AJ

It definately depends on what area you live in, my family still live in Scotland and it can take sometimes 2 weeks to get an appointment just to see the GP!

We have flown back every year and we always go Emirates simply because they go direct to Glasgow which cuts out Heathrow and the need for a domestic flight up to Scotland. Especially on your own with two kids and loads of luggage, if it was me I would go Emirates or Qatar.

I have packed boxes myself going from Perth to UK, and coming back again, no problems whatsoever. The container didnt not even get opened when it got to the UK it was delivered with the seal still intact. The only thing that got opened coming back to Australia was the bike box and one with tools in.

nope, we have a free site in WA called Buggybuddies which gives us loads of info like that

I really dont feel sorry for the sales people losing their jobs, they knew exactly what they were doing. People had no hope of completing the course but it didnt matter as long as they got their commission!

Jeez you must be old then! Times change, they dont keep score on a slate anymore!

No wonder he was taken aback! There is one thing having banter, that comment was just rude and very childish! A lot of very clever kids do sport!

You need to decide where you are going before anyone can help you with the licence process. Each state has its own licencing authority and different requirements.

If businesses are not willing to pay this to get a skilled worker then their need must not be as urgent as they say, which would give them more time to take on an Australian and train them.

Absolutely should happen with skilled visas as well. If there is no skill shortage the numbers should be decreased, theres no point bringing thousands more over to be unemployed.

You have just said it yourself that it was only a possibility! So unfortunately the risk some people have taken has not paid off. It is sad when people now have no hope of staying but so many have just taken it that because its been so easy before they would automatically be able to apply for residency. Unfortunately times change and along with it so do visa conditions. Hopefully you can find a way :-)

I googled it, I never new a UK company could sponsor someone for a 457!

Who is the skills assessor?

Not everyone does IELTS though, its only the main applicant, or some people dont even need to do it, we didnt,

I think when they change the test everyone will have to sit an english test as part of it. I would think one of the reasons being would be they cannot discriminate and if they made for instance someone from India sit the test but not someone from UK(even though its their first language) they would be accused of racism, has to be one test for all.

ok,just never heard of that before!

Why are you doing a first aid course for a visa?

Because they don't want to spend money on training someone, it's easier and cheaper to pay for a visa. That's what has to stop unless there is an urgent need

Are you sure you are not looking at the landlords charges. We rent out a property and We have to pay a letting fee for the agent finding a tenant, then an Admin fee, 12% of the rent per month as a management fee, then everytime the lease is renewed (even with the same tenant) there is another fee. Never heard of tenants having to pay an application fee. The laws regarding renting are much more stringent so in a 2 bed house there are 3 smoke alarms all connected so if one goes off they all go! a heat sensor thing, a carbon monoxide alarm, we even have to get all the taps, showers etc tested every year for Legionella!

Maybe the fact that he is a Migration Agent helps!

Probably because it does not just affect English people. There are so many nationalities applying for citizenship they cannot have one test for some and make execptions for others, it has to be the same across the board or they will be accused of being racist.

Do you seriously think that everyone on a 457 is a skilled worker? Open your eyes!

They cannot do it on a case by case basis, it just has to be one rule. Unfortunately the people who have moved here already and not bothered their arses to put any effort into learning english or integrating have spoiled it for others now.

The partners dont though so it will be to ensure they have English skills also

You wont get anywhere reasonably priced if you want to go back at Christmas. We went back Christmas past and just for a 2 bed flat it was really expensive.