Its all going wrong before we've even started. Just had a 25 min conversation with a migration agent and it appears we cant go to Oz. I am 40in sept this year and in the last 3 years been the proprieter of a small chauffeur company (seemed like a good idea at the time). I was hoping to get to Oz under my previous skills, panel beater, paint sprayer, mechanic and workshop superviser of which I had been doing since leaving school in 1984.
Now, the kind lady at the migrating agent says that I need to be in the trade I am applying under. I was lead to believe from another sorce that as long as I can prove my skills with references from previous employers in that trade, the last 3 years didnt matter. Anyone had the same experience or can offer advice on how to over come this? This site is so valuable for info and we have leant a lot so far. Thanks in advance.

There are a few issues here:

1 can you get approved by TRA to make an application for a 136 visa before 01 September as you will lose 15 MODL points under the new regime if you have not worked in the MODL occupation (or closely related) for 12 months in the last 4 years.

2 Also, you will currently need 12 months or skilled work experience in ANY occupation on SOL in the previous 18 month period ( will be 12 months in the previous 24 month period from 01 September).

The classification of your recent work experience will be crucial and I wold be concerned if it is a small company as if you are actually driving mainly and spending less than 20 hours per week managing your company, they will classify you as a driver which is not on the SOL. Even if they accept that you are performing management duties, theu may classify yo uas a Transport Manager which is also not on SOL.

IF you go back to Panel Beating for 12 months then you would have good prospects again via an STNI visa. alternatively, if you managed to get a temporary sponsorship, after 12 months in Australia, you are likely to qualify for aN INDEPENDENT Skilled visa. You should discuss these possible avenues with a reputable agent and form a plan.

Regards


Tony Coates
MARN 0635896

Thanks Tony. Well I am quite prepared to jack this busines in as it is unbelievably hard, no sleep, no time, traffic, cost!, drivers, etc I could go on and on. So, It would be a relief to get a 'proper job'. Its the time factor thats depressing me now, the fact that I will have to go back to vehicle paint spraying for a minimum of a year before I can apply.
You mentioned being sponsered, is that a quicker and guarenteed to stay in Oz and not just for the sponsered period?

Hi I think that if the agent you saw was reputable then it was a very small chauffering company, meaning that your recent work experience can't be taken into account, but obviously worth getting a second opinion if you were running the shop more than driving.

Also worth noting that to be positively assessed by TRA in any one of those MODL trades you'd need to take the time to have your work experience looked at carefully - very easy to have experience all over the place and not qualify specifically in any particular one. And if you can get a TRA assessment then an alternative to going back to the trade would be to find an employer to sponsor you for either a 457 leading to ENS or RSMS or, if you're lucky, direct to ENS. Don't suppose the agent you saw opened up those issues?

Cheers,

George Lombard

Hi George, thankyou for taking the time to deal with people like me. When I started looking into Oz, the 136 visa applied due to my skills, so I didnt looked at anything else. I obtained my City and Guilds cert part 1 back in 1985, since then it had been time served employment until 3 years ago when I started the chauffeur business. Yes it is a small concern, approx £60-70k a year. The other options you mentioned have not been looked at. Are they suitable for my current situation?

Kind lady should have mentioned that Australian employers and DIAC hold expos in the UK every year where you've got a fighting chance of finding a sponsoring employer if in the right trade and in fact there is also an Australian based migration agent specialising in your industry, www.autopersonnel.com.au, who might be worth contacting about potential employers. But you'll need to be specific about your trade - I assume the City and Guilds Part 1 will be your best option unless you've got more years of experience in one of the other trades you mention.

Cheers,

George Lombard

Also worth noting that to be positively assessed by TRA in any one of those MODL trades you'd need to take the time to have your work experience looked at carefully - very easy to have experience all over the place and not qualify specifically in any particular one. And if you can get a TRA assessment then an alternative to going back to the trade would be to find an employer to sponsor you for either a 457 leading to ENS or RSMS or, if you're lucky, direct to ENS. Don't suppose the agent you saw opened up those issues?

Cheers,

George Lombard[/QUOTE]

Excuse my ignorance but what is an ENS and a RSMS ?

PR sponsored visas. See link:

http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/booklets/1131.pdf

Excellent, many thanks. This site and the people that contribute and advise is worth its weight in gold.

wendy theres that money thing again

When we came here all I had to do was prove my qualifications and experience,