CNC FABS

Trying to work out how long it is taking from the c/o to grant, for 189 offshore. I'm using an agent (don't know if this helps speed things up) they tell me it's 8-9 weeks. That would put me at Christmas.....I take it things slow down in Oz during January (summer hols and all).

Bloody hell that looks complicated, especially compard to Vic. So for a Uk license holder, you need some sort of letter from DVLA to confirm the license is genuine ???.

Ok so we are just about to get our visa's (app Aug). Have all been set to go to Melbourne 2014/15. Me,wife, 2 kids ,6 & 7 now. I work in the manufacturing sector (metal worker / mechanical design / ventilation). Choose Melbourne as it: not to hot, a good manufacturing industry, plenty of jobs, a cbd I actually liked to visit, choice of schools and opertunities for kids as they grow. Always liked the Mornington area, sorted. But There's that thing in the back of my mind saying: it is right ??? Moving half way round the world, you want to make sure your going to the best place for you. The only thing that worries me about Melbourne is the urban sprawl, especially where some areas just all seem the same. Yes I know if you want security of job oppertunities, you have to have big city sprawl. It there a better option ? I have always liked the look of the Newcastle area, Warners bay etc. but dismissed the idea due to lack of jobs, small town lack of oppertunities. Have I got this wrong ??? Can anyone offer an insight into life on the ground in the area. An opinion on jobs other than just what I can see from looking on seek or how they feel the area is going to grow in the future ?? To help decide if it's worth coming up for a look at Easter when we expect to validate our 189 visa's. Thank :biggrin:

Got the medical on Thursday. Wife is going mad over it. Her stress levels have reached new heights, all for no need I keep telling her. She keeps telling us to go without her if she fails it !!. (she has never been really ill in her life and never even brocken a bone, her BMI is 23). We can't wait to get it all over with.....

Lodged 28th Aug. Let the waiting begin... I have been thinkng about it all. I am male. but I think this visa lark is just like being pregnant. You do all you can, then have to wait a very long time before anything happens. but in the end you get a very nice suprise and life is good......

Well I had no problems with Vetasses and my AQF3 in metal fabrication. Visa application is in at the moment for TRA to look at. I am using an agent, they advised that TRA will only allow me to claim 3 years work experience for my recently aquired AQF3, even though I have worked the full 8 in my occupation. All that meant was I put my E.O. I in for 60 points, but still got an invite. So not expecting any problems. The AQF3 (rpl) cost me $3k by the way, here in the UK.

Many thanks, hard to get it to fit !!

So how do I add the timeline to the bottom of my post. We all like to watch how long it takes, so would like to share my times, now I am at final stage.

I lodged last week of June and got my invite on 60 points today. I would add a timeline thing at bottom of page, but I don't know how !!!

Well I had 116 pages to be certified (business owner). Solicitor was told about qty and said standard rate was £ 50 for the first pages, then £1 per page after that. Turned up start of day appointment, he started getting all flustered at the amount to de. Kept saying he was flying off the Oz on holiday that afternoon..Got his pa to stamp everthing so he only had to sign, never really checked anything. She kept saying they will have to think about a revised cost, as it was so much work...This from a solicitors who has agreed a fee in advance....In the end they charged me £ 165 plus VAt as agreed. When I said this was only for my skills assessment and the visa application will need more items certified, was told 'please don't come back'....£ 165 for 40 minutes light work is to much for a country town office (Wickham Hants)...

Talk to them and check them out. I tried 3 of the recommended UK based agents. One was having trouble that showed up at companies house website, so could never trust with my money. Another was very highly recomended, but when talking to them on the phone, I really did not get a good vibe. Very general in replies and the price quote was incorrect in covering what I had said and even my points total. 3rd was quick to reply to enquiry and accurate with details and options. A good proven success rate and priced around the same as others main agents (£2.2k for skills, eoi, visa). You can do a lot yourself, but I was prepared to pay to make it a smooth as possible.

