Hello to you all. I am a 42 year old carpenter joiner and have been self employed since 2004 and have experience since 1986 and have proof of this where i live here in the uk. I was born in east london i am white and so are my parents and grandparents and so were theirs and theirs sorry got a bit carried away there. Right anyway my situation is: I was married in 1991 my wife is 39 she will kill me for saying that, we have 2 wonderful daughters 18 19, we want to go to Australia to live and work ,all of us. I have friends a some family members living there but wont necessarily be going where they are. Can anyone give me some real advice as to what to actually do to take the plunge preferably without an agent and roughly what the costs are? I am a home owner and i live in Hornchurch in essex, there was a couple on relocation recently from where i live that was not us unfortunately. I would really love to hear from anyone who can help with some good sound advice thank you! Best regards.

Hello there!

There's loads of advice already in the forums. I'd suggest that you start with the To do list and FAQs.

It's not an easy thing to do but a lot of people seem to think it's worth it. What's your main reason for wanting to emmigrate?

Hi my main reason is the fact the uk is not what it used to be! I have tried several parts of uk uprooting young kids and changing there schools a total of 5 times but it is finished here work is on the floor so is the pay ,everyone is walking around with a long face and the weather in uk is abominable! by moving to Australia we are hoping for better social life, money i am entitled to earn and better weather and over all a better life we are thoroughly miserable here!

We too are from essex, both 42 and my husband also a carpenter. We started the process in March 2009 and was advised by our agent, to go for state sponsorship with Western Australia with his skills etc we stood a better chance (apparently). He did a skills assessment that august, we submitted out application in May 2010 and visa granted February!

I'm assuming you would be the main applicant? Perhaps something similar to us maybe your best options? I dont know too much about the different visas etc, our agent did all the work and really glad we used one!

Hi, I'm an essex girl (you can tell by my big mouth, stilletoes and chanel handbag) we "did it ourselves 3.5 years ago

Starting with the DIMA website you can find out whether your skills are needed... and whether you can apply for a visa and what kind... they have some fairly easy to follow guides...

Then spend some time reading here... there's heaps of info on EVERYTHING... you can even find out the current price of a lettuce from state to state..

Ask as many questions as you want/like/need...


we're not an unfriendly bunch


honest

eds
x

we had the free consultation offered by many agents. But unfortunately for them they slipped up and told which visa to go for.

..so we did it ourself and it was easy.
Agents really only put down the information you tell them....so why not do it yourself ?

..good luck by the way...massive move !
..hard at first but gets easier the longer you are here !

As your children are adults, would they qualify for visas in their own right?

Have you checked the immigration website to look at types of visa & what you may qualify for?
http://www.immi.gov.au/