working in australia with a drugs conviction
Nov 13th 2011, 6:02 pm
#1
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Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 6
working in australia with a drugs conviction
Hi everyone. I really hope that someone may be able to help me. my girlfriend and i are hoping to emigrate to perth early next year as she has lived there previously and we both fancy a change of scenery lol. I am a qualified electrician (27 years old), i qualified in may this year (2011) and i realise that australia is crying out for electricians at the minute.
My problem is this. when i was 19 i was going through some problems in my life, i was involved with drugs and ended up selling some pills in the local nightclub for which i was caught and sentanced to two years jail (may 03) the sentanced expired in sept 04. I was just a kid at the time, since i got out i have kept away from drugs, i have not been in any trouble since and i have gone to college and qualified as an electrician.
Im scared that an immigration officer will only look at the fact of the seriousness of the offence and not see that i am totally re-habilitated, what is the process that i have to go through in order to persuade them that i am no threat? how lenient are they is there anyone that has or knows anyone thats gone through a similar process?
please if anyone can help me that would be great!
My problem is this. when i was 19 i was going through some problems in my life, i was involved with drugs and ended up selling some pills in the local nightclub for which i was caught and sentanced to two years jail (may 03) the sentanced expired in sept 04. I was just a kid at the time, since i got out i have kept away from drugs, i have not been in any trouble since and i have gone to college and qualified as an electrician.
Im scared that an immigration officer will only look at the fact of the seriousness of the offence and not see that i am totally re-habilitated, what is the process that i have to go through in order to persuade them that i am no threat? how lenient are they is there anyone that has or knows anyone thats gone through a similar process?
please if anyone can help me that would be great!
Nov 13th 2011, 6:08 pm
#2
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Joined: Feb 2009
Location: UK
Posts: 14,284
Re: working in australia with a drugs conviction
It isnt necessarily a show stopper but sentences over one year will be scrutinised closely. You should get professional assistance with your application, this isnt a time for DIY.
Nov 13th 2011, 8:09 pm
#3
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Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Keep true friends and puppets close, trust no-one else...
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Re: working in australia with a drugs conviction
As bermudashorts says, definitely get professional assistance. You need your case presented in the best way possible, probably with some character witness statements, so have a think about people you know in authoritative poisitions - teachers, police officers, etc who can vouch for the fact that you have changed since those days.
The good news is that its not an automatic no, like the USA, decisions for Australia are made on an individual basis
The good news is that its not an automatic no, like the USA, decisions for Australia are made on an individual basis
Nov 13th 2011, 9:22 pm
#4
Still alive
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 28,994
Re: working in australia with a drugs conviction
Hi everyone. I really hope that someone may be able to help me. my girlfriend and i are hoping to emigrate to perth early next year as she has lived there previously and we both fancy a change of scenery lol. I am a qualified electrician (27 years old), i qualified in may this year (2011) and i realise that australia is crying out for electricians at the minute.
My problem is this. when i was 19 i was going through some problems in my life, i was involved with drugs and ended up selling some pills in the local nightclub for which i was caught and sentanced to two years jail (may 03) the sentanced expired in sept 04. I was just a kid at the time, since i got out i have kept away from drugs, i have not been in any trouble since and i have gone to college and qualified as an electrician.
Im scared that an immigration officer will only look at the fact of the seriousness of the offence and not see that i am totally re-habilitated, what is the process that i have to go through in order to persuade them that i am no threat? how lenient are they is there anyone that has or knows anyone thats gone through a similar process?
please if anyone can help me that would be great!
My problem is this. when i was 19 i was going through some problems in my life, i was involved with drugs and ended up selling some pills in the local nightclub for which i was caught and sentanced to two years jail (may 03) the sentanced expired in sept 04. I was just a kid at the time, since i got out i have kept away from drugs, i have not been in any trouble since and i have gone to college and qualified as an electrician.
Im scared that an immigration officer will only look at the fact of the seriousness of the offence and not see that i am totally re-habilitated, what is the process that i have to go through in order to persuade them that i am no threat? how lenient are they is there anyone that has or knows anyone thats gone through a similar process?
please if anyone can help me that would be great!
Nov 14th 2011, 1:23 am
#5
Best move in life
Joined: Jun 2008
Location: Victoria, Australia
Posts: 224
Re: working in australia with a drugs conviction
Hi everyone. I really hope that someone may be able to help me. my girlfriend and i are hoping to emigrate to perth early next year as she has lived there previously and we both fancy a change of scenery lol. I am a qualified electrician (27 years old), i qualified in may this year (2011) and i realise that australia is crying out for electricians at the minute.
