ash-pd

Hi,

My names ash, im 24 and from Glasgow

my partner and I are desperate to emigrate to Australia with our 2year old daughter. We have been looking into our visa options, and as my parter has a trade (security/alarm engineer) I think the only one for us would be the skilled migrants visa...which costs $3500

So...we emailed round several different security companies in search for sponsorship. We have had one response from a company based in Rockhampton, Queensland who have offered to sponsor us. We ideally wanted to go to Perth...and after reading some posts on this I feel as though Rockhampton wouldn't be for the place for us. Now im stuck between having to shell out a fortune for our visas...or moving to a place im already feeling apprehensive about before leaving Scotland any suggestions welcome.....?

xx

HelenTD

Hi Ash, have you looked at websites like www.seek.com.au? Try searching for "security alarm", then "alarm", then "security", see if there's anything in your line of work - select Perth.

ash-pd

Hi Helen,

yes this is the website we're using. We have emailed almost all of the security companies in Perth. Several have been emailing back advising us to contact them with regards to employment once arrived, however none have offered sponsorship. x

HelenTD

Hi again, did you actually ask them about sponsorship and they said "no"?

ash-pd

the majority of them haven't replied (been waiting two weeks) but 3 have emailed back advising they will consider employment if we come to Australia however werent willing to sponsor

HelenTD

It would be fairly common to not receive a response - you often don't, even when you live here. The kids have only been back at school after the Easter holiday period for just over 2 weeks. Keep trying, but remember that some companies would get dozens, if not hundreds or thousands of applications. Perhaps ask if there is some specialist aspect of your job that they need. Does your OH's occupation qualify for a visa?

However you migrate here, it takes a fair amount of money to get set up. I don't know how much a sponsoring company would pay for, but you still need to have considerable funds behind you.

ash-pd

Yeah that's a fair point! Pauls trade is on the skilled migrant requirement list and he has worked as a project manager for several years. Although companies are taking a risk sponsoring, for the fact ppl may not last out there. We own a house in the UK and have a bit of money in the bank so if we don't recieve sponsorship then the migrants visa wb the way forward , with the visa we have the flexability to move around and change employment if the 1st job isn't as good!

mvagusta

Some points that I can think of.

Try phoning them using skype. You can have a pretty long conversation for £10 and this will show that you are serious about moving and not just speculating.

Companies in a whole don't respond very well to emails as they tend to get quite a few. Emails do work though, the first one I sent resulted in a good job which I start in a few weeks although I was in Oz when I sent the email.

If your asking the company for sponsorship then you should expect little help with the move apart from them paying for the visa application. This isn't always the case but it's better to not expect them to cover flights etc.

steve`o

my opinion would be to look very carefully before going down the sponsorship route, there are strict rules regarding sponsorship,

you`ll be tied to the company for the duration and if you have a falling out and end up unemployed you could very well be be on your way back to the uk twenty eight days later,

i havnt written the above to rain on your idea just be aware of the potential pitfalls should it go wrong

regards steve

Bermudashorts

If you qualify for skilled migrant, then unless you are in some desperate rush why not just apply for that and forget about sponsorship. Then you can go on your terms live where you want and not be tied to an employer.

Zambia

This is by far the way to go.

Centurion

If you qualify for a skilled independent visa then do it. Yes it takes ages, yes it's expensive but yes - its also permanent and doesn't rely on the goodwill of your employer who could just let you go and with it your right to be in Australia.

That and frankly Rockhampton is, er how should I put it....for a certain type of person.

ash-pd

Thanks for all of your replies, it's good to get some input from people with a bit more know-how than ourselves. I completed the visa application lastnight, however I havent paid and sumbitted this. We have 115 points, and the threshold is 120...does anyone know of any other visa options we can apply on, as we our daughter we cannot apply for the years working visa......?

sa2uk2oz

If you can, do the skilled migrant visa option. $3500 is less than a month's salary for most people here, and its well worth it!

Bermudashorts

There is a new points test coming out from 1st July, you should try that as you probably won't be in a position to apply before then anyway.