chunter

this post is really helpful as we are planning our move to Melbourne in August but get mixed reports of what we should and shouldn't take. we priced a 20ft container from UK to Aus and then found a great place 'fantastic furniture' it's so cheap. the forum referred it and when I looked at it, it's really cheap for start up furniture packages compared to what we would pay here for shipping everything and makes me feel is it worth the small cube route rather take everything, sell what you have and buy out there! houses in Aus tend to have build in robes so no need to ship them and my brother went to Sydney 6yrs ago with just a suitcase and he feels that the properties are so different from what we are used to so the furniture for different places may not always fit, his advice was just as I had researched, get as much money as you can for what you have in the UK and take the bare minimum. having 2 young girls we'll be taking the necessities and going from there.

Hi Deano I was in your position about a year ago and after really good referrals went with Alan Corlett at Go Matilda, Alan and team were fantastic. I cant speak highly enough of them. I was only contemplating using them and Alan contacted me straight away, and as they have an office in the UK (Southampton) it made the whole process so much easier for being able to get a hold of someone and getting quick responses to my million and 1 questions. The advice they gave me was realistic and they took the whole stress out of the process for us. Whichever way you go, absolutely make sure that the agent is registered as there are a few frauds out there. Good luck with the process.

My advice would be go through an agent. I feel that I am very good with paperwork but had our 1st PR visa app rejected last year due to a tiny oversight - gutting! You will pay for the privilege but I wish to g0d that I had have used an agent to begin with. They make the process so straightforward and tell you what they need and when. We've used Go Matilda and cannot recommend them enough. Visa fees went up on 1st July and are due to go up again on 1st Sept by another $500. I've just paid $6,120 ($3,060 for my hubby main applicant, $1,530 for me 2nd applicant, and $765 for each of our young girls) - crazy fees and that's just for the main visa, there's all the other assessments and agent fees to pay. I'd say we've spent the guts of about £8k already and we've yet to get meds and police checks, and move (hopefully)! It's not for the faint hearted my any means. Hope this helps.

Hi Nursesam, we went down the 190 route as my hubby's a carpenter and within 8 weeks he got accepted for VIC SS. We lodged the EOI prior to this eagerly awaiting the outcome. It took a matter of 24 hours from VIC confirmed SS until we got an invitation to apply - all on 60 points!!! If you go down the SS route you'll earn an extra 5, which we needed to get the minimum 60 required for the 190. Processing times on the 190 is also much less at 6 months rather than up to 18 months on the 189. When I looked at the 189 the process really looks at those applicants with the highest number of points, and worked down the list to send out invites.

That's really worrying, we've just last week submitted our VIC SS and when I've looked on sites like Seek.com.au there seems to be quite a few carpentry jobs http://www.seek.com.au/jobs/in-melbourne/#dateRange=31&workType=0&industry=&occupation=&graduateSearch=false&salaryFrom=0&salaryTo=999999&salaryType=annual&advertiserID=&advertiserGroup=&keywords=carpenter&page=1&isAreaUnspecified=false&location=1002&area=&nation=&sortMode=KeywordRelevance&searchFrom=quick&searchType= I'll have to assess the situation if and when the visa comes through. Let me know how you eventually get on it'd be good to hear that you find something. Good luck!

thanks to both. Being a perfectionist I think my hubby will have to prepare himself. No sub-standards. It's a little worrying that there isn't much work around Melbourne unless your in the know. Being newcomers it'd be hard to get into the right circles but with the shortage of work then perhaps by the time we're ready to make the move there might be little opportunity even in those circles?? Given the state of the Aus economy compared to the UK though, I think that's chance we'll have to take. All the job sites I'm looking at seem to advertise for lots of chippies so positive in that respect. With that info maybe Melbourne isn't a good option??? I'll keep my eye on it. thanks

I know the other replies provided reassurance, my hubby did his last year in Preston and we were really stressing about it too. The guys who assessed him were really relaxed. As long as your hubby is a carpenter and isn't trying to wing it then he'll be absolutely fine. My hubby said that's it's all pretty standard basic stuff that they're looking for - he'll be fine. Good luck!!

Has anyone recently gone through Vic SS as carpenter? We've had points confirmation from TRA now ready to apply for SS. My hubby is a carpenter and although still on the shortage list, I'm worrying about not being successful. Time is ticking on as he's 40 later this year so I'm conscious of losing more points when that comes around, so timescales are tight now. We'd look at another state I think if we'd have more chance of quick turnaround and success.

Thank you everyone for your advice, it's been very helpful.

Hi, has anyone used Immigration Downunder? Seem to be really on top of all issues and excellent service so far. Would love to get some positive feedback before I start to pay out. All other threads seem to mention the same company names (Go Matilda, etc.) but when I've got in touch no-one has come back to me (a week later). Many Thanks.

Hi Tracey, we are in a pretty similar dilema, although I've just received a refusal on our 175 lodged in May so have to start the process again - with lawyer's help I think this time. I have read on the Vic gov site that you have to apply for SS before submitting your EOI therefore would take this as including the 5pts in the overall mark. http://www.liveinvictoria.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/225920/State-Nomination-Occupation-List-for-Victoria-September-2012.pdf If I am mislead then I'll have to have my husband resit the IELTS too as he scored 8+ in all but 1 section (where he scored 7.5). It's not a straight forward test as my husband said in the reading section he scored less on, he was asked for an answer to a question that was completely unrelated. Seems that they certainly make their money on that, especially as my husband appeared to be the only Englishman taking the exam - beggars belief how anyone whose first language isn't English to get through it. I will run this past the lawyer I'm dealing with and share any feedback. Carol

Hi I am a new member and find this really helpful, thank you on providing your timeline up till now. I lodged a 175 in May and due to a few small oversights our app was refused. We were devastated and are now looking to hire an immigration lawyer. Really thought that we were knowledgeable enough to do this ourselves but there is so much red tape and with the change in process from July, it's starting from scratch again. Fingers crossed the lawyer we're using (Immigration Downunder) will push this through for us.