Littlesnowangel

Yeah sorry it's not you guys it's this whole process, it's so complicated! I didn't realise he needed his RPL before his skills assessment, I thought it was the same thing that his skills assessment looks at his references and documents and then passes him!? That's the idea I got, we have got an immigration company maybe we should meet with them

Yes thanks chicken66 from what I gathered from my research he will need to gather together his references and p60s from his time working as a cabinet maker, and then I book him in for his skills assessment and they check over his documents and they issue him with the cirtificate that gives him his points for, is that right? It's nice of you to say because my heart does sink every time someone comes back at me with a problem or telling me I'm wrong as reading it in text sound so blunt. Some people on here haven't been very helpful or friendly and I am just at the beginning of this whole visa thing so any helpful info is appreciated

Yes that's it a PRL

Yes we have been to an agent and still might use one, we are in two minds. If he can't do his pearsons test we might have to use one if we want to go down the state sponsor visa route or see what our options are. We are in the very early stages. As for the qualification his job isn't or at least back then wasn't a qualification but he has 20 years experience and cabinetmaker is on the list of skilled jobs wanted. Experience sometimes works in favour of having a degree because everyone wants experience

He's got 20 years experience and we've been advised and on the border website that he will need to show evidence of his experience, references from his previous employers along with payslips or p60s and his tex returns since he's now self employed. There is no qualification for cabinetmaker and is a learn on the job especially 20 years ago. He will do a skills assessment with TRA i think

A registered training organisation? You mean for his pearsons test? why does it not sound straightforward? No visa application to Australia sounds easy but I think our circumstances are as simple as they get.

Hi, yes well iv done a load of research and decided not to go with an agent. Our application should be pretty straight forward. My husband has his Pearsons test this week, without that we can't go further and pointless doing his skills test before he passes his English test as his skills test is very expensive. He needs top marks in his English too! We did see a migration agent and was told with his job we might be able to apply for a state sponsorship or family visa as I have an uncle, auntie and cousins there. There is so much messing around and money you have to throw at it, as I'm sure your aware, and it's putting my husband off now but I'm trying to keep him on track! we found a list of jobs and their roles and chose the one closest to his roles. He chose cabinetmaker so as long as he can pass his skills assessment completing those tasks it should be ok. It's crazy because the visa we're looking at 189 doesn't require him to be a cabinetmaker if we get the visa! let me know how you get on and good luck

Oh and smiths I'm pretty sure an attitude doesn't go down well anywhere in the world, but I'm guessing you've experienced that yourself!?

thank you for all the info, yes now iv read my post back I realise I didnt even explain we were a family of four looking at a house which obviously compared to an apartment would greatly differ. I'm just gathering documents at the min, my agent has given us a positive assessment for a 189 visa so my head is all over the place researching and comparing so maybe I need to calm myself down and stop asking stupid questions...and yes rammygirl and nemesis maybe I and all new posters should quote their status before any question so you all know we're aware about the visa to stop confusion as I have trawled through for hours and know there are a lot of people who think they can just go over to oz and it must frustrating for you all!

Errrmmmm...yes nemesis I am in the process of getting a visa, I'm not stupid! I just thought someone would ask why the Gold Coast so thought I would explain why, that being I have family there. Some people seem to be so snappy on this forum... Thanks collie I will have a look at that. New to this forum so just trying to navigate around it.

I'm looking into moving to Australia, hopefully Queensland Gold Coast as I have family there. I was wondering if anyone would be willing to tell me how much cost of living over there is so I can compare, iv had a look online but it's not as informative as this forum! Council tax? gas electric? water? car insurance averages? mobile phone contracts ? and anything iv missed as a day to day. Rent over there seems similar to here. Thanks

Thank you so much nemesis and snifter for clearing that up, and for the links! Very helpful

Iv tried searching but can't find what I'm looking for, maybe I'm being blind... im just wondering what the process of a visa is, I have a rough idea but if I am missing something please correct me. My husband is a cabinetmaker in emigration terms, so hopefully applying for an independent skilled work visa (I think a 189!?) 1. take skills assessment 2. take English test (is this always needed?) 3. do you expression of interest 4. wait for invitation 5. get police checks and medicals 6. apply for visa and send off all documents how are the police checks done? how do you do the medicals? We are going on his visa so mine will be a partner visa which I'm not sure what the code is for this, if someone could tell me that would be great!? I have read about having to send pics of us during our relationship, does this apply even though we've been married for 6 years or will the marriage certificate not be enough? my two kids will need visas too, will this be a 101 visa I think, Do we apply for them all together? Thank you

Thanks for all the advice, I have just filled out the form on go Matilda so see what they have to say, the seminar is with the emigration group and doesn't cost much so we will be going over to that next week just to get some info but will do a lot of research before we sign up to anything and hand over any money. Im just hoping to get a visa and get out of the UK. This forum is great though, I hope to be in a position one day of giving advice

Thanks veryStormy, we are going to a seminal next week with a emigration company so hopefully they will be able to tell us more, when my husband rang them they said it came under joiner which was sorted after and he was under the age limit which was good but the tone dropped when he said he didn't have any qualifications...he started working for a company at 16 and was taught in the job, he's now 37 so has years of experience.