WelcomeIf you are new to Poms In Oz and migrating to Australia or currently living in Australia feel free to say hi to all the other either in or moving to Oz.
My husband read about the changes we mentioned on the visa bureau website. Our appointed agents also know about the change.Husband read that there would a theory and practical assessment., commencing from the 1st of July. It was not beecause the other agents did not answer the phone, it was because we were told that it would take six months to get tra's sent off. This is why we phoned elsewhere, and they said that if we got straight to it it was possible.
My husband read about the changes we mentioned on the visa bureau website. Our appointed agents also know about the change.Husband read that there would a theory and practical assessment., commencing from the 1st of July. It was not beecause the other agents did not answer the phone, it was because we were told that it would take six months to get tra's sent off. This is why we phoned elsewhere, and they said that if we got straight to it it was possible.
Personally Jo i think you made the right decision to move to another agent..... it took us a few attempts to get ours.... the first ones just weren't interested as we didn't tick all the right simple boxes.... then we were told about Ian Harrop by Sam (samozsoon) and we haven't looked back...they have been really helpful right from the start
Location: Essex / Any where, to adelaide (near abouts)
Posts: 2,723
I thought the new changes were coming in on the 1st September, a new English test, (written and verbal), we have no chance if it's the 1st July, still waiting for stage 2 (TRA) to be sent to us.
Kp nuts, if you go onto the visa bureau site, click on the migration news and look for the heading new tests for skilled workers. It explains that the new tests will be in three parts and you need tra lodged by 1st July to avoid this. We are new so I dont know what you mean by second part, my oh ask do you mean the second reference off employer?
We are literally cramming as we speak. Agent has been excellent, with knowledge and answered all our questions knowing we are in a hurry.
That's an interesting angle to put on it.... here's mine - they get paid to work 9-5 and don't really care what kind of service they offer because they will get paid no matter what. If they were really that good the management would realise that the only way to stay good would be by hiring more staff because we all know that overworked people can't provide a quality service to everybody. In my experience, once you start having trouble getting hold of people things quickly spiral downhill and end up in a big mess. Also, generally you won't be able to get hold of anyone to complain to because they have the same attitude, so even if you do complain it becomes a pointless exercise.
I'm just generalising off course, but in my case the alarm bells start ringing as soon as I have trouble getting hold of people, and in most cases this is the start of problems!
Have you ever run a business? Taking on more staff does NOT guarantee a continued good service. Sometimes at very busy times it is better to:
- put up prices, and/or
- accept that the backlog of work will lengthen at busy times of year
This said, I have taken on another consultant this year ...
Furthermore, if you spoke with most migration agents I would expect them to say that:
1. Enquiries and instructions tend to be seasonal, with much higher levels of activity in the first 6 months of the calendar year.
2. This year most of us have seen unusually high levels of business activity.
Also, be prepared ... you are planning to move to Australia where businesses not getting back to enquirers and customers is far more common than you appear to be expecting. It is a result of the laid back Aussie attitude (or a better work life balance) - it is one of those differences between the UK and Australia which those migrating should bear in mind ... and it can be VERY frustrating (sayeth I from personal experience) ...
Best regards.
__________________
Managing Director, Go Matilda, http://www.gomatilda.com
Registered Migration Agent Number 0102534 and Chartered Accountant (England & Wales, and Australia)
Offices in the UK and in Australia
Kp nuts, if you go onto the visa bureau site, click on the migration news and look for the heading new tests for skilled workers. It explains that the new tests will be in three parts and you need tra lodged by 1st July to avoid this. We are new so I dont know what you mean by second part, my oh ask do you mean the second reference off employer?
We are literally cramming as we speak. Agent has been excellent, with knowledge and answered all our questions knowing we are in a hurry.
My understanding - and I have seen nothing official to the contrary - is that the planned offshore assessments will allow those with named occupations to be assessed as to competencies so they can arrive in Australia will all due accreditations.
