ponyboy

Hey me and the wife are exploring the pros and cons of moving to Australia before taking the plunge and applying for a visa. It is just the two of us with our 2 dogs and 2 cats. We are planning for the worst and from a quick scan it would seem the minimum we would get for our experience and qualifications would be $50k each. Child protection officers for instance start on 53k and max out on 76k with experience etc. Now I know a lot of it is dependant on where you live and to some extent we would be willing to live fairly regional but want to eventually live somewhere along the Queensland coast. We have worked out the following costs per month for a married couple. Apologies if estimates are well out... $190 health insurance $50 contents insurance $75 pet insurance $275 travel/petrol $800 food (we are incredibly frugal with food shops. UK we spend £150 a month!) $60 internet $200 gas & elec $120 mobile phones $750 leisure activities $2200 rent for small apartment that is pet friendly does this seem about right? Missing anything major? after tax we would be pulling in around $6400 leaving us around $1800 to save per month. Thanks for your help in advance!

Just to give you all an update. rather than bouncing backwards and forwards and getting constantly frustrated I decided to contact a few migration agents. 2-3 were terrible and basically said 'your occupation isn't on the list so apply for a temp permit' despite me explaining our skillset experience and qualifications. Anywho, gomatilda replied with an absolutely brilliant email detailing the process in depth yet in regards to our personal circumstance. Has anyone used them? Seems fairly positive for us to go down the state sponsored route for a community worker as it has been in demand. I read elsewhere that they get around 1200 visa's for that occupation (sound about right?) with very few people applying! Also explained it is best to apply for the 190 in July August as this is when they open their doors to potential applicants. Dunno why I didn't take you guys advice and contact them sooner! Apologies!

The link states AFP don't sponsor people for sponsorship or would having a job offer lead to a different visa application?

That suits me, but how do you prove you have experience in said role if your current employer calls it something else? Also how do they relate your qualification to you occupation? It certainly is a funny system.

Sheeeeet I was looking at the consolidated skilled occupation list which I don't think is applicable for a 190 AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Now I am really confused....... NT states that they will go for people (on 190) who match occupations on the consolidation occupation list yet the immi doesn't state that the 190 is suitable!? Strange

Not giving up. I cannot wrap my head around the job title's on the occupation list. I current work as a research/intelligence officer but through my organisation it is called a licensing officer. The description on the immi website is exactly what I do. How can I prove that this is the work I do if it has another job title or does it solely go down to the skills test? I also have experience as a community worker which I did for 2 years, 2 years ago? Is that something I could put down? My degree is in criminology and sociology so fairly relevant to both job titles. I don't want to waste £350 on the vetassess skillstest if I cannot prove I have been working in a certain role simply because it has a different title? Sorry about all the questions and my strops haha!

Well it isn't looking great, although I have worked ever since I passed my degree and my job is degree related because it isn't on occupation list I haven't got a chance. Take it my only options are to split up with the wife and marry an Australian or re-train to be a flipping hairdresser and do that for a few years. Absolutely ludicrous.

Cheers Ozmaniac, much appreciated.

Should you only complete an EOI if you are 100% committed to making application if you receive an invitation to make application. We are seriously exploring the idea of wanting to move so are anxious to find out if we are eligible. However, at the minute we could not commit to making the application and would not want to risk losing the fee if anything was to change in the future. If an invitation is received must to make application immediately or does it sit there for a period of time allowing you to apply in the future? Many thanks

So before I apply do I contact states or do they wait for visa approval and pick people from a list? You reckon are skills and what not are suitable to make application?

Please forgive me for all the questions I am about to ask. To give you some background I am 30 in March whilst my wife is 30 in October. We are married, homeowners without any debt except student loan fees. I have a degree in Criminology and sociology and she has a master in criminal investigation and we have both been employed for 5 years in a UK constabulary, I as an intelligence researcher and my wife as a crime scene investigator. Neither of these jobs are on the occupation list for a 189 (the skilled visor if I have the wrong number!) but for the state sponsored 190 'emergency worker' is listed on some states lists. Each of is get well over 60 points. Are we flogging a dead horse or is there hope for the 190? I would like to think I have more transferable skills and would contribute more than say a hairdresser which I believe may be on the list (no disrespect aimed at hairdressers there just find it strange that I could start up my own mobile hairdressers without qualifications no matter how bad I was, do it for 5 years then be deemed more desirable. Unless you need to prove you have qualifications!) If so only one of us needs to apply and I'm guessing my wife would have a stronger case due to her masters degree? For a 190 do you approach the state for sponsorship? From what I have read I don't think you do but as each state has a differing occupation list I was confused. If your application is accepted to you just sit and wait for a state to accept/approach your application? Once you have paid the £3800 fee does that mean you are pretty much a 'shoe in' to end up in Oz if nothing drastic changes? If accepted can you sit on your visa for a period of time until you get everything sorted? Do you apply for jobs on arrival or like the above do you stay in UK till finding employment? Or with it being state sponsored do they try and place you somewhere? Again apologies for all the questions. I have tried to make sense of the official site but it really isn't the easiest!