Hi

I'm a qualified installation electrician, living in the uk. I've just got everything together to send away for the vetassess paper assessment. (hopefully)
now i'm not to sure wot direction to go...
I was just wandering if anyone could tell me...
is it easier to go down the 176 visa-relative sponsor route, as i have aunts and uncle's which are ozzy residents and would gladly sponsor us.
or the 175 independant way?
my fiance is also going to be on wotever visa i go for if it makes any difference...


Any help would br much appreciated...

thanks. darren

When you apply for a 176, you are also assessed under the criteria for a 175, if you have the points that is what they would give you anyway. So you may as well just apply for that one

Hi Wendy

Thanks for your prompt response.. The prediciment I have is that to begin with I decided to go down the 175 independent route however, now I am wondering if it is quicker or more benificial if I get sponsored by my family as we are looking to go to Oz asap. What do you think?

Thanks

Darren

The 175 and 176 both take about the same amount of time. If you have a pretty straight forward application and send your medicals and police checks when you apply, then you could be looking at about 3 months for approval.

The only quicker visa's are temporary ones like a 475 - but by the time you find an employer to sponsor you, you would probably have your PR one anyway.

HI Wendy

Thanks again for your response.. your help is much appreciated... last question for now!!

Do you recommend the next step we take is to get all the paper work for the 175 printed and filled in and our medical and police checks sorted while waiting for the practical assessment dates to come in? if they ever do!!

Does the medical and police check have to be done within a certain period before applying for the visa? Is there form that can be downloaded online?

Thanks

Darren

You can apply for the 175 online, which makes it quicker for them to process, so I'd say do it that way. You can find all the info you need on how to apply for this visa here: http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/gener.../175/index.htm

Download the checklist, and start getting your application ready to submit by getting evidence together. You wont be able to apply until you get a successful assessment though.

Medicals and Police checks should be the last thing you do really, as you will only have 12 months from the earliest to validate or move across here (6 months if you have a medical condition that DIAC want monitoring). I'd suggest that you wait until you have your assessment back for them, you can apply for your visa without them and send them as soon as you get them back.

Medical forms here: http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/pdf/26.pdf http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/pdf/160.pdf
Police checks applied for at your local police station (subject access form)

Thanks again for all your help its much appreciated!!
Finding it hard to get our heads around all the information?? you've realy made it much clearer...

thanks

No problem, anytime