ScottishMatilda

Those kitchen sets are a great idea! 

On 21/08/2013 at 05:31, starlight7 said:

 I would still say for any potential migrants- go for it, the spirit of adventure still lives and good for you for living your life and seeking the best for yourself and family!

Love this message of positivity and all the emigration stories. Hoping one day to post our story here! 

No advice as we are still in the process of trying to secure our visa but good luck. We thought about Perth and loved Mandurah from our online research. In the end it was Melbourne for us due to work opportunities for me. Good luck with the move...very exciting! 

Hi, have pm'd you...

I really don't understand this...perhaps someone can explain?

If you submit your EOI and the occupation ceiling is already at its maximum...what happens?

I feel (probably unduly) worried about this and just wanted to check it out...

Hi, 

I saw a few days ago that someone had posted saying they would send on their used test books. I also have some that are now going spare...(newest version with CD's) if anyone is interested. 

Let me know if you missed out the other day. 

Plan is to head to Melbourne and have been looking at some of the newer Western suburbs.

Thanks for the AHPRA info. The solicitor I used was a notary. It said on the stamp she used 'notary public' I think? Is this sufficient? 

Just checking in after a productive week!

Documents assessed and certified for my skills assessment by a local solicitor (took just 50 minutes but cost me £120!) 

And, got the necessary scores in my ielts (L-9, R-9, W-8, S-9 with an overall 9) ?

Chuffed and ready for the next stage! Happy Friday all ?

Just thinking about all the items we need day to day in the kitchen and elsewhere and wondering what people have done. We plan to ship the big items i.e. food processor, casserole dishes, pots pans etc. However, thinking it would be best to buy things like plates, glasses, knives and forks etc. when we arrive. I just can't seem to get my head around what we need to ship or not. Pots you would need right away but don't want to leave ours behind as they are good ones, bought for our wedding. Maybe some helpful organised person can advise? 

Thanks, I hope so! Good luck to all awaiting results ?

Hi all,

Sat my IELTS for the first time yesterday in Edinburgh. For some reason, it is the thing that has made it all seem real. Not sure why paying the agents fee didn't do this for me, but there you go! 

Most of those who sat it with me were young (I felt like an oldie) and perhaps doing it for educational/study purposes, as it was the academic test. Got my fingers and toes crossed now for a pass first time. I need to get all 7's for my professional registration. 

Once I get the marks I need, we will be submitting my professional reg. application. After that, PR visa application. Anyone else on a similar timeline?

On 23/04/2017 at 6:38 AM, VERYSTORMY said:

Which list though as that makes a massive difference now. 

My occupation remains on the MLTSSL list with no caveats attached so thinking we are fairly safe....for now!

Hi folks, 

I really appreciate everyones post, and the reassurance provided by come of the most recent ones. 

Thanks for heads up on the abolition of the 457's.  My occupation is still on the list and looks unlikely to be affected for the moment...

Thanks for the good luck...I have heard and researched this and am aware of how difficult AHPRA can be.

If as you say, psychs are 'dime a dozen' then its curious that employers are recruiting from overseas. I have trained extensively in a specialist field in psychology and was pretty pleased with the salary on offer and the relocation package that goes with it. 

I will try to retain my sunny and positive disposition in the face of all the difficulties...

Thanks for clarifying tazmancblue...my hubby is of the same opinion...these opportunities don't come along too often and he fears we will regret it if we decline. We are actually pursuing PR too, so this is our insurance policy to bringing forward our timescales and going on the 457. 

I agree that they would be investing significant time and money to recruit me and pay for relocation etc. The post is not in social work but in psychology in a relatively niche specialism, so they have been unable to recruit for it in Australia as I understand. 

Hi Jacqueline,

I'm sorry I don't know more about this to advise you. I'm sure someone will come along soon who knows more but it might be an idea to seek some advise from a MARA registered migration agent. 

All the best! 

13 hours ago, tazmancblue said:

 

If the possibility is that the visa won't be available from July, then you may end up living 'what if?' for the rest of your life.

 

Just checking what you meant by this...I had read somewhere else that the 457 visas were looking likely to be cut...?

When people are saying the visa won't be available from July, surely the existing visa holders will be fine for the period their visa is granted?

Thanks all, this has been so helpful!

It is a government based job, so I had been hoping that I may be a bit more 'protected' from the issues with a 457 and having to leave Oz if your employment is cancelled. Perhaps I shouldn't be so positive! We are actually already pursuing PR so hopefully this will come through relatively soon anyway. 

Both hubby and I planned to work, its just that my husband will look after we arrived probably. 

Childcare seems so expensive, thought this is no different here! 

Such a difficult decision to make 

I have been offered a job in Melbourne CBD on a  salary of approx 80,000 AUD. The offer includes relocation assistance. I have a few weeks to make a decision but feeling a bit overwhelmed. 

Things to consider...

Timescales involved in visa (457) and professional registration?

Areas for living (what can we afford on that salary...hubby will be working later on). Had been looking at suburbs like Edithvale on the East coast?

Selling or renting our own home? When to put house up for sale...?

Shipping companies from Scotland costs?

School/nursery (kindy) for the kids...costs? I have 3!!! I in school, 2 in childcare 

I am sure there will be much much more I am not thinking of!

Anyone any nuggets of advice for me....?

Is anyone in the position to give some information with regard to school fees?

My understanding was that there are good state schools (non-fee paying) and private (fee-paying) schools and that you can make a choice as to where your children go on that basis. I may be totally wrong and would love to hear some comprehensive info about this as we will have three children to put through school should we be granted our skilled visa.

Thanks

Hi folks...

So we have just got started with our visa and are feeling a mixture of excitement and trepidation. we have talked about it now for going on 10 years and figure if we don't at least try it then we will regret it. Life is for living...right!

Wanted to ask if anyone has any thoughts regarding these two english tests and what they preferred or can recommend.

I was leaning towards IELTS as most people seem to go for this and it is paper based with only one examiner for speaking (versus recording your voice digitally I think for PTE).

Any thoughts welcome...

Hi finchy88,

My hubby and I have also just started out 189 skilled visa with me as main applicant. My hubby is a welder and we have a four year old and 8 month old twins!

if you are the main visa applicant you are likely to need to demonstrate English language ability for sufficient points. I will be doing IELTS test. I know my hubby was worried about this when we considered going a few years on his skill-set. Just something else to consider.

With this size of family you'll be lucky to get change from 8k for the visa between fees to government and agent (if you use one)

Good luck with it all

Hi everyone and thanks for your responses.

I have now engaged with a second Edinburgh based agent and received a further quote which isn't a million miles from the first. We are pretty much certain that we probably should go ahead with an agent for some of the reasons you mention VERYSTORMY. A refusal due to a small mistake would be devastating and we certainly don't have the cash to do it twice! That and the fact that our case isn't totally straightforward. Just need to make the final decision and get it moving...

Thanks for the replies. I had wondered about an Australian agent too. Its such a dilemma, save significant amount of cash versus feeling a bit more confident that all bases are covered.

I can't shake the feeling that you end up doing most of the work anyway as I have already pulled together everything for my skills assessment and can see the form for my profession is relatively straightforward.

Thanks all...SM