Yes i am being sponsored by the South Australian state ( STNI ). I have submitted skilled independent application DEC 2002 , meds and police checks April 2003, and am still waiting. Sponsorship supposedly cuts down the processing time ( see latest news reports on this web site ).

Hi Lindsey

My husband and I are going for state sponsership with South Australia (Adelaide).

We are in the very early stages, but our agent has told us that we could have our visa's through as quickly as nine months pending no hickups's so to speak.

A lot of paper work is required to begin with, but as our agents states, it is better to have too much info.

South Australia are a running a meet and greet service if you require it. They have voulenteers that meet you at the airport. SA will put you up in state housing for 3 months at a reduced rate, the voulenteer is said to help you settle into your accommodation. Ongoing contact. They will point you in the direction or assist you in the essential tasks that you need to do on arrival, ie, opening bank accounts, registering with medicare ect. Basically this all sounds to good to be true, but what a weight off of your shoulders in a new country and you get help like this.

I would be interested to know how the state of sponsership you are applying for differs from the state of SA.

Wendie