Dangreen

I'm a plasterer who's just gained a 175 visa, I didn't have any formal qualifications, I had to do an AQF 3 (£2200) then get my skills approved (tra) it was a pain in the arse but worth it in the end. You need to have evidence like tax bills, work related receipts, letters from references and customers, photos of work, even photos of my kit. In total it took 2 years and now about 6k, but now we have the visa so money well spent. Try John at immigration2oz he sorted me out.

Try http://www.whitecardaustralia.com.au Ive just e-mailed them asking the same question.

It took us about 9 months to get a case officer and when we did we had a baby on the way so had to put the whole thing on hold until our son (jack) was born. Then we could do the medicals and police checks. This Friday morning and 9 weeks later I got a call from John at immigration2oz (a legend by the way) "your in dan" It's taken best part of 2 years and £7500. so my advise to you is once the application is in just get your head down and save and forget about it until you get the call. Also don't bother checking the online update thing it will drive you crazy. Right we have to sort a lot of s##t sorted now and get out of here!!! Good luck all

Hi, thank forthe reply , I tried to use my engineering qualifications but they weren't interested as I had been out of the game for so long, although I have canned cycles and M+G codes locked in my head forever it seems as I did that much programming over the years. So I had to do a AQF 3 in plastering, a cool £2200 for the thing aswell. i will be finding out this week if all my paper work is correct for the general skill visa and then have to wait until June before we can do our medicals as we are expecting are second child then and can't do X-rays until he is born. I will keep in contact with you over the next few weeks and see how things go. Thanks

Hi, can anyone suggest the best area to move to for cnc work. I have done 10 years or so as a cnc turner programming with fanuc. All my work was for F1 and aerospace. Pretty much ran a machine shop near silverstone. Have experience with live tooling lathes. Here's the thing for the last 6yrs I've changed careers and I've been plastering and tiling and to be honest I would rather stay doing that, but what I've heard the building trade is a bit weak like the uk so I'm thinking of getting back into the engineering again. We should have an answer on my visa next week so need to make some serious decisions pretty soon. I don't want to land in Oz with my missis and kids and have no chance of work for months as I fear it will be a f##king nightmare. Thanks. Dan

Thanks for that info. To be honest as we are moving to another culture I want to drive what the locals drive and fit in. We will probably sell the clio in the uk, then it is done with and no hassle later down the line. Then I can buy a nice big v8 ute!! If her indoors allows it. Thanks again

Hi, can you tell us how much we be likely to pay to ship are car out to Oz? Its a Renault Clio sport 197, We have owned if for about 3 years, it's a 2007 plate with 48k on the clock, has AC and all the extras. Worth approx £6/7k here and what I've managed to research it's worth around 20k in Oz but they seem very hard to find. I will be needing a van as I'm a builder is it best to buy something here as I seen prices are quite high I have an old transit now but I don't think it will service the long journey as its more rust than van!!! any advice will be gratefully received. thanks