We googled cheap air tickets and did call several travel agencies. I asked for 1-way air ticket from singapore to sydney. The receptionist is pretty alerted with that and ask bunch of questions to validate if we're qualified to purchase for 1-way ticket. I wonder how serious is Oz treat illegal migrants? From the way the receptionist reacts, I guess Oz might be pretty strict on this.
We finally booked 2 Qantas 1-way air-tickets online. Yeah, we're flying after Chinese New Year. Phew, it's time for packing!!
Monday, December 24, 2007
Thursday, December 20, 2007
We finally got it!
We finally received the grant email on 18th December. I actually called LCU twice. The first call says U's meds was finalized and mine is still under assessment (10th December). The second call on Monday morning (17th December) tells us that mine has finalized too. I think this was the last piece of information the CO is waiting to make the final decision. Such a relief now! Well, it's a wonderful christmas gift for us. :)
IELTS results
I forgot to mention our IELTS journey:
15th November 2007 - We took IELTS listening, reading & writing tests.
19th November 2007 - We took IELTS listening test.
29th November 2007 - We received the IELTS results. My average was 6.5 while U's average was 8. I thought I was poor and prepared to take the Adult Migrant English Programme (AMEP). Well, it seems that I'm disqualified from taking then.
By the way, to establish an expectation on the listening test results, our Listening practice tests were scored around 26/40 to 38/40 on numerous practice tests, and didn't seem to improve by doing more tests. So if you are scoring the same range in practicing, you are most probably good.
15th November 2007 - We took IELTS listening, reading & writing tests.
19th November 2007 - We took IELTS listening test.
29th November 2007 - We received the IELTS results. My average was 6.5 while U's average was 8. I thought I was poor and prepared to take the Adult Migrant English Programme (AMEP). Well, it seems that I'm disqualified from taking then.
By the way, to establish an expectation on the listening test results, our Listening practice tests were scored around 26/40 to 38/40 on numerous practice tests, and didn't seem to improve by doing more tests. So if you are scoring the same range in practicing, you are most probably good.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Medicals Check-up
We have had completed medical checkups on 29th October. It took the Clinics for 2 weeks to finally post it on last Friday, 9th November. Yeah, the reports has arrived safely to LCU today! Let's just cross fingers to see how long it takes to clear LCU.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Case officer assigned
Finally, our application has been assigned a CO @ 18/Oct/2007. We are required to furnish IELTS results, police clearance certificates and medical checkups. We spent a week to complete the p/c and m/c, now left the IELTS exam which is coming in two weeks. We are pretty excited and nervous because it is liked bringing us back to schooling days for exam preparation. While preparing for the IELTS exam, I'm just thinking why not I share our application experience and jot down the thoughts and findings for people who are like-minded and in the progress of the same? Perhaps you may find it useful and share yours to this blog. :)
Important dates of our application
16th June 2006 - My ACS acknowledgement letter received (email).
18th July 2006 - My skills assessed by ACS - ASCO code: 2231-15 (letter). We found that U's occupation is in MODL list. We decided to have U's skill being assessed.
7th Nov 2006 - My ACS acknowledgement letter received (email).
10th January 2007 - M's skills assessed by ACS - ASCO code: 2231-79. However, the letter is lost. We received nothing after the online status has been updated as "Case finalized". We found it out only several weeks later until we faxed a letter to ACS for clarification. Poor thing.
mid/late Febrary 2007 - Received U's skills assessment letter.
8th March 2007 - Application received at ASPC (Adelaide Skilled Processing Centre)
30th April 2007 - ASPC Acknowledgement letter received (email)
18th October 2007 - ASPC Case Officer assigned (email) - Request for do m/c, p/c, ielts results.
Important dates of our application
16th June 2006 - My ACS acknowledgement letter received (email).
18th July 2006 - My skills assessed by ACS - ASCO code: 2231-15 (letter). We found that U's occupation is in MODL list. We decided to have U's skill being assessed.
7th Nov 2006 - My ACS acknowledgement letter received (email).
10th January 2007 - M's skills assessed by ACS - ASCO code: 2231-79. However, the letter is lost. We received nothing after the online status has been updated as "Case finalized". We found it out only several weeks later until we faxed a letter to ACS for clarification. Poor thing.
mid/late Febrary 2007 - Received U's skills assessment letter.
