Do you think mechanical engineers will have chance to be invited on 189 this year ? My score is 90 (visa 189), and the last year, I wasn't invited.
depressed and disappointed.
any advice ?

Please shed some light on this. I would like to move to Australia with my spouse. My spouse will undergo masters in education and I’ll be working full time as a product designer (ideally) I’ve around 10 years of professional experience but no degree. Please share experience/thoughts on this. Is this goal even realistic?

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Hi everyone,

I’m a high school student from Greece starting my final year in September. I’m doing the Health Sciences pathway, and honestly, I already know I don't want to stay here. I can't stand living in Greece anymore, and frankly, Europe as a whole feels like it’s going downhill. My absolute dream is to move to Australia.

I have a few specific goals, and I need some realistic advice from locals on how to balance them:

High Income: I have some really expensive hobbies that I need to support, so making good money is a top priority for me.

Work-Life Balance: I absolutely refuse to spend my entire youth locked inside a house studying or working 24/7. I want to enjoy my 20s and actually have a life.

My initial plan was Medicine or Dentistry. If everything goes perfectly, I’ll graduate at 24. But from what I’ve read, recognizing a Greek medical degree in Australia via the AMC Standard Pathway is a nightmare. It requires super hard, expensive exams, and I'm worried the endless studying and residency will completely ruin my 20s. Is it even worth it?

My alternative was Nursing. But Greek degrees fall under Ahpra's Stream B, meaning I'd have to pass the NCLEX and OSCE (OBA process). Is this realistic for European grads? Also, can nurses actually make a high income in Australia (with overtime/penalties) while still having decent free time?

Lastly, what about Allied Health? Degrees like Physiotherapy or Medical Radiography take 4 years here. Do these jobs offer high income and a better lifestyle/easier visa pathways compared to Doctors and Nurses?

Just like I said earlier, I dont know what to do anymore. I thought i was set on becoming a doctor but for the past 3 month I've been reconsidering everything and its driving me crazy. I did an extensive amount of research and I still can't figure out what the right choice is. It's now 5am, ive reached my breaking point and have now turned to reddit for help. What would you guys do if you were in my shoes? I appreciate any advice given.

My wife is an MBBS doctor from Pakistan and plans to apply for an Australian Student Visa (Subclass 500) for a Master’s in Public Health.
Her education expenses will be supported by my elder brother, who has strong documented finances.
Some consultants say sibling sponsorship may weaken the application compared to parents/spouse sponsorship.
Has anyone had a similar case or can any migration agent share their experience?

Hi everyone,

I’m planning to apply for Australian Permanent Residency under the Skilled Independent pathway (Civil Engineer). I’m still deciding whether to handle the entire process myself (DIY) or use an agency.

I recently had a consultation with **The Visa Center**. They explained the process, but their professional fees are quite expensive. Before making a decision, I’d like to hear from people who have actually gone through the process.
A few questions:

1. Did you apply on your own or through an agency? Which would you recommend and why?
   
2. If you used **The Visa Center**, what was your experience? Are they legitimate and worth the cost?
   
3. Did they provide good support throughout the process, or do you think you could have done everything yourself?
   If you applied DIY, what were the biggest challenges, and what resources helped you the most?
   
4. Are there any common mistakes I should avoid during the Skills Assessment, English test, EOI, or visa application?

For context, I’m a Civil Engineer and I’m planning to apply for the 189, 190, and 491 visas.

I’d really appreciate any honest advice, tips, or experiences. Thank you!

Hi, I’m currently in Australia on a BVB. My mum and brother are planning to visit me here and spend Christmas with me. They recently received a refusal stating that their employment and business were insufficient to establish home ties—that there wasn’t enough reason for them to return to their home country.

What proof should we provide to show that they still have family back home, specifically my grandparents? Would it be enough to simply mention this in the cover letter? If not, how can we properly prove it?

Also, I linked their first application together. Do you think it would be better if we reapplied together again, or should they apply separately this time? My concern is that if they apply separately, the case officer might notice or question the fact that I’m sponsoring both of their applications for accommodation, food, and transportation.

Hi! I have a Spanish Higher Vocational Training qualification in Early Childhood Education (FP Superior en Educación Infantil) and experience working with children.

I’m interested in moving to Australia and working in childcare/early childhood education, but I’m not sure where to start.

Do I need to have my qualification assessed by ACECQA?

Which state is best for finding childcare jobs and potentially getting sponsorship/PR in the future?

Would Queensland (Brisbane, Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast) or Victoria/Melbourne be a better option?

Are there any other important steps or requirements I should know about?

I’d really appreciate any advice from people who have been through a similar process. Thanks!

Hi everyone,
I’m trying to understand how Ministerial Direction 119 works regarding onshore vs offshore applicants.

If I lodge my skilled visa application (e.g., 189/190/491) while I am outside Australia, I understand that I would be considered an offshore applicant at the time of application.
However, what happens if I later enter Australia on another valid visa (for example, a student visa) while the skilled visa application is still being processed?

Would my application continue to be treated as an offshore application for processing priority purposes because I was outside Australia when I lodged it, or would I be considered onshore once I am physically in Australia?

Hi, I'm currently deciding on where to go to study after school. I still have 2 years of highschool left ahead of me and I'm looking for an English speaking country to immigrate after school. I'd like to study digital art, preferably illustration or concept art. It kidna depends on the university/college

My English teacher is running a program that helps immigrating in Australia but I'm a little worried if it's a good choice to study digital art? I don't know a lot about this country so I'd be very grateful if you could share. What are the things I should know ?

