₦airaland Forum

I was contacted some minutes ago to provide further information. On checking my mail, I saw Evidence of study undertaken in Australia. late commencement date letter from your university/institution of study. This made my eyes roll. I immediately became bad with English Language. Can someone translate this to me.

On a second thought, I remembered stating in my SOP that I am doing a research course and my resumption date is flexible.

Let me share my timeline to get insightful contribution as to what is happening here.

Medicals: 22nd November 2017
IElTS result: 8th December 2017
Visa submission: 15th December 2017
Biometrics: 18th December 2017
Resumption date:1st January 2018
Next available date:1st July 2018

My thoughts: I think my CO looked into my case and decided since I am going for a research course, if I can provide a late commencement date letter, they would grant me visa without the need for deferment.

The only wahala be say today na Friday and that's Saturday midnight in Aussie. If not I for give them the Kate commencement date letter immediately.

My Question: Has anyone been in this kind of situation before?
How feasible is it to get such letter from Macquarie University. If anyone has collected this kind of letter before. Me nor expect am oh, I don put mind for deferment. E be lyk say God dey use this guy.

I will appreciate any input, suggestions comments and way to go on thus matter. Anticipating your response e-fam

AMEN, GO AND DO EXPLOIT

joephemzyz:
Washere Baba!
Ire a Kari o

Wa gba yi, Congrats Joephemzyz, happy for you

joephemzyz:
Grant ti wole o
Mehn I dey gym..

Seriously nor be gist oh, People dey carry painkiller waka 24/7 because bodypain and headache will pass away but Australian dollars and outrageous exchange shall remain according to them. People wey dey carry paracetamol and ibuprofen for pocket. Oya, make una come talk put for the matter make he nor be like say I dey give fables. At least, you will be saving lives by creating awareness that this is the least you can do as a Jackie, I have not even been to Australian airport, hat do I know, let me go and remove my moimoi from the fire

Aieboocaar:
.
@Bolded ........
dude you're fuccking maaaaad mehn!! ... i don laff troway my custard

That implies that Masters by coursework usually resume every 26th February of every year, if you miss this time, July is your next resumption, for some other courses, till next year February. But for Masters by research, January 1st and July 1st of every year are the official resumption date. I made my deductions based on the foregoing. Thanks soopamom

soopamom:
february 26th im doing a masters by coursework.

Congrats on your grant, I rejoice with you

abiodun56:
Thank God, my visa just came through.
I applied 27th of October 2017, heading to Griffith ..

Thanks bligs for giving someone hope yet again. Exactly my thoughts. It is a very hard task but you can. Abeg just ensure say your spinal cord nor break before you finish your programme.I hear say boiz dey carry first aid for pocket waka based on the hussle. God help us ALL

bligs:
500k should be within the range of AUD2000 or a bit lsser, i came in with a figure that is far below that infact a rediculous figure but to God be the glory i weather the storm. It is possible to work and raise your sch fees but to be honest with you it is a very hard task, only few ppl manage to pull this without assistance unless you switch to sch with lesser fees.
The analogy is this, if you are able to secure a job with a weekly pay of AUD1000 after tax and is constant which is very rare, that shouldn't be a issue but to be frank with you only 2 out of every 30 students are fortunate to secure a single job of such pay, most combine two or three jobs. Another factor you will consider is how will you combine academic with hustling for sch fees, if you are used to it no qualms but the truth is initially you will need an assistant before you fit in properly to the system.

When is your resumption date, I am headed to Macquarie cum July by the grace of God. I am guessing you are doing a Masters by coursework? Please clear my doubts on this matter, so that I can ascertain the difference in resumption date for Masters by coursework and research programme for future reference.

soopamom:
No I didn't. It wasn't required. I'm going to Macquarie and it's an AL1 school.

Congrats on your grant, I rejoice with you

abiodun56:
Thank God, my visa just came through.
I applied 27th of October 2017, heading to Griffith ..