8th March 2007 - Application received at ASPC (Adelaide Skilled Processing Centre)
30th April 2007 - ASPC Acknowledgement letter received (email)
18th October 2007 - ASPC Case Officer assigned (email) - Request for do m/c, p/c, ielts results.
Monday, October 15, 2007
How to ship barang^2 to Australia
The information here is extracted from GMF:
Redsin posted @ 14 July 2006::
Referred good movers from Singapore:
Bownti International Pte Ltd
Contact: Vimalan. Sockalingam (Business Development Manager)
Mobile: 93639168
It costs about AUD$6000 for a 20ft container (excluding GST for declared value of goods, insurance, fumigation, quarantine, etc), shipped door to door. Price quoted includes all packing materials, assembly of furniture (excluding electrical components ie. your AV system), packing of your stuff for you. At delivery, they would reassemble the furniture as well as unpack for you. By the way, I am also shipping a piano. They charge an extra AUD150 for the piano.
If anyone has some experience with shipping from Singapore, would appreciate some advise as to whether we are being fleeced at that price. Meanwhile, take note of the following:
a) One month free storage in Oz.
b) Additional storage time can be arranged @ S$84/week if you require so.
c) For goods stored more than the FOC one month, you would need to pay a handling fee of S$420.
d) You can have access to your goods while it is in storage, but make sure that those boxes you need are labeled as "Essential Items" so that they pack them at the front of the container for easy access.
Tips from GMF::
#1: Be very careful when you bring over your furniture (bed frame, mattress, sofa, etc) and electrical products. Just make sure they are not new. I understand that if they stipulate that your items are new, they have the powers to levy a customs duty or tax (maybe 10-15%) on value of those items as shown in you invoice.
#2: If can save the shipping cost by not shipping bukly eletrical applicances. You can choose to rent those items in Oz, and the rental cost is calculated weekly.
#3: Secondhand clothes dryer and washing machine from a rental shop may cost about AU$300.00 for both. A freezer might cost about AU$179.00. For more information, pleae visit: http://www.rentalrus.com.au/ and http://www.radio-rentals.com.au/ (http://www.radio-rentals.com.au/Resources/PDFs/Catalogue.pdf)
#4:
Redsin posted @ 14 July 2006::
Referred good movers from Singapore:
Bownti International Pte Ltd
Contact: Vimalan. Sockalingam (Business Development Manager)
Mobile: 93639168
It costs about AUD$6000 for a 20ft container (excluding GST for declared value of goods, insurance, fumigation, quarantine, etc), shipped door to door. Price quoted includes all packing materials, assembly of furniture (excluding electrical components ie. your AV system), packing of your stuff for you. At delivery, they would reassemble the furniture as well as unpack for you. By the way, I am also shipping a piano. They charge an extra AUD150 for the piano.
If anyone has some experience with shipping from Singapore, would appreciate some advise as to whether we are being fleeced at that price. Meanwhile, take note of the following:
a) One month free storage in Oz.
b) Additional storage time can be arranged @ S$84/week if you require so.
c) For goods stored more than the FOC one month, you would need to pay a handling fee of S$420.
d) You can have access to your goods while it is in storage, but make sure that those boxes you need are labeled as "Essential Items" so that they pack them at the front of the container for easy access.
Tips from GMF::
#1: Be very careful when you bring over your furniture (bed frame, mattress, sofa, etc) and electrical products. Just make sure they are not new. I understand that if they stipulate that your items are new, they have the powers to levy a customs duty or tax (maybe 10-15%) on value of those items as shown in you invoice.
#2: If can save the shipping cost by not shipping bukly eletrical applicances. You can choose to rent those items in Oz, and the rental cost is calculated weekly.
#3: Secondhand clothes dryer and washing machine from a rental shop may cost about AU$300.00 for both. A freezer might cost about AU$179.00. For more information, pleae visit: http://www.rentalrus.com.au/ and http://www.radio-rentals.com.au/ (http://www.radio-rentals.com.au/Resources/PDFs/Catalogue.pdf)
#4:
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Real estate in Australia
Australia has a booming real estate market in the past few years. According to Real Estate Institute of Australia, property sales totalled $186.1 billion in the financial year 2005/2006 and there are 67% of Australians owned their own houses and 28% rented on the private market.
