Totally Gutted.................

[EM&M]

Well happy mothers day to me.......we spoke to OH Aunt & Uncle in Oz this morning and it looks as though they are unable to help us with a 457 Sponsorship Visa as they dont think they can commit to the 2 years That leaves us back to square one which is....no chance! Feeling totally crap especially after all the hassle etc with my mam and think its so unfair, sorry give me a minutes to feel sorry for myself.

I have some questions if anyone can help:-

1. Does anyone know what sort of checks are done by immigration once you arrive on a 457 visa...ie. do they come and check up on you??

2. Does anyone know what would happen if your were on a 457 visa and the company changed hands?

3. If you are not entering Oz on a company sponsorship visa or a PR how r u getting in.

4. I have read up alot about Student Visa's but the question seems to be the risk of being able to be granted PR after the end of the course?? Can anyone who's going down that route shed anymore light on it.

Thanks everyone again for listening

Em x

[brownfamily]

Hi Em,

I am really sorry to hear about your sponsorship especially on Mothers Day. Firstly I would like to send you a virtual hug

I am not an expert on visa's but hope there is another way for you

You asked about student visa and that is the route we are taking. I have to say that it is an expensive option (but is our only option at the momoent) so we are grabbing it with both hands.

My OH will be starting his bricklaying course in Nambour (if all goes according to plan) this July. As I say I am not an expert on visa's and you may want to check with an agent but with the student visa know the following:

* You have to pay your 2 years medical insurance up front
* You have to pay the first 6 months course fees up front
* You have to pay visa fees up front (think its $480 but would need to double check)
* You have to have wour meds etc done
* We have used an agent and this costs appx £400 for the student visa

There are quite a few things that you need to bear in mind. Firstly you need to check that the course you are doing will give you enough points at the end of 2 years. In addition to the course you need to complete 900 hours work experience in the relevant field that you are studying. OH and myself can work up to 20 hours per week in addition to studying with the student visa. There is always the risk that your chosen course will drop of the skills list within the two years that you are studying.

Having said all of that, it is our only option at the moment and a student visa is a lot quicker than a PR visa (can be done in as little as two weeks!) I am certainly not going down the student visda route with rose tinted glasses, but at least it is an option!

Sorry for the long post, but if you search student visa there is a lot of information on there or PM me if you want further info.

I hope this helps and please keep your chin up as I am sure there may well be a few options for you.

Heather

[bizzilizzi]

Hi there

I too was a bit worried when I looked into going to Oz.

I was 43 just before Christmas, leaving me not much time when it comes to PR. I chose to go down the Student visa route. The course I'm doing is in Melbourne - Patisserie cook - but although it's over two years, I intend to complete in just 16months. My agent advised me that this would give me enough time to apply for PR before becoming too old.

There are only a few courses that have the option of acceleration, not sure which.

I started enquiries in Jan 07 and sit here waiting for my passport to come back stamped. I sent it off once the meds had been completed last Thurs ( as requested by High Commission in London) I have gathered together as much info as would be necessary for PR - this I'll do once I've completed my course - so that I have everything ready when I need it.

Yes, it's cost alot of money, but like others have said, I want to live the dream and to that means making a few sacrifices. I don't consider them to be sacrifices... My children are grown up, I've done what I can do in this country and want to change my horizons.

I am at present a Human Resources Manager, but have only a couple of years exp. I have a degree, but still don't have enough points for Skilled Visa. Thankfully my brother and his family live in Melbourne so I will have accommodation when I get there. (He emigrated 20yrs ago and has never looked back)

Having a very helpful agent behind me has helped enormously, can't say I would have attempted the paperwork with the professionals. Was shocked to know that the course I wanted to do starts in May, and hearing that in January made me ask questions; can this really be possible?? Well, here I am, house sold, bags packed, working my notice, waiting for the all important passport to come back so's I can book the tickets!

Ooh, it's so exciting, must admit though, I really feel for the guys who have to wait months for decisions to be made. Good luck guys!

Bizzilizzi

[bizzilizzi]

Oops! That was meant to be " wouldn't have done the paperwork [b]without[b] the professionals!!

