What level of NVQ?

**rachbarlow** · 31-03-2009, 10:36 AM

After being ripped off by an oz agent, and loosing all of our money, and missing out on pathway D for the skilled visa, due to the agent, I have obviously been very dissapointed and annoyed how this could happen to us!

I have been looking at other options which have resulted in dead ends for us. I have found that the only way, unless anyone has any ideas, is for my husband Gary, to go and get an NVQ in joinery and start again under the skilled visa. Sponsorship is not an option due to the school fees we would incur.

He is a time served joiner of 22 years, corgi and electrical qualified and registered. His main trade is joinery, he fits kitchens, so it makes sense that he goes down that avenue rather than the elects or plumbing. What level of NVQ would be needed to Gary to get the skilled visa? Is NVQ the best qualification for him to obtain or will oz accept anything else? If so what?

I would appreciate any help or advice. At the moment we are getting the house sorted and the visa money together, again, so I don't have an agent at the mo. Expensive time in the current climate! I am very wary though of who to use if any!! We have resided to the fact that it may take 2 years, esp if Gary has to get an NVQ, madness with 22 years behind him. So I don't fancy paying an agent at the mo when we don't have the right paperwork in order. I want to apply and have everything there ready so there's no hold ups!!

Ideas and experience appreciated!

**pablo** · 31-03-2009, 10:48 AM

As far as im aware your husband would have to sit the VETASSES test for joiners now anyway ,dont know if your aware of this?,which is a few bob to do i think, if you do a search you will find out more details, cant realy answer re the nvq, i was lucky enough to get the 136 visa pre the changes to the process with my city and guilds,so havnt realy kept up to date with what is required now.there is a lot of joiners on here so someone will help more soon maybe? good luck,sorry to hear about your bad luck with the agent btw.

**rachbarlow** · 31-03-2009, 11:24 AM

Hi Pablo, Yes I am aware of the VETESSAS test. Nightmare!!!! That is why we were pushing our agent to get things sorted, and started a year before any changes were even made. But she did nothing!!! Not even reply to e-mails.

So I now guess that gary needs some sort of formal qualification, and then sit the VETESSAS test? The problem is also he is mainly a kitchen fitter, doesn't do roofs and things like that, but if he has to learn in order to meet the VETESSAS test, via NVQ, so be it. That is why I am wondering what level of qual is needed so we have everything in place and don't get the run around again!!

I am sure that there are many people in the same boat, it is just so frustrating when you want to leave the UK and want a better life! It is there but you cannot reach it!!!

**Gollywobbler** · 31-03-2009, 01:41 PM

Hi Rach

Is/was this agent of yours MARA registered?

Migration Agents Registration Authority

If so, did you complain to the MARA and/or are you planning to do so?

Migration Agents Registration Authority

The MARA has no power to do anything which might actually help a consumer, so complaining is pointless in one sense except that if it helps to put shonky RMAs out of business then the world would be a better place.

Any complaint about an RMA should not be confined to complaining to the MARA alone, either. You should make a parallel complaint to the Agents Monitoring Unit within DIAC HQ in Canberra. Their address is agents.complaints@immi.gov.au

Meanwhile, Hubby:

Joiner 4411-15 - Australian Skills Recognition Information

The skills assessment authority is Vetassess if you live in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland. (Not sure about the Channel Islands but prolly Vetassess for the Islands as well since they are a Crown Dependency.)

Vetassess do not require the candidate to have any formal qualifications, unlike TRA's procedures. Vetassess say:

[QUOTE]
Work Experience
For applicants who have not completed any formal training you must provide documentary evidence that you have been employed in your trade area for a minimum of two years. This is a mandatory requirement. Applicants who do not have formal training qualifications or have not been employed for a minimum of two years will not be able to progress to the practical skills assessment.
[/QUOTE]

Hubby should be encouraged to study the free downloads to see what he thinks his chances would be:

VETASSESS - Vocational Education Training and Assessment Services

If you study the Vetassess/Tradeassess website it tells you exactly what is involved:

VETASSESS - Vocational Education Training and Assessment Services

Best wishes

Gill

**rachbarlow** · 31-03-2009, 04:32 PM

Thanks for that Gill! But now I am confused?

Our agent from hell told us that because we had missed out on pathway D we had to go through VETESSAS. I get that bit. But she then said that because Gary was time served, and had no 'formal' qual appart from C&G level 1 from 1990, he would have to go an do an NVQ? So does it then mean that he doesn't? We produced documentory evidence of Gary's self-employment for 6 years with trade & customer referances, tax returns, samples of adverts, pictures of jobs, CV, statory declarations for employment where they no longer exist inc tools used skills and services, all stampted and signed by a solicitor. The lot took me ages to do. If I can salvage something from that that would be great! Why could the agent not submit this to VETESSAS?

