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What do you think? Are we just dreaming?

What do you think? Are we just dreaming?

Old Sep 18th 2010, 11:08 am
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Default What do you think? Are we just dreaming?

Here’s the dream: My whole family (myself, OH, daughter, and both my parents) want to start a new life in Australia. I’m twenty five years old - OH is twenty eight. My parents are both in their late forties. We own our own homes, so we’d have money to set us up when we arrived, and we’d like to immigrate before my daughter starts school (she’s one now).

Here’s the problem: None of us seem to meet the immigration criteria! OH works as a hairdresser and I have an NVQ in Health and Social Care…neither of which skills seem to be in particular demand. My dad works as an engineer, which IS on the skills shortage list, but he’s in his late fourties and wouldn’t qualify.

I’m desperate to get to Australia - I know that the opportunities and lifestyle there are better than anything I could ever give my daughter in my hometown - but is it just a pipe dream? The more I look into it, the more disheartened I get. Immigrating to Australia seems to be impossible unless you're of the skills shortage list. Has anybody else managed to immigrate in similar circumstances?
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Old Sep 18th 2010, 2:11 pm
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Default Re: What do you think? Are we just dreaming?

It's a difficult one, if you cannot get the required points via the skills list at the moment then it would be hard. The Australian government seem to be reviewing this list and making it a little harder these days. I usually advise against getting advice from a professional migration agent as there are some very bad some out there but maybe for you a bit of professional advice could be what you need and you will probably get a final answer one way or another, or at least know what you have to do in the future to meet the requirements.

It can be a long old process, from the moment you submit your visa application until you arrive in Australia is can be a good few years so hang in there as it can get very frustrating as there are many processes to go through.

I don't think you are dreaming, you just might not be ready to gain approval YET.

Keep on going with it

Last edited by Jon77; Sep 18th 2010 at 2:15 pm.
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Old Sep 18th 2010, 2:38 pm
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Default Re: What do you think? Are we just dreaming?

Originally Posted by Edeline
Here’s the dream: My whole family (myself, OH, daughter, and both my parents) want to start a new life in Australia. I’m twenty five years old - OH is twenty eight. My parents are both in their late forties. We own our own homes, so we’d have money to set us up when we arrived, and we’d like to immigrate before my daughter starts school (she’s one now).

Here’s the problem: None of us seem to meet the immigration criteria! OH works as a hairdresser and I have an NVQ in Health and Social Care…neither of which skills seem to be in particular demand. My dad works as an engineer, which IS on the skills shortage list, but he’s in his late fourties and wouldn’t qualify.

I’m desperate to get to Australia - I know that the opportunities and lifestyle there are better than anything I could ever give my daughter in my hometown - but is it just a pipe dream? The more I look into it, the more disheartened I get. Immigrating to Australia seems to be impossible unless you're of the skills shortage list. Has anybody else managed to immigrate in similar circumstances?
Hi Edeline and welcome to B.E.

It's my pleasant duty to welcome you to the forum and give you a point of contact should you need any help with the site in general. You can contact me here.

A list of all the moderators and helpers with their relevant countries including Australia can be found here.

Any problems, dont hesitate to PM me.

Using an agent is a very personal decision I think. Lots of reasons for and against - for instance, if you are limited with the time you can spend on the application, or if you have complicated circumstances such as child custody, medical or police conviction issues, previous refusals......all that kind of thing, then definitely an agent can help put things forward in the right way.

An agent can also help to ensure that you are applying for the right visa in the first place. However they cannot get you a visa if you don't meet the criteria, nor - contrary to popular opinion - can they speed up the process!

I reckon this forum is about 50/50 these days with using agents - but remember most agents will also do a partial service, they will check an application before submission, or just help with a skills assessment, much cheaper than the full price, if you are just unsure on a few things.

Main thing to ensure is that whoever you use is registered with MARA, and if you search the forum for MARA agents you will find several of them post on here - including (in a totally random order!)

Alan Collett, George Lombard, and Stephen Dickson.

There are also many others though, Ian Harrop is a company often recommended, and Peter Bollard is acknowledged as a specialist in medical issues.


