A Singaporean In Australia

**Important: Information provided is only accurate at the time of posting. Due diligence is recommended to confirm changes to the application requirements and procedures at www.immi.gov.au

**Important update: New immigration guidelines from 1 July 2012 [read this]

**Author is not qualified to offer any form of migration advice, thus read this with a pinch of salt.

**The below article has since been outdated. To read about the latest guide (1 July 2013), go to "How to Apply for Australia Permanent Resident Visa (Subclass 189)" [Click here]

Skilled Migration Application (Subclass 175)

Introduction

The original post "How Did I Get Here" was done on the 30th Oct 2011. That means I have been posting garbage, nothing really useful to mankind for 3.5 months. By the time I stop updating this blog, I hope to leave a small legacy that might offer some form of help, however small, to someone out there.

I will do so by writing this simple guide. It will not be awfully detailed because I'm never capable of producing fine work in the first place. But it'll be functional. In Singapore terms, we call it 'just pass'.

There are many types of Skilled Migration visas as shown in this list:

Skilled – Independent (Residence) visa (subclass 885)
Skilled – Sponsored (Residence) visa (subclass 886)
Skilled – Regional visa (subclass 887)
Skilled – Regional Sponsored visa (subclass 487)
Skilled – Graduate visa (subclass 485)
Skilled – Independent (Migrant) visa (subclass 175)
Skilled – Sponsored (Migrant) visa (subclass 176)
Skilled – Regional Sponsored visa (subclass 475)
Skilled – Recognised Graduate visa (subclass 476)

Subclass 175

The visa that will be highlighted in this post is called subclass 175. It is one form of skilled migration, which is also commonly known as Permanent Resident Visa and it is probably the most visa that Singaporeans apply for.

Cost of application:

A$2,960 at the time this is posted. This cost does not include other charges like a health screen report, police clearance and the IELTS test.

Step 1: Qualification

Qualifying is simple though not easy. You'll need to fulfill 3 requirements:

are under 50 years of age
have competent English language skills
have the skills and qualifications that meet the Australian standard for an occupation on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL).

It is simple isn't it? The first 2 are probably not a big issue to most Singaporeans. The last requirement is the killer. Always check the latest Skilled Occupation List (SOL) as it changes often. Then check if you could chalk up 65 points, which is the current passing mark.

Step 2: Application

If you do not qualify there are obviously 2 choices from here:

1) Stand up for Singapore

2) Get yourself qualified

If you do, here are the next steps:

1) Apply through a migration agent

2) Apply on your own

If you choose 1), that's out of my scope. There are a good number of agents in Singapore who are more than willing to do business with you. Usually there will be a happy ending - at a cost that you have to be willing to pay.

If you are ~~cheapo~~ adventurous like me and decide to apply yourself there is another choice to make:

1) Apply physically

2) Apply online

You can't go wrong by following either systems faithfully. Do not play punk by leaving any information or documents required. This is not a school exam where you can pass by answering 9 out of 10 questions. You need to put in a 100% effort here or prepare to kiss goodbye to your A$2,960.

Both systems, though tedious, are well constructed. If you follow the checklist to a T for 1) or fill in all fields for 2), you'll be alright.

Step 3: Wait

If you are dying to get out of Singapore and leave for Australia, prepare to die. This one really tests your patience. Checking the status of your application is available online once you are contacted and provided a Transaction Reference Number (TRN). The initial wait can be unbearable. This isn't spending S$10 for the application of a HDB BTO flat after all. The stakes involved are higher.

Once you are allocated a case officer, things will get moving. The officer will contact you to request for incomplete information (provided he/she hasn't dump your application in the bin by then) or missing documents. This is when your health check will be requested. The medical centre will be sending the report directly to Adelaide office on your behalf so all you have to do is to turn up for the check. However, you will have to send the police clearance yourself after you obtain it for S$50.00 (presently). After these final documents are received by the Australian office, your application will move another inch towards the closing stage.

Step 4: Result

If your visa is not approved, it's not a tragedy. You can always stand up for Singapore. If your visa is approved however, you'll be heading to the Australia Embassy in Singapore to get your visa.

