₦airaland Forum

To get the cheapest flight anywhere in the world, do the following:
Open two seperate incognito windows by clicking on the three vertical dots on the right hand side of normal url window if you are using google chrome like me. This incognito helps you to track flights as many times as possible without the internet reading your mind and bringing up options based on your desperation. Google cheapflights and skyscanner, Enter your scheduled travel destination, times, and other relevant information in the provided box. Both systems search through all airlines in the world for either the cheapest, best or fastest route for you.

You should get a wide range of option in terms of price, comfort and value for money. Cngrats on your grant. The Aussie land will favour you my friend.

emenik08:
I think I owe it to posterity to state some lessons I learnt during the visa application journey

1. You don't need a visa agent to apply for visa. Just read the instructions and answer the questions.

2. For students visa, front loading both medicals and biometrics pays.

3. GTE Statement is essential. Just write the truth and from your heart. I think its important to mention how you fulfill each of the GTE areas. Attach supporting documents too.
.
4. If your school is not AL1 please include proof of funding in attached documents. Don't wait for it to be requested. I think it leads to delays.

5. Attach explanatory notes to some documents that might look suspicious.

6. The wait can be tiring but just believe and trust God to do his thing.


Thanks.
Biko what's the cheapest and best flight to use? advice needed oooo

Yeah Sure, pls go ahead

boombabe:
congratulations!!!!!
please can i pm you?

Grant came in this morning for myself, my wife and my two kids: God has smiled on me and I just needed to lift people's spirit in the house. I will summarize my story at the end

Date of application: 11th August 2019
Documents submitted: PhD offer Letter and Scholarship, Multi-Family OSHC, BSC-MSc certificates and transcript, CoE, Statement of result from Macquarie University, Employment Letters, Study leave letter, Account statement, SOP, Marriage cert, Wifey and children Identity details, Medicals
Biometrics: 15th August 2019
Date of grant: 7th September 2019

I will be leaving Sydney for Melbourne come November. Waurn Ponds Geelong, VIC to be precise. My visa is going to be till 2024. I am looking for a nice long-term apartment close to the Institute of Frontier Materials at Waurn Ponds. I am planning to rent a two bedroom apartment. Please anyone that has information or contacts that can make the settling in easy will be appreciated. I am ready to take a trip in a week or two to meet up and possibly try to settle in. Please help a brother

Grant came in this morning for myself, my wife and my two kids: God has smiled on me and I just needed to lift people's spirit in the house. I will summarize my story at the end

Date of application: 11th August 2019
Documents submitted: PhD offer Letter and Scholarship, Multi-Family OSHC, BSC-MSc certificates and transcript, CoE, Statement of result from Macquarie University, Employment Letters, Study leave letter, Account statement, SOP, Marriage cert, Wifey and children Identity details, Medicals
Biometrics: 15th August 2019
Date of grant: 7th September 2019

I have been in australia for a while without family, applied for subsequent entrant and refused. Exactly one year later, having decided the PhD offer to take, I applied as student (PGR) and put my family as dependent. Lo and behold, the visa came in 26days. This can only be God, the speed is outrageous, madam has pilled her legs while praying and sowing heavy seeds with the allowie sent for her and the kids. My message is that. If you have family, do not be afraid to add them to your application.

The other part might be a bit bogus and dicey, these are my thoughts and would like to leave it open to the house to discuss. Due to recent upheaval in South africa, can we boycott that part where you are told to fill closest embassy and send to Australia straight up. I had overheard someone applying from Nigeria did it and no one raised an eyebrow. The bad belle with visa could be stemming from xenophobic influence, I would say. Who ready use matchette comot your head, na him nor go fit reject your visa for you and your family. If for any reason you are asked why you choose Australian embassy and not pretoria, REFER THEM TO XENOPHOBIC ATTACKS ON NIGERIANS. Hope I have not overstepped my boundaries with this one sha| We talk we die, we do not talk we die, let us talk and die

The answer is No, It already signifies that you have no genuine intention to stay temporarily in Australia because you are deemed to be applying for an equivalent programme to your highest qualification. My suggestion would be to convert your finished PhD into a a research question to bolster your application or you could also publish an article or two from it. These steps can guarantee your success but not outrightly putting your PhD certificate out there. Hope this helps. Visa takes between 77days to 5months according to recent processing times. This is the best time to apply for a programme starting January 2020.it still depends on how keen your supervisor is. Yes. The speed can be increased because you have been on similar visa before.

youngfaraday1:
Good day, please i have an enquiry to clarify, is it advisable to include an ongoing PhD programme as part of additional information when trying to secure an admission for PhD in any Australian University. note the result/certificate will not be available in another 8 months of more time.
Thanks,


[sub][/sub][color=#006600][/color]
quote author=strangest post=81586164]Hello, I applied for PhD that is suppose to start January 2020.... P

Please what is the visa timeline like?

