sylvandsam

I spoke to Marina Towner and she basically said no and so did Joy Orosz from true blue migration. Have already spent over 12 months trying to get employer sponsorship so this was really a last chance. Seems silly that they need dance teachers, we want to go but because the skills assessment board don't recognise anything other than a degree, both parties lose out. Mad!! O well.........

Well it looks like we're destined to stay in uk. :-( In order to pass a skills assessment I need a degree. Seems a bit stupid really as out of the 100+ dance teachers I know only one has a degree, so I guess south australia will be wanting dance teachers for a long time!! Good luck to everyone else and hope you have better luck than us. Sylvia

Hi Dave and Carmel, How far have you got with your application if you don't mind me asking and are you also going for a state sponsorship? Sylvia

Thanks everyone for your thoughts and comments, I have contacted Alan Collett by email and am waiting on a call sometime in the next couple of days. I'm not holding out much hope to be honest, but fingers crossed because this is probably my one chance at a visa. Have given up with employer sponsored route as no one seems willing to sponsor so everything's riding on this...! Will post the outcome later...

Thanks for all your thoughts everyone. I have no problem using an agent if that will help us get our visa, but I really can't afford to throw money away either. I appreciate that some agents have enough straightforward cases not to need tricky ones, but likewise are there some agents who will just take your money knowing there is really no hope? Helps a lot to have a personal recommendation for an agent and I will definitely give them a call.

Thanks for that, it at least gives me a bit of hope! Just didn't want to blow the money on the skills assessment if there was no hope of a visa at the end of it. Would consider doing a degree as I can top my qualification up in 15 months, but by then, I probably won't be on the sponsor list. Have had no joy with employer sponsored visas, so want to grab this opportunity if I can. It's good to know that there are other people out there who don't quite fit into the visa box but still manage to succeed. Just a bit scary trying to figure it all out without professional help......

Hi, Not sure if anyone can help, but I'm feeling a bit frustrated. I am a dance teacher (private) and run my own ballet school and have for the past 17 years. South Australia has my occupation listed as being eligible for state sponsorship, and I followed a link which took me to a page on the government website stating that it was a degree level application, but that extensive work experience of 5 years + may be taken in place of the degree. Yay thought I, and contacted a migration agent who told me I needed a degree. If this is the case, I'm not suprised they're short of dance teachers as the majority (like myself) have trained in specialised theatre schools and not university's. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, Sylvia.