Big Richard

Thanks for the reply, he would prefer a face to face meet, he is based near maidstone in kent. I have printed off this thread so that he can read all the advice and guidance on here.

Hi all, Spoke to my pal today and got a bit of an update. I am not sure however that he has been given the best advice? So was after your opinion. He has been told that qld is very hard to get into, and even though his occupation is on the skills list and has several years experience, good capital behind him and scores well (70) he would still not get in as in the agents words 'they only want teachers and nurses in qld'! The agent has then gone on to advise him that he should go for a 457 visa as plenty of tree surgery companies take on sponsorship guys. My friend has a young family so am I not right in thinking he would have to pay for healthcare and schooling on a 457? In addition to this he has told the visa agent (who Is on the Mara list) that he had wanted to go over to Oz, work for someone for a few months to get to grips with different practices etc then set up on his own again - to which the agent suggested 'that's fine, all you need to do is do the 457 with someone, then set up your own company then simply sponsor yourself on the 457 visa, it's a simple transfer and a couple of forms!' Now my feeling is that the agent (who I will not name to protect him just in case) Is talking out of his bottom. I would be really interested in hearing your views!

Yes I shall make sure he does ask the right questions re registration etc, once I get a company name that he is using I will let you know.

Update from Ivan (the tree lad) he has been in touch with a migration agent, who he is meeting next week, as he doesn't have Internet he had some trouble finding someone who would or could meet him face to face. They are going to go over all his paperwork and go from there. I will let you know how he gets on.

As I said I have advised him to speak to an agent, however he wasn't even aware that such people as 'migration agents' existed! He has done the paperwork for qld, and is now in the process of starting the skills assessment. I have looked everywhere online for him but can't seem to find a definitive answer on what he needs qualification wise. Please remember that this is a guy who thinks his old Nokia phone is hi-tech. He is old school and up until last month thought he still needed to go for an interview at Australia House.

I don't think he did an apprenticeship (I will ask him) I think he did the qualifications when he left the army. And then just started working as a self employed tree guy for a few local companies. He has been doing it for years - I think at least 7 years anyway as he left the army about 8 years ago.

Yes that's what I suggested, and he will do however I suggested asking the question on hear aswell.

Evening everyone, I am sat in my house in front of a fire sheltering from the wind and floods that are battering the UK! Anyway I was chatting to a friend of mine today who is a tree surgeon, he is in the process of applying for for a visa in qld, but has no idea if his 'tickets' are enough to get him in, (he tells me he has all his CS tickets, whatever they are!) After speaking to me about my woes he is now worried he may not have enough qualifications as he has no degree (he doesn't think you can get any degrees etc in it) He is a bit of a country lad and as such has no internet, sky TV etc etc, so I have asked on his behalf. I look forward to your advice.

You have to admire it! Fair play to the guy

I seem to see Jim's mowing Jim's windows Jim's car wash, Jim's everything! I think he may even do the kitchen sink- in fact he does! Jim's plumbing!! So who is Jim??

Following the Americans! We are all doomed [emoji12]

Good evening from a rainy horrible cold damp dreary Kent. Tonight I have a question about franchises: having done a huge amount of business research in Australia I have noticed that franchises seem to be very popular and I was wandering why?. Interestingly according to the financial times some 64% of all new businesses in Australia are franchise opposed to just 14% in the UK? A franchise is not something that I personally would be interested in as it wouldn't fit in with my business model So why so popular in Oz?

A desk job is boring but it pays the bills! I will give the mapping thing a go, we have visited jamestown and the surrounding area a few times and love it, but I find it's different visiting to living somewhere! Trucking is great but not for me, I like being at home with the family too much. I am all for the easy laid back life. We will have the benefit of working where we live (providing we can sort visa's) and aim to be as self sufficient as possible. None of our mob have ever been city or big town people, in fact where we live in the UK now is rural with the closest neighbour being about 2 miles away (if you don't include the cows). Our friends call us bumpkins but it really suits us, and not many 4 year olds like my son these days can have the benefit of helping daddy on the farm in the UK!

Yes will be with my mates haulage co but not a driver, I am the lazy sod who sits behind a desk! Don't you just love technology! Why visit anywhere eh?

Yes we are all about the quiet life, the job is a stop gap whilst we set the business up. However I don't have a licence and have no desire to get one and don't need one. What facilities does port perie have?