Alistair.
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Old Sep 18th 2010, 10:56 pm
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Default Re: What do you think? Are we just dreaming?

Hey. You must have been to Oz because you seem pretty confident how great it is

Sounds like you've done well financially in the UK. Have a look on domain.com.au to see if selling your house in the Uk could let you get the equivalent over here - without getting mortgaged up again. It is a common fallacy that its cheaper over here.

Hopefully you find a way over but it may not be easy. Good luck!
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Old Sep 18th 2010, 11:59 pm
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Default Re: What do you think? Are we just dreaming?

Originally Posted by Edeline
Here’s the dream: My whole family (myself, OH, daughter, and both my parents) want to start a new life in Australia. I’m twenty five years old - OH is twenty eight. My parents are both in their late forties. We own our own homes, so we’d have money to set us up when we arrived, and we’d like to immigrate before my daughter starts school (she’s one now).

Here’s the problem: None of us seem to meet the immigration criteria! OH works as a hairdresser and I have an NVQ in Health and Social Care…neither of which skills seem to be in particular demand. My dad works as an engineer, which IS on the skills shortage list, but he’s in his late fourties and wouldn’t qualify.

I’m desperate to get to Australia - I know that the opportunities and lifestyle there are better than anything I could ever give my daughter in my hometown - but is it just a pipe dream? The more I look into it, the more disheartened I get. Immigrating to Australia seems to be impossible unless you're of the skills shortage list. Has anybody else managed to immigrate in similar circumstances?
Nobody else seems to want to be blunt... so I will be.

Yes, you're dreaming. As things stand at the moment I would say you have effectively zero chance of getting a permanent visa based on what you have told us.

So either give it up... or if you are that desperate to go to Australia, retrain in something that is required here.

Last edited by iamthecreaturefromuranus; Sep 19th 2010 at 12:04 am.
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Old Sep 19th 2010, 12:06 am
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Default Re: What do you think? Are we just dreaming?

Originally Posted by Edeline
Here’s the dream: My whole family (myself, OH, daughter, and both my parents) want to start a new life in Australia. I’m twenty five years old - OH is twenty eight. My parents are both in their late forties. We own our own homes, so we’d have money to set us up when we arrived, and we’d like to immigrate before my daughter starts school (she’s one now).

Here’s the problem: None of us seem to meet the immigration criteria! OH works as a hairdresser and I have an NVQ in Health and Social Care…neither of which skills seem to be in particular demand. My dad works as an engineer, which IS on the skills shortage list, but he’s in his late fourties and wouldn’t qualify.

I’m desperate to get to Australia - I know that the opportunities and lifestyle there are better than anything I could ever give my daughter in my hometown - but is it just a pipe dream? The more I look into it, the more disheartened I get. Immigrating to Australia seems to be impossible unless you're of the skills shortage list. Has anybody else managed to immigrate in similar circumstances?
Yes, you are dreaming. Australia is a country just like any other. the opportunities and lifestyle are not that much different to any other western country. Exactly what opportunities are you thinking you could find here that you can't find where you are?

Unfortunately not everyone qualifies for a visa to Australia, just like not everyone qualifies for a visa to UK. At age 25 & 28 there is absolutely no reason why you cannot go back to school to obtain a qualification which would allow you to emigrate at some point. As for your parents, they could certainly come on an employer sponsored visa if your father could find someone to sponsor him. The visa is not permanent (457) however if he could find an employer to sponsor him for PR there is a possibility that he could get PR immediately.

Take a very long read of this forum, including the moving back section. You'll get a much clearer feeling for what life in Australia really is and it ain't all that different from life anywhere else. We still work 8-10 hours a day, pay bills, struggle with mortgages, do housework all weekend and being so far from the rest of the world it's not easy to just jump on a plane and piss off for a weekend in another country. Holidays are expensive (including internal travel) and usually entail very long flights.
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Old Sep 19th 2010, 12:08 am
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Default Re: What do you think? Are we just dreaming?

Originally Posted by iamthecreaturefromuranus
Nobody else seems to want to be blunt... so I will be.

