Mad_Mum

We are at stage 0 of applying to emigrate to Oz. We have read what seems like thousands of pages of information on the Oz immigration website and want to get the ball rolling asap. From reading lots of comments on the forum we're not sure if we'll be any better off with or without an agent. Can anyone offer any advice on this based on their own experience. I know I would need to use a MARA registered agent, but can anyone recommend one, who will A. Give all the help I need and B. Won't cost me the earth?!

Many thanks!!

M8M

Hiya!
Whats your story?? If your application is pretty straight forward and you're worried about costs it might be better to go it alone? Loads of people have on here, and rest assured they'll help you every step of the way!
We personally chose an agent but mainly due to the fact our case was a bit tricky... we didnt go with a MARA registered agent, rather a lady who had previously worked at the embassy and had set up her own company (we did have a personal recommendation though). Have you done any of the free online assessments etc? To check if you have enough points? There are a few avail - just google it. Following that I'm sure others on here can give you personal recommendations of bloody good agents that they have used sucessfully, but it all depends on your circumstances really. Anyhow, well done for making the decision to do it! Its a long old journey, but there are many cheerful people on this here website that will help you thru (speaking from personal exp!) Best of luck. Emma & Emmet

tawkins1

Welcome to BE!
Not sure of the costs as we didn't use one but George Lombard comes highly recommended on here. Send him a PM, you will have to post on a few more threads for it to let you do it tho. I think its 3
Goodluck

ittakesages

Hi
We are using Peter Chiam of Ptlabs and he has been brilliant! Always answers emails promptly and was very thorough with both our ACS (which he specialises in I think) and Visa applications. He is Mara registered. He also seems very reasonable compared to some prices I've seen on here. Go Matilda is another agency which people seem to use alot. I'm sure someone will be along shortly with others. Good luck

Mad_Mum

Thanks Emma (or Emmett!!)

The story so far...after a year of should we/shouldn't we, we've decided to go for it!! My OH's occupation is on the MODL list, so we want to apply for the 175 visa. I found a website that gave us a free point score and we passed the 120 mark so now we're looking at the next steps. It's from here on in we were considering an agent, but it depends on how complicated the application process is. Ideally we want to do it ourselves and save the money (as well as the possibility of having to chase up a 3rd party). And that's about as far as I've got really! I've printed off the application form for the Trades Recognition Australia peeps to confirm if OH's qualifications match those in OZ - which hopefully they will - this seems like the first starting point for us, although I could be completely off the mark which brings me back to the do I need an agent question!!!

I have to say, this website gets top marks though. It's so reassuring to know that there are many of us in the same boat. I'm so excited & terrified at the same time! How far into the process are you? Is it going OK?

Thanks a million, Sarah

M8M

Hi Sarah (its me Emma ha ha)
Well, well done you for taking the plunge!! You didnt mention anything 'funny' so I'm guessing your app will be pretty straightforward... we did the TRA assessment this time last year and got our visas in April, so the one way flights are booked at this stage! But plenty of nail biting before that, so I totally know how you feel!!
No need to worry about the TRA - does your OH have all his original certs and apprenticeship info etc (if thats the way he did it??) If so the only hard part about the TRA is getting the employers to write comprehensible info that includes all the info req'd - if in doubt DO IT YOURSELF!! Thats what we did - I looked up the ASCO code on the web and found the content of the skills taught in the Australian equivalent of OH's qualification (Air Conditioning) then I drafted the employers statements, made the calls to the relevant secretarys in the companies, and basically got them to print them and ask the boss to sign them!! Just to be sure to be sure that everything was included. The approach we took was more is definately more! We didnt fancy having the agonsing wait of having to resubmit additional info- so we sent probably too much. But once we got the assessment back passed we were overjoyed and started on the visa app. - but sure I can give you more info on that later If you have any specific q's re: what to put by all means mail me as I got all the original docs back from out agent last week, so I'll let you know how we structured the statements etc...Good Luck!!!

