al_and_lucy

Hi

Me and the better half are about to fill in the on-line application (175 I think ?) to apply to emigrate out to and work in Australia. From reading this forum and wading through the immi website, would you agree that its best to just do a straight GSM application and then look on-line for any jobs that may come up, or is there a better solution out there for us?

i currently work as a help desk Manager for the NHS, which I gather is under the 2231-79 (Computing Professionals NEC) band, whilst Lucy works as a Biomedical Scientist, again for the NHS (2115-11 - Medical Scientist).

From looking at the skills in demand, we are surprised that her specialisation isnt on the list as there seems to be many jobs out there. We have already both filled out our details on the Australia Needs Skills Expo in June 2009.

Cheers for any advice

Al

al_and_lucy

(hmm replying to our own thread !)

From what we gather, Sydney is too expensive to live in, whereabouts would you suggest to look round in as admittedly we are thoroughly confused with the geography.

Lucy's work posts that we have found seem to offer a salary of $60,000 - $70,000 per annum + super. Would this be enough to live on with me then finding a suitable position as well.

(Sorry for more questions)

Al

FionaandAndrew

Hi Both

Just reading your first post. If you are applying for a 175 visa the first thing you need to do is get a positive skills assessment for one or both of your occupations (depending on how many points you have).

Sorry I don't know whether you have done this already but you haven't mentioned it.

Good Luck
Fiona

al_and_lucy

Ahh no we haven't had any skill checks yet, we have only just decided that a move would be the good thing to do for us.

Al

FionaandAndrew

oh ok,

you'd be best reading up on the DIAC website about the options open to you

http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/gener...ns-outside.htm

some people use an agent to help with skills assessments and visa application, we have done ours ourselves by reading up and using information on this forum, but we are still waiting at the moment so can't say for sure if we've done everything correctly.

Dorothy

You may want to find out whether you are even able to obtain a visa. www.immi.gov.au has a visa wizard and all the information you could possibly need.

al_and_lucy

After filling in that on-line form (very helpful actually) its a yes, and on the points test we score 120+.

Thanks for the info.

al_and_lucy

After more reading, and following most of the links posted around this wonderful site (something we should have done in the first place). It seems that Lucy's medical job IS in demand in New South Wales. (from the linked page from the Links For State Sponsorship page.

Now according to that we would need to get qa skills assesment for Lucy (From AIMS), and then apply via mail for a 176 visa.

So i take it we do not need to go down the 175 process at all then.

Off to do more reading .....

Al

al_and_lucy

Right ... we are off on holiday (to the Maldives!) in a few weeks, so once we get back we will get Lucy's skills assessment done and see where we can go from there.

Al

Dorothy

May I suggest that if your partner needs a skills assessment from AIM you engage the services of a MARA registered migration agent who is experienced with the AIM assessment? If not for the entire application at least for the skills assessment part. AIM is, from what I understand, very difficult to obtain a positive assessment from. http://www.aim.com.au/migration/default.html

Oh, and even if you do qualify for sponsorship from NSW you still need to apply for a 176 visa. Please, please, please save yourself a load of money and heartache and start either reading the DIAC website or make an appointment with an agent.

al_and_lucy

Its not AIM (that's management isn't it?) Lucy will need to get assessed by, its AIMS (Australian Institute of Medical Science) as she is a Biomedical Scientist.

We have looked through a fair few things now (obviously still misunderstand things/not seen some/dont know about) many things as well, but a lot of our information has come from the NSW State Sponsership page here.

Right I get it, this part of the process gives you access to apply for a 176 visa, which you then apply for as normal.

As you can see we are still in the whole discovery part of the process, but we arnt rushing into anything throwing money away, just gathering up as much info as possible at the moment, before gettng everything in order.

Thanks for the the advice though, always welcome

Al and Lucy

al_and_lucy

A note to other people (general skilled workers) just starting off, as Dorothy say make sure you read all the DIAC website ... and a tip, print off then read Booklet 6! its a must have (Booklet Page).

al_and_lucy

Well the investigations are getting some results!

After a quick email to the Australian Institute of Medical Scientists, it sees the skills accretion process is in three parts:

Luckily, it seems they do rate UK highly qualified staff with experience :

Which Lucy is! so there is a saving of $550!

The final part is the IELTS, as

So we are slowly getting there, there is a IELTS testing centre in Exeter so its not too far away from us, so the aim now is ...

1. Get IELTS of 7+
2. Send off all the required docs to get assessed

Al