Biometrics is almost immediately after visa lodgment majority of the time. All you need to do is Print out the letter sent by DIBP carrying your visa lodgment number,book an appointment with TLS contact and attend. For the medicals, you might need to do the biometrics, click information provided before the case officer will request you to go for medicals. You might want to fill the health requirement form, but it is tricky to do medicals after visa lodgment. For future sake, one should do the health examination, generate HAP ID, go for medicals before lodging visa. This route seem easier instead of waiting for your CO to refer you for medicals which might never be immediate. Since I know why out asked your question. You should travel to do your biometrics and medicals with the mind of staying for a week in Lagos or Abuja. So that you can do both before traveling back. Medicals might request you stick around for a while to be sure everything is okay

MrFuckallday:
Good afternoon good folks. How long does one have after visa lodgement to do biometrics and medicals? I am in the east. I would like to know so as to plan myself. Thanks in anticipation everyone �

It is doable, if you have gotten the visa grant. A quick question....Is it a Masters by coursework or by research. What is the tuition fees and in what city. These are the factors that determine if it will work or not. Also, it depends on whether you care about how well you do in your education. If you have have gotten the visa and have booked your flight, it will not matter if you can survive or not. Nigeria is hot at the moment. I think you would survive. I have persons that have left with less and they did not die. But you should have heard that Australia is expensive now, People might have a different opinion from mine. I comment my reserve

Teegal42:
Can one survive he/she takes 500k out of Nigeria to Australia and be able to pay for living expenses and tuition for 3 semesters while working and studying.

Have you called the Panel Physician used I.e. Fatayi Williams Clinic and/or IOM. Be sure you filled the health assessment form and clicked Information provided. Based on experience, the doctor logs in to your page and update your health examination result directly. Pls verify by calling the Australian recognised panel physician you used. You should have cried out long ago oh.

GOOO3:
Good Morning All,

I applied for student visa, subsequent entrance (spouse) over 70 days ago and the subsequent health assessment notification has not changed since i applied, (see below)
I did my medicals before applying and added my HAP ID while filling the application form.

Am concerned this has not changed, is this normal? What else was I to do?

Required examinations not yet determined
The health examinations required for this person have not yet been determined. If health examinations are required, a link containing the details will be displayed when the person returns to this page.

According to some statistics in this thread, Grants are usually released 1st and 2nd week of every month (1st-16th) for the principal applicant. For spouse visa, as rightly mentioned, I have a friend that applied for his spouse since November 21st 2017. They are yet to release her grant, the delay could also be attributed to the recent surge in Student visa application. It will come by the grace of God. Keep hope alive

Blazegab:
Is there a selected Date for releasing grants. I am waiting I have submitted the requested updates. Coe and employment letter.

Please for those applied for their spouse to join them and it was successful how long did it take and any advise on way to go about it.
Thanks to all the contributors you wont miss your own grant.

Thanks Albion,
Let me state it here that if you know you made a First Class or Distinction in your masters and according to observed trend, you are based in the area of Engineering and Physical Sciences, possibly other areas of Life, Health and Social Sciences ofdered at Macquarie University with some element of research excellence by way of publications especially if you can go through the hurdle of getting the representative for MQU in Nigeria, You can win this scholarship. This makes it the fourth person that have been given this scholarship including me. There are two of the scholarship, IMQRES and IRTP. The only difference is that iRTP pays your OSHC but IMQRES does not. I have other informations depending on which one you won. If na IMQRES, abeg go ready 1151AUD for OSHC-Sinle policy. The earlier you know this, the better.

I also remembered your IELTS should be valid at the time of visa application and it is usually confirmed by your CO. Obviously you have not applied for visa. so you must write another IELTS.

For the scholarship conditions, it would have been spelt out in the offer letter and the admission package sent to him. In short. There is another 4 page document outlining the details of each scholarship.

@Albion, Thanks for straightening out the Accomodation ish! I also learnt from it.

All in All, I am happy to learn that I already have 4 allies in Sydney. I am not in OYO.

I am an arsenal fan oh, had the moral to type more after we beat Chelsea, Off to Carabao Cup Final.

Albion05:
@ Fobak203, you have said it all.
Let me re-enforce on some of the things you have said.
Congratulation @ theoophilic.
Yes, you need IELTS for your Visa application.
The IELTS result as we all know is valid for 2 years. So register for another one and sit for the exam, I know you will do well as usual.

-GTE is a holistic or comprehensive term in the real sense. All the documents you submitted as regards to your application is what will be looked at.

