted my online application for 175 visa today. The application status can be retrieved here . This is a copy of the screen on making the payment of AUD $2,575 using my friend's credit card: Application for grant of a General Skilled Migration visa Your application has been submitted. Your Transaction Reference Number (TRN) is: EGNW44UZRD Important information Please note, this does not mean your visa application has been approved. You will be advised by this Department when your application has been approved. Please record your Transaction Reference Number, as you will need it if you want to check the status of your application through the online enquiry facility which is available by selecting check the progress of an application on the Applications & Forms page accessible from this Department's homepage. Please note each secondary applicant included in this application, more than 16 years...

Well, filling out the online application was just a little tricky but I got through to 99%. Of course, the last part of the application will take a few more days to come through - payment of AUD $2,575. Unfortunately, I was too busy fooling around to talk to a immigration helpline operator before they all went home to peg their socks out for Santa. Everyone will be most likely merry-making for the next three days at least - including Pakistanis this time over the long weekend (two whole days, plus one for Benazir with the hooligans at it again). From the immigration help page , the number to call for GSM application queries is apparently +(61) 1300-364-613, which probably connects to the Adelaide Skilled Processing Centre (ASPC). The number is listed on the General Skilled Migration Processing Centres page . Office hours are 9 am to 4 pm Monday to Friday Central Australian Time (GMT +9.30 / PST +4.30), i.e. PST 04:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. To cut past the IVR, press 1 followed by 0 to tal...