It is merely a sticker no bigger than a single page of your Singapore passport. It looks something like that:

A very costly sticker

Ah, once this sticker is pasted on the last page of your passport, you can start setting a date to make your initial entry, which is 1 year upon the visa is granted. Should you fail to make the initial entry, your visa will be forfeited.

So make that trip, get your feet landed in Australia soil, get that passport stamped at the custom, your initial entry is done and you are official a Permanent Resident of Australia.

Congratulations!

Wait. Don't be too happy yet. For the next 5 years after that, you must reside at least 2 years in Australia or your visa will not be extended at the end of the 5 years. There are some concessions about this but I don't want to talk about it in this post. Just remember - 2 out of 5 years.

Good luck.

151

Patrick bought a new car today and we are 100% excited by it. Obviously the excitement ratio is around Pat 99%, and me 1%. Nonetheless, I felt thrilled for Patrick.

Well no one is interested in how I feel. So let's not waste time with it and talk about the car!

What a beauty

Make: Mazda

Model: 3

Year: 2012

Engine: 2L, 4 cyclinder 16 valve DOHC S-VT

Power: 108KW from regular unleaded

Transmission: Manual, 6 speed

Well, just look at that. How can Mr Patrick not be happy? Even his car looks happy be to bought by him. Both of them will have to wait 2 weeks to be reunited though.

I wonder what name will Patrick gave his car. Susan? Elizabeth, Veronica? Nay. Patrick may be older than me but he is actually more modern thinking and technology savvy than me. No teasing please. Most likely he'll give a modern name like Megan. Or Chanel. Heh.

Trivialities aside, Patrick's Mazda 3 is going to serve him well. With a decent boot for his golf clubs, reasonable fuel consumption, safe and comfortable drive, he'll go places. Yeah, literally go places. I bet my last dollar on it.

The important question: HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

I hope Patrick isn't annoyed with me for talking about money here. But the price is all over the net for anyone to check anyway so I dangerously assume he doesn't mind. It'll burn an A$22,000 in Patrick's pocket but looking at the situation, he is taking it in stride. Well coming from Singapore, I don't think anyone will seriously feel annoyed paying that price for that prize.

The most important question though, is whether Patrick will take us down south in future together in his polished beauty instead of us smelling his exhaust in a panting Barry White from behind. But I must baotoh a bit that Patrick did 130km/h on Singapore roads (Yeah book him!) so it's not telling what's going to happen here.

I'll need to end the procrastination and settle my family private health insurance as well as a personal life insurance soon.

As the story goes, Maggie found her new job, submitted her resignation and is 2 weeks away from a new job, new working environment. Still, I am hearing her echo her fears whenever I met her online. It's already a couple of weeks since she signed her appointment letter, surely the nerves have subsided by now?

Not quite. Maggie is afraid. I have ran out of words to counsel her. But today Maggie asked me an interesting question, "Were you afraid when you migrated?"

Over work, I thought over her question. There were strong vivid flashbacks of how I felt in the initial weeks. I remembered how terrible I felt when I made the last call to my mum before boarding the plane. When we reached Perth, there wasn't a 'wow' factor as with my previous visits as a tourist. The same cold feeling when I stepped into Belmont Forum, totally numbed. During the first few weeks, I had the strange mentality that whatever I was going through would end and I would be flying back home with Jen. Everything would be normal then.

Maggie hit the point home, I was afraid.

Then I found the job. Deep inside I was terrified but I couldn't tell anyone. I didn't want to take up this job but I needed the money. I was a project manager - not a tradie. I couldn't operate a hand grinder to save my life. Sparks seared the skin of my face and arms. The grinder jerked and kick-backed during my first cutting job. It could have shave my fingers off if I didn't grab it tight enough with the sudden recoil. I had countless metal splinters embedded painfully in my skin. My arms and back ached terribly after the first week. I hurt my eye bad enough to require a minor surgery. The joints of my fingers swelled. Till today I still cannot clench my fist because couple of fingers give me too much pain. I could very well never play the guitar again in this life.

