gcey2k:
NIGERIAN PASSPORT RENEWAL PROCESS

Hi Guys,

Permit me to drop this here as I have seen many questions about this as a google map local guide.

I recently renewed my passport and want to share my experience to help others who may need to do so.

So what you need to do is go here

https://portal.immigration.gov.ng/pages/welcome

Apply for e-passport. Follow the steps and it will take you to the INNOVATE1 SERVICES website where you will fill the application form and make payment of about AU $160.

After payment you will need to print the payment confirmation/slip, and application forms.

A dummy appointment date will be given to you but ignore that. You will need to send the payment receipt and application form to the Nigerian Consular via email to give you an appointment. The email address is nhc.passport@gmail.com. You may be issued an unfavourable date which you can appeal if you want it faster. You will need to write them stating the reasons you need this quicker and attaching any relevant documents that might help. For my case, an initial appointment for July 23 was changed to April 24, which was more favourable.

They will schedule an appointment and send you further details about what you need to do or bring along.

Please do not bother about a guarantor if you are renewing your old e-passport as this must have been done for the current passport you have.

You will need to travel to Canberra for the appointment. Although I heard they do some sort of visit to different states once a year but I am not sure about this and this may not be the best if you want it faster. The process at the consulate may be just 30 minutes like mine if there are no hassles or issues with your documents. Although you may not get the passport same day. Hence a major requirement is for you to come with a prepaid express envelope which they will use to post it.

I received my passport about 2 weeks after the appointment date.

Hope this helps.

Thank you.Just the info i needed

Hi guys.

chidike:
Some of you may have read my grant testimony on the other thread, so I will skip that part. I worked as an Auditor with a Big4 in Naija, got my grant and applied to other Big 4 firms in Australia. I did interviews but they were taking too much time to get back to me. During one of my late night browsing I realised I could actually work in New Zealand with my Australian PR.

I spoke with a colleague recently who went on holiday to NZ some days back.She told me its a really beautiful place and right now that is my next holiday spot by Gods grace.

Meanwhile e be like say na Fatima shop you go abi.My displeasure with this our African shops is the pricing system(more like lack of it).

They can sell same item to 3 different people at different prices.I feel cheated anytime i shop cos im never sure i am getting the best deal.But as per no choice na,i still patronise them.

I can add you or anyone else who is interested in joining our melboune whats app group.

@bogeyman too as you dey talk say you are lonely

stepo707:
Do one put referees:available on request in Australian CV just like we use on our Nigeria CV or we need to list the name of referees.
Cc: Goodmemory, trastar, teewhysafe, tyosho, Alphadoor, Bellong

I provided my referees but i understand its okay to use available on request as well.

Mailthaddeus:
Hello guys! I planned entering Australia by next month. Which Airline offers the cheapest flight rate to Australia, Canberra. All useful suggestions are welcome.

You can try any of the price comparison sites to get the best option available.E.g Try Wakanow or Travelstart(I have found their prices to be more competitive)
Before you pay ,please confirm the luggage allowance you are entitled to .

@good memory.

I have enjoyed reading your posts and find them quite interesting.Your views on issues are kind how i reason as well and i would love to meet you and your family sometime.

Since you stay in Melbourne,we have a whats app group for melbourne based nigerians where we share ideas,suggestions and try to help each other in the little ways we can.

I think having you there will be great since you have such a great approach to issues and life. Reply if you want to be included in the group(abi are u one of our silent members sef ?).


If there is any other person who lives in Melbourne and would like to be added to the group,kindly let me know.

More pictures from the trip

We went to the chocolate factory,went on a boat cruise to see seals,visited the nobbies discovery Centre,saw some small penguins amongst other attractions.
All in all it was fun and the whole family enjoyed.

We got a package on Groupon which included a fully serviced apartment for the 4day trip.

It’s been a while so make I add small.Part of the migration experience is for me is to be able to go on vacations with my family and allow my kids get that level of exposure too.
As I don’t have money for Santorini in Greece or Cancun in Mexico yet,we carry ourselves go Phillip Island in Melbourne here.

sisisioge:


Jesus wept! She is presently shouldering the man's responsibilities and you think she should shoulder his mother's as well? Oh forrrrks, there's really a major fault in our stars in this part of the world! Shege!

That’s the entitlement mentality speaking.she must sacrifice even more .mtcheew

Jokhas:
Good day all!

Attn: Tyosho & Lord Bellong!

I am currently in the process of packing my stuffs and ready for movement to OZ! Please I need to clarify what I read on AQIS site about prohibited animal products except “CANNED”.

Attached is an excerpt from their site and the marked statements being referred to for your reviews.

I have some couple of very well dried fish and cray fish that I intend to bring but I need some guidance as I read in the earlier part of the thread about some people taking fish with them especially Tyosho’s post.

Your response will be highly appreciated.

Thank you

Hello jokhas.did you get your answer yet?im unable to open the attachment on my phone.

obi24:
@ bellong and those already in australia, pls is it adviseable to book advance for flight seat online or wait till departure date.I and my 3 kids will love to seat together. If advance seat booking is the best, pls what is the cost and how do i book online. Thanks.

