SIR LollyPop Sender: HoneyHoney

I am a secondary school teacher

last year when I was planning to apply for visa I had 2 years of experience

To gain 120 points I needed to have 3 years otherwise my points were 110.

Then came this SIR Visa option

Now I had 2 ways

1) To apply for SIR

2) To wait till May 2005 to get 3 years experience and then apply for PR

I thought of shorter path of going to Australia

I thought that after going to Australia on SIR and after getting experience of few months then I will apply for PR from within Australia.

I applied for SIR in August 04 & by Feb. 05 I had got my Visa

In Nov. 04 I had received STNI Letter from Victoria which I never utilized as my SIR Application was with DIMIA and I though after working as teacher in SA for few more months will make my experience to 3 years and then I will apply for PR from Australia itself

At the time I arrived in Australia I had 2 Years 9 months of experience as Secondary School teacher

But after arriving I came to know even I gained 3 more months of experience as Teacher I won't be able to apply for PR Straightway as SIR Visa holders are restricted to lodge any kind of application for First 2 Years.

So in the end SIR Visa holders have to pay their own health insurance which is around A$ 350 for family per month, No other govt. benefit

Although from Ist August I have got job as Secondary School teacher in a School nearby Adelaide but I have to live for atleast 4 Years in SA Before moving anywhere else like Melbourne where I wish to go and have few friends

Now I regret my decision, I should have waited for atleast Year and then lodged the application

So my sincere advise is if you quality for any kind of PR visa don't take SIR Visa even though it might look shorter(For processing time etc) as there is no gurantee that after spending 2 or more years of your youth ful life in regional areas AND GIVING SERVICE TO Australian regional areas you may be absorbed as PR

(As to be nominated under STNI you need to have send job and in regional areas & there are more chances that you end up 4-years just doing odd jobs)

and after spending 4 years of you career you pack for bags back and return home with nothing.

So beware of SIR Lollypop

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