Phoning the Philippines from Australia

Call Rates to the Philippines from Australian Mobile Phones

The cost to make a phone call from Australia to the Philippines can vary a lot, depending which phone provider you use.

A 10 minute call, using the rates from the four providers shown below, could vary between $1.00 and $15.20, depending on which Telco you are with.

Pay As You Go call rates to Philippine Mobile Phones

  • ALDI Mobile: 10 cents per minute. No connection fee.
  • Optus: 20 cents or 25 cents per minute, depending which plan you have..
  • Vodafone: 50 cents per minute.
  • Telstra: $0.40 Connection fee plus $1.48 per minute.

Applying for the Australian PMV subclass 300

Applying for the Australian Prospective Marriage Visa [PMV subclass 300]

Applications for the Australian Prospective Marriage Visa [PMV] are normally done online via the Australian Governments Immigration website. (online.immi.gov.au/lusc/login)

When you begin the application, most of it is self explanatory, and you will complete what was the old paper based form 47SP, as part of the online application.

Your sponsor will do the same with the old Form 40SP, when he/she does the sponsor part. This can be done in the same IMMI account as yours.

You will need to get a new Birth Certificate and a CENOMAR from the PSA, and that must be sent direct to the Australian embassy, from the PSA. (psa.gov.ph/…/birth-certificate) and (psa.gov.ph/…/cenomar)

CENOMAR is a Certificate of No Marriage Record. It is a certification issued by the PSA stating that a person has not contracted any marriage. It is also called a certificate of No Record of Marriage or Certificate of Singleness.

The application does have instructions for that, with exactly what to put on the request form to the PSA.

Two people need to complete form 888’s, or similar, to confirm that they know of the existence of the relationship. That can often be the sponsors relatives.

You also need to arrange a Notice of Intended Marriage form (NOIM), which can be done by most Australian Marriage Celebrants. Probably best to be the one you will use to do your marriage.
If you set a date a year after application, you can always change it later, just make sure your Marriage Celebrant is aware of that possibility.

The rest is mainly proof that you know each other and have met at least once, but have had plenty of other contact.

The more proof should mean a faster processing time.

Applying for the Birth Certificate or CENOMAR for an Australian Visa

This information is correct at time of publication, but subject to changes made by the Australian or Philippine Governments.

    • Go to www.psaserbilis.com.ph (Previously: www.ecensus.com.ph).
    • Click on Request for copies of Birth/Marriage/Death Certificate/CENOMAR (Singleness).
    • Click on ‘I accept’ on the declaration that appears requesting you agree to terms/conditions of eCensus.
    • Complete the form online for your documents;
    • Tick the box stated “Deliver the document to this embassy” and select “Australian Embassy Manila” from the drop down menu.
    • Ensure that you state the purpose for the documents as ‘Australian Visa’. In the File Reference Number field, only enter the numerical value of the file number. For example, if your file number is BCC2017/1234, you should only enter 20171234.
    • Once completed, the PSA will courier the requested documents directly to the Australian Embassy Visa Office to be considered with your visa application.
    • Source: philippines.embassy.gov.au/…/Requesting PSA documents.pdf

Australian Visa; Medical Examination Fees in Manila

Example of Medical Fee Costs for Australian Visas

This is an example of Medical Examination Fees, for Australian Visa Applicants, charged by one Medical Visa Examination Processing option in Manila.

Permanent or Temporary Visa Medical Fee

Examination Cost – Age Group

PhP 3,250 0-1 years old
PhP 3,750 2-4 years old
PhP 4,500 5-10 years old
PhP 5,200 11-14 years old

Age Group: 15 years old and up

PhP 7,750 Permanent Visa Medical Fee
PhP 7,050 Temporary Visa Medical Fee

Source: St. Luke’s Medical Center, Ermita

Valid at 1 July 2018

Australian Working Visa 457

Temporary Work (Skilled) visa (subclass 457) for Australia

​​​​​​​This visa lets a skilled worker travel to Australia to work in their nominated occupation for their approved sponsor for up to four years. ​​

To get the 457 Visa you need:

To have been sponsored by an approved business
To have the required skills to fill a position nominated by an approved business

You must be sponsored by an approved business. A business can sponsor someone for this visa if they cannot find an Australian citizen or permanent resident to do the skilled work.

The basic cost for this Visa is AUD 1,060 (35,000 to 40,000 pesos depending on FX rate) July 2015.

More details at: Australian Government Department of Immigration and Border Protection

Australian Medicals for Visa in Manila

Medical Examination Procedures for Australian Visa Applicants

This information is provided from the St. Luke’s Medical Center Extension Clinic, but should be similar to all other Medical options.

All Australian Visa Applicants (except for those applying for subclass 457, 856, or 857) must first lodge their visa application either through eVisa system or at the Australian Embassy in Makati before coming to St. Luke’s Medical Center Extension Clinic for their Medical Examination.

Australian Visa applicants can register online at the St Lukes Clinic:  Online Registration Form

All Applicants must present the Health Examination List (from the Australian Embassy) or the Examination Referral Letter (for eVisa/eHealth applicants) at the Australian Reception Area on the day of the medical exam.