Real estate agent must register himself to be REI member of the state. If you ever consider to be a resl estate agent, remember to surf the website of the local REI of the state.
Here are several real-estate websites in Australia:
Real estate agent must register himself to be REI member of the state. If you ever consider to be a resl estate agent, remember to surf the website of the local REI of the state.
Here are several real-estate websites in Australia:
Below are the sites which utilized Google Map (Google Maps Mania - real estate):
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Best place to migrate to?
Mercer HR Consulting published Worldwide Quality of Living (QOL) Survey 2007 in April, 2007. According to the Survey, the top 10 cities are Switzerland (Zurich, Geneva, Bern), Canada (Vancouver), Austria (Vienna), New Zealand (Auckland), Germany (Dusseldorf, Frankfruit, Munich) and Australia (Sydney).
QOL index is calculated based on 39 key quality determinants which are defined to be neutral and unbias. It says that you'll receive better QOL in Zurich by having cleaner drinkable water, fresher air, safer environment, high accessibility of public transport and more entertainment facilities, as compared to New York, which is ranked #48 or Singapore, which is ranked #36 in the report. The above might not sound obvious because the difference of rates from the top city, Zurich (top position, rated 108.1) to New Yock (rank #48, rated 100) is only 8.1 score. Consider the Shanghai (ranked #134, rated 73.8) and Beijing (ranked #166, rated 60.3) where air pollution issues are severe, are both having at least 25 points lesser as compared to New York.
To choose a country to migrate to, QOL index is not enough to justify. Young professionals whom aged between 25 to 35, may look at career opportunities, wealth accumulation opportunities, easier retirement, pro-family policies, better education system for children, possibility of moving back to origin country without much destruction to ones career and perhaps more out-door activities or natural parks, a.k.a. quality of live.
1. Cost of living v.s. how much you can save
Assumption: You and your spouse, no kids). Assuming you are a senior software engineer wich 4 to 5 years of experience and age under 35. Your spouse is a housewife without a permanent job.
Singapore
Salary (Estimation)
>> Drawing SGD$60,000 per annum
>> Tax = SGD$2,600 per annum
>> CPF contribution @ 18% = SGD$10,800 per annum
>> Bring home income = SGD$970 per week.
Cost of living (Estimation)
>> Rental fee for a 4-room HDB flat is SGD$300 per week
>> Public transport per month is SGD$30 per week
>> Taxi transoirt for family events is SGD20 per week
>> Meals is SGD$250 per week
>> Dining at restaurant is SGD$50 per week
>> Others (Internet, Mobile, Entertainment) is SGD$50 per week
Total: SGD$700 per week for comfortably living in Singapore.
Saving: SGD$270 per week.
Other consideration (Estimation)
>> 2nd-hand car price is about SGD$45,000 (4.5 years of saving)
>> 4-room HDB flat priced at about SGD$250,000.
Australia
Salary (Estimation)
>> Drawing $75,000 per annum
>> Tax = $17,250 per annum
>> Superannuaty @ 9% = $6,750 per annum
>> Bring home income = $1050 per week.
Cost of living (Estimation)
>> Rental fee for a apartment is $350 per week
>> Car running cost (Fuel @ $1.5 per litre, 0.2l/km, 300km) is $90 per week
>> Meals is $300 per week
>> Dining at restaurant is $60 per week
>> Others (Internet, Mobile, Entertainment) is $60 per week
Total: $860 per week for comfortably living in Australia - exclude car installment cost.
Saving: $290 per week.
Other consideration (Estimation)
>> 2nd-hand car price is about $10,000 (1.0 years of saving)
>> Sydney suburb townhouse priced at about $300,000 (varies hugely based on location).
Malaysia
Salary (Estimation)
>> Drawing MYR$40,000 per annum
>> Tax = MYR$3,500 per annum
>> EPF @ 11% = MYR$4,400 per annum
>> Bring home income = MYR$670 per week.