You don’t need to blend your fish.Just make sure it’s insect FREE and in clear ziplock bags

As per your tickets,you can book on Travelstart.com or Wakanow(those are the ones I remember).
You can choose seats only after you have gotten your tickets so it’s better you buy on time,that way you’re sure of been seated with your kids.

obi24:


@ Tyosho, pls is it adviseable to package grinded pepper and grounded soybeans in a ziplock bag? I don't want to waste my money on buying what will be rejected at the airport. Thank u.

Sorry obi.i am just seeing this .Yes you can pack food items in transparent ziplocks.

alfonso36:
Seems there's less testimony of people who emigrated this day's, Hopefully that changes soon, Please my question is simple, my wife has HND in office Technology management and I have bsc in History and international relations. please what is our chances based on our Qualification, just a quick Answer please . Cc: Bellong

I believe there is a separate thread that addresses this issue

happy4lucy:
We have gone to centerlink and Medicare. Also we have gone to bulk billing clinic for immunization update which we are waiting for update from them.
We have submitted family tax benefit (I don't know which one is a and b)

Do I need to create centerlink account for my son?

Currently we are looking for work And house, anyone with any kind of work should alert me. Am willing to relocate. We are presently in Canberra.

Myself: IT support/ maintenance Engineer
Hubby: Architect

Thanks.

Hi Lucy.
With regards to work,I stay in Melbourne so maybe there’s someone else who can help with job options in Canberra.what you can do is try to google employment agencies around your area and physically walk in to drop your cvs.If you don’t mind,you can include blue collar jobs in your search so even if it’s a factory ,you can start from there and use it as a stop gap to earn money before your desired job comes.

With centerlink,go to your centerlink online acct and click on “make online claims”. Your son and your husband should have been added to your profile ,if not,there will be the option for you to do that.
Once that is done,you can apply to make claims.it should give you an option of what claims you’re entitled to and you take it from there.

i can’t remember the specifics but it involves you answering some questions and uploading certain documents they require to confirm your financial state.Once that is done,you submit and wait for them to get in touch with you.

If you still need further clarity,centerlink office will be able to assist you more

happy4lucy:
@tyosho

I have tried r we reaching out to you via email, I don't what is wrong that I feel you don't want to communicate with me even giving you my number to call me because I don't have your. We just landed last week and am just confused. I just want to enquire about things here since you know most of things I don't know. I feel sad about things but I just want to let you know.

Thanks.

Madam Lucy.Welcome to OZ.First of all,you definitely need to learn patience in this town okay.

We all have very busy lives here(which you will too soon by the way) so if anybody makes out time to come back to nairaland to respond to questions or even respond to mail from strangers,that is an effort in itself.Check out how many people were active on nairaland before getting visas and then quietly ease out once they are here and settled.
There is no entitlement mentality here,people share if they want to.If they do not,abeg do a quick google check.There is nothing you really need you will not make out time for.

I respond to mails when i can make out time because i am busy.

I assumed you have kids so i asked if you had their updated immunization records because that is where you need to start from but you did not respond to that.

Also,i believe its better to share here on this platform than private mails so more people can be informed.

Update his immunization records at a bulk billing clinic first and ensure his medicare details are updated in medicare by the clinic(this takes days and even weeks sometimes).
create a my gov acct
Update his records and this information on centrelink.

then you can apply for family benefits/allowance.the allowances you might be entitled to because you have a kid is
family tax benefit (part a and b)
family tax rebate
rent allowance

it been a while and this much i can remember.There might be changes to part of the process from July 2018 as well.


Even better is if you go to centrelink personally or call their familes line for more clarity.

rudyislife:
Good day ppl,please how is the work opportunity for chemical Engineer in Australia ?

There are jobs.When do you arrive?

Just to draw attention to a matter that seems to be happening more of late.
3 different people have reached out personally to me saying travel agents are helping them get temporary “work visas” so they can live and work in Australia.
It’s turned out that what they have paid those agents for are actually 600 tourist visas.The least I have heard is 1.1m!!!!!
Why an agent would take advantage of someone to the point of charging over 1m for a visa that costs just $165 is bewildering.Someone was even charged 1.5m!!!
Haba this is wickedness.On top of that you give them the false hope of coming to work in Australia on that same visa.

People should stop allowing themselves to be scammed this way.I totally understand the desperation to leave Nigeria but don’t come here in a shaky circumstance that would make you even worse than you were in Naija.

Life here without a legitimate visa is unbearable.

Do you have any kids?

If yes,you need to complete your Centre link details first and foremost.You have to ensure that his Nigerian immunization records have been updated to acceptable Oz standards before any payments can given( any bulk billing dr/hospital can help with that).

You don’t need to apply for a concession card.If your income is below a certain threshold,you will be sent the card.

amoshine when amoshine
screeep screep

Kuffour1267:
Good Evening Nairaland,

There is an agent who did work permit visa for my friend to travel to Australia directly attached to a company in Australia. The class visa is 459. The agent also said the company will come at the airport to pick them up on there arrival day and also provide accommodation for them when they get there. Please how is that possible? Because to me i don't think this is real deal? Find the attached of the visa below.

