Lots of help for a newbe pls!

**karlsarah** · 12-03-2008, 06:14 PM

Hi
My husband karl and i are trying to figure out this minefield of applying for visas etc, and have some Q's. We would really appreciate some help.:v_SPIN:

Karl is a shop fitter/ office partitioner/ suspended ceiling fixer and i am a RNLD nurse. What visa should we apply for?
I would like to do visas ourself to save costs but have no idea what we need or where to start - any help?
Or would we be better using an agent? If so who is trust worthy and not going to rip us off?
How much does it all cost- visas, medicals, police checks etc?

really hope we can get some help before mu head explodes!

**Les & Woz** · 12-03-2008, 06:23 PM

Hi
Couldn't give advice on what visa as there are so many. All I can say is we used an agent as there is so much to do they can tell you how to do it. We did nearly give up a few times due to the amount of information we have to get together but we are now at medical stage and once they are sent to Oz if all OK should get our visa by Jul or maybe earlier if we are lucky. Our application went off on 27 Jul 07. It is quite costly, the agent was £1500, medicals £800. Then there is the cost of the visa and other incidentals. About £3500 altogether but spread over a period of time. Hope this helps!
Lesley

**nikci** · 12-03-2008, 06:26 PM

Hi,

I agree with Lesley - there is so much to, so much paperwork it really it good (my opinion) to have someone like an agent to turn to having said that there a lots of people on this site that have done it themselves - hopefully they will drop you a few pointers. Welcome to PIO and hope is all goes well.

Nikci

**Gollywobbler** · 12-03-2008, 06:44 PM

Hi Sarah

Welcome to Poms in Oz.

Well now, me dear! If your head hasn't quite exploded yet, it soon will once you cop an eyeful of the DIAC website, which is here:

Visas & Immigration

Don't ignore the Information Booklets. They are usually excellent.

Information Booklets - Applications & Forms - Visas & Immigration

The Rolls Royce of the skilled visas for Oz is the skilled independent subclass 175 visa, because it comes with no strings attached. It provides immediate Permanent Residence in Oz, immediate access to full Medicare, you can move to wherever you like in Oz (and move around if you don't like the first place you go to.) You need not continue with the jobs you are trained for if you don't want to. You can do any job that takes your fancy or you can simply loaf on the beach instead if you prefer.

The catch is that you need 120 points and a positive skills assessment in the main applicant's chosen field, plus the main applicant must be under 45 when the visa application is submitted.

Sometimes people opt that their spouse/partner should obtain a positive skills assessment as well because I think doing this can sometimes add extra points. However, one or both skills assessments must be done and the result must be positive before the visa application can be made. The visa application needs to be supported by proof of a positive skills assessment. It is no longer essential to get the skills assessment before making the visa application, but there is no sense in paying the visa application fee to DIAC only to find that the skills assessment later goes belly up. It seems to me that common sense is to get the positive skills assessment(s) as the first step.

Your best bet at this stage is to spend a while reading the DIAC stuff and then ring round some reputable Registered Migration Agents. The good ones are quite happy to have a free chat with you on the phone for 10-15 minutes and there is no subsequent obligation on you to use them if you don't want to.

However, it would take a good Agent no longer than about 10 minutes to run through your details with you and then give you a brief outline of your options.

Everybody has their own favourite Agents, so if you look through the various posts you will see lots of different names mentioned.

Best wishes

Gill

**fergie family** · 12-03-2008, 07:29 PM

Hi
Just wondering when you talk about the 175 permanent visa is this the new name for the 136 permanent visa.

susan

**karlsarah** · 13-03-2008, 10:04 AM

Thanks to everyone for their help, it is really appreciated.

**Alan Collett** · 13-03-2008, 10:10 AM

Originally Posted by fergie family

Hi
Just wondering when you talk about the 175 permanent visa is this the new name for the 136 permanent visa.

susan

Yes, the subclass 175 visa replaced the 136 visa for applications submitted from 01/09/2007. Different requirements apply to the 175 visa though - for example you can now claim more points for English language competency, but have to sit an English language competency test (and attain the required "band scores" to do so).

Best regards.

**karlsarah** · 13-03-2008, 10:19 AM

I have telephoned a 4 agents, but the only one that bothered to get an actual agent to call me back and have a chat was your company, Go matilda. So top marks for customer service.

**Alan Collett** · 13-03-2008, 10:43 AM

That's good! Thanks for letting me know.

Best wishes.

**fergie family** · 13-03-2008, 02:00 PM

Originally Posted by Alan Collett

Yes, the subclass 175 visa replaced the 136 visa for applications submitted from 01/09/2007. Different requirements apply to the 175 visa though - for example you can now claim more points for English language competency, but have to sit an English language competency test (and attain the required "band scores" to do so).

Best regards.

Hi Thanks for that Alan. I was a bit confused about it . But now I know.

Susan