first timer

[adamandsara]

hi my name is adam married to sara and have 2 children aged 4 and 5 we have been thinking of moving to oz for afew months now and we are unsure about how to get started.im a carpenter and was thinking of brisbane.any help and advice would really help.thanks,

[Hugster]

Hi, just thought I'd say welcome!
We are new too so can't help too much. We are off to Bribane, if all goes to plan and have found the following site helpful.( Brisbane Queensland Australia - suburbs - maps - accommodation - events - street and business directory - restaurants - ourbrisbane.com) Good luck with everything.

[Sandra,Mike and boys]

Hi Adam
The first steps would be to go onto the au immigration website and check if your job is listed. I am positive from what I have seen on this site that it is but you will be able to check on the skills on demand list which is on the website.
You can do an online app for your visa, but if you are uncertain about applying by yourselves then the other option is to use an agency. Even if you feel you can apply without an agent most of them give a free 10 min consultation and they can tell you if you score enough points. I believe Go Matilda is a popular choice with many.
If you look through some of the many threads on this site I am sure you will gain a wealth of info that will help you through the process- and come across some people who can prob give you more detailed info than me!!!
Anyway, good luck with it all, and great choice of location- we are hoping to be in Brisbane soon!!

Sandra

[Gollywobbler]

Hello Adam & Sara

Welcome to Poms in Oz.

The DIAC website is a mine of information. Please see the following links:

Department of Immigration and Citizenship

Information Booklets - Applications & Forms - Visas & Immigration

Is your occupation in demand? - Workers - Visas & Immigration

Joiner 4411-15 - Australian Skills Recognition Information

The DIAC website also seems like a complete maze until you get used to it!

The Rolls Royce of all visas is the skilled independent subclass 175 visa because it is the only one that comes with absolutely no strings attached. To be eligible for this visa as a joiner you would need to pass a paper assessment of your skills by VETASSESS, followed by a day of practical tests in the UK. IN addition, you would have to score 120 points or more on the "points test."

The thing to do is to start by working out whether you would be eligible for an sc 175 visa. If not, don't panic because there are many other options and since your skill is on the MODL, you should be able to qualify for one or more visas.

It is often a lot quicker and easier to start by having a chat with a couple of firms of Registered Migration Agents. The good ones are always happy to give you 15 minutes or so on the phone for free and with no obligation on you to use them if you don't want to. In a short chat an experience Agent can discover enugh to give you a good general steer.

Here are a couple of suggested Agents who both do the free 15 minute chat.

Go Matilda - Your Gateway to Australia - Visa, Tax, and Financial Planning for Australia

Registered Australian Migration Agents, UK - Ian Harrop and Associates

It is not compulsory to use an Agent. I'd say roughly 1/2 choose to and the other 1/2 do it on their own. Some people prefer to use Agents in Oz, sometimes choosing an Agent in or near the part of Oz they want to move to because that Agent is likely to have a good local knowledge of the area, which can be invaluable.

Do you have any ideas yet about which part of Oz you might move to?

Best wishes

Gill

[adamandsara]

thanks for the reply and info will try go matilda as it seems to be a popular one hope everthing goes well for you and your family
thanks adam and sara

[adamandsara]

thanks for all the info
adam.

[Karlewi]

Hi Adam
just thought we would welcome you to pio,this is a great site and someone will ba able to help you with any advice you need.

Karen, Mick, & Lewis

[nikci]

Hi Adam,

Just wanted to say hi and welcome you to PIO. Think you have already had some really good advice so am not going to add to it. Everyone really friendly here so feel free to ask as many questions as you like. Wishing best wishes with your application - keep us all posted.

Best wishes,
Nikci

[adamandsara]

thanks for making me feel welcome, contacted go matilda, waiting for them to contact us, really excited to start the whole process and say hello to, oz, just read a few threads (hope that is the correct term) and am concerned regarding my age, i turn 35 in a few months and have just read it is more difficult to get a visa, can anyone confirm if this is true !

adam