. Your Statement of purpose ( how well you structured it to be able to market your self very well to the case officer.
. ThankGod your first degree, MSC and phd is inline all through, so your purpose of visit will not be questioned by any case officer.
. Travel history: Your travel history is also a good one to reckon with, no violation of stay, thumbs up!...

- Talk to your institution and see if your job will be re-instated, if not, my dear find a new place and get employment letter from them. That will serve.

- Home tie: this balls down to things that can bring you back to your home country.
. Employment letter showing you are engage.
. If you are married, that's fine with kids, that's ok. Your wife, or wife and kids serve as a strong home tie.
. Investment in your home country, for example; landed properties, stocks/ Shares, fixed deposits, houses put up for rent, some persons go as far as tendering their car papers.

- Accomodation: I don't stay in Sydney but one thing I know for sure is that you will find an accommodation of $140, $ 150 and above depending on your taste and what you want in terms of proximity, facilities in the house, bond, and furnitures with other personal preferences. There is shared apartment, rooms and all that. Australians are nice people.
There are so many people ( new students, including the old ones) looking for whom to share houses with in other to cut down cost and save. So you will get. Trust me on that.
Yes, you can still send money to your siblings and family as well at the end of day, except you want to send to them all the money in Sydney....lol!.. you will be fine bro!..
You are on scholarship already, as times goes on, when you must have mastered and adapted very well to your environment, you will structure your daily activities to suit you.

One thing, I have to stay about your scholarship, is for you to go through it and know what is listed in it as your scholarship benefits.
- full tuition fees
- return air travel
- a one off establishement allowance on arrival ( some give $5,000.00).
- contribution to living expenses ( some give $1150 every 2 weeks).
- OSHC for the duration of the scholarship
- field work allowance ( for research)
Please, find out what your scholarship covers!..

You will definitely get a part time job, you will be doing. Do not mount unnecessary pressure and anxiety on your self. Your scholarship is a big plus to you.
When you get their, things might Favour you as you least expected, imagine or foresee.

First thing first, get in to the country first and there are so many ways to kill a bird.
I believe you will be fine bro!.. Goodluck!..

The Answers are in chronological order as the questions. As someone in the same boat with you and at an advanced stage of this process, I can lend a helping hand to some of your queries.
1. Congrats on your scholarship. You would need to do another IELTS because the school will hold you down at that point of collecting CoE (I was held down because of it). Enrol for the next available IELTS considering that it takes one month for the result to be ready. They look at your IELTS at the point of issuing CoE. You can put a call through to them as soon as you can to verify.

2. The requirements are tied to many things. Majority of them been the ability to establish strong ties back to your home country. Some questions might help. Are you married with or without kids? Your travel credibility seems okay, but like you mentioned, the fact that you are not presently gainfully employed might be a big issue except if you can supply a strong contingency mail explaining why your job has not been reinstated. However, if you also have landed properties, you can use that show GTE to complement for areas that are lacking.

3. Lols, this is the least of your problems right now. Some people dey even feed their entire village and do not let anxiety get its hold on you. Calm down bros. When you get to that bridge, you will cross it or betterstill, we would cross it together, if you do not mind.

4. Yes, you can get tutor jobs both insider and outside universty. I do not know if it has been mentioned here. If you can get a tutor job, you can earn as much as 40AUD per hour. In a nutshell, apart from care job, you can teach and earn like you do care job. This is coming from someone that did tutor job in the UK. Your flair can be put to good use to make money.

5. For number 5, I have no answer to that question at the moment, but we can find a way arround it. I would use one stone to kill two birds, I would want you to send me a PM. Our situation is 90% alike, but I have already submitted my visa application to resume in July by God's grace.

This is my one cent on this matter, the gurus in the house can pick out some loos statement in my answers and use a pressing iron to straighten them for this person. Forgive me already if you are a female. I have no Idea

When are you supposed to resume according to your offer letter.

theoophilic:
I have read more than half of the pages of this thread and I have learnt a lot already. However, I have some questions and I appreciate kind respond.

I have just been award scholarship for 1 year Master by Research + 3 Years PhD at Macquarie University.
1. Firstly, about English Language Proficiency. Will I still need to submit IELTS cert for Visa application? I am asking because, the IELTS I took in 2015 before going for my MSc in UK is valid for 2 year (till Dec 2017). It was still valid at the time I was applying to Macquarie but now, they may not be able to verify it online as its over 2 years.

