How To Get Started

[broadleaspeaking1]

We are a family of 6, and are thinking of making the move to Australia, but when looking online, it looks very complicated and we need some advice!!! I have been in the chat room and been told to speak to a agent free, and find out if our jobs and skills are needed. Can anyone out there let me know how you first got started, I am 41 nad my husband will be 44 this year, I worry we are too old!!

I did check out the photo gallery and saw a MASSIVE snake, that put me off abit,!!god its not nice!! I thought my poor little dogs would have no chance.

Anyway any help and advice would be very much appreciated, what a friendly lot the chatroom people are.

Cheers from Kathryn.

[ali]

Hi and welcome to PIO, if you're applying for a skilled 175 visa, then your application needs to be in before the primary applicants 45th birthday. Does either of you have a skill that is on the MODL (occupation in demand list). If your hubby does - then i would speak to an agent as at 44 he is near the cut off point - but could apply for a sponsorship visa. My hubby and I both had occupations on the list, we thought it was easier for me to be the primary applicant as a nurse as gaining the skills assessment was more straight forward.

I would have a chat to a migration agent as someone suggested and they should be able to point you in the right direction. Additionally, you could post a more detailed description of what you and hubby do for a living, are all your children dependents etc., and people will be able to give you a bit more advice too.

Ali

[broadleaspeaking1]

Thanks for replying Ali,
My husband is a BT engineer and I am a special needs teachers assistant, cant find these on the list but will look on the MODL, kids are 10, 13, 16 and 19, the 19 year old start Uni this sept in Brighton, she willl be studying the enviroment, I wondered if she would have more luck applying and perhaps being accepted at a Uni in Oz and then we could apply on the back of that, if you see what I mean???
Thanks for any help from anyone from Kathryn

[theowens]

Hi Kathryn,

I think the best option would be to speak to an agent, there are lots out there but some post on here have good reviews - Alan Collet and PTLabs come to mind. Most will give you free inital advice or a small charge for a more in depth assessment.

If you want to go it alone (which is what I am doing), then you need to check a few things i.e. whether you meet the requirements. Basically if you job isnt on the SOL (Skilled occupation List) then you cant apply for a 175 visa (skilled independant)
Link to SOL http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/pdf/1121i.pdf

There are other types of visa but I know very little about them, se below

475 - temporary visa entitles you to work for 3 months to 4 years, think you need a australian employer to sponser
Student visa - you first need an offer on course in Oz, then you have to pay course fees up front for first year (not cheap either). Restrictions on what you work - think 20 hours a week and other limitations
Buisness - lots of requirments to qualify from what I understand
Retirement - I dont think your ready for that just yet
Family - Unless you can marry your 19 year old off to an Ozzie :) and even then I'm not sure you'd qualify as dependants on him!

You can find more on

Link to DIAC Visas & Immigration

If you do qualify for one of the visa you also have to meet the basic requirements such as health and age.
Booklet 6 is a good source of information Australian General Skilled Migration Booklet
for skilled migration which is the most common.

Hope the rambling post hasn't confused you, ask away if you need further help

[Gollywobbler]

Originally Posted by broadleaspeaking1

Thanks for replying Ali,
My husband is a BT engineer and I am a special needs teachers assistant, cant find these on the list but will look on the MODL, kids are 10, 13, 16 and 19, the 19 year old start Uni this sept in Brighton, she willl be studying the enviroment, I wondered if she would have more luck applying and perhaps being accepted at a Uni in Oz and then we could apply on the back of that, if you see what I mean???
Thanks for any help from anyone from Kathryn

Hello Kathryn

Don't try to do anything off the back of your daughter. You need to do this the other way around and include her as a dependant in your application, which should not be a problem if she is in full-time education. Send her to Uni in the UK as planned - she must not break the education chain because she can be included as your dependant up to the age of 25 as long as she has remained in full time education since turning 18. (They won't bicker about a few months out whilst waiting for the Uni year to begin.) Hubby's age and occupation will "freeze" when the visa application is submitted. Your daughter's will not. Her then age and occupation will be re-assessed shortly before your visa is granted.

Definitely speak to an Agent because you have not got much time and you don't want to risk anything going wrong. Hubby's skills are what will do this for you, we hope.

I recommend chats with Go Matilda in Southampton and also with Ian Harrop & Associates near Oxford. Neither would charge you for 15 minutes on the phone, running through your possible options with you. The contact details are here:

Go Matilda - Your Gateway to Australia - Contact and Feedback

Registered Australian Migration Agents, UK - Ian Harrop and Associates

Best wishes

Gill