Hi!!
 

Hello forumsters out there! First post on here...which means of course that we have announced our intention to emigrate from UK to Oz to key family people and some of our close friends.:thumbsup:

I'm still serving in the RN and Sara is a veterinary nurse. Between us we hope that we are able to 'engineer' our way to the southern hemisphere...just keeping fingers/toes etc crossed for now.:unsure:

We're going to attempt to do as much as possible without an agent until such time as we're boxed into a tight little corner...which will probably be after about five mins...:rofl:

Currently reading up on all the visa technicalities...it sure is a veritable minefield out there! As strict as some things are, there seems to be some flexibility in certain quarters...which sort of adds to the confusion:blink:

We're looking at going to Perth in 2009 (if they'll have us).

Main dilemmas right now are:
1. The house - sell or keep...
2. Who to apply to first...Australia house?
3. The visa - I'm over 45 - she isn't. So does that leave me unemployable or can I rent out deckchairs and pedalos on the beach?!?!:eek:

Anyways...hello everybody...feel free to ridicule...the virtual drinks are on me - bar's open!!:thumbup::beer:

Re: Hi!!
 

Hi welcome to the forum and the crazy world of emmigration :)

Answers to your questions

1 - Up to you really, we sold everything but we needed all our cash. If you can afford to rent it out then go ahead. Make sure you know all the tax implications though. Australian tax site is www.ato.gov.au

2 - Read up on your options on the immigration site (www.immi.gov.au), it depends on which visa you are eligible for as to which office you apply at. If you search for 'sol' on the immi site, you'll get a list of which occupations are on the skilled occupation list.

3 - It doesn't leave you unemployable, but it will make it difficult for you to get a visa. However if your wife is under 45 you may be able to apply under her skills - check out the SOL list above to see if veterinary nurses are on there.

Good luck, and keep us up to date with how things are going for you.

Re: Hi!!
 

HI,
We are also selling up... many reasons.....mainly we need the money. :thumbup:
Dont really want any major ties with England, if we decide we hate it there then we will return to the UK but to Scotland where my dad is.
Kev has family here but hey..if he can move to Aus then scotland isnt that far away is it.

Good luck with the application...we went with an agent from the off so cant tell you where to start im afraid, sorry.

we are also going to Perth, have you been there before?

Nickie

Re: Hi!!
 

Make sure you qualify for a visa before you do anything drastic like sell the hosue. :D

If you're 45 or over your visa options are limited, so your best bet is for your wife to be the main applicant. So try and see if you qualify for a visa with her as the main applicant.

Also, try posting in the immigration section, you'll likely get more answers there.

Re: Hi!!
 

Welcome!

You'll get a lot of help on this forum (and some bum steers <g>).

Sort out your visa options before going any further - there are many types but only a limited choice per individual. It's a minefield.....

Re: Hi!!
 

I must say.... great use of emoticons for a newbie!

Welcome to B.E. :D

Re: Hi!!
 

Hi & welcome :thumbsup:

Wouldn't advise you regarding your personal finances, what's right for us might not be right for you, but we've sold the house & are sitting it out in rented. Given the way the property market was going, we got a buyer at what we wanted & snapped their hand off..... now there's just the tiny little matter of the visa :thumbup:

Regarding your age - sadly there are very few options for folks over 45, no matter how wonderfully qualified they are. Check to see if your wife's skills are on the list & if not, maybe you might want to think about New Zealand? I understand the age limit is 55 there & after a couple of years you become eligible for Australia.... though do some checking about whether you need to be NZ citizen, I'm not too sure. Might be worth a look though :)

Very best of luck to you both in the choices you make :)

Re: Hi!!
 

Many thanks for your replies. Opinions are greatly appreciated. The SOL is a strange beast - whilst hte other half's specific job is not listed, we do happen to know that her skills are in demand and that she shouldn't have any problem getting work. It might be worth getting sponsored through employment to assist the matter. I think we'll bite the bullet and get her application sent in pronto...:thumbsup:


Happy days. Back to work...:ohmy:

Re: Hi!!
 

Nope - not been there but we know half a dozen people already there...which is nice!!:D

Re: Hi!!
 

Hi,
Also wanted to welome you to BE.
I havent been here long myself but have made some great friends and have found out lots of great advice. and even though opinions are just that - they are all a different viewpoint from nothing!

My occupation isnt listed on the SOL either but is specialist and in demand - so I was advised to go forward with the application anyway.

Good luck with everything - I'll be gald to hear any updates!!

:thumbsup:

Re: Hi!!
 

