seansparkle

I'm sure there, are, and I'm prepared to find out for myself, my point was there seemed to be more emphasis on the bad stuff than good

Why, what do you know about me?

What an absolutely stupid thing to say!

Jimithechew, thanks for starting this post. I'm still in the UK and currently applying for my independent visa, after reading a few threads on this forum I was seriously wondering whether I'd made the right decision to move to Oz, I couldn't beliieve how many people on here were slagging off Oz, how miserable they were, how they wish they were back in the UK! Since reading them I have very rarely been back to this site, because it really does seem to be negative. I'm all for taking advice and learning from other people's mistakes, but it would be nice to have a balanced view.

Well, just going on what I was told

My agent told me about a number of cases she had dealt with and that even a minor criminal record was a definite rejection.

I'd have thought so, sorry!

I will be moving on my own (timing it for about 18 months time) to Melbourne, mainly because I have a good friend there with a large group of friends and family! The way I see it, if you go with a partner you may become a bit insular and not really go out of your way to make friends. I like to think I'm quite a sociable person but can be a bit nervous about making friends, but unless you go out there and try you're going to end up sitting in your bedsit lonely and wondering what you're doing on the other side of the planet! I think it's essential to get bank, transport and job sorted from the UK, even if it's a temporary or contract role, otherwise it will be a very tough settling in period. Yes, it can be a scary idea, but I look at it as an adventure. If I don't like it, or things don't work out I'll come back, but at least I'll have tried!

I went to the one in Birmingham last year, the adverts and facebook promos tell you how great they are and almost sell it as though you are guaranteed a job there and then! In my experience there are about 20 stalls mostly comprising of companies trying to ship your goods or convert your money, and a few stalls with horrendous queues that take your details, tell you everything you know already (very basic info) and then you never hear from them again. I know this is another doom and gloom reply, and I'm always willing to give the benefit of the doubt, but it really is a waste of time and money. To be completely frank, I think it is an insult that they actually charge for what is basically a sales event! I went expecting to fill most of the day, I saw everything in 15 mins and was only there for over an hour becasue I had to queue for so long! The best event I went to was at the Australian embassy (in that London), I got an invite from the Institute of Civil Engineers (I'm a Civil Engineer), it was free, there was a seminar by the Immigration Dept, followed by 30 or so stalls including a representative from every state, lots of agencies and employers. That was the turning point to make me decide I wanted to emigrate! Keep an eye out for those events, you'll probably get more info from the imm.gov.au website.