Bizzilizzi

[EM&M]

Heather,

can i ask have the college confirmed that u need 900 hours experience in addition to the course, seems to be some conflicting information about this? Also how many hours a week is the course just wondering how would fit in the work with the course if you get me. With 3 children under 3 not sure how viable it would be for one of to do this and the other to also work.

Thanks
Emx

[Welshtone]

Hi Bizzi Lizzi

IF you have a bro in Melbourne and have a degree and have 2 years experience in the last 3 as HR Manager and/or HR Officer, and 3 years in the last 4 as HR Manager and/or HR Offcier and can invest A$100,000 in an Australian Government term deposit for 12 months, you can score the required 110 points for grant of a permanent visa now.

Skills = 50
Age = 15
English = 20
3 years specific experience = 05
Sponsorship from Bro = 15
Investment = 05
Total = 110

I assume you do not have 3 years HR experience or can not get 3 years clocked up before you turn 45. Also, does not have to be HR experience, could be experience in another occupation as long as it is on SOL.

If you can not get the required experience for the 138 visa, but have 12 months in the last 18 months as a HR Manager and/or HR Officer (or other skileld occupation on SOL), you could apply for the 496 temporary provisonal visa - sponsored by your Bro

Even the 496 would be better than the student as you just have to live in Victoria for 2 years and work for one year (both of you will have full work rights) and then you can apply for the permanent - no matter that you turn 45 in the mean time.

Regards


Tony Coates
MARN 0635896

[brownfamily]

Hi Em,

The course is only 20 hours per week. As for the 900 hours additional or within the course I am waiting for my agent to confirm. But Tony (above I think on one of his posts has said that it is addtion to the course (but to be honest I am not really too worried as I have worked out that if OH works 8 hours in a week in addition to his 20 hours studying then we will be ok over the two years).

Heather

[EM&M]

Hi Heather,

Can you post and let us know when you have the experience clarified, that would be great. Has the agent give you any advice on the chances of PR after the course?? Our agent said that as far as she was aware only cookery or horticulture would practically guarentee PR, this has worried me somewhat. We would have some cash to go with after the sale of our house and it would mean living on that money whilst studying, Im concerned that if we couldnt get PR granted at the end of it all we would have to come back to the UK with nothing. I know that I shouldnt be looking at the what if but its hard not to when children are involved.....I just dont want to end up with a worse standard of living if it all goes pear shaped!


Thanks Em x

[Welshtone]

Hi Em

Is definitely outside of the course that the 900 hours have to be - I'll try and dig it out from the TRA site and post it for you. Any AQF cert III in an Australian trade will be recognised for 60 points subject to the additional 900 hours of parctical work experience.

Cookery, pastry cookery, hairdressing and horticulture being the ones most readily available. So it could be for an electrician, but try and find an electrician course available to international students over 2 years. Bizzilizzi nees to make sure that if she completes her course in less than 2 years, will teh department of Immigration give her the experience waiver as she technicall would not have studied for 2 years.

So then you go for a trade course that is on the Demand list. I see the worst case scenario, is that the occupation comes off MODL before you apply for your visa. This may mean that you then only qualify for the SIR visa for Adelaide and maybe some other State if the occupation is on their list at that time. It may then maen that you have to return to the UK and wait for the visa to be processed. So there is some security in that the SIR would probably be a fall-back position in teh event of the occupation coming off the MODL. But there is always risk from the unforeseen changes that could occur in a 3 year period.


Regards

Tony Coates
MARN 0635896

[brownfamily]

Hi Em,

Tony has confirmed that the 900 hours is in addition to the study. Our agent said that the only problem OH will have is that as he has done bricklaying before people might try and coach him off the course with PR, but I am mindful that an agent has said that but they are sincere and MARN registered!

He seemed very confident that due to the lack of bricklayers that he was almost certain that we would get PR at the end of it.

Tony - perhaps you could tell us how long the 'bricklayers' have been on the MODL list for and what the likelihood would be of it dropping off? (thanks for all your advise that you have posted for us, it is much appreciated).

Em, I totally understand what you are saying about selling your house etc. It is a risk, but the way I look at it is that I would rather have tried (and be lighter in the pocket), and if all else fails then it will be a very expensive 2 year holiday (hopefully not tho!)

Heather