Just curious, but how can you make an application for a skilled visa if your job is not on the SOL? Just 'knowing' that your job is in demand isn't enough - it's got to be listed there in some form.

The first step on the way to get a skilled visa is to get your skills assessed. How can you do that if your job is not on the list? :confused:

Re: Hi!!
 

Yes I was wondering that as well.....

You have to have your skills assessed first and your job MUST be on the SOL as far as I know. Also the recent work experience required that you have worked in a job on the SOL for at least the last 12 months before applying. If you haven't done that then it's not a valid application.

So I'm confused also as to how anyone could apply without their occupation on the SOL. You could apply if it's on the SOL but not on the demand list (MOD). That would be ok.

Re: Hi!!
 

Who advised you to go ahead? And are you sure your jobs not on the SOL? What kind of visa are you applying for?

Re: Hi!!
 

Hi
Welcome to the forum I have found BE invaluable and you receive help and advice from a whole range of people. Im a nurse and came independently as i did not want to be sponsored as many others had said that you have to work full time which i did not want to do. I had also heard from some of my friends who were very unhappy at their jobs and this increased their homesickness.

As for BE I completed my entire application with queries on this site so as you go through each step make your enquiries and someone is bound to help you we are a helpful lot.

The others are right though first check you are entitled to apply before selling your house. I think if i would repeat the experience i would bring my car with me and not sell my house and rent straight away here. We needed the money but my uk house could have been rented out and it has increased in value over £40k in one year. Now if i wanted to go back i couldnt as i couldnt afford it.

Sometimes its helpful not having ties but sometimes its not. This whole process really is an individual thing and it has taken me over 2 years and a trip back to the uk to sort out my feelings about living in oz. The distance from family and not being able to be there when family die or are ill is difficult. If you have money than its not so hard but pounds quickly become dollars and you quickly adjust its all relative.

Im not trying to sound negative as I now dont want to go back but it does take a lot of time and things you take for granted in the uk become really apparent when you leave. Youll see all sorts of posts on here about food, shopping at tescos and marks etc. These are minor things but there are ddiscussions about them just the same.

I have quite a lot of expats who are my friends and in my opinion but others may argue ddifferentlythat I think its the women who find it more difficult to settle. This may be because women (IMO) have closer links to their families and especially when they have children want them to mix with their cousins, grandparents etc. My neighbour who is english and arrived shorlty after me is wanting to return. We both went back for xmas and she is even more adamant about returning. She cant understand why i dont want to...:confused:

Anyway hope this helps and if you have queries post away:thumbsup:

Re: Hi!!
 

What about joining the RAN?

They advertise in Navy News for certain branch/trades to join them and the age limit is then 55.

Also, consider joining a company that specialises in Oz MoD contracts and which you could be employed as an SME, that way they sponsor you and the age issue doesn't come into it! As an ex WAFU I looked into this a while ago, wasn't for me at the time but a couple of my RAF oppos did it.

Re: Hi!!
 

Hi Paddy - I have applied to the RAN but am unsure whether they'll take me - the Oz MOD thing would seem to have got my interest though.

With regard to the SOL etc - we haven't put the house on the market or spent any funds just yet - we're doing a lot of research but the age clock is against us.

As I understand it (or not:blink:) my wife could apply for a visa to work even though her job is not on the list...is this right or not? I was under the impression that the SOL was a points generator so to speak - I guess I could send her out to learn about hair dressing!!:rofl:

Ultimately though - it's probably the RAN or bust (maybe NZ might be worth a stab *drums fingers on keyboard*)

The problem is we're still in the learning phase - we have spoken to some vet nurses who have hinted that that particular group of people are falling over themselves to find staff. Maybe she could go...with the kids...and I'll stay at home to look after the dog...:beer:

Re: Hi!!
 

Well the RAN would be an extremely easy route and would guarantee you permanent residency after xx amount of years (think its 4??). And, if you got an instructor role you would be guaranteed shore base for a few years to help the better half settle in! They would sponsor you and if I remember correctly they pay all the relocation expenses etc as well. Depends of course on what your specialty is! Think RNZN do same thing but they really are behind the times on things there!
The SOL is a pre requisite so, like a good doorman...if you ain't on the list you ain't coming in!! Other option, if her trade is wanted is to get her to apply for a job with a company there and get them to sponsor her!!
At the end of the day guys, where there's a will and all that!!

Re: Hi!!
 

To echo my previous poster. Yes the SOL is a prerequisite for the skilled indendent visa (175). It might not be for others though.

A sponsored jobs might also work. If time is working against you maybe it's time for a free consultation with an agent to determine your realistic options.

