ABG

Is the assessment not available as a download? I never got a physical copy, only an electronic download. I've circled where you click to download in the picture below (taken from my Vetassess account) in case you missed it. I'm not sure on the education section. You don't want to claim points you are not entitled to. I think that is one for the Ask an agent section. If AQFIII doesn't give any points then you might be able to put it down, but I would a cautious of putting down a qualification that I don't hold a certificate for as Vetassess may have determined you have equivalent skills as AQFIII, but that doesn't necessarily mean you hold an AQFIII qualification.

Police clearance certificate

Yes. Depending on age the tests/requirements are different. My little ones didn't have to have blood work/chest x-rays etc done. Your husband will need PCC as well.

Police check you do yourself and you can do it online: https://www.acro.police.uk/police_certificates.aspx Medicals you have to book at one of the Australian accredited panel physicians: https://www.border.gov.au/Lega/Lega/Help/Location/united-kingdom

You don't necessarily need qualifications to undertake skilled employment - you just need the requisite skills, which could be obtained through job training. Vetassess has no doubt docked you a certain amount of years skilled employment as they would consider there to be a minimum amount of time spent working to gain the skills necessary for the job. E.g. You've worked 6 years as a Fire Alarm Technician, but Vetasses only credits you with 5 as it would take 1 year to learn the ins and outs of the position to be considered 'skilled' at doing it. To get the points in your EOI you need to fill out the employment section and select 'Yes' for skilled employment for the years that Vetassess credited you, and no for the years they didn't. So for example, if 2007 was assessed as a training year by Vetassess, in your EOI you would put: 1) 01/2015-current Fire Alarm Technician at 123 Ltd. YES for skilled employment. 2) 01/2012-12/2014 Otherwise employed at ABC Ltd. NO for skilled employment. 3) 01/2008-12/2011 Fire Alarm Tech at XYZ Ltd. YES for skilled employment. 4) 01/2007-12/2007 Fire Alarm Tech at XYZ Ltd. NO for skilled employment. The form will then calculate that you have 5 years relevant skilled employment and give you points for it. You need to provide the Skills assessment from Vetassess plus all your supporting documentation to back this up when you are invited to apply for your visa, as claiming points incorrectly could have dire consequences.

With 60 points though it may be worth doing it. 60 is minimum points requirement, everyone with more points will be ahead of you in the queue. The more points you have, the closer to the front you move. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

We were asked for it. Didn't front load it but had been filling it in whilst waiting for CO to be assigned. It was requested for both my wife and I. Grant followed us uploading it (literally within hours) Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

We provided marriage certificate and 2 children (both parents names on birth certificates) and that was good enough Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The waiting is the worst part. We submitted all our docs, then PCC and medicals about 3 weeks later. 2 months passed from paying before we heard anything - I wasn't even sure if we had been assigned a case officer. CO finally emailed asking for Form 80 for my wife and I (we had submitted Form 1221 upfront for my wife). We had been anticipating this and had mostly completed them. Uploaded them at 8pm the day they were requested, woke up the next morning to find our visas had been granted! We're also aiming at heading out August time, but to Melbourne. Waiting for my eldest to finish her reception year at school first.

Ours came through fairly quickly, 5 working days

Congrats-its an awesome waking up and finding that email in your inbox

I agree with Bungo. If your application is straight forward then it is not that difficult a task. There is clear guidance within the various application forms and DIBP website, and provided you take the time to do the background research then there aren't many ways to make a catastrophic mistake. Agents are however valuable if your application is not straight-forward and if my case was like that I would have used an agent without hesitancy. Like many things in life, an experts touch is not always needed, but when it is don't skimp or you'll end up paying twice!

If you are considering using an agent, get them onboard early. Getting the EOI right is the most important part because a mistake there could cost you your visa if you are invited to apply. The process to follow is Eng test + skills assessment then EOI. The visa application is largely repetition of what you needed for those three activities - that's why its best to get an agent onboard early. If your case is straight forward and you are prepared to invest a lot of your time in researching the process and compiling the application then an agent is not essential. I did this and have secured a visa but will add that it did require a lot of time in research to make sure that I did things in the correct order and properly.

Can't you get your tax records showing you were paid during that the time you were employed there? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That's pretty cool! Good luck

You posted while I was typing- if you can get a positive assessment then great. Doesn't being an accountant entail completing articled clerk training? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

If I've understood it correctly, you would not be able to be primary applicant. Having a qualification to perform the tasks required in an occupation does not mean you are qualified for skilled migration under 189 category. Most skills assessment agencies require at least 1 year employment in the field plus the educational training to be minimally qualified. Another thing to bear in mind is that to claim partner skills the partner has to have a positive skills assessment so the same thing applies with your husband as primary applicant- you need to pass the skills assessment which entails proving both education and work experience. The easiest thing is for your husband to retake the English test. I suggest doing further background reading on how it all works as if you submit your EOI claiming partner points and you can't back this up, then if you're invited to apply for a visa, you are likely to forfeit your application fee Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Just to add: Vetassess tends to disregards your first year on the job as it considers that year as essential training to allow you to perform the tasks of the occupation skillfully and at the right level. You'd need 2-3 years therefore experience before applying as others have mentioned. Have you considered going over on a WHV?

The English test isn't that bad if you are a native speaker. I didn't do well in my first few practice tests as I was over analysing things. For example, in the reading test, things are often implied or can be inferred, and that inference is included in the answers. The trick is to only answer what is explicitly written in the answers. E.g. Text might say that "Jane was in a car accident. A by-stander called an ambulance, which came to the scene. The paramedics arrived on the scene, stabilised her and they left with her in the ambulance." The multiple choice answers might include options: a) The ambulance took Jane to hospital; b) Paramedics attended the scene of the accident and treated Jane. It might appear both answers are correct - but no where does the text actually say Jane was taken to hospital, so rather go with option b) that is explicitly stated. The other piece of advise I can give is don't let you mind wander in the listening test. I was reading ahead whilst the narration was on and almost missed an answer. The answers follow the narration so there is no need to skip ahead.

What passport you traveling on? I've noticed on this and other forums that the additional checks on the 'non-approved' passports seem to be taking quite a long time. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Congrats! I got my approval on Friday last week - its an awesome feeling!

I've actually chronicled my journey in a blog. The whole process I took, from start to finish is mapped out here: http://www.190oz.com Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I believe that is correct. DIBP can make their own determination which could be different from skills assessor. Not sure how prevalent it is, but it is a possibility Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Exactly! Already told him he needs to find a big house

Thanks everyone - we're super stoked! Aiming to go in the summer holidays next year so our daughter can start at the beginning of a school term. We need to activate our visa before 23 September and planning on making the activation trip the move. My brother has a head start on me and is moving to Melbourne in May next year. We're aiming to move close to them. They're currently looking at the Mentone area so we'll look there or the surrounding suburbs. The good thing with him going out first is he can do a lot of reccie work for us