How many months does it take to get a visa notification?


For someone like me that have been to Australia before on a 5week subclass500 visa, will it increase the visa speed?

For the purpose of visa application, yes, you can opt for the same course for your masters. Although competitive, when you get here, you can change to a course that guarantees PR. If you start your masters process now. You should be here by February 2020 at the least.

Glowing1:
I studied Accounting in my first degree. Should I still opt for this course for master? I need a course I can easily get PR. And also if I begin my masters process now when does schools resume?
Please i'm new to this

1.5 pages of GTE tend to strike the balance between conciseness and explanatory notes. Remember just mention those things that ties you to your home country, how it helps you further enhance your skills in your present job in Nigeria and you have substantial evidence for those. In the process, mention going back to your home country once and for all. Repetition makes it look unbelievable.

fheyizsmart:
Please what's the ideal no of pages/words recommended for GTE statement of purpose for Visa application to be concise and still capture the needed information?

There are many things to consider before making such decision. You did not give enough information for anyone to help you decide. I will try to give a response from different perspectives.
PR: If you want to get PR easily, University of South Australia might be a good option because most parts are still considered regional especially those outside the ABC Adelaide Capital city. On the other hand, Newcastle where University of Newcastle is situated is not a regional area.
Jobs: There are no much difference in terms of available jobs in this area. But since Newcastle is close to Sydney, I would think it has more jobs or at least gives you more alternative and proximity to jobs. Nightlife: Again, South Australia is a relatively boring area compared to Newcastle, even though, Newcastle is not as bubbly as Sydney or Melbourne. They are all in relative terms.
Standard of living: South Australia is pretty cheap compared to Newcastle because the NSW effect has started to rub off on Newcastle. But you will be alright Las Las as there are jobs as countermeasures
Other things to look out for is the cost of tuition fees, prospect of your course of study to getting PR and general outlook based on your preference on the aforementioned topics. Google is your friend too. In terms of ranking. University of South Australia sits higher than University of Newcastle. Who ranking help if PR is not involved. These are my two cents. Others can add more to it. Cheers

obainojazz:
Hello guys.
Should I go for university of south Australia or University of Newcastle for masters. I will appreciate your replies.

It's good to be back here. I have tried to catch up on recent happenings. Appreciation goes to my folks that have tried to answer questions on here.
I will be touching on a very unpopular area on this thread.

Summary: I have just graduated from Macquarie for my research masters. Declined a PhD offer and scholarship from RMIT (The director tried to convince me for one hour on call, at that point, I started to feel like a superstar) and went with Deakin because the scholarship offered by Deakin covers for Multi Family OSHC, Relocation allowance and Conference travel together with the normal tuition and living stipends offered normally. Other reasons are prospect of job, the enthusiasm and personality of Deakin supervisor over RMIT (before keyboard warriors go start to dey advise me. Lols).

Kudos to Daddybomboy, who tried to share a template on how to get the attention of a supervisor. Let me share another tip. Remember that everyone likes to be identified with and like to be valued. Showing interest in the professors past work and speaking from that perspective is a proven, tested and trusted way of catching his or her attention. For instance, immediately sharing how your research interest overlap theirs sparks their interest and showed the homework you have done.

Back to my story: I had my family visa refused as Subsequent entrant last August, I was patient enough to secure CoE and Multifamily OSHC policy (which cost 17600AUD for more than two people for PhD). My best best now is to apply as the primary applicant and put my family as dependent.

Another morale of my story: if you get a refusal, don't be in a hurry to reapply if you cannot address the reason for refusal. Make sure you are able to address those aforementioned challenges before going ahead or you will be met with another rejection.