After 3 months on the job, work became a routine. So much so, I don't pay attention to pain anymore. I became much more proficient in my job and my technical skills improved vastly. The latest weigh indicated my weight to be 66.7kg, down from 73kg when I first landed in Perth.

I'm still afraid. Not as petrified as before. Not when I was new to Perth, struggling to adapt to the dry weather, not knowing what to do for Jen who was 5 months pregnant then, not knowing how to find a job and .. not knowing a single soul.

I'm still afraid. I have fears of losing my job with Jen unemployed with a baby to feed, getting kicked out by the landlord, potential injuries or even death at work, the responsibility of making the decision for the future of my family.

My dear friend Mag, I understand your fears. 8 years to the old job, an abrupt change is frightening. In 2 weeks time, you will be meeting new people at work. Your traveling routine, job scope and working hours will drastically change. But do not be afraid, for you are not alone. Everyday people challenge their fears. Some do it better because they do not have an option of turning back, such as myself. For now, Albany is too young to travel. There is nowhere we can go. As a sole breadwinner, I could only grind on.

Remember the reasons that made you choose to look for a new job. Never forget them. When you are facing discomfort with the total new life in 2 weeks time, recall them and remind yourself why you made the choice. By focusing on your motivation to make this big change, you'll overcome your anxieties. You'll do well.

Do not worry. Do not be afraid. You'll be fine. Fantastically fine.

WARNING: WALL OF TEXT

This is embarrassing. Well, sometime back I wrote this post admitting I was an SMRT investor. I still am.

Screw me.

I'll tell you what happened. In the last post I swore that I would sell SMRT on the first market opening I could. I tried. I logged in to uobkayhian.com.sg, keyed in my password. And again... and.. you know what happened.

In a turn of the eye, my account was locked. I knew the procedures that I have to go through. Call kayhian, speak to the lady with sweet voice, give her the answers to some personal questions (not that personal though :D) and they will send a hardcopy new password to my home address.

My Singapore home address. Sigh.

I can't call my broker as well. I don't have my CDP number with me. Having not calling him for years, that'll probably be the first thing he asked for to kick start our business transactions. So, that's why I'm still an embarrassed holder of 1000 SMRT shares.

Since we are into the topic of investment, let me reenact a past conversation with a good friend, Warren, a few years back. Here was how it went:

Warren: Heard you are into DIY investment lately, how are things going?

Me: Like that loh, waiting for results.

Warren: Heard of socially responsible investing?

Me: Har? Simi lai eh?

Warren: Well it has origins dated all the way back to 1700s but long story short, it means not investing in companies that are socially irresponsible. In modern era, we focus on civil rights, equality and labor issues.

Me: I invested in ST Engineering. It has a business wing involved in military weapons manufacturing. Does it fall into your black book?

Warren: Yes of course.

Me: Hmm, isn't investing just about making money. That's all I care about my investments. What's wrong?

Warren: You need more income from a day job don't you?

Me: Er... yes?

Warren: Why don't you take up pimping? It doesn't require an educational background and it definitely fetch a higher income than your current job.

Me: Ah... I get your point. But this is subjective. While prostitution is definitely bad on the first considering, its existence may have reduced other social problems such as rape.. And that ST Engineering may be manufacturing weapons but that may be sold to countries that use them to defend their citizens instead of aggressive motives.

In that case, how do we judge which are the socially unethical and irresponsible businesses?

Warren: That will depend entirely on you, my friend...

******

Story nice or not? Or already sent you to dreamland? Sorry but this has to be told or my conscience continues to prick me. What does the above stuff gotta do with SMRT again? I'll come to that later. Meanwhile please bear with me.

You know, recently I read some interesting news about a certain bus company in Australia. The Aussie Bus Boss gives A$15 million to his staff as bonus after he sold his business. What caught my attention was not the boss's generosity. This comment in the article got me instead:

"This is to recognise that. We have had people here who are second generation, and one fellow in the same job for 52 years."

Which company in Singapore can boast something like that? Rare, if any. Apparently it is common in Australia. In my company alone, there are 2 pairs of father and son working in the company. What does that tells us?

