maud family

Hi,
I'm planning to move to Oz under a working visa. Does anybody know how long it takes to get one when you have been offered a job?
Which documents (diplomas, proff of employment)do you have to produce to the Embassy?
I also have 2 children. Is it difficult to enrol them in a school in Oz?

Thanks for your help.

ABCDiamond

If you are talking about a 457 visa, the answer regarding schooling is that they will get into school very easily, just like any Australian child.... BUT....
If you are going to NSW or ACT, you will have to pay very high school fees, even for State Schools. The other States will treat them the same as everyone else, with just the normal costs where applied.

maud family

Hi,
Thanks very much for your hlep.
Yes I'm talking about 457, so it good to know it will be easy to register the children.

Thanks again.

ABCDiamond

Which State are you going to ?

maud family

Hi,

I'm moving to Port Douglas in Queensland.
My problem is the company wants me to start at the end of December, but even with a letter from them I'm not sure I'll get the visa in time.
I am now considering going on my own first and then ask my husband and kids to join me in a month or two. It will give my husband time to get things sorted here (house, cars, removal). What do you think? Or is it better to move all together?

hantsfamily1

If I was in your shoes I would seek some professional advice ratherly quickly with so many huge decisions to make.

Maybe contact a migration agent and talk to them, even on a 457 you need police checks and medicals and they dont happen overnight.

Good luck anyway, its worth the hard work but bloody hot in Port Douglas in December/January.

maud family

Thanks,
I've been told to be careful with migration agents as they charge a fee and you don't always get there in the end.

I'm hoping the embassy will get back to me next week with some answers.

Wish me luck!!!!

Dorothy

Do you think untrained embassy staff will know more than a registered migration agent whose only job is to help people get visas?

The company who offered the job probably has an agent working for them to lodge the nomination and sponsorship. Speak to them.

And no. A letter from the company is not going to speed up your application. You still need police checks and at least a chest x-ray.

Kingseat

Yikes! That is very soon and I am not sure your visa will come through as quick as you think.

JenJen

Errrm I second that, hubby spoke to those with the know last week and the current processing time for offshore visa's (in general) is up to 12 weeks :$
If you're there by the end of December it'd be a miracle.

If they're prepared to give you a few more weeks just til the visa comes thru then I suggest you do go out there first and set everything up whilel hubby and kids tie up loose ends here, and they meet you out there, tough times but lets hope worth it in the end