Finally, Most of the times, I feel like my case is a very rare one for many reasons. Maybe people should start looking into it. I will explain, not a lot of people do the masters by Research I did, which is a one year full scholarship pathway programme at Macquarie or stand-alone course if you have no intention of doing a PhD. If you have a masters and excelled in it from Nigeria, you can look into this route as an escape route from Nigeria. Its a win-win situation, you don't have to pay tuition, you get stipends, another MSc in the bag and can progress into PhD seamlessly. I got my PhD scholarships because I started a project in my research masters that coincided with some projects underway at RMIT and Deakin, so I could speak the language effectively.

YOU WILL HARDLY GET PHD OFFERS STRAIGHT FROM NIGERIA MOST TIMES BECAUSE THERE IS A GAP IN RESEARCH EMBARKMENT BETWEEN NIGERIA AND AUSTRALIA. FIND A WAY IN BY THIS NEW PATHWAYS AND THE REST WILL BE HISTORY. I don't know if I am making any sense. Let me just drop my mic.

Long story short: if you made a first class or a very strong 2.1, have good academic references, one or two peer-reviewed publication, good employment, strong commitment to develop yourself, (in this case, taking it to mean leave Nigeria for Now, Keyboard warriors, take note). You can get a MRes or PhD scholarship and getting visa to Australia. It is black and white, no hidden agenda with this people. Since I nor gree drop mic, the battery don low by himself. Bye

First of, My prayer is that you get the scholarship for your MRes program. It cost close to 65000bucks annually. For your PR, It will be easier for your husband to apply for PR as the principal apicant since his skill set is closer to what's available on the Skill shortage list. To increase your PR chances. He needs to focus on acing IELTS or PTE on arrival or even now, because he might be blown away by paying bills on arrival. You need to increase your points by writing IELTS too if you have not. He can nominate an occupation that u sleds competitive (with lower cut-off) as his skillset cuts across many fields. After getting PR. He can do whatever job he likes eventually. Hope this helps.
Other things like studying and doing that in a regional area are other points but that one na long thin. My tips are for the NOW. You guyz can get extra 15points from both of you doing IELTS, but with him scoring maximum points. You don't have to.

ayandee:
Please elders in the house, I need your advice.
I'm applying for masters degree programme by research. I have found a supervisor who has agreed to supervise my thesis and i'm hoping to get scholarship.

Beyond the studies, I desire PR as I really want my kids (3 of them) to live and school in Australia. I am a lawyer here in Nigeria and the proposed masters is also in law. I plan to do phd after the masters. From my findings, I don't think law is on the Australian skills list. However, my husband has Hnd elect/elect and Bsc computer science. He has worked mainly in IT (system support and IT Audit/control). He is willing to go with me.

If we go together, what do we need to do to increase our chances of getting PR? I really need your advice.

You need to mention which of the four campuses and know how close you want to be to school. Some of the campuses are 1 or 2 hours away from each other.

youngfaraday1:
Good day everyone,
Please is there anyone living in Melbourne that has an apartment to rent out, for a student coming to Deakin University.
Kindly respond.

Thanks Akinke for tending to this. Well appreciated. Concerning the Health Insurance, she can Google cheap overseas health care Insurance. But most times whatever has been recommended by the school is always the cheapest one. Unfortunately, the OSHC is a pain in the ass, there is nothing anyone can do about it.

akinke:
How did she apply for her MSc?

That's how she will apply. She just needs to fill in for postgraduate research sector.

Or she employs the services of an agent. I used one, so, I have limited information.

If it's a Masters by coursework, then she was on Subclass 500 Higher Education Sector, If it was a research masters, which I do not think it is, then she will be on Subclass 500 Postgraduate research sector. They have different visa terms and conditions. In both cases, she will need to apply for a new visa. Though, extension might be possible if she is on the latter.

adeoladele:
My friend is currently in third semester out of 4 for masters, she got a PhD admission fully funded. Please does she need to apply for another visa. All suggestions are welcome. She is totally confused.

Anyone in Melbourne arround Southern Cross or Footscray to meet up for coffee. Coffee? Mtcheew, I mean make we go chop better. I came to Melbourne for a visit and looking to hang out. Hit me up if anyone interested. Leaving tomorrow evening. I nor say everybody don go hustle but it will be good to meet someone. I will be relocating to Melbourne later in the year.