Cost of living (Estimation)
>> Rental fee for a apartment is MYR$125 per week
>> Car running cost (Fuel @ MYR$1.7 per litre, 0.2l/km, 300km) is MYR$100 per week
>> Meals is MYR$200 per week
>> Dining at restaurant is MYR$30 per week
>> Others (Internet, Mobile, Entertainment) is MYR$40 per week
Total: MYR$500 per week - exclude car installment cost.
Saving: MYR$170 per week.
Other consideration (Estimation)
>> 2nd-hand car price is about MYR$35,000 (4.5 years of saving)
>> KL suburb townhouse priced at about MYR$350,000 (varies hugely based on location).
QOL index is calculated based on 39 key quality determinants which are defined to be neutral and unbias. It says that you'll receive better QOL in Zurich by having cleaner drinkable water, fresher air, safer environment, high accessibility of public transport and more entertainment facilities, as compared to New York, which is ranked #48 or Singapore, which is ranked #36 in the report. The above might not sound obvious because the difference of rates from the top city, Zurich (top position, rated 108.1) to New Yock (rank #48, rated 100) is only 8.1 score. Consider the Shanghai (ranked #134, rated 73.8) and Beijing (ranked #166, rated 60.3) where air pollution issues are severe, are both having at least 25 points lesser as compared to New York.
To choose a country to migrate to, QOL index is not enough to justify. Young professionals whom aged between 25 to 35, may look at career opportunities, wealth accumulation opportunities, easier retirement, pro-family policies, better education system for children, possibility of moving back to origin country without much destruction to ones career and perhaps more out-door activities or natural parks, a.k.a. quality of live.
1. Cost of living v.s. how much you can save
Assumption: You and your spouse, no kids). Assuming you are a senior software engineer wich 4 to 5 years of experience and age under 35. Your spouse is a housewife without a permanent job.
Singapore
Salary (Estimation)
>> Drawing SGD$60,000 per annum
>> Tax = SGD$2,600 per annum
>> CPF contribution @ 18% = SGD$10,800 per annum
>> Bring home income = SGD$970 per week.
Cost of living (Estimation)
>> Rental fee for a 4-room HDB flat is SGD$300 per week
>> Public transport per month is SGD$30 per week
>> Taxi transoirt for family events is SGD20 per week
>> Meals is SGD$250 per week
>> Dining at restaurant is SGD$50 per week
>> Others (Internet, Mobile, Entertainment) is SGD$50 per week
Total: SGD$700 per week for comfortably living in Singapore.
Saving: SGD$270 per week.
Other consideration (Estimation)
>> 2nd-hand car price is about SGD$45,000 (4.5 years of saving)
>> 4-room HDB flat priced at about SGD$250,000.
Australia
Salary (Estimation)
>> Drawing $75,000 per annum
>> Tax = $17,250 per annum
>> Superannuaty @ 9% = $6,750 per annum
>> Bring home income = $1050 per week.
Cost of living (Estimation)
>> Rental fee for a apartment is $350 per week
>> Car running cost (Fuel @ $1.5 per litre, 0.2l/km, 300km) is $90 per week
>> Meals is $300 per week
>> Dining at restaurant is $60 per week
>> Others (Internet, Mobile, Entertainment) is $60 per week
Total: $860 per week for comfortably living in Australia - exclude car installment cost.
Saving: $290 per week.
Other consideration (Estimation)
>> 2nd-hand car price is about $10,000 (1.0 years of saving)
>> Sydney suburb townhouse priced at about $300,000 (varies hugely based on location).
Malaysia
Salary (Estimation)
>> Drawing MYR$40,000 per annum
>> Tax = MYR$3,500 per annum
>> EPF @ 11% = MYR$4,400 per annum
>> Bring home income = MYR$670 per week.
Cost of living (Estimation)
>> Rental fee for a apartment is MYR$125 per week
>> Car running cost (Fuel @ MYR$1.7 per litre, 0.2l/km, 300km) is MYR$100 per week
>> Meals is MYR$200 per week
>> Dining at restaurant is MYR$30 per week
>> Others (Internet, Mobile, Entertainment) is MYR$40 per week
Total: MYR$500 per week - exclude car installment cost.
Saving: MYR$170 per week.
Other consideration (Estimation)
>> 2nd-hand car price is about MYR$35,000 (4.5 years of saving)
>> KL suburb townhouse priced at about MYR$350,000 (varies hugely based on location).
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