Londongal76

I got 9's and one 8 and I'm a native English speaker and was as worried as you. The hardest part is the essay part, speaking and reading should be super easy for you. I'd suggest ordering the practice materials as then the format of the tests isn't a surprise.

Thanks. I was being sarcastic about being 5 years ahead, I don't claim to know it all and am very grounded and self doubting of my skills, but I've moved onwards and upwards enough to know I have them. And I do have viable It Security skills that are in demand. I've done the IELTS - my points are with that unfortunately :-(

Well it hasn't held me back here. I have a ton of blue chip experience and am about 5 years ahead of the aussies technology wise again, in CBD's I'm happy I'd find work, it's the regional thing where I have no idea what IT jobs would be around.

This is what I was worried about. I keep getting told 'with your CV you'll be snapped up' and I've got no worries that in CBD's that wouldnt' be an issue, but regionally? I'm really not convinced. I also only have 50 points - the state sponsorship has made it to 60. In my ACS codes they're only taking people with 70 points currently so it's out of reach.

Hey all, long time no speak! Hope life is treating you all well. IF you remember me, you'll know I was looking at the options for moving down under over the last 2 years. The short story is that I wanted a PR visa, that would allow me to go where I wanted to (Brissy) and work where I wanted to. a PR visa would have also given me time to sort life out this side, save money before needing to rush to move south. Long story short, after months of work I didn't have anywhere near the points it was originally thought I'd get thanks to the amount of time Oz wipe off my work experience for not having a degree, so no PR visa was possible. I had to go for state sponsored only (which wasn't really ever an option I wanted) and I have a short window to decide whether to apply for the 489 visa. It's sponsored in a state I don't want to be in, and means I have to find an IT job in regional OZ as I can't work in the major cities for a year. The whole point of me looking was only if I could move to Queensland and be near the people I know. I'm also not the sort of person whose life is over if I get down under or not, and life here is good too, I earn good money have stable work and a roof over my head. I'm worried that it'll be hard to find IT work regionally there, and as I have nobody to lean on or fall back on financially, I have to be able to support myself very quickly. As it's not a PR visa, it would also give me no time to save money before going as apparently it's not the done thing to wait on the non PR visas as it's nigh on impossible to extend them. Not sure what I'm looking for here but advice I guess. The adventure is all good and one thing, but the practicalities of being self sufficient and affording the move are weighing heavy on my mind.

HI Andy - did you try meetup? It's good for meeting new people. I'd come have a beer with you but I'm not over there yet

So if you have the relevant qualifications, I THINK, you don't need to do RPL but it would be good to get one of our resident migration experts to advise.

Do you have a degree? I had to do my RPL as I didn't have a full MCSE or a degree.

Well get your claims in people! I've done all mine in the UK and it was more than worth it.

I'm pretty sure if they thought it was in any way serious they'd have said you can't travel. They did to a friend of mine last year. The fact that they know you're going and are happy for you to get on a plane says it's unlikely. Stop stressing, go get some clean air in the sunshine and just register there and get a 2nd opinion from a GP.

Go straight to the oz banks and open one. I hold an account with ANZ - and then, as a pomsinoz member, join Moneycorp and claim your free transfer benefits by being a member

Yeah I'd question putting a corporate work email address that legally I don't own on there myself, hence why I'm asking.

Hi Everyone. Form 80 - where they ask for email addresses - what do they do with that information? Is it just personal email addresses or are you meant to give your work one too? Many thanks, LG

Don't assume the courts will go either way. The courts are a mess and anything can happen. You need to do what you need to do to keep your kids safe. AS do social services, if there's been abuse, why aren't there restraining orders?

I guess it works in his favour if he says he's staying there for their sake, whatever the reality is. If there is abuse, be it physical, emotional or financial, then that should be logged with the police and your lawyers, otherwise it's all hearsay. I feel for you and sympathise, I really do, but you have to take a step back and look at it from an outside view. At the end of the day the children need to be both your priority and not caught in the middle.