keri

Hello everyone, my name is Keri and I'm new to this thread.

My partner and myself are thinking of migrating! he is a metal machinist which is on the MODL list.

We are a little strapped for cash and think the agents are REALLY expensive,
Have any of you applied yourselves and not used an agent and if so, what was the result.

Do you think we are mad not to use one?
Please help.

Thank you in advance,

Keri

wargod

To put your mind at rest - there are dozens of people in these forum that have DIY applications. Normally if you post questions you'll have dozens of replies answering it etc..

Good luck

wargod

ps - welcome to the forum

madsad

Welcome Keri,

If you have a straight forward application,(no hiccups ie.previous ex,children from previous partners etc..)then there's no reason why you cant do it yourself.
You'll get lots of advice on the immigration forum or here to help you along the way & if you do hit a stumbling block you can pay an agent who may get you through that part of it.
One thing i would make sure is that of any info you hear/read 2nd hand,make sure its 100% accurate.

Goodluck,
Donna.

keri

Thankyou wargod for your reply,
i will do a search around the forum for info.

Cheers

K

DSC_AU

Hope this link can help !
http://www.nationalvisas.com.au/

peppi

I dont think your mad...I think your very sensible. I did my own...and it wasnt straight forward either...TRA is the worse bit. The rest is plain sailing and form filling..Go for it,you will find this forum very useful for advice and links to the stuff you need

Best of luck...just ask the question if you get stuck

keri

Thanks Donna, our application is straight forward enough ie, no kids, marriages) only I will have to go Defacto with him and need lots of proof which we dont have as even though we have been living together for 1.5 years we have no rental slips as he owns the house and i just sort him out with money for bills so it will be quite hard.

I was thinking of going on a WHM visa for a year and then apply for residency as we will be living together in Oz for a year. what do you think?

keri

Hi pippi, thank you.

This site is great!

madsad

Sorry Keri,i dont know anything about WHM Visas but im sure people on here will,so just keep asking! try the immi forum too,agents post there too & offer lots of helpful advice.
We couldnt of got through all our visa problems without the help we got from people on here & that was even being with an agent every step of the way!

Donna.

Alex Hall

Hi Keri,

I used an agent myself (George Lombard) and I wouldn't describe his fees as "REALLY expensive", in fact I would describe them as very reasonable. I have however read other people's posts on this forum who have spent thousands of pounds (i.e. £3k+) on agents.

Using a (good) agent can help and reduce the stress, however it is perfectly possible to do your own migration..

It comes down to what suits you.. When you take into account the cost of migration (removals, medicals, skills assessment, visa, misc) then the agent fees (assuming it is something like George's) are only a small proportion.

Do a search and you'll find plenty of successful people who have not used agents.

Good luck, whichever option you choose.

:-)

Alex

island.girl

hi keri,
my advise DONT use an agent. we didnt and everything went smoothly, it just takes time and make sure you go through everything over and over before you send it away.
in my opinion why pay someone a lot of money to do something you can do perfectly well yourself?
ive also heard of people using agents and it taking longer as its someone else in the line.
only my opinion but i wouldn't bother!
good luck to you whatever you choose!

Nicky & Dave

Hi Keri and welcome to the forum - Dave and I did a DIY on our skills assessment and application, and we found it pretty straightforward, it's just a ballache filling out all the forms and gathering the paperwork together.

If you are planning to do it yourself, the Australian Immigration Forum will be a good one to check out and post on if you have any queries as you're pulling your skills assessment and application together.

Good luck,

Nicky

woodyinoz

Have to say that we did it ourself. Things were very straight forward for the whole process. If I remember correctly only the TRA assessment needed more info sent with it and they soon contacted us and advised us of what we needed to send them.
Good luck with everything

Bradley7

Hi Donna

In what way does having kids in previous relationship complicate things? Very worrying to read that it complicates things so much an agent is needed!