Your best bet would be to go to Blacktown, not far away from the Blacktown Fruit Market and the Smith shop, which is about 20minss on train from Parramatta. It's a Beauty Salon that also have things like Garri, Semo, Poundo, Shaki, Pomo, Dried Fish, Egusi, and Assorted Meat generally, the unique Knorr cube, Beans to mention a few. I also bought peppered Plantain chips and Malt from there. I think she is Ghanaian, but shes got relatively cheap stuff. You would only find ready made African foods that are too exorbitant to afford arround Parramatta. If anyone knows anywhere in Parramatta. Please mention it. Easier for us to go there.

extraterestrial:
Hi Sydney residents, please who can refer me to an African shop around northmead/parammata area where I can get Nigerian food stuff and ingredients..I will be most grateful

Thanks for the heads up. I am very aware of the gang thing and have zero intention of staying there at least because of my kids. I must confess that I am evasive with my questions. I have a perfect idea of where I want to stay in Melbourne. That would be Mill Park. My question was just to see how far away this African communities are, because honestly, my wife would have to go there to advertise her craft and also get some continental food items. From this info from you and the previous person. I have gotten an Idea on what to do.

chidike:
I will advise that you do not go to Sunshine or Footscray, those areas are not so good, Sunshine has a lot of gangs and gang related issues. Footscray isnt as bad though but look at areas in Bundoora first. Why are you looking for African community in a place where you have so many "oyibos" how will you get integrated? You can attend a Nigerian church and join the Nigerian groups but you dont have to live in an "African Community". Besides the community in Footscray are largely South Sudanese, and they dont have the best reputation here even though, I admit there is some bias there. I'll say focus on looking for a place close to your School, google the suburbs, lots of suburbs in Victoria have reviews, so you will get a feel of what it is like there.

I am the winner takes all kinda person. If I am to start the PR route, there is no going back. I think I am not ready yet. Let me explain more. I would be 32 this year which is maximum point for age. But when am done with my PhD, I would have lost five points from age but would have gained five points from higher education. But more importantly, I will just chill until I cmsort this student visa and subsequent entrant for my family so that I can put in � percent for the PR. I am looking at starting the process by April this year. Thanks for your concern guyz. Like I also mentioned to Alphadoor. I am closer to getting this 4 years student visa whose journey started sometime in April 2018. I cannot abandon that journey. Its a long way coming compared to starting a PR process now.

ogbevireo:
Like @Alphadoor noted, I am also wondering why you are not considering the Permanent Resident route.
or is there a clause in your scholarship negating that option?
or do you think you won't make enough points to get any of the PR visas?
if you can get a PR visa, I will say it is best.

until you state otherwise why, PR is the best option.

Thanks buddy, you have been more than helpful. I will verify about the extension thing. My situation is a tricky one I guess. Your comments are noted.

bligs:
Not aware of Visa extension cancellation, had couple of guys that did it last month. Never came across of someone in your situation with an existing Visa and want to apply for the same Visa again and regarding bringing your family, applying with them is the best thing. Since you are here, you don't have to use SA anymore.

Thanks so much for this answers. They are incisive and well articulated. God bless. On the extension thing, I head rumours you must file in a new application, there is no more room for extension. Also, I should rephrase my question. I wanted my family to come in as soon s possible. I would want to know which is the fastest and feasible route. Applying for mine in conjunction with theirs. Or doing them separately. Someone also mentioned that since I am here in Oz, I should just file in from here and not that bad belle SA. Please anyone that had recent update should help out on this two new developments and the authenticity. The matter tire me I swear.

bligs:
You don't have to reapply for a new Visa but you will surely have to extend because your present Visa duration won't cover your PhD period. Enroll in your PhD program and use the confirmation of enrollment to reapply for your family and back it up with reasons like psychological issues such as you can't have maximum concentration on your research program without your family beside you and some other reasons, another option is to seek the advice of a registered MARA agent.
On the average, accommodation in western surburbs are cheaper compare to northern and eastern surburbs and Bundora happens to be in the north, I doubt if you can see a couple apartment of less than $1000 monthly in the north. Footscray/Sunshine in the west and Dandenong in the east have the highest concentration of African communities.

