Hi everyone
We decided three years ago that we wanted to leave the UK behind. We have two girls (8 and 6) and really didn't want them growing up in the UK. We wanted to go to Australia but on consideration didn't know if we could leave our friends and family so far behind. Anyway, we moved to France instead. We have had a wonderful time here but it's not what we want and we now know we can go without seeing our friends and family regularly as even only being 1hour away by plane they don't come that often so we have rekindled our dream of Oz. My husband is a plasterer/groundworker but his qualifications are in plastering and so we qualify for the 136 visa as it is on the list of required occupations but we are having trouble proving his work experience. We are fine for when he was sub-contracting with another firm, but obviously we are now in France and we don't know how to prove that he has been working here. Does anyone know what evidence we would need to provide? We haven't filled in a tax form yet, and all other documentation is in french which I can get translated if I knew what bits to get done! If we can't get this evidence I am afraid that our dream will be dashed, and we will be gutted that we didn't just take the plunge in the first place! Hindsight is a wonderful thing,eh? :roll:
Hope someone can help me, I look forward to any reply!
I live in spain and got my TRA as brickie no probs.. i've just got in from the pub so cant type so good now, i will reply tommorow, but dont worry, you have nothing to worry about.
ok, not much of a hang over.. I got an agent for TRA and the actual visa but for the TRA she required for proof of competence any photos of me at work over the years, testimonials from clients/employers stating what a quality tradesmen I am :wink: (as many as possible) a "stat dec" stating what my job entails ie. type of brickwork / blockwork (in my case) types of work carried out ie. domestic (extensions..) or commercial, types of tools used, write as much as possible.
To prove my self employed status, another "stat dec" stating when I commenced self employment and what I was self employed as, any tax bills or official documents which say I was self employed, these where in no particular chronological order just anything I had. Don't worry if they are red tax demands, they just want to know that you can do the job..
I also supplied invoices and cost estimates for jobs I had done receipts for materials, anything you can get your hands on.
Another stat dec stating your career summery, when you started, how you progressed as a tradesman.
Another stat dec declaring any on-site training, this could be H&S induction trade qualifications. or anything related to work.
The thing is to supply as much as possible whether you think its relevant or not.
Statutory Declarations need to be notarised.
Hope this helps, I got my TRA back within 2 weeks and I don't even have a C&G in brickwork so there's hope for us all.
Thanks for replying Aldo.
You had to get alot of Stat Decs then? Who did you get to sign them, a spanish notary or an english one? Did you have to get certain things translated? Am I right in thinking that copies of invoices/estimates that I have on the computer can be sent as evidence? Or do these need to be supported by letters from clients? And would they all have to be certified copies or can I just send what I have printed off?
Sorry for all the questions! Hope you had a good time down the pub! You are lucky you have a pub to go to. We have a bar at the end of the road where just one old french man sits all day!!!! Not exactly the life and soul of the social scene in rural france!!! Why do you want to leave Spain?
Look forward to hearing from you,
Carla
My agent is able to certify any documents as she is also a JP which made things easier. We have 2 kids born here in Spain which we had to translate their birth certificates and get certified by a Spanish Notary. Re: invoices/estimates, these where just print outs for my computer, I supplied the one relevant to the customer testimonials I had supplied.
Why do I want to leave Spain? well... Australia was originally my first choice but the distance put us off and after 4.5 years here realized I don't actually care much for the locals, the Spanish are 2 faced and the most of the rest of the ex-pats are bullsh***rs, chancers or con men. I know nowhere is perfect but from what I remember of Queensland they call a spade a spade which makes it all a lot simpler. Another reason is although the hospitals are probably better here than in the UK and however good you think your Spanish is the peace of mind knowing that was anything to happen to us we would be consulting with English Speaking Doctors and nurses.
That's so funny that you say that. It is exactly the same here in France. The french locals are nice enough but they are all old (!) so don't really care to socialise with them at all. The expats are all two faced and really jealous of everyone else and want to know everyone's business. Also, although the girls really have fitted in with the school and everything, we are struggling with the language. At least I have some knowledge but my husband doesn't have any and after 2 years we just feel like it would be nice to go into the local post office or shop and have a chat! Like Spain, really cannot fault the healthcare here, but you are right, if something really bad happens there is always a language barrier.
Anyway, thanks for the info and the answers. It has put my mind at rest that I can just print off from the computer. Fingers crossed, eh?
Regards,
Carla