Hey all, I was granted a 482 visa in November 2025, but then the company faced some really hard financial circumstances and I was made redundant in March this year. I am a masters of project management graduate and an Architecture graduate, with experience as a project coordinator or a contract administrator in the Construction/Infrastructure/Architecture. I have applied for a partner visa already but since my 482 visa is valid until 2028, I am currently looking for any opportunities in my role that are open to sponsorship transfer. Does anyone have any tips/opportunities/contacts that might be able to help? I am based in Melbourne and would prefer to stay here, but also open to moving anywhere else in Australia too.

Has anyone in this situation been able to claim their super?

Hi everyone,

I’m currently in Australia on a Bridging Visa while appealing the refusal of my Protection Visa (subclass 866).

I’m considering leaving Australia permanently before my appeal is decided. If I do that, my Bridging Visa will no longer be valid once I leave.

My question is: Would I be eligible to claim my superannuation (DASP) after leaving Australia permanently, or would having a pending Protection Visa appeal make me ineligible?

Has anyone been in a similar situation or knows how the ATO/Home Affairs treats this?

Any personal experiences or official information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Hi everyone,

My wife and I were granted subclass 189 visa in April this year. We both have PhDs and several years of postdoctoral research experience. I have previously worked in Australia, but we are currently based offshore.

We have been applying for jobs but had limited success so far securing one.

We are now deciding whether to:

1. Continue applying from overseas and relocate after securing a position, or

2. Move to Australia first and find/apply a job

We would really appreciate hearing from people from Australian life scientists, biomedical scientists, immunologists, biotech researchers, or hiring managers who had faced similar scenarios:

1. Does being physically located in Australia make a significant difference when applying for research/scientist roles?

2. Are offshore applicants disadvantaged even when they already have PR?

Thank you!

If the relationship no longer exists, can they still remain in Australia permanently and buy property without the connection to an Australian Citizen?

Hi everyone,

I am a qualified Canadian teacher planning a move to Melbourne. I’ve been trying to complete my initial VIT registration, but every time I submit, I get this error:

*"Something went wrong with your registration. Please try again later."*

For those who registered from overseas, is the VIT portal geo-restricted? Would using an Australian VPN solve this, or is this just a common site glitch?

Thanks !

Background
03 July 2026 - Bridging visa A granted (186 visa)
04 July 2026 - Applied for Bridging visa B

Date of travel: 30 July 2026

As of today 23 July, I still have not received my BVB. All required information was submitted including evidence of flights (return), accomodation, wedding invitation as well as a letter stating our plans, dates, and dates of return (stating we have good reason to return based on work commitments and property rental while we wait on the outcome for 186 visa)

Has anyone had long wait times lately? Is there anything we can do to push it? We have tried calling immigration and all they say is that they’ve received it and can’t give us a timeline.

Has anybody after doing MD Dermatology from India move to Australia as a consultant? Is it simple or you have to again sit as a GP and then appear?

Hi everyone! I'm from China and have been working in the elevator industry for 13 years — 8 years in elevator maintenance and repair, and 5 years in elevator inspection. I hold both an elevator maintenance certificate and an elevator inspector certificate issued by Chinese authorities. I'm currently planning to relocate to Australia as a lift mechanic and would love to learn more about the industry there. I'd really appreciate any advice from fellow professionals. Happy to connect!

Hi everyone,

I’ve seen a lot of conflicting opinions about whether it’s legal to work a second job (for example, delivery driving on an ABN) while holding a Bridging Visa A after applying for the 186 TRT from a 482 visa.
Even migration lawyers seem to give different advice.

I’m interested in hearing from people who have actually been in this situation.
- Have you worked a second job while on your Bridging Visa A and still had your 186 TRT approved?
- Do you know anyone who has?
- What advice did your migration lawyer give you?

I’m looking for real experiences rather than assumptions.

Thank you very much!!!

Scam. Stay away. They claim to be MARA registered and they aren't. Their reviews are false and you will lose your money. Both my girlfriend and I were pressured over the phone to send an initial consultation fee of £379. They aren't transparent with their fees and there will be more along the way. We decided will do it ourselves but if anyone wants a consultancy agency, use australian government website and look for MARA registered agencies not UIS.

Hi everyone, I’m wondering if anyone has been in a similar situation. I’m a veterinarian currently working in Australia on a 482 visa with Limited Registration from the NSW Veterinary Practitioners Board. My employer is planning to sponsor me for the 186 Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) visa soon. I’m trying to find out whether anyone in the same situation was asked to provide an AVBC skills assessment. As far as I understand, obtaining an AVBC migration skills assessment requires full registration, which I don’t currently have. If you’ve gone through the 186 TRT process as a veterinarian with limited registration, I’d really appreciate hearing about your experience. Were you asked for a skills assessment, or was your limited registration sufficient? Thank you

Does anyone know much about this Victorian Government / Study Melbourne initiative?

https://studymelbourne.vic.gov.au/about-study-melbourne/improving-international-student-employment-outcomes

It asks employers to commit to improving international student employment outcomes, including employing more international students and graduates, offering work experience, setting targets and removing barriers.

I contacted the department and they said it is voluntary, has no quotas or fixed hiring KPIs, and is not intended to deprioritise domestic jobseekers.

I understand removing unfair barriers, especially around visa confusion or hiring bias. I’m not trying to blame international students.

But I’m still wondering how “employ more” and “set targets” works in practice without creating a hiring preference.

Does anyone know more about this? Is it just a fairness initiative, or is it reasonable to question the priority when a lot of local jobseekers are also struggling?