Thanks for your reponse. I came in on 500, filed in for Subsequent entrant 500, and still want to file in for another Sub 500. I am closer to obtaining a 4years Student visa than starting a PR process. So Yeah, once I can sort this phase of obtaining my Student visa and that of my family. Then I can concentrate fully on PR.

Alphadoor:
Kindly shed more light?
Correct me pls on below

You came in on Visa 500 in and you filed for your family under Visa 600.
And now you want them to apply for same Visa 600?

Also have you tried exploring PR Visa route ?

Hi guys,

This is my brief story..

I got a MRes scholarship in Macquarie University, been here in Sydney since May 2018. I was supposed to bring my family over (wife and two kids) in the time but they were refused visa in December 2018. I had gone ahead to get another PhD scholarship in RMIT and Deakin, Let us say I pick RMIT. Some of the reasons for denial are... Why am I doing a third masters, Wife's lack of home ties in terms of employment and landed property. I have bought a land in her name and my PhD offer would have taken care of more than half the reason why she was denied. Now my set of questions

1. Is it advisable to apply for a new visa for myself because I would need it to re-apply for them. Although my previous visa for my MRes expires in Feb. 2020.
2. Is it advisable to apply with them as a unit or should I do mine first and then do theirs afterwards.
3. What other suggestions do you have to make sure they do not get refused again.
4. Where in Melbourne can I live in terms of proximity to african community, affordable, family friendly and peaceful (My wife is both a fashion designer, a teacher and a hair dresser), which is not too far away from Bundoora Campus (RMIT)

Please there is no trivial response, all comments are welcomed.

Drugo88:
Mine is also the same,wen did U apply

Hi guyz, if you see action required, don't panic, it's their system failure. Just before you log on, you would see the message telling you to Ignore the message if you have provided further documentations. Hope this helps or has this even been addressed before. I get small time to talk today b4 I enter my autorun mode again.

vikmeek:
Good Day everyone.

I am a little confused on the beat route to follow at this time.

I recently got a Master admission offer from Macquarie University in the NSW state so I was told to make a commencement fee of $16,865 bfr I can apply for visa.

I think I also qualify for Skilled migration in the 189 and 190 cos I have 3yrs work experience in telecoms, Elect/Elect Eng Degree, 28yrs and hoping to write PTE or ielts and I'm sure to get atleast 10points from it.

So my confusion is whether to calm down and pursue the PR or to spend that much and start my Master in Sydney with the student visa.

I know PR takes time, and I know deep down I want to leave this country as soon as possible.

So I want ask, if after spending this much to commence my studies in Sydney, can I be able to recover the money thru working as a student?.

Is it possible to pay my subsequent tuition fees of $18K while working and studying in Sydney?.

Please gurus help me clear my confusion so that I can make a wise choice.

Thank you all for the good work.

Okay, Let's take the perspective of the rigour and dynamism of immigration. I think you should go on with the student visa, it appears you have sufficient fund to start off. Because the longer you stay in naij, the more difficult it becomes to come to Oz. Besides, PR application in my opinion is easier onshore than offshore, because you get to meet trusted Mara agents here, not all those Stew leaking agents in Nigeria.

To answer your question. As a naija boy, you should be able to pay your other fees with working while studying. Take it from me. Boiz dey pick up 1500dollars per week. Dem dey fear to talk am for security reasons.

Summary, pay the fees, get your CoE, apply for visa with good packaging oh. All of this with the perspective of PR, by first acing your PTE or IELTS General, maybe you can get 20points. And Finally, when you get here, plan to get your PR in a year or so. Best wishes!

Jerryd112:
do you know how much Macquarie takes for deposit?? Or did yu paid yur first semester payments at once ??

Hi, Sorry for the late response, I have been on autorun in this Australia. Trying to manage research, work and leisure.

For your questions, I did not have to pay any deposit as I am on full scholarship. However, it should be in excess of 10k AUD as I have gathered. This is usually paid before they grant you CoE. You can confirm. Macquarie dey UNSW back for many things. Hope this helps.

