Finally, the OH has enough experience as a hairdresser, the right quali's and Perth are sponsoring! We are going through Go Matilda so have already got some advice that we stand a fair chance so decided to set the ball rolling. Stage 1 payment made and all getting very exciting!

Then the TRA paperwork comes through and we are being asked for references. Not a problem as she has good references from everywhere worked and trained...however, (and apologies if I have read it wrong) how the hell do you approach your existing employer for a reference for confirmation of your duties??? My OH moved salons only 8-weeks ago and is worried about how it will be taken if she tells the truth...

Own up - did you tell them the truth or make up a story? If so, lets have them please! Will either give us the ideas or will at least make us smile I'm sure!

Told the truth but told them it could take a year to come through which was right in those days....

I'm moving this to the Australia forum as it's not quite a visa type question and you'll get a few more responses from people who are aleady here in Aus. Please be aware it's past 2am here so you might not get many answers until the Aussie lot wake up - they go to bed at 8pm so hopefully will wake up fairly early

The first time I applied from england, I had to provide refrences for all my employers. I had to write to each of them and ask them for their help, even those I hadnt seen in 10 years. Fortunately I got letters back from them that I could include in the application, it was a real pain but all my previous employers suprised me and were willing to help.

In the end my application got refused though, so I went another route, travelling on a whv and staying for a year then applying for permanent residence while in aus.

You should tell the truth and ask for a letter from the employers, they just might suprise you

I applied when I was ona gap after moving back to UK from Bermuda but before I started work in the UK, so no issue for me.

Whether you telll the employer or not is probably down to individual circumstances; if I were a manager, I know I would really appreciate it if somebody gave me loads of notice.

However it is understandable that some people are worried about this. In that case perhaps they could ask for a letter confirming employment / salary and say it is for a loan or something?

I didn't want to tell my boss, so just didn't get a reference from him - I used payslips P60s and my work contract to prove the work experience element, and my CO was fine with this.

In my case it was a very good idea to not tell my boss - since handing in my resignation my life is a living hell with regards to work.

If you do need a reference though, just ask for one on the basis you want to go for a loan or mortgage and say your broker has requested you get one.

Told the truth

Thanks all - appreciated!

Us too. My OH told the truth, but explained that it could be potentially years before a visa was granted, so he's not going anywhere in any hurry. Although, our visa was granted in only 5 months.

I lied

I just needed confirmation of the dates I had worked there so I said that I needed the letter for my mortgage company stating I have been employed full time, from x date to present

In fact I only confessed two weeks ago that I am moving to Oz and my visa was granted in May!

Hiya

We didn't lie. We gave enough evidence to prove that my hubby had more than enough experience so as not to have to give a reference by his present employers. They had many references from previous employers and tax forms and proof of pay from his current employers that they would have known that he was very experienced in his field of work. At the end of the day this is all they are looking for. They don't want people making up stories of experience which is fair enough.

Your girlfriend seems to have the required experience so I am sure you will be fine Good luck!

Thanks for the advice and good luck to yourself (seems like selling the house is holding you back...). With her only being at current salon for 8-weeks, the majority of experience is obviously elsewhere. Still, we've asked the question if the contract etc will do and if so then great, if not, she'll bite the bullet and ask for a reference.

Cheers all - keep them coming though!

You're welcome. Yes, it's just the house holding us back at the moment. Although we have made the decision to keep it on the market until December and then put it up for rent from the end of Feb/beginning of March. This suits us fine really as now we have missed the Otober date that we wanted to go we decided that it wasn't a great idea to go out Nov/Dec/Jan time due to the heat and general weather that time of year and also everything closing down for Christmas and companies generally not hiring quite as much that time of year.

Good luck guys

Told the truth and my employer got involved and then organised a 457 with a paid element of transfer costs! We moved a year earlier than planned.

....but I also added an element to the story saying it was my husbands dream and I had to at least make the application as I would not have dreamed leaving them otherwise