My problem is this. when i was 19 i was going through some problems in my life, i was involved with drugs and ended up selling some pills in the local nightclub for which i was caught and sentanced to two years jail (may 03) the sentanced expired in sept 04. I was just a kid at the time, since i got out i have kept away from drugs, i have not been in any trouble since and i have gone to college and qualified as an electrician.
Im scared that an immigration officer will only look at the fact of the seriousness of the offence and not see that i am totally re-habilitated, what is the process that i have to go through in order to persuade them that i am no threat? how lenient are they is there anyone that has or knows anyone thats gone through a similar process?
please if anyone can help me that would be great!
My problem is this. when i was 19 i was going through some problems in my life, i was involved with drugs and ended up selling some pills in the local nightclub for which i was caught and sentanced to two years jail (may 03) the sentanced expired in sept 04. I was just a kid at the time, since i got out i have kept away from drugs, i have not been in any trouble since and i have gone to college and qualified as an electrician.
Im scared that an immigration officer will only look at the fact of the seriousness of the offence and not see that i am totally re-habilitated, what is the process that i have to go through in order to persuade them that i am no threat? how lenient are they is there anyone that has or knows anyone thats gone through a similar process?
please if anyone can help me that would be great!
Nov 14th 2011, 5:47 pm
#6
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Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 6
Re: working in australia with a drugs conviction
thanks everyone for your help, my plan was origionaly to go to canada dorothy but i still have not heard anything back from the canadian embassy with regards to my re-habilitation application. I sent off for it 7 months ago so we both cant hang around for ever!
thanks bermudashorts and pollyana, so you think i should get a lawyer maybe? im actually in the process of filling out the online form for skilled migration is this not to be recomended? would this be a way to get my foot in the door or could it end up going the other way?
thanks interested16 too, im glad it worked out for you!
is there any official contacts that i could talk to on the phone in the UK that would be able to help me does anyone know??
thanks bermudashorts and pollyana, so you think i should get a lawyer maybe? im actually in the process of filling out the online form for skilled migration is this not to be recomended? would this be a way to get my foot in the door or could it end up going the other way?
thanks interested16 too, im glad it worked out for you!
is there any official contacts that i could talk to on the phone in the UK that would be able to help me does anyone know??
Nov 14th 2011, 6:32 pm
#7
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: UK
Posts: 14,284
Re: working in australia with a drugs conviction
thanks everyone for your help, my plan was origionaly to go to canada dorothy but i still have not heard anything back from the canadian embassy with regards to my re-habilitation application. I sent off for it 7 months ago so we both cant hang around for ever!
thanks bermudashorts and pollyana, so you think i should get a lawyer maybe? im actually in the process of filling out the online form for skilled migration is this not to be recomended? would this be a way to get my foot in the door or could it end up going the other way?
thanks interested16 too, im glad it worked out for you!
is there any official contacts that i could talk to on the phone in the UK that would be able to help me does anyone know??
thanks bermudashorts and pollyana, so you think i should get a lawyer maybe? im actually in the process of filling out the online form for skilled migration is this not to be recomended? would this be a way to get my foot in the door or could it end up going the other way?
thanks interested16 too, im glad it worked out for you!
is there any official contacts that i could talk to on the phone in the UK that would be able to help me does anyone know??
Filling in the forms isn't the issue. The issue for you will be presenting your case in the best possible light. A two year sentence is considered serious and you need to get this right. That is where the agent comes in.
Nov 14th 2011, 7:17 pm
#8
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Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Keep true friends and puppets close, trust no-one else...
Posts: 93,809
Re: working in australia with a drugs conviction
thanks everyone for your help, my plan was origionaly to go to canada dorothy but i still have not heard anything back from the canadian embassy with regards to my re-habilitation application. I sent off for it 7 months ago so we both cant hang around for ever!
thanks bermudashorts and pollyana, so you think i should get a lawyer maybe? im actually in the process of filling out the online form for skilled migration is this not to be recomended? would this be a way to get my foot in the door or could it end up going the other way?
thanks interested16 too, im glad it worked out for you!
is there any official contacts that i could talk to on the phone in the UK that would be able to help me does anyone know??
thanks bermudashorts and pollyana, so you think i should get a lawyer maybe? im actually in the process of filling out the online form for skilled migration is this not to be recomended? would this be a way to get my foot in the door or could it end up going the other way?
thanks interested16 too, im glad it worked out for you!
is there any official contacts that i could talk to on the phone in the UK that would be able to help me does anyone know??
Main thing is to get an agent who is MARA registered. Ian Harrop is one often recommended in the UK, but you can do just as well with one in Aus, if you go down that route I'd personally recommend George Lombard
Nov 14th 2011, 7:40 pm
#9
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Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 6
Re: working in australia with a drugs conviction
thanks for that i have just subscribed my details to a particular agent and they have said they want £3000 to continue! I shall try to get in touch with George Lombard and see if he can help me, il let you know how i get on