Okay guyz, Since it is difficult to see ourselves in Australia here making us better at e-famzing. THIS IS not to discourage people but to Inform them. Who has currently been facing stress of the stiff implementation of 20hours a week for those here in Australia as a result of the resolution made on 1st July 2018 of students working and earning way pass normal according to tax return feedbacks. Lets have a discussion and share your opinions. Anyways, it could be initial gra gra because agencies are wracking funds from students working this way. Share your views

Cheers

Thanks so much, Amen to your prayers, I am doing a Masters by Research in Materials Engineering at Macquarie University, which is in Sydney. You will scale through and come to Australia, Just believe and make efforts, it will happen. Cheers

edkai:
Thanks for the tips bro. May God continue to bless your hustle. I aspire to be in Australia next year. Please which program are you doing and which city do you reside and work?

In this continuation, it will be more of advice than stories that touched...

One of the good things about Australia is that, they tax you and if you dont reach the threshold, you will get all your money back at the end of the fiscal year.

Let's do some maths, imagine Mr. A makes 50,000dolls per year, with associated spinal cord injury and gets to receive just 1000 out of his 6000 accumulated tax and Mr. B makes 43000dolls with little or no backache, then he would have successfully gathered 5000 tax, which is possibly fully refunded at the end of the year. Choose wisely!

If it becomes difficult to survive due to the exorbitant tuition of your AL1 school, after 6months, change to a cheaper school, especially if you don't have to plan to file for a subsequent entrant visa anytime soon.

P. S: None of this concerns me at the moment, but I have gathered this from my friends that are self funded and I thought you could use the hints.

Based on the foregoing, it is good practice to visit an immigration agent once in a while to know what's up with your life! If you know, you know, I cannot come and let DIBP locate my house address.

I will try to come on here to share some other stuffs that people think would have been more appropriate in Living in Australia. I am still learning, feel free to also correct any of my misyarn. Because person nor knw which person table person dey check at every point in time.

God will settle all grant visa hopefuls on here. There would light at the end of the tunnel for y'all.

Have you heard that even in Nigerian porn, they would also write To God be the Glory. That was on a lighter note

Advice: Register at least the minimum number of courses per semester according to your school guidelines. don't overload yourself, especially for self funded people, the more courses you register, the more fees you pay and the less time you have to hustle

The End

To God be the glory.

For the benefit of my friends and e-dam waiting to apply for visa, already applied, waiting for grant, or will be granted tomorrow morning. Let me share my one month experience in Australia with an associated advice.

I came in 2nd June (after three days pilgrimage). I finally touched down and my friend told me to take the cab to his house. I paid 110dollars to his house, my eyes rolled. I just paid my debt not long ago. That one na Welcome to Australia

Advice: Your best option is to request for airport pick up from your school. Second, you can take the train if nor pack Nigeria come. Thirdly, pay the 110dollars and shake your body when you reach your destination.

On getting to his house, my body confuse. Naija and Australia sleeping hours come dey compete for my body.

Advice: Relax well, for about two days, Sleep, wake up, sleep and wake up again.

Next, I decided to enrol early for some reasons, but e nor work. I applied for TFN, White Card and ABN on the space of two days.

Advice: TFN and White Card are your two best shots to land most jobs here in Australia, check Iliad answer a week ago.

Fast forward, I landed three tutor jobs and a Landscaping job in the space of two weeks. Tutoring was good, but e nor pay me the money wey I need. Landscaping did.

Advice: Apply for TFN, once you have an Australian address where they can send your Letter. White Card is just 39dollars, other forklift, aged care cert can be up to 100,rising to 200dolls or more. Me I kuku take the short route. I also got the Working with Children Check later on. It's good too.

Since then, until now, I have been combining my research work and money work without nay stress.

To be continued...

I am confused by thus, I don't know who is asking questions, the quote get as e be, sorry for the late response.

JoshOhans:
Dear all,
Pls my question is whether i can apply for Aussie PR as primary applicant with my my wife as dependant while my wife applies as primary applicant and i will become her dependant?
Dear Fobak203,

Thanks so much for your swift response. I really appreciate it. I studied French language (major) with 2:1 here in Nigeria. And I think I meet the financial requirements. I have a family of 3 and I really need to know which is the best possible route to relocate to Australia both to get good job, and secure permanent Residence for my family.

Would you advice securing a job there first? While i am still here, is it even possible? Or trying to get enrolled into a university for a Masters Program, and secure a job while studying. And really boss, what's the very first thing I need to do?

Kindly advice.
Thank you.

I have replied

foliat:
Bros Me oooooo.. Macquarie University. Awaiting Grant. Please I sent you PM so we can communicate one on one. Cheers!!!