2. Also, about GTE. How can proof my GTE further. My First Degree, MSc and this intended Research degree is Chemistry, and am fine by travel history – that is, I left UK immediately after my programme, 3 months before the end of my visa stay. However, I am not currently engaged in Nigeria. A job offer I had with a Federal University before going for my MSc has not been reinstated. Will that not dent my GTE? As in, will the fact that I have no job waiting for me here, not be seen that my condition doesn’t warrant coming back to?

3. Living in Sydney. For those leaning in Sydney already, please, is it possible to get accommodation as cheap as 100-150 AUD weekly close to the Uni? About what amount is the cheapest amount to live on in Sydney. The reason for this is that, I have financial responsibility to my siblings back here in Nigeria and I will have to send money home monthly from my monthly scholarship pay. I want to be sure that this will be feasible, while I still have some savings, if I end up not working to face studies, as I have to attain excellent performance to remain on the scholarship.

4. About work, I have seen many talk about care jobs and I will definitely consider the various advice… but is it possible to get anything close to teaching? Any level of education will be fine. That’s really what I have flair for.

5. Finally, is there no means of getting PR to Australia aside the listed skills? Chemistry isn’t there and I do not plan to change my study focus. Can’t one be considered for PR if for instance I got permanent lecturing job during or after the 4 years post study visa I ll get after my PhD?

Mine was updated too, Sorry for the misleading idea. But remember I said I stand to be corrected. Cheers ALL

joephemzyz:
bro, i applied in november, but the new processing time has been updated on my immi accout. how about that?
Its also stated there that the estimates may change during processing.

You are very correct, I realized and concur with you and its evident based on the contact by your CO. Your Visa is on fast track and it will not crashland in Jesus name.

Albion05:
Noted!...
but what you just said does not stand.
Anytime processing time is been updated it reflects all on the application.
For example... if I applied on the 23/11/2017 and as at that time the processing time was 45-57 days and it was updated on the 20/12/2917 to 57- 77 days. From this indication I can't contact them because am still withing the processing time. The period am suppose to contact them if the update that was done on 20/12/2017 stands till feb, 7 2017. I will contact them from 8th feb, 2018. If you calculate it that gives you exactly 77 days.
But an update was done today been the 18th of January, 2018 to 21-45 days for higher education sector to be specific. So calculate from 23/11/2017 when you submitted your application with the new update. I have simply surpass my processing time based on the 21- 45 days. So am eligible to write or email them because my processing time have surpass.

Happy with the update on reductions, but I believe, the processing times of your application as at the time of application still stands, regardless of the update received. The reduction/increase in processing times as published applied to persons that applies as from 18th January 2018. For instance, if the processing time was 63-86 days as at 15th December 2017, even if the processing time has now reduced, you would have to stick to your own processing time at the time you applied. This is my understanding. I am not trying to discourage anyone from making contact. Just trying to establish what I think the dynamics looks like. I be JJC and I stand to be corrected.

Albion05:
Since your school resumed last Monday.
You can contact them with this processing time update.

Mine has passed the 45 days as regards to the new processing time updated but I got to wait a little before contacting them since my school will resume in February.
Also ask your school if an extension for resumption can be extended to you.

Congrats noscarn91, very happy for you bruv. After exactly 200 days after biometrics. Choi, Na wa oh. You are a waiter my brother. God is worthy to be praised. I refuse to do countdown, but to soak myself in work like I never applied for any visa. Because I cannot come and be counting from 1-200. God help us ALL.

noscarn91:
Applied : 25th June 2017
Biometrics: 28th June 2017
Submitted
Cv, transcripts , sponsorship letter , sponsor statement of account , NYSC discharge certificate, stamped passport page for U.K. Study.
No contact from them
Visa grant : 17th January 2018
Thank you Jesus for giving me hope and making me smile again , I wish all visa hopefuls same as well.

You need to remember that you are competing with students with academic and research excellence for both doctoral candidature and scholarship. In fairness, As a Professor, I would rather go for someone that has 4.92/5.0 than a 4.0/5.0. Hence, the reason for the no-reply

There are two things you can do since you have fallen a bit short of academic excellence (Not having a First class and Distinction in your bachelors and Masters respectively).

