Date of arrival: 21 January 2015! It did happen and it was one hell of a year here in Sydney since then. Before I embarked on this journey, year 2014 was a bittersweet struggle for me. I'm just so grateful for the people around me who constantly support and love. Money problem was also another thing. ^_^
As I began my journey in this awesome country, a lot of people have been keeping track and asking questions on how I successfully came here. As much as I want, I want to help everyone to come visit Australia too. I hope through this blog, I could enlighten their visions and to finally help make up their mind. Go for it!
It was year 2014 when I decided to come to Sydney. My desire to get another degree and to have a high paying job drove me to Australia. Here's a long list though... Dig in!
<January> My decision is final! I want to go to Australia. I contacted my friend Jessa who was also studying in Sydney and ask some questions on how to go there soon as possible. Yes, I was on a hurry. So, there are a lot of options to choose. There's working visa for skilled people or student visa who wishes to study in Australia. Student Visa is the best option for me since I wanted to get another degree. Google everything. Yes, apart from asking my friend, I did a lot of research online everyday and every hour. I visited the Australian website and online forums of people on their way of processing the visa. I even attended a lot of educational exhibit held in Manila and Davao. (This is the legit australian government site http://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Stud)
After all the research, I came up with a list that I need to have to apply to a University/college/institute in Australia.
1) IELTS with 5.5 or 6.5 band score ( the score depends on the school's requirement. I think 6.5 or higher is safe to get accepted. No less that 5 in all subtest ha! )
2) Passport, Transcript of Records, birth certificate, NBI check at lahat ng documents which you think necessary.
<February> Review for IELTS. Online researches still going on. I looked up my prospect University or college. I'm still attending educational fair. I learned that IDP and British Council are the only 2 organisations supervising the IELTS exam in the Philippines. Both offers free visa processing if you chose to process your visa with them. However, they have a long list of clients.
http://ninerreview.blogspot.com.au/p/blog-page.html --- I had struggles with the review so I decided to enrol to the best IELTS review center in Manila. I enjoyed the speaking mock test they offer. At least, I could know the range of band score that I could get in the actual test.
<March> Booked for IELTS exam worth 15,000 pesos.
<April> IELTS Exam. After 15 days, I got my IELTS results and I got more than I needed.
<May> School application started. This time, I hired a migration agent to help. Jessa introduced me to Jeets Consultancy.
Jeets Consultancy Services Pty. Ltd.
Unit 8008, Medical Plaza Building, San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City 1600
Metro Manila, Pasig Philippines
Phone 02-706-1932
<June> School applications with the help of Jeets. I applied to 2-5 colleges. Some didn't respond and some have expensive tuition fees.
<July>I waited until King's Own Institute (KOI) sent me a Letter of Acceptance. The school offers only Bachelor and Master courses at a reasonable price. I decided to change career and enrolled in Bachelor in Accounting.
http://koi.edu.au/wp/future-students/admission-requirements/ --- See the Offshore document checklist. I prepared it, scanned the documents, and sent it to Jeets office. They did the submission and assisted me to fill up the Visa Form 157A. http://www.border.gov.au/Forms/Documents/157a.pdf
<August>I worked and saved up for my tuition fee and visa fees. 1 term of study must be fully paid to be granted the Confirmation of Enrolment (COE).
<September>
Work and Save! I have to prepare tentatively 300, 000 pesos in cash! Expect
more payments along the way though. I also borrowed some money. I also
need to prepare Evidence of Funds depending on the Immigration's requirement.
Tentative amount is at least 1M pesos. (Yeah, this is what they refer as show money by you or your sponsor. Sponsorship has legal requirements by the immigration. During my time, the prime minister was newly elected so the immigration law changes as well. My sponsor must be of first degree relative if I wish to take diploma courses. I was left to choose a Bachelor course (more expensive courses) since my sponsor is no blood related but a good family friend of ours. They trusted us very much for them to give us all the necessary and personal documents for my visa application. Thank you Doc! ^_^ So if you want to apply, hurry up because as the prime minister changes, the immigration law is updated too)
Good news! My COE was granted during this time.
<October> Lodgement
date of my Visa. I was advised to get the Student Visa subclass 573. See
the link to get a checklist of documents for lodgement.
I showed bank statements to JEETS office for
checking. I submitted twice and was denied. Both accounts has more than 1M in
it but the name of the bank must also be considered. Until my third try from my prospect sponsor, the bank statement is finally
qualified.
http://philippines.embassy.gov.au/mnla/DIAC090313.html (here are the list of financial institutions
<November> Student Visa
Processing duration is within 3 months from lodgement.
Jeets office contacted me to do Health Examination. I went to Davao City for the medical exams. Remember to book an appointment for the health check. They don't usually accept walk ins.
http://www.border.gov.au/Lega/Lega/Help/Location/philippines (list of panel physicians/clinic locations qualified by the Australian immigration)
<December>
Still working and saving.
<January>
Jeets office informed me that a case officer is going to interview me. I got a
call from the immigration. Phone interview is random though. I just got lucky.
The next day after the phone interview, I finally got the Student Visa subclass 573! This visa subclass has a validity of 3 years and with working rights of 40 hours per fortnight.
You can follow the steps that I did. However, you may also have to make your own assessments. Remember: My degree in the Philippines (Communication arts), my University (UP Mindanao), job experience, age, financial accounts and other personal information is different from yours. This information must also be considered during the application. My application experience may not be suitable to you. But if your desire is with a bold, brave and fighting heart, get that Visa!
See you soon in OZ!
See you soon in OZ!
*Notes: You can now apply and lodge your visa online on your own. Here's the link
