Split Visa

snuscoob · 25-03-2007, 11:44 AM

Hi
we are just looking into starting our visa applications, and were advised by an agent to do a split 136 Skilled visa, has anybody heard of this?
Here's a bit of of my OH's background - Orignally trained and qualified as a Tool Maker but hasn't worked in this field for about 12 years. for the last 10 years has been working as a bathroom fitter - wall and floor tiling and plumbing, but unqualified, the agent has advised us to do a split application for tiler and plumber which apparently you can do until july this year then they are stopping this. I've just got a few question/concerns before we lodge our application and spend all this money to follow our dream.
We had 9 months out last year to go travelling will this go against us, and with him not being qualified would it be worth going on a weeks city and guilds tiling course to be qualified to go with the work experience.
thanks in advance

**Gollywobbler** · 25-03-2007, 12:15 PM

Hello Snuscoob and welcome to Poms in Oz

What is a "split" visa? I've been reading many forums for over a year now and I have never come across this notion before.

Is your agent saying that you should submit two applications, one as a plumber and the other as a tiler? Plus two TRA applications?

There was a Registered Migration Agent on here a few minutes ago so I kept schtum, hoping that he might reply to you. He hasn't done so and has now logged out. It could be that he feels he can't interfere with advice that another Agent has given. Well, be that as it may, I'm not a Mogration Agent so I can interfere!

Which agent has been advising you ad what exactly does this "split" idea entail, please? There is no such thing as a "split visa" so the only thing I can think of is that the Agent is suggesting two concurrent applications, based on two different skills?

But why? If the TRA accepts Skill A and it happens to be a 60-pointer, why bother about trying to prove the other skill as well?

This doesn't seem logical to me, but perhaps there is more to the story than you have told us so far?

If you can supply more info, I will try to get you some help from an RMA. The ones who contribute (for free) to this forum are extremely helpful and they kow that the rest of us regularly get stuck on technical queries like yours. But I think they would need more info in order to help.

Cheers

Gill

HeywoodMonkey · 25-03-2007, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snuscoob

Hi
we are just looking into starting our visa applications, and were advised by an agent to do a split 136 Skilled visa, has anybody heard of this?
Here's a bit of of my OH's background - Orignally trained and qualified as a Tool Maker but hasn't worked in this field for about 12 years. for the last 10 years has been working as a bathroom fitter - wall and floor tiling and plumbing, but unqualified, the agent has advised us to do a split application for tiler and plumber which apparently you can do until july this year then they are stopping this. I've just got a few question/concerns before we lodge our application and spend all this money to follow our dream.
We had 9 months out last year to go travelling will this go against us, and with him not being qualified would it be worth going on a weeks city and guilds tiling course to be qualified to go with the work experience.
thanks in advance

Hy
I was told when i was enquiring about a 136 visa that to qualify you needed to have 3 out of the last 4 years working in the trade of visa application, so maybe the 9 months may go against you on a work timescale. I would approach an agency or another source for clarification.
Good Luck Anyway

**ali** · 25-03-2007, 01:05 PM

I've never heard of a split visa either, would you have to apply for two different TRA's and wouldn't that be costly?? I'm sure you have to have recent work experience to qualify? Agree with Gill & Heywood Monkey - I'd get more clarification.

ali

Welshtone · 25-03-2007, 03:14 PM

Hi
Split Visa may be the term the agent is using for nominating and getting recognition in one occupation and claiming experience for Recent work Experience and Specific Work experience, in a different occupation.

If this is the case, I am not sure what changes the agent claims to know about that will stop this in the future - ask him or her.

When applying for the 136 visa with "split occupations" there is a risk that Immigration will find that your recent work experience is not in a skilled occupation as you are not performing all the diverse duties of the trade e.g. Bathroom fitting maye be a bit of plumbing, a bit of tiling, a bit of demolition, bit of plastering but not enough to show that you are skilled in any one trade.

Using a "split" nominated occupation to experience occupation is often done where the nominated occupation is on the MODL but the experience occupation is not. OR, where recognition in the one occupation is easier or recognition in teh experience occupation is impossible. This latter case is where there is a lot of risk and the application has to be carefully prepared.

With Wall and floor tiler also being on the MODL the agent is either too lazy to do the more difficult application of getting you through the TRA as a Wall and floor Tiler or is doubtful that you have enough specific wall and floor tiling experience. So immigration may also come to this conclusion and refuse your visa on those grounds.

So the best way to tie everything down for you would be to see if you can get through TRA as a wall and floor tiler as this then supports your claims for recent work experience as being skilled trade experience. You will need to be doing the duties of a Wall and Floor tiler for at least 20 hours per week so you may have problems with your experience no matter which path you choose through the TRA.

Quite a difficult case so you need to make sure your Agent is competent and can explain to you what the issues are and the possible risks.

Regards

Tony Coates
MARN 0635896