Firstly, you can dust your thesis for your bachelors and two masters and write three articles from it.
Secondly, If any two of the three thesis title are similar in anyway, you can use that as a selling point. Every professor wants to be sure that your research interest aligns well with his/hers before even thinking of replying you. In the first line of your introductory mails, he/she wants to see how you would be relevant in his/her lab. He gets close to 1000 mails daily from all over the world. Put out your very strong points in the first line and if it goes down well with them, they will forget that you made a 2.1 or merit in your studies.

I can help you get started on writing the article if you want. I am sorry, except you do this, you might as well be ready to be self-funded in Australia.

The First tip is to make your research ability evident and ability to communicate your bench work, which is a proof that you can excel in the doctoral studies. This is because doctoral studies is 25% laboratory work and 75% [/b]academic[b] writing skills.

The second tip is to make a good first impression and you need to start searching for Professors that have carried out advanced work in those research projects you have worked on. Also, if you have written a very good dissertation, some of the references you used is a good starting point to consider your potential supervisors or google schools and professors in that area on research gate. Hope this helps.

Gokoyer1401:
Hi all,

I will appreciate if Gurus in the house can provide tips and suggestions on how to successfully get a Ph.D. position in Chemistry in Aussie. I have been sending emails to some professors but none of them reply. I have 2.1 in my Bachelor degree and about to get my second master's degree. My first Msc final grade is 4.1/5.0. Ongoing (2nd) MSC result is not as good as the previous one though due to various commitments.


I am keen on a funded position for the doctoral study. Are there any schools and locations to focus in Aussie that will make my pursuit a successful one? Should I consider USA as well?

Thanks in anticipation for your contribution!

Daniel.

Now, that makes the four of us. In the same category with you guys

skibby:
Hi Adeleks and Bethely, I am in the same shoe as you guys, I have 3 years lecturing experience in elect eng. I would love come on board, let's put heads together.

Please any ideas?

fobak203:
A friend just told me, if you have 6months remaining on your passport, DIBP would only approve 6 months visa on that passport, and then put the remaining on a new passport. I have a pending application with DIBP for a July 2018 start (one month from passport expiration) Is this true?

Also, Can I apply for a new passport now, even though my current passport expires in Aug. 2018, submit the data page to DIBP for necessary actions. Altogether, can someone suggest the best line of action to take, weighing up my situation!! Please e-fam, help a brother

A friend just told me, if you have 6months remaining on your passport, DIBP would only approve 6 months visa on that passport, and then put the remaining on a new passport. I have a pending application with DIBP for a July 2018 start (one month from passport expiration) Is this true?

Also, Can I apply for a new passport now, even though my current passport expires in Aug. 2018, submit the data page to DIBP for necessary actions. Altogether, can someone suggest the best line of action to take, weighing up my situation!! Please e-fam, help a brother

kolosukuma:
Thanks for the reply, but what do you mean by "application is decision ready before applying".

It means you should make sure a decision can be made by the Case officer without further request of documents to suppport your claims.

kolosukuma:
Good afternoon, i am a newbie in this room, i got admission in University of Wollongong for February Intake and the university i work will be sponsoring me, Please is it late to apply for Visa for February intake now and i also want to include my wife in my visa application, is it advisable to do that at once or i should apply alone while she apply later. your advice will be highly appreciated.

Congrats on your admission, I assume it is 26thFebruaryl 2018 precisely. based on calculations, it is late, but apply straight away because processing times keep increasing very now and then. Recently, letting your wife stay in Naij has become evidence of GTE, some people ha wished they were married at the time of visa applicatiln so they could score that GTE points. Apply alone, if youc have kids, better. They can both join you later. However, make s,ure your application is decision ready before applying and anticipate supplying updated CoE for a later start date.
Hope this helps

umechukwu4:
congrts bro

Congrats OGKush, I am happy for you, I tap into this testimony

@ziinee
Firstly, you can avoid GRE and TOEFL by going the Canny and Australian way. GRE is recommended by some high profile schools in Canada. In my own search for Ph.D, I realized focus is the mother of success and I concentrated all my effort on Australia. Recently, IELTS is just no longer schools requirement but has also become a visa requirements. In essence, you might not be able to do without IELTS. First step, Google to ascertain the schools offering your course on a PhD level in Australia, contact the supervisors by writing an excellent and catchy introductory mail, this is only achievable if you speak the academic language of the senior researcher. Contact as many as possible even after getting positive remark from them, continue the correspondence. Apply for admission, indicate you want to be assessed for scholarship during the admission application, they usually go hand in hand and do that early enough. You can join ARCAMAD, Scholardev, scholarship positions etc for more notifications of recent openings. You can also write 2 or three articles during this time, to show commitment to research, mention your previous research, current research and future research embankments in your proposal. These are roadmaps and pointers. This cannot be replaced by personal research on your part. Search keywords on this thread for closely related answers like mine. PhD admission and scholarship fall on you as you make efforts and pray. God will reward your effort with succeas