Might be a strange question but: Hope to have visa and validate end of this year. Have a business to wind down, can run this to April 2015 when lease expires. Allowing me a bigger cash pile. Trying to plan things out and was wondering what was best for getting kids into schools. We will be in Mornington area of Melbourne. My kids will be 7 & 8 from Oct 2014. Have never had to change schools in the UK let alone anywhere else, so don't know how it works. Me is thinking we can't really put their names down anywhere until we are actually living in Mel and have a local address ?? Trying to understand if we need to move earlier to get them in the new school year or if it doesn't matter ?? Not sure we will go state or private (have heard lots of good about penn. school, but also you can never get in and it's $12k a year anyway ??) Any thoughts / experience folks :unsure:

Just waiting for my online interview date. Having passed stage 1 with no problems or short falls. I'm all for demonstrating my skills, but at $200 it's a lot cheaper. I have had one before for my AQF3 and it was simple. If your in the trade, you know just talking to someone if they are a fake. He even tried to trip me up on tig welding gas ' you use the same gas as mig don't you ??, you sure??. I was going to start laughing....It was more a chap than anything. With some technical questions thrown in. How to work out area of a circle, how to develop a cone. They ask a lot about health and safety as well. That seems a big part of it all. Did you not go for state sponsorship Mike ?? 8 weeks seems quick.

Trying to understand best options and how things work. I am using an agent, who wants me to go state sponsored 190, they said it's to ensure you passed the EOI stage. Now with 8 years work exp, I have 70 points. So I keep thinking why not just go for the 189. My occupation is at less that 10 % of the quota, surely a call up will be easy ??? Or am I missing something. I'm just waiting for my technical interview to complete the skills section, then I will have to progress further. I don't mind being on a 190, as I plan to live in VIC anyway, just don't want to wait another 12 weeks to get the sponsorship. Other question : Can you put in a EOI for a 189, while having a state sponsorship application going through. So you can either cancel the sponsorship application if I get called up in 1 or 2 rounds, or just change my EOI when the sponsorship comes in ?? Be well:smile:

Well after seeing all the costs people are paying. I'm thinking 19 years in metal fabrication is about enough. How do you train to be a dentist ???

I have never looked into it before, so know very little about options. They told me it is a glass fibre post, they drill my root and glue it is. Then make their own crowns from a 3d photo image and mill and bake them. Then they are glazed and glued to the post. They did say they might last 20 years, but can't make any promise. $7000 wow, I'd have to sell one of my kids to pay that....or can you get that covered on insurance, i guess it's more elective so would be excluded ???

So my pushy dentist told me today, I really need to think about replacing a long lost tooth with a post and crown. (you know how it goes, root filling to save the tooth, then it cracked so had to come out, they got paid for both, now 10 years later the last bit has come to the surface and they see pound signs again). They want £ 685 to glue in a fibre post then glue a crown on, all for 2-3 hours work they say. So got me thinking, how much would this be in Melbourne, if it's a lot less, should I wait until next year when over there ?? :mask:

Well I was more concerned that they were not offering me these practical tests, but a 'technical interview'. They don't state if this is face to face or over the phone / web. ??

Thanks for the reply. Any further info of what sort of questions they ask you ??? Yes I understand your point about the 2 trades, but I don't think they will even fill the smaller quota in this field. Of course the larger intake in the fabs sector could lower the points tally to get called up after e.o.i, I will look at it.

Thanks Chris Vetasses do list some info,but nothing relating to the sheet metal trades and nothing about the 'technical interview' That was why I emailed them about the practical test and they advised me they are not offering them. Just not sure how you can prove your manufacturing skills over the phone / web. or is it in person ???. Hence there must be someone in internet land that has done it ??

Hil All I'm going over as a sheet metal trades worker. Need to have skills checked by Vetasses. They have told be they are not looking to do any practical tests in the UK in the future and it will be a 'technical interview' instead. Can anyone who has been there, done that. Give me any pointers on what the format will be and the sort of question they might ask. I'm 19 years in the trade, now mainly all CNC machine work (turret punch, pressbrake, thin gauge). Some tig and mig welding, but never done stick. Good with 2d cad and past experience in industrial spray painting and powder coating. Will have AQF3 before shortly also (rpl). Thanks