I wonder if there are any for example, SMRT train officers that will encourage their sons to join SMRT and be an officer like themselves? The answer is a definite no. I challenge ANY SMRT train officers to refute this. More likely, train officers will ask their sons to keep a distance as far as they could from the creaking trains, cable ties and all.

Once upon a time, I read about Peter Lynch, the unit trust fund legend. He was so good in it because he knew the businesses that he was investing in inside out. From having lunch with CEOs of the companies, making workshop visits and having small talk with employees of the companies and devil knows what else, he extracted crucial information to make his decision whether to buy or avoid. That eventually led to his success in his investments.

Let me do a mock Peter Lynch on the SMRT, the stock I am still holding.

Exit: Saw and her little car

Well we know that Saw ~~was sacked~~ had resigned right? So everything's gonna be fine isn't it? Good company, good investment?

No.

Well personally I like the companies I invest in to be thrifty but SMRT has gone a little too far in it.

The rumored cheap China made trains or components, the well known cable ties, as well as dyfunctional buggies in train depots and who knows what else?

The thing about excessive cost cutting is that, if a company has its back to the wall in terms of cost cutting, it's not a good sign because well, it has no no other room to maneuver. Personally, I don't like that but I can close an eye on that.

Adoi, still don't want to change buggy?!

If you have followed and made it here so far with me, I applaud your stamina. The below revelation is going to link back to the above grandfather story about socially responsible investment as well as the story about the Australian bus company.

Does SMRT treats their staff well? I'm referring to of course, the operating team. No operating team, no trains. No trains, no commuters get to work and no revenue for the company. That's it.

Despite the obvious importance of the operating team, it doesn't not take a genius to figure how well this typical Singapore company treat their cheaper, better, faster staff. Ma ma dei, at best.

There was a case that SMRT train officers getting their union to fight with the management for getting their public holidays paid.

You know how good the unions are in Singapore right? The biggest one sells groceries and insurance but can build a big building in One Marina Boulevard, heads and shoulders above even some buildings of banks nearby. The chief urged the workers they are supposed to fight for to become cheaper, better and faster, learn to be a mouse that barks like a dog and also learn to bite some bullets along the way so that we can ~~upskirt the ..~~ upturn the downturn.

That's about how good the union is from what I see it. All talk and fuck all.

Not surprisingly, whatever union that SMRT train officers signed up for was a great disappointment. The union representative sided with the management, citing that they are on a shift work basis and works less hours that the normal manpower guidelines MOM prescribed, thus they shouldn't be paid extra working on public holidays. I.e they don't have public holidays to enjoy.

This is bullying and I detest this. It reminded me of my ex company who forced me to go on a company's trip but I had to take leave for it. When I told my boss I don't want to go, he insisted on it. I told him that I need to take my parents to Australia for a short trip at the later part of the year and I need to preserve my leave.

He simply said, "Oh nevermind, if not enough leave, take no-pay leave for your trip loh."

Fuck off.

I don't even have a choice to opt out of a company trip and had to take leave for it?! If the trip was an incentive to reward staff for the hard work, why do I need to forfeit my annual leave for it? This left a bitter taste in the mouth ever since. When I read all about the SMRT train guys' predicament, my heart is with them. I hate the management messing around with the entitlement of their staff. It's bullying and I detest it.

As far as I know, SMRT falls short on labour issues of my friend's Socially Responsible Business Checklist. I'll reiterate my ratings on SMRT.

SELL! SELL! SELL!

Send me an angel with my password.

By today, Mr Lee Kuan Yew has spent half a century tinkering with Singapore's population. On the 3rd Feb 2011, he reinforced his conviction of his latest plan, familiar to all by now: Mass immigration

SINGAPORE: Former Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew has called for the understanding of Singaporeans towards the government's decision to continue taking in immigrants.

Speaking at a Lunar New Year gathering in his constituency of Tanjong Pagar on Friday, Mr Lee said Singapore's per capita income is one of the highest in Asia.

But it faces an ageing and shrinking population. Last year, the birth rate was 1.15, with the Chinese leading the decline among other races.