In addition to what has been said, you can easily do your application online and pay yourself what you would have paid TLScontact. Moreover, you have just yourself to attend to, but they have hundreds to attend to, so your application would be faster when you do it yourself. You can finish it in a day if you have prepared all of the documents. If you are afraid to make mistakes, Read through the previous page of this thread, it is sufficient to go through the process, if you are unsure about something, we would be here to answer your questions. Cheers

KlausMike:
Good evening house... please can anyone help confirm which application process is better, online or via TLScontact ..??

Yes, Thanks, very clear, although I have done frontloading of medicals since 25th November, 2017. Also, I have placed documents under closely related area as I want my application to be decision ready especially because of this 60-82 days application process. Your comments were helpful

OGKush:
Yes, you'll have to fill the (pages of the application process) questionnaire first, then attach the required documents separately as you wont be able to further your application if the required documents are not uploaded and certified received. After which you'll be directed to where you'll pay the application fee and we only be able to add additional documents if it's required by DIBP.

I hope this is clear enough, you can check my previous post on how to generate your HAP ID for upfront medicals.

To answer your question, Like Albion05 mentioned, every application is on a case-by-case basis, but due to the assessment level we are in the DIBP database now, which is associated with all form of verifications of documents and consultation here and there due to misrepresentation and fake documents, Anyone can hardly get a visa granted in a week, even with the strongest possible cases.

Blazegab:
Was there anytime this grant was ever as fast as a week for any Nigerian. I am tired ooo. This wait as just paused many things can't make any major decision cos am waiting for them to process visa. 2018 is so close I can't afford to start a new year on this note. Haaa

@OGKush Thank you so much for the reply, I appreciate. Let me recap to clairfy what you mean. I would have to fill the 25 pages of the application process, attach the required documents, pay the application fee, submit and then wait for the generation of document types I would need to attach to my application like the seperate section to submit transcript and the likes that you mentioned. Is that it? If that is it, then I would not need to merge documents, I would wait patiently for that seperate section.

Thanks again, God bless, Thats the stress of DIY group, but its worth it.

OGKush:
First you'll have to fill the DIBP questionnaires, which will then be used to generate the type of document you'll need to attach to your application.

To answer your second question;
Yes, you can merge documents you feel the need to reflect on your application, but I believe there's a separate section to submit transcript and certificate under the same category.

RuggedArab:
Hello guys, I appreciate the good works you guys are doing.

Background:
B.Tech - Computer Engineering.
M.Tech (inveiw 2018) Electrical/Electronics Engineering.
Work experience (Including NYSC) - 5years +
Age - 30years

Now thinking of migrating to Australia.

Questions:
1. What is the best/easy visa for me?
Permanent residence, through Engineers Australia skill assessment authority.[/b]
2. What will it cost (visa+flight ticket+living cost alteast for 3months before I get a job; all in Naira pls; just an estimate) me to migrate to Australia having choosing the type of visa.
480k+700K+900k in that order[b]
3. I'm looking at career in IT, Electrical.... can I get those jobs easily?
With intensive search and a little bit of luck, You would get one
4. When is the best time to apply? Now?
Yesterday.....Now......2030....Lols Whenever[b][/b]
5. How long will it take for the whole process (from visa application to approval).
Approximately nine months

Regards.

Cc: catchdwindfrmkd, welldone, bellong.

@RuggedArab
Please check in between your question. I am not trying to discourage reading, I am just idle and wanted to receive corrections because I have juts done a mock test for my study of the thread (PR thread) for a week. I am implying I stand to be corrected with my answer. In addy, some of us are naturally lazy to read,no offense, if that is the case. The questionnaire can make do with a straight to the point answer.