Hi everyone, apologies if this has been asked numerous times but I am unsure what to search for in the forum.

I am currently in the US with my husband and 2 children. (We are all British citizens) Husband has a H1B (temp work visa) and is valid till Sept 2012. At the moment we do not know if it will be renewed for a further 3 years. If it is not going to be renewed then we would probably want to move to Australia rather than back to the UK.

How long does the paper work usually take for an Australian visa? I know that is probably like asking how long is a piece of string but I am trying to work out when we should set the wheels in motion and get confirmation if our US visa will be renewed.

Thanks for any help or for pointing me in the right direction.

What is the occupation of main applicant?
Timeframe depends upon the visa type, like skilled worker visa, employer/state/family sponsored visa etc.
This is just my rough estimate. It may take from 3 months to 3 years, depending upon which option of visa you choose.
Here is a starter kit for you . http://www.immi.gov.au/
and count the string characters. cheers.

OH is a graphic designer who builds and designs websites. Recently did the Gatorade site for the Superbowl.

Thanks for the link. Will have a look at it.

What visa are you thinking of applying for? Graphic designer is not on the new skilled occupation list so presumably you are not thinking of independent skilled migration.

It could be possible to get an employer sponsored visa as a graphic designer if he has a willing employer. These don't take too long once the employer is on board, a few months perhaps.

Why the uncertainty about whether the H1 will be renewed ? Usually renewals are not a problem unless there was an issue with the original application. Or are you saying his employer does not want to renew ?

They have not said if they will renew the H1B nor if they will pursue a GC application for us. I do not think a renewal of the H1B would be a problem. But, if they choose to not renew I want to know what other options are available for us and whether a move to Australia is feasible.

Go Ahead with the skill assessment and apply for state sponsorship as a backup plan.

Is the new SOL in the link given to me earlier?

Never mind, I found it. Got to love Google!

See new SOL here. This is the baseline.
http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/gener.../whats-new.htm

For your information, DIAC has suspended visa applications till July 2010.
More changes are suspected after July 2010.