Mr Lee said Japan also suffers from similar problems. But its decision not to take in migrants has contributed to economic stagnation.

He said: "Our choice must be the other one - taking in immigrants. I know Singaporeans do not feel very comfortable seeing so many strange new faces, but the alternative is economy stagnation and worse, nobody to look after our old people later on."
Source

A brief walk through history

1959 - Lee Kuan Yew became Prime Minister of Singapore

1965 - Birthrate was 29.9 per 1000 population. Government launched family planning campaign in the form of;

Publicity:

Exhortation:

Material 'disincentives':

- Incremental higher costs of bearing the third, fourth, and subsequent children were instituted.

- Civil servants received no paid maternity leave for third and subsequent children.

- Maternity hospitals charged progressively higher fees for each additional birth.

- Income tax deductions for all but the first two children were eliminated.

- Large families received no extra consideration in public housing assignments

- Top priority in the competition for enrollment in the most desirable primary schools was given to only children and to children whose parents had been sterilized before the age of forty.

Material incentives:

- Voluntary sterilization was rewarded by seven days of paid sick leave and by priority in the allocation of such public goods as housing and education

1980 - The government's family planning campaign worked - too well. By 1980, the birthrate had reduced to 1.7 per woman, low enough for the government to hit the panic button to reverse the effects of the campaign.

1983 - Lee Kuan Yew identified the failure of female university graduates to marry and bear children as a serious social problem.

1984 - The government acted to give preferential school admission to children whose mothers were university graduates, while offering grants of S$10,000 (that's a lot in 1984) to less educated women who agreed to be sterilized after the birth of their second child.

Social Development Unit (SDU) was established as a matchmaker for unmarried university graduates.

1985 - The policies made in 1984 was shelved or heavily modified because they flopped big time.

1986 - "Have three or more, if you can afford it" campaign was launched to encourage the population having bigger families, this time with no preference of the educational level of the parents.

1987 - Birthrate of Singapore fell to a (then) record low of 1.44.

1989 - Campaign promoting the joys of marriage and parenthood was launched by the government.

2001 - Baby bonus was introduced.

2004 - Baby bonus was enhanced.

By 2011, our birthrate stood at yet another historic low of 1.15. Mr Lee's population tweaking and his obsession in eugenics has arguably brought Singapore to its current dilemma. The PAP never took ownership of the mistake, let alone taking responsibilities.

In the current report by Channelnewsasia, he left me perplexed by citing Japan's economic stagnation was contributed by Japan's refusal to adopt mass immigration for those who studied the rapid rise in the Industrial Revolution and economic fall of Japan as a case study would be sure that immigrant was a mere triviality and hardly a contributing factor to their current situation.

The following statement was even more bizarre:

"Our choice must be the other one - taking in immigrants. I know Singaporeans do not feel very comfortable seeing so many strange new faces, but the alternative is economy stagnation and worse, nobody to look after our old people later on."

Ironically, Singapore was deemed overpopulated in our tiny 700sqkm with a 2.1 million population in 1970. In the name of economic progress today, suddenly it is alright to have 5.2 million people in the same amount of space, not that we reclaimed land significant enough to change the statistic - and we are aiming for more, perhaps a 6.5 million population as projected a few years back?

How would the injection of immigrants ensure our future old people to be taken care of? I'm sure LKY did not mean that literally, for that will be the best joke I've heard in a while. By taxing the foreigners? Maybe. But in the future when we ask for assistance for the old and needy, would that future minister in charge of MCYS be reiterating the famous quote

"How much do you want? Do you want three meals in a hawker centre, food court or restaurant?"

Don't forget, we need to eat that $10 XO Chye Tow Kuey as Chan Chun Sing advised us to do so.

By today, Mr Lee Kuan Yew is no longer a minister of the cabinet. Yet clearly, he continues to influence in crucial areas that defines the future of Singapore. This time though he will not be there to see the repercussions of his final (hopefully) experiment with Singapore.

But the rest of us will. It's already too late to stop it.

I'm not an expert in cars like my good friend, The Running Robot. The temporary loss of Barry White's services today made me think and rethink about seriously gaining professional mechanic hands-on experience.