At present the TRA assessment for migration purposes solely provides an assessment for migration puposes. It does not allow those with certain occupations (such as electricians) to start work immediately. The offshore assessment regime is intended to test intending migrants so they don't have to clear these additional hurdles (involving studies and examinations) post arrival.
Best regards.
__________________
Managing Director, Go Matilda, http://www.gomatilda.com
Registered Migration Agent Number 0102534 and Chartered Accountant (England & Wales, and Australia)
Offices in the UK and in Australia
Last edited by Alan Collett; 15-06-2007 at 02:54 AM.
OK, I have just spoken with TRA in Canberra about the proposed arrangements for offshore trade skills assessment applicants.
In short:
- There is no official announcement as yet. One is expected "imminently" and will involve a Federal Minister (or two), after which time details will appear on the TRA website.
- For certain trade skills occupations with applicants in certain countries skills assessments will be carried out by a third party (not TRA), which will become the official assessing body.
- There will be transitional arrangements, which recognises the fact that skills assessment applicants may have already embarked on an application under the present paper based pathway.
- The intention is that the new arrangements will allow migrants from certain countries with specified occupations to "hit the ground running" when they arrive in Australia (as discussed above).
The implementation date and transitional arrangements are clearly an important issue - given that we are 2 weeks away from the 1st of July I would be surprised if that becomes the implementation date ... but with quangos and Governments generally one can never be sure ...
Best regards.
__________________
Managing Director, Go Matilda, http://www.gomatilda.com
Registered Migration Agent Number 0102534 and Chartered Accountant (England & Wales, and Australia)
Offices in the UK and in Australia
We have checked again with our agent, that what we had read was indeed what we had read. She confirmed this. We are being very ambitious, but are on track at the moment .
Wednesday 13th appointed agent with first installment, took all oh certificates to a friends as they have a printer and we do not,had copies done.
Thursday 14th. Oh told blokes he works with and subcontractor asked if he can certify a reference. I emailed a report of all oh training for his first three years in detail.Then a draft of atleast four jobs he has completed under his ten years as subbie.
friday 15th. Oh received reference off work partner. emailed back off agent to slightly amend subbie reference, but stat dec fine, posted out to us. Organised a solicitor for monday to have all docs signed. Oh spoke to accounts people to have a letter done.Oh needs to collect signed doc from subbie to post with all docs. Just hit one hurdle need a bankers draft in Australian dollars and bank just said need to be ordered could take a week. So all that and might miss it because of this. after friday have to pay courier charge of 60 pounds so what will be will be. NOT ALOT OF MONEY IN THE LARGE SCALE OF THINGS BUT EVERY PENNY COUNTS. To collect all info and send off tra, in5 days is a tad ambitious. Oh no oh on phone to bank, and they are saying 5-10 working days for it to come so could miss deadline altogether. Has anyone managed to obtain one any sooner, we beleive it has to come from a bank you have an account with.
Have found a very helpful company today, called 1st contact and they will have contracts in the post and details of what is needed collated together for us.They answered all of our questions and were prepared to put the effort in to get things sent off asap. Seemed much quicker off the mark and installed confidence which is very important. Need now to get documents photocopied and solicitors signatures done very quickly to get in before the deadline. We have officially entered the migration process and I have walked round with a tight chest all day, anxiety, not a tight bra before anyone thinks it. I was talking that fast to a friend I NEARLY NEEDED A PAPER BAG TO CONTROL MY BREATHING,ha ha.
Hi, just to let you know that we have been using 1st Contact and have had no problems with them at all and their sevice has been very good.
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Sharmaine :v_SPIN:
Applied Sept 2006
TRA passed Nov 2006
PCC's sent 25 May 2007
Med's sent 31 May 2007
Visa granted 03 July 2007
(House sold 04 June 2007) (House re-sold 30 Aug 2007)
Contracts for House exchanged 09 Oct 2007 - Completion 22 Oct 2007
Tickets booked: South Africa 25/10 then on to OZ 19/11
Living in and loving Adelaide : 20/11/07
