We have decided to try for Oz
 

My wife and I have been discussing the possibility of moving abroad for the last few months, we have finally decided to give it a go in Oz.

Obviously in these early stages, we are currently overwhelmed by all the information that is available and it is good to see many of the practical comments on the expats website.

Does anyone have a breakdown of the key stages, timescales and costs involved. I am hoping to get in with a skilled migration visa but I am very close to the minimum number of points required.

Is it worth applying through a migration specialist or have you guys done it all yourselves. Does anyone have recommendations of such companies if this is the best option.

Would appreciate any help in trying to work out the next steps now that we have finally come to a desicion.

Hope to chat again soon

Mark

Re: We have decided to try for Oz
 

welcome aboard :D

if you have not already download booklet 6 from DIMIA website and visit your assessing body website to find out exactly what they require.

This bit can be time consuming - gathering all the relevent documents and proof. eg if you have had several employers it may take longer to get all the evidence of the work you have done for them, to prove your skilled experience.

Then send off to get skills assessed, hopefully get positive result then send form 47SK to DIMIA with relevant stuff. You may wait for request for or send earlier (there are downsides to this) police checks and medicals. All well then your visa will be granted and you have to validate it (usually) within a year of the earlier of PC/meds.

If you can't get your head around the info here (also on immigration board incase you have not yet found it) & on DIMIA website etc and/or pushed for time eg you are about to lose points because your birthday is soon and/or a complicated case, then get a REGISTERED agent to help you along. It can easily be a DIY case is the above does not apply.

but first you may need a few :beer: :beer:

Re: We have decided to try for Oz
 

Hi Mark,
It's a big leap with many smaller steps in between. A lot depends on your occupation as to how many steps you have to go through.

1. Check your eligibility (can get free help from agencies with this)
2. Read DIMIA web site info and the booklets available from them
3. Get the refs/docs you need for your own job assessment
4. Get your job assessed
5. Submit your visa
6. Get your medicals
7. Get your police checks
Then sit back and wait for your visa!

Cost depends on size of your family, the visa you apply for, and how much those who assess your occupation will charge. DIMIA web site has details of their costs.

As for using an agency or not, personally I did not. But my own circs were fairly straight forward and I am comfortable with form filling, reading guidelines etc. Others are less comfortable and find an agency of use. There are many threads on the topic on this site.

Don't worry about being close to the minimum number of points. If you have the minimum that is enough. No Brownie points awarded for having more than the minimum.

Regards and good luck
Richard

Re: We have decided to try for Oz
 

Hi Mark,

My husband and I are moving to Australia later this year and have got through on a skilled migration visa. We made it easier for ourselves by applying for our visas through an agent. We have gone through Visa Go -based in Edinburgh and Liverpool. They have been very professional and helpful throughout. For more info. they are online at www.visa-go.com (An Australian guy called Darren has sorted everything for us).

Regarding how much we paid...haven't got a clue! My husband dealt with it all really. He's at work tonight so I can't ask him either. Never mind I'll send you details tomorrow if you like.

Natalie :)

Re: We have decided to try for Oz
 

first of all welcome to the site, we used a agent until reccently but the service was so poor and expensive that we sacked them. mind you we are right at the end of the process, in hindsight i guess that we should have done the application ourself,s. as it did seem that we did all the paper work and the running around, we think that the agency must of just stapled the documents together and then sent them off. if you have to use a agency i would say that go matilda are great (2 friends used them and never had a problem, i just wish that we did ) one thing i would say is give every bit of infomation that you can, it can never be enough. the people on the site are always willing to help so if you hit any walls just ask. so good luck with your adventure all the best darren

Re: We have decided to try for Oz
 

Thanks to you all so far. The printer is working as we speak so that I have some bed time reading (Booklet6). As you have pointed out, the problem I have is that my Birthday is in May, when I reach the age of 40, hence I will have 5 points less. At what stage in the process are the points for age determined (When application is submitted or later in the process), this would be one of the main reasons for me using an agent.

I have found on one agents website that a 'temporary Skilled Independant Regional visa' has been introduced for anyone who meets the skills needs (As I do under the Quality Management banner) but is short of points due to criteria such as age (As I maybe). This visa is similar to the skilled visa but limits you to settle in particular regions, currently including Adelaide. Any idea if the areas covered by this type of visa are ok or are you restricted to the back of beyond.

Re: We have decided to try for Oz
 

We've just (Thu 20th) received our skilled independent visas - hubby Nick is a software developer in the City. We're moving to Sydney in April.

We started the process two years ago - Nick had to be the main applicant because I've been raising the children (3) for the past 4 years, even though from DIMIAs point of view I'm better qualified (degree plus qualified accountant) my employment 'gap' precludes me from applying.

We used an agent as a hassle saving device more than anything, Nick had enough points (115) at the time, but his commute plus work hours meant that he had a 14hr day at the minimum so we felt an agent could ease the load.

Walaj pretty much covered it, but the paperwork depends on your employment. In Nick's line, he had to basically a provide a degree transcript, a detailed CV and then detailed references covering the last ten years employment. As a freelancer, this meant going back to lots of big companies most of whom won't give references - but don't worry! Nick normally bypassed personnel and approached former bosses directly, explaining that the refs would be used exclusively to back up a visa AND NOT JOB applications. Make sure they print them on headed paper though and get them signed and dated! Eventually he got them all and the skills assessment came though.

To be honest if you have enough points, the 47SK is a doddle compared to the skills assessment (well that was our experience anyway).

We used OE Visas (who sponser the emigration forum on this site). It's important to understand that their value is in the technical side (thank you Welsh Tony) of the application - you still have to do most of the leg work yourself. Where we found them useful was when things went wrong or out of the ordinary:

1. We had our third child after our 47SK was submitted, so needed amending
2. When DIMIA lost our whole application, after meds were submitted!!!

They were invaluable here - especially in chasing individuals up within DIMIA.

Anyway, read up first - if you're a pretty straightforward case with enough points (and esp. if your occupation is on the MODL list) then you could proceed without an agent - otherwise consider one. Lots of forum members could probably recommend an agent also.

Good luck anyway, it's a lot of stress either way and can take a long long time but you just gotta keep your eyes on the prize.

Sam

Re: We have decided to try for Oz
 

Marko

Myself, the wife and our 2 boys have also decided to the possibility of moving to Australia. Like you we have been looking through the internet for links, but there are so many you don't know where to begin. Hence the reason why I have registered with this forum so that I can read and converse with people on the things to do.

Like you, I will be applying for the Skilled Migrants Visa, both my partner and I have our skills on the SOL list which must be a good thing. Luckily for me I have worked for 1 company since I left school, so I should be able to get some good references.

Have done an initial assessment through "Australian Migration Specailists" who have come back and said that you appear to be eligible but require a more detailed breakdown of my education and my work experience. Both myself and my wife have to do this. Has anyone heard of the " Australian Migration Speacialists". If so, are they any good?

DickChap

Re: We have decided to try for Oz
 

the age bit is when the application (47sk) is lodged with dimia, not when they grant the visa.

Depending on your assessing body how long they take, but assuming your birthday is start of May, that gives you 3mths which is how long many take, so it could be a close thing. Most people do find the skills assessment bit to be the hardest bit, so need to get you skates on...

If you can qualify for inde skilled visa, it is a permanent visa, thus is better than the temporary, restrictive SIR visa

list of register agents can be found on dimia website. all the best