daunted

I used George Lombard () and in my eyes HE IS GOD Tells it like it is, no bulls***, prompt replies to emails etc and to top it off has this amaaaazingly sexy voice

ianbrown

Go Matilda without a shadow of doubt!!!!!.........do a search on here for both Go Matilda and Alan Collett!, You will find hundreds if not thousands of posts and not one negative word!................It is also best to have an UK/Oz based agent from the point of view that they have direct access to DIAC during their normal working hours and direct access to DIAC without you waiting up for half the night to speak to someone after spending 30mins talking to a computer or receptionist. Go Matilda are UK and Australia based and both Alan and Lorraine have been amazing throughout, and have an outstanding reputationwith all expats and even DIAC!

George is also very well recommended too, and his clients would say the same Im sure, But Go Matilda are one of if not the best in the biz in my opinion.

Good Luck

Mad_Mum

Hi Emma, thanks so much for that!
My OH did an apprenticeship & day release at college to get his qualifications - he is a service engineer, and yes we still have original documents (phew!). That is such a good tip about doing the job details & references ourselves. After speaking to OH tho he thinks that 2 of the companies are no longer in business, so I'm not really sure where that would leave us - did you come across this problem at all? Do you or OH have jobs to go to when you get there? I bet you can't believe you're almost there - I bet that's such a good feeling! How did you decide where in Oz to go?

Sarah x

pagey67

Hi Sarah,

We are probably about one step in front of you at the moment. My OH has to go through the VETASSESS process, and after weeks of shall we use an agent or shall I do it myself decided to go with an agent. Just decided that for the sake of approx £2k we would like the piece of mind of someone with a wealth of knowledge helping us along the way.

After being highly recommended we decided on Go Matilda - have emailed signed contract, payment and certificates to them today, so finally feel like we are starting that journey (got butterflies in my tummy!). Our agent is based in Oz, Allan Collett(?) recommended him as he has a lot of experience in skilled visa's in my husbands field.

Theres been loads of great advise for you so for and I do think whether to have an agent or not is a personal thing. I know I have the skills to do the application but just not the time.

Michelle

M8M

Hi Sarah, we had exactly the same problem! One of prev employers had gone bust so we had to write a declaration of all duties carried out etc and attached payslips/P60s etc in order to prove that he was working there during that time. We did manage to track him down and he gave a reference - but it was basically a handwritten letter saying yes, he worked for me and that was it - so we put all the supporting docs together ourselves.

Yeh, we cant believe were nearly there now!! I only have 6 weeks left in my job and its flying in!! Were off to Sydney - we actually met there when we were both on working holiday visas then I moved to Dublin with OH when I got back (orignially from Wigan), so we still have friends etc out there. Dont know if we'll stay there for the long term, but its as good a place as any to start with! Neither of us have jobs to go to - the labour market in Oz is pretty good at the moment. I've been on mycareer.com.au and seek.com.au and there seems to be tons of jobs avail in Sydney, so I'm just going to worry about that when we land... scary stuff!! Hope this helps!!

JAK

Hi Sarah

We are quite new to all of this too. We are waiting to hear if OH's TRA application has been successful then we can apply for our Visa. We chose Go Matilda and they seem very helpful. We chose to go with an agent for peace of mind. I read loads on this forum before we took the plunge. On the day I sent back our contract etc I stood at the side of the house thinking should we, shouldn't we. I felt sick all the way to the post office. Good Luck.

hairart

i completely agree with you, Go Matilda were recommended to us by a personal friend, and we haven't looked back since.
Their fee is payable in stages which helps a lot too!
GOOD LUCK.

Mad_Mum

Thanks for all of your advice everybody, it's such a daunting process but it's reassuring to know there are lots of us going through it!

Is it a bad sign that the empty wine bottles have started to pile up already??!!

pagey67

No as long as their Australian ones

Cheers (hic)