CiderDrinkingCoder

If you mean the 189 visa, yes. I think that level is sensible as a buffer to ensure that you can find work. Everyone's circumstances are, of course, quite different. The wife and I are hoping that we'll both settle into good jobs within a few months of arriving, but have budgeted for up to five years including house purchase, just so we don't have to take anything we don't want to.

The visa process start to finish cost me about £3500 all in. Fees + ACS assessment + medicals + certified copies.

Down to Melbourne, bud. And on the young front, you win. I'm 33! Gimme a wee shout if you ever fancy a blether over the old emigration front. Be good to talk to another lad in the same boat

I think that sounds like a firm head on young shoulders, pal. In the Gold Coast, I hear that work is pretty favourable (but happy to be shouted down!). Fingers crossed it all works out. As always, inbox open to any nudges

I think you're good in terms of time to settle and find work, mate. I'm just down the road from Wookey Hole, believe it or not. In dear old, Bris. I think you'll be okay - from what I've seen - in terms of setting up. However, I would suggest ensuring there was some kind of fall back of five - ten grand, just in case it all goes pear shaped in the short term. Fire me a wee private message if you fancy a blether.

Doesn't surprise me about Bristol. Happily lived here for 8 years - but without a mortgage and on a City salary. There's a phenomenal amount of poverty around the West Country, and the situation is such now that young couples are outbidding each other on *rent* for flats. With prices the way they are for property, the majority around here will be for mortgage or rental payments, I dare say. Silly old world, isn't it?

Besides, having just spent a good crack of cash on my 189, I would be more than a little pissed off if Joe Bloggs could move without one shortly after...

The proposals are only for free movement between Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the UK. I cannot see anyone being mad enough to suggest opening this sort of free movement up to the entire Commonwealth.

I bloody hope not. Economic migration for skilled individuals who can add value to a country is one thing. Letting the dross move in, well... That only leads in one direction.

The wife and I are going through the process of informing folk we're scarpering permanently in January, at the moment. This has very definitely not been my experience. Family-wise, everyone except the wife's mother is over the moon for us: we're all pretty much of a mind that dear old Blighty is up a creek. As for the mates, a couple have already started planning for a big Christmas 2017 trip to visit us Down Under. Whether this materialises or not, at this point it's a nice thought. Knowing these swines, they won't leave once they get there... I'm really sorry to hear that you've had such an unfortunate response from your friends. I'm sure there are other folk who have experienced this, and no doubt we'll find a few weird reactions in due course ourselves. But, hey, it's probably little more than jealousy at the fact you're willing to spread your wings.

My absolute pleasure, Maria. Let them come at you, they'll have to go through me and - I dare say - a hell of a lot more before they get to you. Civilisation has far too many enemies at the moment. It just depresses me when I see them amidst our ranks. We don't have to like each other: but at least let's do it for decent reasons, not ones that have no foundation or reason, eh? What is it with our species that we have such a propensity for hating one another!?!?!

Maria, Sad fact is, you'll find ******s wherever you move to. The good news? Most people the world over are decent, in my very small experience. Please don't be put off moving anywhere for the benefit of you and your family for the sake of some small minded pricks who would be better off drowned at birth. Sure, you can have emotional intelligence training, but there's really no cure for small minded twattishness. And hey, maybe a mod will come along and smack me down, but the simple fact is that there is no place for racism anywhere. Your post wasn't meant to cause offence. Mine is intended to cause maximum offence to those who are so short-sighted, small-minded, and generally bloody nasty that they would preclude themselves from getting to know someone and making friends because of the level of melanin in your skin. Screw them.

Afraid not, mate. Hopefully someone else will be along shortly, who'll be able to help with that. Best of luck with your application!

Apologies, that was - in fact - a rhetorical question, answered by the clause immediately after it. My point was that the EOI process is entirely automated. It doesn't matter if you've been to outer space, landed on the moon, returned to Earth with a cure for every disease known to mankind, and then won a Nobel prize - the EOI will only look at the number of points you claim to be eligible for. Moreover, you won't be eligible for points for any qualification not assessed by the relevant authority in Australia. What's the point in showing off to a system that doesn't know you're showing off?

1. Why will it give a good impression of you? The EOI system is fully automated. This sort of information might be useful for a case officer, but it's not going to sway you getting an ITA. 2. Others might be able to give you advice on applying for a 190 visa: I'm afraid I cannot offer you any advice on that, as I'm a 189 holder and haven't looked at the 190 process at all. However, I am aware that several states have around 2-3 months' waiting period before reviewing and issuing sponsorship.

Tuppenceworth: 1. You can take them again, on the proviso that your points are valid and can be substantiated at the date you submit your EOI. Your EOI can be updated later on - or a fresh one lodged if need be (an increase in points would throw you ahead in the queue). 2. With the ACS, if it's the same role, then there's generally no need for a reassessment; however, *I do not know if this would apply to your role* and would suggest you get in touch with Vetassess to ask for clarification. 3. Tick "No", as you've not been awarded skilled experience by Vetassess for this. Otherwise, the EOI system will give you points that aren't valid, and you'll be in a spot of bother when the CO comes to look at your case. 4. Points for age will be determined as the date you receive the Invitation To Apply (ITA). So, even if you turn 33 after receiving the ITA, you'll get the points for being 32, as that's the date the ITA was received.

If you're a native speaker, it isn't difficult at all to pick up 10 points with IELTS or PTE-A. I've taken IELTS, PTE-A, and TOEFL, and I'd recommend you give PTE-A a crack. You might be pleasantly surprised how well you do. Oh, and don't bother studying for it: just a waste of time. Incidentally, no idea what profession you'll be applying for; however, if it's any of the 2611/2613 categories, feel free to give me a nudge. Went through the process without an agent (hate spending money if I don't need to), so relatively well versed in what you'd need for these.

Yeah, I'd not be concerned about anything like Accountancy. I'd be concerned if I had to repeat a Christmas night out I had involving some Chartered Accountants a few years ago, but that's for entirely different reasons

About dodgy courses. I understand a number of dodgy cases in the UK have involved courses going under the label of media studies. Which doesn't really help the area's image in general, either.

Hmmm.... The words "Media Studies" would probably set alarm bells off in my head. :shocked:

Weird, in a way. When folk whinge like that, without any sense of grammar or punctuation, it makes me want to have a bit of a vent, too!

That one I can stomach! We'll be too darned busy to go boozing when we arrive... Just make sure to show us the good ones. :wink:

Any update on this one? Yes, I admit it, I'm just being a nosey bastard.

That's that one off the list, for a starter, then! :err:

Hi Guys I just wanted to post a brief thank you for the help and advice so far - I really do appreciate it hugely. Impressive to see what can be had within an hour's commute: can't even dream of something of that calibre in that price range over here in the south of England. I'll have to go and set up a new LinkedIn profile. Unfortunately, had some - shall we call them "security" - issues just over a year ago when someone took a disturbing interest in my wife, and had to shut down virtually all of my online presence. Glad to hear things are lively in the job scene - and we wouldn't be looking at necessarily interviewing for the first few months of getting out here, anyways. Time to settle in and get used to things properly. Digestion should never be rushed, right? Salarywise, even if I have to take a step down, between the two of us I should think we'll be in a more than comfortable position. I will very likely take up offers of quizzing further, so thank you especially for those. However, you're all busy folks - so I'll make sure I only do that when I've managed to compose something half-decent and not half-arsed. Cheers Again CDC