Hi all,

Firstly I would like to say that i'm very new to this, so apologises if I get it wrong.

My husband and I would love to move abroad with my 4 year old daughter. The truth is, we don't even know where to start! We had orginally thought about the USA but it seems that we wouldnt stand a chance.

I currently work in Human Resources for the NHS and have just started to study for a Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resource Management, which is an english level 6 qualification (1 level above a standard degree but 1 level below a masters degree). I can 'topup' my qualification to a masters degree at the end of my course if i need to.

My husband works in construction and has no formal qualifications or skills as such, but he is looking into studying for a plastering qualification. Possibly a city and guilds?

We are both british citizens and so are our parents, so we have no australian family.

Are we likely to stand a chance? Can anyone give us any guidance on where to start?

To make matters more complicated, my daughter is from a previous relationship, so i'm aware that I need to seek permission from her father to take her abroad, which I know he is not going to give me, so realistically i'm going to have to take my case to court to hopefully obtain their permission to take her. Has anyone else done this? Do you have any helpful tips to help me?

Many Thanks to you all in advance

Hayleigh

www.immi.gov.au is the best source to start ... please go through it, u will see allot of helping info ... good luck

Hi there and welcome to B.E.

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I found the immigov site useful - except I always seemed to end up back at the beginning.

Consider using an immigration agent perhaps. It need not be expensive to get some simple answers to start you off on the right foot. If you'd like further info on agents, post back here and I'll post some further information.

Alistair.

There are lots of different types of visa, but the most likely ones that you would be interested in are skilled visas - probably the independent ones, rather than the employer sponsored (as it can be hard to get an employer sponsored visa).

There is a wizard on www.immi.gov.au that will help you figure which visa you might qualify for. If you are intersted in the independent skilled visa, not only will your skill have to be on the skills list, but you need to get the required number of points (which are based on things like your age, if you are fluent in english etc), but the website will help you figure that out. So definitely, as the others state, start with the immigration website.

If you do qualify, it can take some time to get your skills assessed, all your documentation together, and the visa processing itself can take years rather than months. But that will all depend on what visa you are eligible for (if any).

I think I read about a lottery for the US visa that is currently on-going ... so that may be worth investigating too, even if your chace of winning one may be small ... if you're not in you can't win!!

Seems like you are toying with a move "somewhere" rather than a move to a particular place, so perhaps Canada is an option too. Again without knowing the in's and out's for visa's there, I have no idea if you would qualify .. I just hear a lot about people emigrating either to Canada or Australia at the moment. Good luck

Hi Hayleigh
The advice given above is great, go to the IMMI website and use the visa wizard, I expect that you will want to stay in Australia indefinitely and not take the risk of being sponsored, hence something like a skilled visa might be ok, but it does depend on your specific case. You need to speak to the experts, everyone’s situation is different.
I would strongly suggest that you go and get a few free consultations with a few migration agents to get a few ideas on what approaches are open to you and then speak directly to the Australian consulate to clarify these approaches. Keep in mind that Migration agents are businesses and the Australian consulate is providing a service. You may not want or need to use a migration agent, you can complete your visa application on your own.
Your husband’s lack of formal qualifications could be an issue, however may not be a road blocker. I know a couple in Perth where the main applicant also had good qualifications, who is sponsored, and her husband came out on her visa and could work for anyone.
Not sure on your daughter position, you will need up to date UK legal advice on this.
If in any concerns or anxiety about Visa options, get up to date information and speak to your consulate, they are the fountain of unbiased information.
Good luck.

Because of the legnth of time involved in skilled visas there is no harm in trying for a sponsored visa class 457. This is a temporary visa for 4 years but it offers routes to permanent residence within it.

Basically you would just need a employer who wants to and is willing to do the sponsor. So no harm in applying for jobs in your field, particularly those that might involve working in a regional area as employers often struggle to fill them. On this visa your husband would have rights to work regardless of qualifacations. My OH is about to start her own buisness on this as i am sponsored on a 457.

PS. The advantage of these visas is they are quick. Usually granted in a month

BUT the disadvantages are that it is "temporary"......... have a falling out with the employer ANY time in the next 4 years and it's 28 days to leave the Country

HOw easy is it to go out on a sponsored but then change while there?

Change to what? Another sponsor or another visa?

Another visa. Skilled.

Well in that case I don't think it makes any difference either way. If you are over on a 457 say then it won't help your skilled migrant application and nor will it hinder it. It won't make any difference to timings. And you are not "changing" to a skilled migrant visa, you would be lodging a completely spearate and independent visa application.