Hi All, This is my first post but I have found out lots of valuable information on this site, so thanks very much.
We've thought about moving out to Oz since Jan08 and went on holiday in April to see Sydney and Perth, half holiday and half thinking could we seriously make the move. We loved both places and feel we want to start the visa process asap!
Unfortunately it feels like we're just a few months too late in getting a Skilled Visa, as my husband turns 35 in June (we would have to go under his details) and we could achieve 120 until then, but only 115 after then (that's including any IELTS points). He would need to get his skills recognised by the ACS under RPL. I think it's totally unrealistic to think we could complete their forms and get a result back, and put in the visa application before he turns 35. So our only route would be the Sponsored route.
My husband was invited to the London IMMI Expo in March and spoke to both NSW and WA who indicated that he would be on their 'skills wanted' list and would be able to sponsor him (Systems Manager code 2231-11), but on looking at their website today it looks like it's only on NSW's list. We also feel he most likely fits code 1224-11 IT Manager which is on neither. I guess it all comes down to which code the ACS put him under.
So then comes the chance of Family Sponsorship, via my Aunt in Queensland, but I'm not 100% sure she's an Oz citizen even though she immigrated there over 20 years ago.
Sorry for the long history, but my question is, which is the better sponsorship to go for - State or Family? The Expo people tended to suggest there was a longer waiting list for family sponsorship and I'm thinking I should pull out all the stops to talk to both States first rather than plumbing for family sponsorship.
I'm absolutely gutted that we might not be able to go all because of a few months... Any advice greatly appreciated.
I ask because I believe that it is now possible to submit an application for a skilled independent subclass 175 visa without waiting for the skills assessment first. I know no more about it than this, but if Hubby will be 35 on, say, the 2nd of June then it probably wouldn't be realistic to try to get a visa application ready in time. If his birthday is not until the end of June then it might just about be do-able.
With regard to which ASCO code Hubby;s skills might come under, I have just checked both lists for WA and I agree with you. Neither code appears on either of the lists.
Your Aunt in QLD could sponsor you for a sc 176 visa if she has Permanent Residence in Oz. (Which she must have after 20 years there I would think!) She does not have to be a Citizen so don't worry about that.
With regard to the skills assessment and which Code, if I were in your shoes I would consult Peter Chiam (ptlabs) urgently. He is an IT expert as well as a Registered Migration Agent and he has loads of experience with doing ACS skills assessments for clients. He would also be able to advise you on whether or not to risk a visa application without waiting for the skills assessment first. Peter's website is here:
Hi Karen,
My husband and i had the exact same problem, if my husband was one year younger we would have 120 points and do it all by ourselves, so as it stands we can gather together 115 points. We looked into WA State Sponsorship and my husbands skill was not on their demand list, my husband is a Civil Engineer and in oz they have 3 types of Civil Engineers and on WA demand list they had the other 2 but not the one my husband has been classed as, so we e-mailed WA to see whether they would still sponsor us, and they replied that it is not on the list but it might be worth filling in an online application anyway as they check each application on a case by case basis within each Region to see if there is a demand, so that is what we did, will filled in the online application form and this morning we got the letter saying they will sponsor us and we have 3 Regions we can live and work in. (These were also the 3 Regions we chose on the application form.
i hope this helps?
Let us know how you both get on.
Good Luck!!!!
Hi Gill and Hannah, thanks for the information. Very pleased to hear you got your sponsorship even though it wasn't on the list, Hannah. At what stage in the process are you now?
We are planning on getting in touch with Peter Chiam after reading about him on PIO and rplhelp.com. I'll put all the bits together and send something off to him this weekend. We're only just starting the RPL process and worry that we won't be able to complete it quickly enough to submit it in time. Dh is also only just emailing people about references.
Dh is 35 at the end of June so we thought we might have hope. I feel WA would be silly to turn down DH as he is very experienced etc etc. And also I have a degree and have good work experience but as I've been a SAHM for the last 4 years it doesn't go towards our points or visa app. But I thought it might sway them with sponsorship if they see 'all' of what we have to offer as a family.
I have also just realised I've missed something - at age 34 DH can achieve 110 points, but would have to do an IELTS test to get the extra 10 points needed if we went for a 175 visa before he turned 35. It is unlikely he'll get to complete this test by then. HOWEVER, if we went for a Sponsored visa he only needs 100 points, and he would have 105 points once he's 35, so if WA will sponsor us and/or my Aunt then we should in theory be able to submit a 176 visa after he's 35. The concern with State Sponsorship is that we would want to live and work in Perth (regional sponsorship is out).
So maybe I should focus on contacting WA asap to see where we stand on that front so we don't have to panic about doing the RPL/ACS so quickly?
Thanks again for the help. It's so helpful hearing other people's experiences.
Hi Mehiho, thanks for your reply. Sorry for the confusion, you are correct, however I'm referring to the fact that we lose 5 valuable points once my husband is 35 and we have no way of reaching 120 points for an Independent Visa from then on (unless I go back to work and get the right experience, which is not an option atm). Being Sponsored is our only option to get PR straight away (otherwise we're looking at Employer sponsorship, but that's a temp visa). So it's just our own personal circumstances that are a pain in the bum. Sorry if I've confused you even more!
We are getting sponsored off my Husbands Aunt, we looked at State sponsorship and didnt want to be restricted to where we lived which is how it seemed to be with sate sponsorship, (although I could have totally read that wrong! LOL) and as there is no financial commitment from the relatives its quite straightforward, I also thought they had to have lived in Oz for 2 years or more to be able to sponsor you, not sure if they HAVE to be an Oz citizen (again could be wrong!!!)
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Five little kittens have arrived Amethyst, Topaz, Sapphire, Ruby and Emerald, but still no sign of Oli!TRA passed June 08 (woop woop) Now saving to pay all them there visa fees! Brisbane Aug 09 please!
Hi gothicqueen, thanks for that. I will check out the requirements again for family sponsorship. If that's a straightforward route to take it seems silly going for the State Sponsorship in the hope the visa will go through cos we'd be 'wanted' iykwim. It would be interesting to know how many Family Sponsored visas have been issued recently and their timeframes.
our agent said it could take inder 12 months if you are on the most wanted list, we only just really started our process so not much to go on really!!!
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Five little kittens have arrived Amethyst, Topaz, Sapphire, Ruby and Emerald, but still no sign of Oli!TRA passed June 08 (woop woop) Now saving to pay all them there visa fees! Brisbane Aug 09 please!
At what stage in the process are you now?
