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| Struggling for my PR.; This one is all about money :( Advice requested | |
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| Topic Started: May 30 2010, 11:18:51 PM (821 Views) | |
| Samantha | May 30 2010, 11:18:51 PM Post #1 |
True Blue Mate
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Hello, So I have been away for awhile. For the last 8 weeks (and I am still working on assessments) I a full time and my final teaching prac. It went wonderfully and as I knew all along this is the career for me. I can't think of a more rewarding job. That being said my situation here in Australia and my future here has gotten a lot more shakey and full on. I need about 3,000$ to become a permanent resident (many of you would remember my thread from last year) and I was assuming that I could cover this with a Plus student stafford loan. I was wrong. Myself and my parents have been rejected for what is in actuality a government backed student loan (I get stafford loans to pay my tuition which are essentially the same thing.) At the moment we are looking into trying the application proccess with other banks. Even my poor student loan officer is frustrated beyond belief. I can't begin to tell you how incredibly stressful this has been. It's got my Mom in tears and up at night. It's got me determined beyond belief to find a solution because there's no doubt I am going to get a decent job next year. I am a special education teacher and willing to take a contract anywhere...that's a pretty big deal in SA. I am so close to achieving everything I wanted: a life here with a decent job etc and everything that I have worked for for the last two years could be totally annulled because of money. If I can't get this going I'll have to go home, and with that have substantial student loan debt hanging over me. Because I have been so busy lesson planning, teaching, grading etc I haven't had much time to feel sorry for myself and I am not about to start now but I do have some questions that maybe others here can help with: a.) Is it true that if you get a second job here, you are heavily taxed? I have a job as an aboriginal education officer which I definately want to keep but it's only about four hours a week and I need more income coming in if I am to pay for my residency alone (something I am willing to do!) b.) PR costs about 3k....how much of this is up front? And for those of you who have been through this, when does one realistically need to apply (how many months in advance) My student visa runs out 15 March, 2011 but in order to take up a teaching contract I'd need to be a finalised PR probably by the beginning of January. c.) Try not to laugh...what would you do if you were in my situation? Sincerely and Thanks, Samantha b.) |
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| jayde | May 31 2010, 06:10:06 AM Post #2 |
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Yacker
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I am no help at all, but hope you find a solution, best of luck! |
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N400 approved Sep 2009. Australian Spouse Visa 309/100 applied for 21 Dec 2009 Medical criteria not met, so waiver application sent Medical Waived and 100 visa approved 12 July 2010  | |
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| SanDiablo | May 31 2010, 10:22:58 AM Post #3 |
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True Blue Mate
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I would probably put it on a credit card (or a personal loan) and make minimum payments until I got a job that would be sustainable. Can't help much with a or b...but I believe you will go onto a bridging visa when you apply for PR. I have friends who have been waiting over a year since graduation, and there are travels restrictions on their bridging visas, so if you plan to go home soon, do that before you apply. Otherwise, apply as soon as you are eligible! |
| "I'll try anything twice." | |
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| Judy | May 31 2010, 11:29:49 AM Post #4 |
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True Blue Mate
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Re a.: You are taxed according to how much income you have, not how many jobs you have. It's true that they take more tax out upfront from your second (or third, fourth, etc) job, but if your total income level is not too high you will get some of that back at the end of the year when you do your tax return.
Edited by Judy, May 31 2010, 11:30:56 AM.
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| chocopaws | May 31 2010, 04:39:57 PM Post #5 |
True Blue Mate
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I believe also in regards to "A" that you can allocate which job is considered your "primary" occupation. That will get taxed less upfront, I think? I'm not 100% sure, but you can always check it out on the ATO's website. I hate the thought that a measly $3,000 could stand between you and your dreams. Audra has a good point - use a credit card or get a personal loan and make the minimum payments until you have a job that will pay enough to pay it off. |
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| Samantha | Jun 1 2010, 01:10:33 PM Post #6 |
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True Blue Mate
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Hi everyone, The credit card idea is an interesting one which I never considered because I said adieu to credit cards at 22. Having worked for more than one credit card company I do believe they are overall a terrible, terrible thing; and I am afraid that even if I could get one I can't (after all I too was denied a plus loan.) A question about bridging visas: worst case scenario, if I didn't have all the funds for PR but enough for a bridging visa (I've been on the immigration website and can't seem to find it, but am in a bit of a rush...) how long are they good for. My understanding is they allow you to stay here but you must be in the proccess of obtaing a more substantial visa. This might be a pathway for me as if I can formally teach under this visa I would easily make enough to pay for PR within a couple of months. Sincerely, Samantha |
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| TerritorianTori | Jun 1 2010, 02:13:05 PM Post #7 |
Dance to disco
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Bridging visas are only granted for the purpose of keeping you legal in the country while you have an outstanding visa application. So, you wouldn't get one unless: a) you've already applied for permanent residency, and b) your current visa runs out while it's processing. In other words, you'd have to have already applied for PR *and* paid the full application fee. They won't accept your application without it.  But once you apply, you don't have to worry about your current visa running out because the bridging visa will take over until a decision is made on the PR application.BTW, I don't blame you at all for avoiding credit cards. I racked up a considerable amount of debt when I was younger and dumber. Never again! I hope you find a solution! Edited by TerritorianTori, Jun 1 2010, 02:14:10 PM.
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 South Texas to the Northern Territory - since 2004 I'm a huge fan of... Angry Video Game Nerd | The Big Bang Theory | Doctor Who | Pet Shop Boys | Yanks Down Under ~ Americans living in Australia Avatar by Sketch Shop Boys | |
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| Samantha | Jun 2 2010, 08:43:19 PM Post #8 |
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True Blue Mate
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Damn, that sucks that I can't use a bridging visa to get through this mess but I kind of figured that might be the case. My student visa runs out in March of 2011 so in reality when do I really need to start getting my papers in order? Or should I say in the last from your experience? Thank you  Samantha |
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| blarg | Jun 4 2010, 11:25:59 PM Post #9 |
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True Blue Mate
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If you like stress, you could apply the day your student visa expires. I wouldn't cut it that close, but it can be done. You should basically start assembling papers right now. Not everything, but get one set of forms and start filling it out in pencil. When you're ready to apply, get another set or do one on the computer just copying from the first set. That's what I did anyway.
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| SanDiablo | Jun 5 2010, 09:19:05 PM Post #10 |
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True Blue Mate
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I would apply in January or February of 2011. Hopefully you can save up (or come up - you could probably make it all by scavenging the cans and bottles out of my garbage bin, as I seem to be supporting a fair number of Adelaide's night creatures already...) with the money by then. When your student visa runs out, you'll switch to the bridging while your application is being processed, and will be able to work in the meantime. You just may not be able to travel without special parmission until you get PR. Although it speeds up your applicationto have all your paperwork submitted together, you can submit some of it (like police checks) after PR submission - but you would still want to make sure you have the money for those so you don't get caught short. |
| "I'll try anything twice." | |
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