Thanks

I just checked google and saw this visa class was stopped in March 2013 and it does not allow you work.maybe I’m wrong though.

happy4lucy:
Meanwhile I have a question.

We just finished our centerlink and Medicare registration. I just want to know if I and my hubby will be entitled to some start-up money from government, because a friend told us it is our son that is entitled to 600Aud till 17yrs.

You”re not entitled to any start up allowance as such.Once your centerlink and Medicare details are sorted,you might be entitled to family tax benefits,rent allowance and childcare rebates.
The amount of benefit you receive is dependent on how much you earn.I have two kids and we are not entitled to any amounts as of now.

Misoke:



interesting...do you freeze the yams whole as they come or you peel and cut?

Freeze whole or cut into half before freezing.
Because once it thaws,you have to finish eating the entire tuber at a go.
You can’t re-freeze.

happy4lucy:
Hello,

Please am parking to leave on Saturday this week... I want to ask, am entitled to 23kg each but if my bags are like 33kg each and I want to pay for the excess will I be cleared with 33kg or must it be 23kg each as stipulated.


Thanks

.

I have always supported the idea of bringing food from Nigeria.if you can afford extra luggage,pls do it.

However contact the airline latest 72hours before departure and request to buy an extra bag(some airlines do 23 others do 32).If you’re okay with the cost,you pay and buy it then.

It’s way cheaper to do it this way than to just turn up at the airport with extra kg.You will pay through your nose!!!

Onizea:
Good day oga bellong and fellow nairalanders

Please my family is set to leave tomorrow and we have a few challenges.
We thought his office would book our temporary accommodation but we've been informed that we have to book it before leaving here and get refunded later. Is it not too late to book and if not, how do we go ahead with that? We have googled some accommodations tho but would appreciate any idea on how it works.

Also, do we have to book a bus/car to help us from the airport to the accommodation or will we get same without booking from the airport on arrival?

Lastly, we are entitled to 10kg extra as indicated in our offer letter. Do we pack the 10kg separately or it can be added in our overall baggage allowance?

Thank you all for your urgent responses.

PS - our location is Sydney CBD and office is located on George street.

For extra 10kg,pls call the airline yourself to find out what’s acceptable.

For transportation from airport,the only option I can think of now is you getting a taxi.It will be expensive but not too bad.

For accomodation,at this stage,I can only suggest Airbnb.

Tadell:

Hello bro.
An agent claims that he want to get a a working visa for my brother in Australia, through a company that will kinda do the sponsorship.
And this guy has just O'level oo
Please my brothers is this possible?

Can you ask him to tell you what sort of visa it is exactly?There have been people told the same story but all the got was the 600 tourist/visitor visa which does not allow them to work.Sorry to say but if that”s the visa the agent is trying to get for anyone,na suffer sure pass

obi24:


Tanks @Tyosho.Must we grind the food stuff like stockfish, crayfish, Egusi and Ogbono or should i just package it wella on a zip lock bag without grinding them. Also are packets of maggi allowed to come in?

Maggi is allowed to come in.Blend the egusi and co but there’s no need to blend the dry fish.Just make sure they are well dried and then frozen.
As a complete wellness check ,hit the fish gently on a hard surface so all insects can fall out.

Congratulations jokhas.

I stay in Melbourne and have no idea about accomodation in Sydney.

Hopefully someone can help

samge:


Ok thanks been there several times about no
Yam or plantain

I would strongly suggest that you bring as much food items as you can from Nigeria.Especially items like dried fish,egusi,ogbono,seasonings ,spices etc.Just make sure they are properly labeled(in transparent zip lock bags preferably)and without any pests.Dont worry about Garri,poundo yam,semo etc.They are available here though slightly expensive but affordable.

Potatoes are cheap,plantains are available but very expensive(if you ask me).I fry lady finger bananas instead and it”s just fine.There”s frozen plantain too but I have never bought it.


Yams are seasonal.It comes around once a year and this is the season.I have paid for 80kg worth which I intend to freeze and hopefully use until next year.The last time I had yams was like Aug last year so I’m not making that mistake again and buying in bulk this time.

Someone told me where to get frozen yams too but I have never tried to.


Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone

ebere272:
Hello everyone,arrived Melbourne 2 weeks now on a student visa.i have done cpr,first aid,children check,national police Check,emergency care.Am yet to get job pls any useful information now would be much appreciated.thanks

What part of melbourne are you at.if you’re in the east,I believe some recruitment agencies have been listed on the first pages of this thread

They could have just silently accepted responsibility and worked out a way to compensate you.Instead they went the naija way of lying first and this is the cost of that.

Anyway this is good.Share on all SM platforms you have accounts with.Let them come out publicly to issue a statement.

Berliner1:



It required a minimum of three years post qualification work experien.....a way to manoeuvre this obstacle?

Hi Berliner.the link that was provided to you is the best place to get answers to your enquiries.This thread is for people that have gotten their visa or are in Australia already.
Hope you understand.