Dan Mika

Dear All, I have done most of the hard work preparing for a skilled visa 189 and would like to proceed, but we are not sure as a family that we will move right away. Therefore, is it possible for me to obtain the visa and add my wife and child later on ? Hence delaying the payment for them for the moment, but adding them later when we decide we will actually move to Australia ? Thank you in advance Daniel

Dear All, I am working my way through what is required for the 189 skilled visa. One thing I am not clear on is whether my wife has to prove her level of English. I am the primary applicant and I don't foresee a problem with my application, but my wife is not an English native speaker, therefore, if required, she will also need to do the English test, but it is not clear to me that she should do it or not. Has anyone had such a situation ? Sorry, title should read 189 ! Many thanks Daniel

Hi All, I am applying for a skilled visa and have my English test and professional skills and experience verified. I am now looking at the next steps of the visa process. What I am not 100% clear on is whether my wife (who is non-native English speaker) needs to have her English test to prove her English ability as well. It looks like she may need this and otherwise there is a second instalment to pay of A$ 4885, which I will of course not be prepared to pay (given her English is very good). Has anyone had to do this and can confirm that she will need to do the test to prove her English is at least functional ? Many thanks

Just to follow up on this thread: I got L:8 R:9 W:8 S:9 so 8.5 overall. Thats superior and maximum points. Personally I would say the listening is easy if you can maintain concentration, I lapsed for a second and lost a few marks. Speaking is easy and reading also, but needs a bit of practise. Writing, not the easiest, some practise also needed to sharpen up for most I'd say. Good luck.

Just to follow up on this thread, I got my IELTS in the highest bracket needed, 8 overall, and have just had my skilled occupation and qualification accepted as of this morning. On to the next step

Completely agree on some points. I love the UK and adore London, the best city in the world in my opinion (in most respects), with Melbourne in second as I don't know it as much as yet. I was in Brighton last summer for a weekend, really fantastic (very valid point actually!). Where did you live in Australia ? I am keen to hear any negatives I may not be aware of. From what I see on this forum people criticise Australia when they live mostly in isolated and sometimes backward places. This is the same in the UK and there are places most people would not want to live in the UK for the same reasons.

silencio, thanks for the input. Did you have to get a certain grade on the test? I guess this would be English to the adequate/basic excepted level (rather than proficient/superior).

They are both Swiss, but I am planning on getting a British passport for my daughter as she is eligible. I think the answer will be the same as you mention, just medicals and police check for my wife. English test might be an investment in terms of applying for jobs.

Interesting to read some of these posts as someone who is planning to move out to Australia. The difference for me is that I have moved out of the UK already, having been living in Switzerland for 5 years. With regards to missing home I have those feelings in Switzerland, so these points are nothing surprising. The points on supermarkets being bad is a interesting one as supermarkets are a big part of UK culture. The UK does enjoy a huge amount of choice and at cheap prices in fact. Cost of living is indeed something which I am apprehensive about in Australia. This for me is counteracted by: the thought of living within half an hour drive of a beach; living in what is essentially a holiday destination; sunshine; international culture and food (Melbourne); an economy that has expanded for the last 26 years+ but still with opportunities to progress further and develop more; loads of space and the possibility of buying a house at an affordable price; jobs a plenty and a desire to retain people; a country that is close to Asia in proximity and relations; outdoor living and sport at its heart; consistently being ranked one of the best education and health care systems in the world. This is to name just a few things. Anything to add ?

Dear All, I am applying for a skilled visa 189 and I am slowly making my way through the necessary processes. I have found that I have misunderstood some aspects of the process, so I would like to clarify this point. My wife and daughter are both coming to Australia with me and as such, what are the requirements for them (my daughter is 2 years old, natural daughter with my married wife, nothing complicated) with regards to tests and checks ? For instance: Do they both need medicals and does my wife need a police check ? Furthermore does my wife need to do the English test if she wishes to do some sort of work in Australia in general, or would this merely be advised rather than compulsory ? (I realise if my wife's profession needs the English test then she should do it, but if there are no set requirements from her profession, would the proof of English competency be advised ? Is this widely recognised in Australia ?) Thanks in advance, enjoy your Sunday D

Hi All, I just sat the IELTS two weeks ago after a week of preparation, I am a native English speaker. I received my result back yesterday as 9,9,8,8. It's an awkward experience as a native speaker and from my point of view did require some prep and everyone should do some at least - there are many free practice papers on the net. If you are an educated English native speaker listening and speaking will be easy. Reading requires some practise in my opinion (depending on how strong you are with reading in general) and writing also has some technique to it. I am educated to a masters level but mainly deal with numbers at work, but do need to write documents for management and board level in my role. I would suggest taking the preparation seriously as a native speaker. The test itself is also quite strange compared to the exams I have taken in the past (a lot). You have to wait quite a while before the exam and have your photo taken, even though you have photo proof of identity. All parts of the exam are one after the other, even though they are essentially individual exams in themselves (apart from speaking which is much later in the day). There are also quite frequent periods where you cannot leave the room, even to go to the toilet. As listening is played only once, you cannot leave without missing part of the test. When documents are collected at the end and you're all getting seated and documents are given at the beginning, you also cannot leave. In my opinion this was quite strange and not that comfortable, and could be handled better. Despite all this, I did get the result needed, so taking the exam seriously is the main way to ensure success. Good luck.

Hi, We have not started the process at all. I am not sure what you're referring to with FANZA and DWS. I am applying for a skilled visa 189 and we will aim to get my wife's anaesthesia skills recognised there (although preparing as much as possible in advance here before we leave). We are right at the beginning of the process of applying for the skilled visa.

My initial concern was disclosing my plans to an employer. I do have an alternative reason why I would need such information and in-fact I do have the right to request a basic reference. The most important point is indeed the potential follow-up and the trade-off between whether I want this conversation to take place versus the additional points needed. Thanks for the comments. I will have to mull this over.

Thanks for the insight. I expect my English results may come in about the same, but I am trying hard to edge my reading and writing above the 8 mark if I can.

What was your points score and situation in the end if I may ask ? (I know it really depends on the profession etc, but its interesting all the same).