For Subclass 457, 856 and 857 visa applicants, you may still have your medical screening examination before lodgement of visa application.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

  1. Health Examination List (sample)From the Australian Embassy, or Examination Referral Letter (sample) for E-Visa Applicants
  2. Valid Passport
    If not available, the following identification documents may be presented:

    • national ID (SSS, postal ID, voter’s ID, PRC ID, driver’s license, school ID) or
    • birth certificate
  3. 2 PHOTOCOPIES of the passport/ national ID/ birth certificate (click here for format)
  4. 2 pieces recent passport-sized photos (white or blue background)
  5. furtherance letter, if applicable
  6. Regardless of current marital status, applicants who have had previous marriages that were nullified through annulment are required to present the annulment papers (court decision) before their medical report can be completed.

http://www.slec.ph/australian-visa-applicants.shtml#required-docs

 

New Links for Australian Visa Classes

Australian Visa Classes at www.border.gov.au

Following more changes to the Immigration Website www.immi.gov.au and www.border.gov.au, we have changed our links for some relevant Visa Classes.

Spousal – Partner visas

Visitor visas

Family visas

Working and skilled visas

Studying and training visas

Refugee and humanitarian visas

Other visas

Family and partner visas

Australian Visa Application – Medical Locations

Immigration Visa for Australia and need a Medical ?

Locations of medical panel doctors authorised to carry out Medicals for Australian  Immigration.

Australian Visa Application – Medical Locations

MANILA

Nationwide Health Systems AUX Inc
2nd Floor Annex, Zeta Building
191 Salcedo Street, Legaspi Village
Makati City 1299
Metro Manila

St Luke’s Medical Center Extension Clinic – Global City
Room 1002 Medical Arts Building,
St. Luke’s Medical Center – Global City
Bonifacio Global City
Taguig
Metro Manila

St Lukes Medical Centre Extension Clinic
1177 J. Bocobo St
Ermita
Metro Manila

BAGUIO

Nationwide Health Systems Baguio, Inc.
Room 1, Ground Floor
EDY Building
144 Kisad Road (near BGH Rotonda)
Baguio City
Benguet 2600

CEBU

Nationwide Health Systems Cebu Inc.
G/F Gillamac’s Building
169 Sanciangko
Cebu City 6000

DAVAO

Nationwide Health Systems Davao Inc.
Suite 4, Pelicano Building
Ecoland Phase 1
36 Quimpo Boulevard
8000 Davao City

Source: http://www.border.gov.au/Lega/Lega/Help/Location/philippines

Australian Passport Renewals in the Philippines

Renew an Australian Passport in the Philippines

An Australian Passport can be renewed in Manila, Philippines.

Appointments should be made at least two weeks in advance to lodge passport applications/renewals. Passport interviews are available from 9am to 11.30am Monday to Friday

  • From 1 July 2015 all passport applications/renewals will require a face to face interview with the applicant, with the exception of minors (below 18) who require an interview with a parent or a person with parental responsibility.
  • Provide a pre-paid pre-addressed DHL or LBC satchel during your interview if you wish to have your new passport sent to a Philippine address.
  • From 1 July 2015 all passport applications/renewals lodged overseas will be charged an additional ‘Overseas Application Fee’ of $100.00 for adults (including senior citizens) and $50.00 for minors (below 18).
  • Passport Information and Electronic Applications
  • Recognised professions for passport application guarantors in the Philippines
  • Passport Fees – Only Philippine Peso (cash) or a Bank Manager’s Cheque (in Peso) made payable to ‘Australian Embassy’.

Consular Section
Australian Embassy
Level 23 – Tower 2, RCBC Plaza
6819 Ayala Avenue
Makati City 1200
Metro Manila,
The Philippines

Telephone: 02 757 8100
http://philippines.embassy.gov.au/mnla/consular.html

Fruit Picking Jobs for Filipinos in Australia

Fruit Picking Jobs in Australia need a Working Visa.

A website called topjobsportal is currently advertising fruit picking jobs for Filipinos in Australia.

Some people have asked if it is a scam, many Filipinos in the Philippines are wanting to apply for this work.

BUT… it is not that straightforward,  You NEED an Australian Working Visa first.

If you already have a working Visa, then yes, that type of work is available.

This type of fruit picking work is commonly available, and applied for by for by visitors to Australia on a Working Holiday visa.

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has previously cautioned overseas Filipino workers (OFW) and Filipino tourists against a new online scam offering bogus fruit-picking jobs in Australia.

Although this relates to a different company, and was in May 2014, the similarities may be close.

Australian Immigration – Working Holiday Visas

Filipinos are NOT normally eligible for the Australian Working Holiday Visa

Working Holiday visa (subclass 417)

The Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) is a temporary visa for young people who want to holiday and work in Australia for up to a year.

This Visa allows you to:

stay in Australia for up to 12 months
work in Australia for up to six months with each employer

Eligibility Includes:

are at least 18 but not yet 31 years of age
have a passport from an eligible country. (This does NOT include the Philippines)

Eligible countries (at 21 June 2022) are:

Belgium
Canada
Republic of Cyprus
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China (including British National Overseas passport holders)
Republic of Ireland
Italy
Japan
Republic of Korea
Malta
Netherlands
Norway
Sweden
Taiwan (other than an official or diplomatic passport)
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

The Work and Holiday (Temporary) visa (subclass 462)

The Work and Holiday (Temporary) visa (subclass 462) is for young people who want to holiday and work in Australia for up to a year.

Eligibility (at 21 June 2022) includes:

are at least 18 but not yet 31 years of age.
have a passport from:

Argentina
Austria
Chile
China, People’s Republic of
Czech Republic
Ecuador
Greece
Hungary
Indonesia
Israel
Luxembourg
Malaysia
Peru
Poland
Portugal
San Marino
Singapore
Slovak Republic
Slovenia
Spain
Switzerland
Thailand
Turkey
Uruguay
United States of America
Vietnam

Australian Fruit Picking Jobs for Pinoys