Hi there
I would suggest that you call either Workforce Solutions or the workplace assessment company and find out what the latter would be proposing to charge you for doing the assessment in the UK. The figures I've heard range from about £3,500 to £4,000 and I do not know whether that includes VAT.
As far as I know, the fees for the TRA or whoever are payable on top of this, plus the applicant then has to pay DIAC's fees, the meds etc.
If you were to invest this kind of money to have the workplace assessment done in the UK, would you then become eligible for skilled independent migration instead, I wonder? I don't know - I'm asking. Thinking aloud, really.
Two other points worth bearing in mind, I think, are:
TRA are saying that they aim to have the New, Improved Version of Pathway D up & running on 1st July 2008, at the start of the 2008/9 Migration Program Year. Please see here:
Go Matilda - Your Gateway to Australia - News
Someone said on here last week that his own Migration Agent reckons that the new Pathway D for painters & decorators could be introduced as early as May 2008. (I think it was painters & decorators but might have been something else.
The other thing is that Alan Collett has been talking with TAFEs in Oz about the possibility of candidates going to Oz for a couple of weeks so that the TAFEs can do the workplace assessments out there. Please see the following links:
Go Matilda - Your Gateway to Australia - News
http://www.pomsinoz.com/forum/migrat...sessments.html
Alan makes some good points on the thread above.
In your shoes, I might be inclined to hold fire for a while because Workforce Solutions are likely to be looking for people for quite some time, I would guess.
Best wishes
Gill
