ScottishMatilda

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

Hi all, After receiving a quote for our visa where the agent fee is approx £3k we are looking to get another quote for comparison. Either that or we are considering completing the visa on our own. Our case is not totally straightforward so a bit worried about this.... Can anyone suggest an agent they had a good experience with? Thanks SM x

Thanks for the replies folks. So, is it advisable to submit application in July when there is a reset of the places for those occupations that don't fall under the pro-rata system?

Thanks for your reply. We are perhaps going to go ahead and process the application ourselves...

Hi folks... Just wondering if anyone can give some idea of how the occupation ceilings work? I am hoping to process our application without an agent and am worried that when we submit there will be no places left and we would be knocked back on that basis... Thanks in advance you lovely people. SM x

Following this thread and curious why avoid the West?

Thank you for your reply.

Did you go ahead with OE Edinburgh? We started the process with them then had to stop for a number of reasons. Looking to re-start the process and wonder how you are getting on?

Hi folks, Can anyone advise what the time limit is for validating a PR visa once it is granted...?

:laugh:

Hi Jeanne, Welcome to PIO. I am a clinical psychologist working currently in the UK. My understanding is that if you have completed your degree in English you will be exempt from doing an IELTS assessment. Check out the APS (Australian Psychological Society) webpage and specifically the international assessment of qualifications form. https://www.psychology.org.au/Content.aspx?ID=7380 'Applicants who have completed all academic training inpsychology at a tertiary institution(s) in Australia, NewZealand, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, United Kingdom,Canada or USA where programs are conducted in English areexempt from sitting an English language assessment' Hope that helps.

Thanks all for your replies. Good to keep it in perspective that it is just an interest that has been shown. Great tip re. salary and superannuation! Had noted to ask about relocation expenses but seems unlikely given they won't do the visa for us. Interview is is next week so may be back to ask further questions depending on what the outcome is...

Hi folks, So I applied for a position in Melbourne to 'put the feelers out' and see whether my skills would be transferable. I actually punched above my weight, as the position would be a promoted post from what I have here in the UK. Anyway, have now been offered a telephone interview, though I don't have AHPRA reg yet or a visa...doubt they would be willing to wait for those to go through as wouldn't want to go out on anything other than PR. They have confirmed that the visa would have to be done by ourselves as they don't do sponsorship. Any tips on telephone interviews and/or things I should definitely be asking a prospective employer?

Hi Gerry, I don't have experience of working for Forensicare but I have done some reading recently about security concerns within Thomas Embling. If you google it, there are a number of articles also about nurses walking off the ward in a union dispute over pay and conditions I think... Did you apply?

Thanks for the comprehensive answers guys. Much appreciated. We are still in the research stages of looking into the move...though I have applied for a job on the off-chance I get offered it and get some relocation assistance. Likely I will be knocked back as don't have a visa yet. If I need to I will be back in touch Andrew re. our personal situation to see what we could afford. Thanks

Hi folks, Not sure at the moment which state. We are in the early stages of researching whether this is a viable option for us. So the buyers grant is only for those building?

Hi all, Have had quick browse through relevant threads, but wondering if anyone can give the up to date picture on buying a home for the first time as permanent residents? From what I have read you need: 1). To be a resident for 6 months before you can attempt it... 2). To check eligibility for banks lending to you...anyone know the criteria? 3). Consider the usual hidden costs 4). Have at least 5% deposit..... It also seems that you would be eligible for a first home owners grant? How does this work...flat rate payment, percentage? Thanks in advance you helpful bunch :wink:

Hi NicoleWalt Thought it was just me that was feeling the negativity here. We are also looking for a balanced perspective on things and its nice some members have recognised how this might feel to a new poster. Good luck in your journey. We are in the same position and trying to do as much research as possible before we make a decision.

Thanks all again for your replies. That makes sense Quoll, as I had seen others mentioning how difficult it can be to secure the three months supervised practice. Though, it was my understanding this is slightly easier with government jobs. Perhaps not so. Ah, it kind of leaves us in a quandry...such a difficult decision! With regard husbands plans, he is not looking to be flying FIFO and working in oil and gas. Happy to work in a local fabrication shop and come home to the family at night. This has been part of our UK struggle as he has been forced to work away in Norway and other places for months at a time. We are all fed up of this as a family and the impact that has on relationships. In the end, as another poster mentioned, only we can make the decision. I am trying my best to make it an informed one by checking all these things out. The reality we face is that in 6 months my husband could be out of work, I will still be on maternity leave and we have three children aged 3 and 2 6 month old twins to support. A daunting prospect! Going down the PR route perhaps gives us another option. Believe me when I say we are certainly not overlooking the responsibility we have to our children, in fact, this is one of our reasons for looking at emigrating. To the poster who suggests we are 'pretending' its for our kids futures, when the move would actually be for us, thats just not true. Our kids are our world and we feel this may also broaden their horizons. We are also fully aware of the difficulty in taking children away from grandparents and the support this would deny us. Any yet, here we still are thinking it may be right for us. If a 457 was an option, we might consider it, but they seem difficult to come by for hubby and I would guess non-existent for psychologists. It also scares me that if you lost that job you get 28 days to find another or vacate...:err:

Quoll, thanks for directing me to the clinical psychology threads. I have had a scan read of these in the last few weeks and it does now seem a long frustrating process (with the new national psychology exam thrown in for good measure at the other end!!!). Such useful information in these threads. However, maybe you can explain more about why the opportunities in psychology are currently so bad? If you look at seek or indeed, it would seem that psychology jobs are plentiful (albeit perhaps more in private practice). What am I missing? Is it that there is a bottleneck of graduates and more than there are jobs? How many train up to clinical psychology level, as I understand that there are various grades? I am not currently in private practice, having worked in the NHS for approximately 9 years (including my training). I have my first psych degree, a MSc in forensic psych and my doctorate in clinical psychology. Surely with that behind me, I might compete for the jobs out there? More than happy to hear your honest views as its all info. gathering towards making a decision. Its not a bad idea to move elsewhere for better opportunities, but as far as the NHS goes, things are not looking good and South of the border colleagues seem far worse off with regards to jobs, resources etc. Final question, whats your experience of salaries in Australia compared to the UK?

Hi all you lovely PIO'sers, Thanks for all your responses (both the positive and the cautionary). There certainly is much to consider and it is great to hear all your experiences and points of view. My husband is a welder and I am a clinical psychologist. I take the point regarding Australia and the current unemployment rate. However, we are in a similar position here, as husband is currently working to a 6 month contract in a job thats not exactly alligned to his trade. However, we are grateful that he even has that. As one poster said, we have three kids to consider now and that is part of our reasoning for looking into emigration, as we had thought (perhaps wrongly) that opportunities would be better. My husband has seen many colleagues leave Scotland (as a result of the oil and gas downturn) for Aussie shores, land a job and never look back. If we decide to proceed, it would be our intention that I would be the main visa applicant and that we wouldn't be going anywhere without at least one solid job offer. Thanks for those who point out that its our life and we should make choices for ourselves, not others...