No point in going down a route you "think" will work and discovering it won't until it's too late to do anything else.

Re: Hi!!
 

We have just come over and my husband has joined the RAN. They have paid all of our costs and we have PR. After being here for 3 months you put in for your citizenship test. Once he takes the exam the end of March (and passes it!!!) then him and the kids become citizens and get their passports. I have to wait 4 years like everybody else. It took us 15 months from the initial email to ask about the possibility of joining. Hope this info might be of help.

Tammy

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Hi Tammy, congrats to you both! What trade is your man? I assume he was Devonport based?

Ex General Service Radar Operator here who then transferred to Aircrew (saw the light!!).

Paddy

Re: Hi!!
 

Blimey, I just had one of those "did I write that" moments.

I'm Nick, my other half is Sara (same spelling). We moved to Melbourne in July 2006, loving it.

Best of luck to you.

Nick & Sara
www.torkington.org

Re: Hi!!
 

LOL! Nick & Sara - what's the chances of that? Thanks for your replies...looks like our only route will be via the RAN...so fingers crossed.

Re: Hi!!
 

My husband was in the Royal Marines band at Lympstone, Devon. The year before that he was the bandmaster at Devenport. He has joined the RAN band in Sydney. He is doing a 3 week aquaint course at the moment. In May he is going on board ship for a 4 month deployment to Hawaii.

We have moved into a lovely defence house and live about 15 minutes drive from the main Sydney city. The kids have just started school and so far it is all great. Good luck to all those starting the process. It takes a while but it is worth it :thumbsup:

Re: Hi!!
 

Bloody Bandie!!! Jeez!! Being a Bandmaster is he a Colour Sergeant or Warrant Officer? Where is he doing his acquaint course?
I was brought up near the original Band training school in Deal and was at HMS Raleigh a few times when the Band was based there. I tried to join it myself but apparently my skills on the Triangle are not recognized as pertinent!!! lol

Re: Hi!!
 

He was a Colour Sergeant and about to pick up his Warrant. He had to take a couple of drops in rank and is now a Leading Seaman. His aquaint course is at Kuttubul, Sydney. It used to be in Melbourne but it has changed. He then has to head to Perth for a 2 week course. They are rushing him through as he is needed for the next deployment. So an emergency Citizenship test at the end of March so he has his Australian passport in place for him to set sail on May 12th

Funny old thing I am from Deal and lived on Gladstone Road that was near the barracks. Strange old world!!!

Re: Hi!!
 

Kuttubul is a dump but luckily he is only there for a short time. So what trade is he doing onboard then? This is a big drop for him so he must of been very determined. I went to St Edmunds school in Dover, you?

Re: Hi!!
 

The band are based at Waterloo but are attached to Kuttubul. It is a big drop in wages and rank but hopefully it will come right. We are loving our life here and so far wouldn't change it. Our son has cerebral palsy and the sunshine gives him full mobility. It has been amazing to see the life he now has here.

My husband is going on the deployment operation Rimpac? I think I have got that right?

I went to Walmer school in Deal but left Deal when I was 18.

Re: Hi!!
 

Yes, RimPac is the deployment name but I wouldn't mention it again to others! So glad that it is turning out well for you both and your son.

I left the area at 17 1/2 to join the Navy and, thankfully, never returned!! lol

Re: Hi!!
 

Have you thought of consulting an agency? We used 1st Contact in London as we had VERY limited time. They did a free assessment straight off and told us that we had no hope - mainly as my skills only attracted 50 points and OH was over 45 at time of app. They came back to us eventually and said we had the Skilled - Designated Area Sponsored VISA option - OH could be sponsored by his first cousin who lives in Blue Mountains. What this means is we have to reside for 2 years in same state and can't work in metropolitan areas.

That's the route we took but as I was so close to 45 we only had one chance to get the paperwork right so that's why we chose an agency. It worked for us - we're here!

They did all the paperwork we just had to find all the detailed stuff. I had my skills assessed by VETASSESS - they basically made sure my degrees and stuff matched Aussie standards. I also had to "fit" into a category for employment. As a head of a university department I did not readily "fit" into anything so eventually they came back and said I should apply under the Education Manager category, which I did. There was a s%$t load more to it than that of course but we would not have stood a chance without our case worker at 1st Contact.

It's a thought!

Oh yeah forgot to say that even though the VISA is on MY skills and OH family link - I am the one who has to work to fulfil the requriements of the VISA (12 months out of the first 36 months) but its states clearly on the paperwork OH is free to work if he wants to doing whatever without restrictions. We both applied for tax file numbers when we arrived.