I am good with my hands and have a good aptitude in fixing up things. We used to strip engineer tank engines, service it and assemble everything back anyway. Give me a technical manual, I'll master the workings of Barry White in no time.

Maybe some day, I'll work as a car mechanic, who knows?

As the story goes, Barry White went down today. The engine could not start. The first suspect would be the battery. A simple search in the internet had me checking the lights, wipers and air conditioner to confirm the health of the battery.

Wipers - Same lagging speed in all modes

Air con - not working

Radio - working

Lights - didn't check.

When I started the car, there was a rattling sound in where I thought was the component doing some cranking work. If it wasn't the battery, it would be dire because there were several possibilities and I was not equipped to rectify them and provided I know how to in the first place.

It was already 1445hrs. I need to be work at the usual 1530hrs. If Barry White could not be restored on time, I would need a lift. But even then, who will give me the return lift back home at 0200hrs? I borrowed Sandy's (Eugene's wife) Toyota Yaris to perform a jump start on Barry White. Didn't work. My heart sank.

I drove Sandy's Yaris to work with her at the passenger seat. She told me horror stories of her last repair on the Yaris. The bill came to A$2,000+ blah blah. I was sian/2 and told her I'll buy a new old car if I am quoted a bill like that. Yeah, dump Barry White in the Canning River and forget about it. Toyota reliable? Bah!

Later in the day, Jen gave me some good news. It doesn't come very often these days so good news from Jen is good. While I was away at work, Eugene drove to the automobile supplies people and got me a new car battery, replaced it and got it going. It was a battery fault after all, probably too weak to be recharged. Still reliable after 4 months and a minor replacement....and counting.

I'll have Barry White for the coming weekend after all. It was depressing to think about the coming weekend without a car. For a start, if Eugene didn't buy that battery for me, how am I going to travel to the shop to get one?

The lessons learnt today:

1) When things get better, I need to buy Jen a car.

2) It's time to read up intensively about car repairs.

3) Car in Australia is a need, not a luxury - unless you are Superman like Patrick.

4) If I have a place of my own here in future, I need to invest in a chain block and make a portable A-frame. (I should be able to weld by then). That'll let me hoist a car engine if I need to.

5) I need to make more friends. I'm as good as dead with no one to turn to for advice and assistance when things go out of routine. This time I was lucky.

Source here

So, let's see. Windows System Administrator. Is this job one of those 'unwanted jobs' that the government claimed that Singaporeans are unwilling to take up - and that we need to bring it foreigners to do it?

No Singaporean wants to work in IBM, a multinational company? Not even 1 of the 3 positions opened, I see.

Yes, Singaporeans are so picky about work that they are now shunning not just construction jobs, and cleaning jobs. Apparently, IT jobs now suck too! Nobody wants to do it.

So we must bring it some foreign talents to do the chores. Oh, not just any foreign talents. They must be from The Philippines. Like the guards outside Emeritus Goh's house, they must be Gurkhas from Nepal, nothing less nothing more. Well, working in IBM as a Windows System Administrator must be real knotty to ask for the geniuses from only one specific nationality.

This is definitely not an isolated case and it will not be the last either.

It is no longer an esoteric doctrine of the Singapore society. This is happening in an increasing number of vocations. Doesn't concern you because you are from the finance sector? Or this doesn't affect the real estate industry? Oh, this doesn't happen in external auditing field?

Wait and see.

Can MOM do something about it? Your answer is as good as mine. Should we leave things as it it is until the situation rots further that it affects your family, friends and children before giving it the proper attention that it requires?

One of the weakest point about Singaporeans is that they tend to be selfish. As long as it doesn't concern them, no one is interested in standing up for their own countrymen who suffers injustice or discrimination - even if it happened in their own backyard! "Mind your own business - don't kaypoh" is the first mantra of Singaporeans. When it happens to others, we remain silent instead of getting up in arms for our own people. When we are affected who complain loud and bitter and wondered why no one is helping.

In this aspect, our nation building has utterly failed.

It's time to change, brothers and sisters. Please spread the word and stop job discrimination in Singapore.

Past Rants