Yes, you're dreaming. As things stand at the moment I would say you have effectively zero chance of getting a permanent visa based on what you have told us.

So either give it up... or if you are that desperate to go to Australia, retrain in something that is required here.
Note to self...Type faster. Or type less. Or don't stop half way through typing to yell at OH for not making me toast when he was making his own.
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Old Sep 19th 2010, 12:34 am
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Default Re: What do you think? Are we just dreaming?

Originally Posted by Dorothy
Note to self...Type faster. Or type less. Or don't stop half way through typing to yell at OH for not making me toast when he was making his own.
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Old Sep 19th 2010, 1:05 am
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Default Re: What do you think? Are we just dreaming?

Originally Posted by Edeline
Here’s the dream: My whole family (myself, OH, daughter, and both my parents) want to start a new life in Australia. I’m twenty five years old - OH is twenty eight. My parents are both in their late forties. We own our own homes, so we’d have money to set us up when we arrived, and we’d like to immigrate before my daughter starts school (she’s one now).

Here’s the problem: None of us seem to meet the immigration criteria! OH works as a hairdresser and I have an NVQ in Health and Social Care…neither of which skills seem to be in particular demand. My dad works as an engineer, which IS on the skills shortage list, but he’s in his late fourties and wouldn’t qualify.

I’m desperate to get to Australia - I know that the opportunities and lifestyle there are better than anything I could ever give my daughter in my hometown - but is it just a pipe dream? The more I look into it, the more disheartened I get. Immigrating to Australia seems to be impossible unless you're of the skills shortage list. Has anybody else managed to immigrate in similar circumstances?
You have little chance of migrating based on what you have posted. But you are both young enough to retrain in something that is on the skills list.

Go for it.
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Old Sep 19th 2010, 2:54 am
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Default Re: What do you think? Are we just dreaming?

You are also both young enough to get 12 month working holiday visas (unless they've abolished them - or you've had one before). Why not try that option first and then if you really decide Australia is for you - retrain or look for sponsorship?

Just a thought?
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Old Sep 19th 2010, 2:55 am
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Default Re: What do you think? Are we just dreaming?

Originally Posted by ponyrama
You are also both young enough to get 12 month working holiday visas (unless they've abolished them - or you've had one before). Why not try that option first and then if you really decide Australia is for you - retrain or look for sponsorship?

Just a thought?
You are not allowed to bring dependent children on a WHV.
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Old Sep 19th 2010, 2:59 am
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Default Re: What do you think? Are we just dreaming?

Originally Posted by bcworld
You are not allowed to bring dependent children on a WHV.
Yeh but you can on a tourist visa - so if one comes on a WHV and the other comes on a tourist visa with the child.....one can work, the other can mind the child and they can see if Australia is indeed the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
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Old Sep 19th 2010, 3:02 am
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Default Re: What do you think? Are we just dreaming?

I agree, probably dreaming. Forget the "new life" rhetoric and just get on with making the one (and only one) you have got the very best it can be. That may include taking holidays in Australia. Dont be taken in by the better life/better oportunities thing - its just another first world country!
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Old Sep 19th 2010, 3:03 am
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Default Re: What do you think? Are we just dreaming?

Originally Posted by ponyrama
Yeh but you can on a tourist visa - so if one comes on a WHV and the other comes on a tourist visa with the child.....one can work, the other can mind the child and they can see if Australia is indeed the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
That's still in breach of the visa rules:

not be accompanied by dependent children at any time during your stay in Australia

...break the rules and it could be a long time before you can come back again if you like it.
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Old Sep 19th 2010, 3:15 am
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Default Re: What do you think? Are we just dreaming?

Originally Posted by bcworld
That's still in breach of the visa rules:

not be accompanied by dependent children at any time during your stay in Australia

...break the rules and it could be a long time before you can come back again if you like it.
Yes but it also says that you can have a dependant child on a tourist visa - so if one adult has a WHV and one adult has a tourist visa and has the child on that visa - thats not breaking the rules. They would have to show they have enough money to support themselves for the duration to get a 12 month tourist visa anyway so I dont see what the problem with doing that is?
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