As he is classed as a 'cabinet maker' or in our words kitchen fitter, I guess he would have to go down the joiner route. So in order to start the process, AGAIN, I guess we are best starting from scratch. Is the first step then to approach VETESSAS and submit 2 years of evidence and go from there and then do their test? I don't want to sound stupid, if he doesn't have to do an NVQ then that saves a lot of messing. It is just when you call one of these agents they want money first, and you ask questions later. I am not prepared to do that again. I want to know where I stand and be in the right position from the word go!! I want to feel more in control!!

I have been looking at the site you mentioned above, and it does answer some questions for me! Things are only easy when you know how!!!

**Gollywobbler** · 31-03-2009, 04:59 PM

Hi Rachel

Vetassess do not require the candidate to have formal qualifications because their assessment process is thorough and rigorous. It will determine whether or not the candidate is fully skilled. Therefore Vetassess have no need to insist on formal qualifications as well or instead.

The agent from hell sounds incompetent as well as negligent, frankly.

If you can produce 6 years worth of detailed information then produce it to Vetassess. No point in hiding Hubby's light under a bushell or wasting 2/3 of your own hard work, hon.

I suggest you stay up late one night, phone Vetassess and discuss the situation with them. They are very helpful, you will find.

Best wishes

Gill

**rachbarlow** · 31-03-2009, 05:23 PM

Do you think that it will make a huge difference if all of the evidence was stampted by a solicitor aug 2007? I have left it so long as I basically did not have the money to start again, and was totally fed up and felt disillusioned about the whole idea. Now I realise how much I do want a better life, and have built up some steam again ready for round 2!! DING DING!! LOL!!

I think you are right. I am best stayin up and calling them. If they are helpful that is half of the battle!! I think that I will get a list of questions together previously, as I have so many questions buzzing round my head it is driving me mad!! If I get some good info I will post it on here, and hopefully that will help someone else in the future!!!

In the meantime do you think I can do this myself? If so I would have the VETESSAS fee(s), DIAC then the meds and police checks (as these have now expired!!)? Or do you recommend an agent? I am just so scepticle about agents. I could have done a better job with my eyes closed, and I know nothing about the system!!

**pablo** · 31-03-2009, 05:29 PM

Originally Posted by rachbarlow

Do you think that it will make a huge difference if all of the evidence was stampted by a solicitor aug 2007? I have left it so long as I basically did not have the money to start again, and was totally fed up and felt disillusioned about the whole idea. Now I realise how much I do want a better life, and have built up some steam again ready for round 2!! DING DING!! LOL!!

I think you are right. I am best stayin up and calling them. If they are helpful that is half of the battle!! I think that I will get a list of questions together previously, as I have so many questions buzzing round my head it is driving me mad!! If I get some good info I will post it on here, and hopefully that will help someone else in the future!!!

In the meantime do you think I can do this myself? If so I would have the VETESSAS fee(s), DIAC then the meds and police checks (as these have now expired!!)? Or do you recommend an agent? I am just so scepticle about agents. I could have done a better job with my eyes closed, and I know nothing about the system!!

You seem pretty clued up and very determined,if time is on your side re age limits i would do it yourself,people on PIO like gill will help you through the process,i admire your tenacity btw,good luck with it, ps.........its allways the women who sort everything out for us isnt it! jan sorted all my paperwork etc as well,lol

**scoobsfr** · 31-03-2009, 05:34 PM

Hi there,
I was enquiring about a level 3 NVQ's equivilant, I ve just had a reply back from VETASSESS and they said that the minimum requirement will be a NVQ Level 4 the same as there Diploma, which scuppers me as i got a Level 3 qualification as a A1 nvq assessor which equates to Australian AQF Certificate IV... hope that helps

Scoobs

**Gollywobbler** · 31-03-2009, 05:38 PM

Hi Rach

I agree with Pablo.

Using agents is a totally hit & miss affair. Some are excellent. Others are incompetent, negligent charlatans who are so poorly trained that they are nothing more than form filling scribes and some are just plain dishonest con-artists.

Somebody who has had a bad experience, as you have, cannot be expected to take a chance on a second migration agent. I think that if you enclose a covering letter with the Vetassess application explaining why the documents were certified so long ago, Vetassess would probably be understanding about it.

Best wishes

Gill