Zatara80

McArthur is the agency the Department of Victoria use for their vetting. They are still recruiting as far as I understand, saw a post the other day on the Indeed UK jobsite. We put our application on hold for a while but are now back in the process again. We noticed that the relocation package has changed but for the better, a slightly better financial incentive than before and they now carry out the skills assessment themselves free of charge, a process which usually takes months now takes weeks instead. Happy Days!!!

Thank you for clarifying, much appreciated. Quoll has previously given me this advice and I have previously explained reasoning behind our house sale, yes this does not apply to us. My frustration stems from unhelpful advice on this forum in whole from individuals who seems to be bashing people who seek the dream of relocating to Australia, there is a negative sentiment pattern going on and although some might be meaning well by giving constructive advice and guidance, it is not always very helpful, especially when people have done their research and understand the pro's and con's of migrating and challenges facing ahead. Not everyone has had good experiences, I gather that but people have to allow others to experience their own journeys - it's not all doom and gloom for everyone!

Your answer does not address my question the slightest. We were selling up regardless of going to Australia or not...the BREXIT FACTOR. but also to upgrade to a bigger house in the Midlands prior to deciding to relocate to Australia. Our equity will be saved so no loss to us!

After sending off the Skills Assessment in Aug, we received a reply from the AASW 2 weeks ago stating Husband has to sit the English Test as he was born and completed his secondary school education in Ghana (which was taught mainly in English)...this is despite him studying in the UK, both at college a few years and 3 year University Social Work degree fully taught in English and being a British citizen...very frustrating but now we are looking to book the Academic IELTS test end of the month and will once the results come in have everything needed to apply for the Skilled Independent Visa - 189. We will use finances from our house sale to fund this Visa. So the plan is to relocate to Australia on the 457 Visa with relocation assistance so we can recoup some of the money...at the same time we are hoping to lodge the 189 Visa but haven't decided what is best- apply once in Australia or UK? As our address will change in the UK whilst waiting to relocate and wondering if we will have any problem with DIBP who might question why we are applying for two VISA's at the same time. As I understand from forum members we can apply for both at the same time but please correct me if I am wrong?

He may also need to apply for an electrical licence once in Australia http://www.tradesrecognitionaustralia.gov.au/Programs/Pages/GainLicence.aspx

Hi, I do believe he is required to provide a skills assessment but I've attached two links for your reference, maybe you will get some further clarification. Good Luck! https://www.acacia-au.com/457-skill-requirement.php http://www.visabureau.com/australia/anzsco/jobs/airconditioning-refrigeration-mechanic-australia.aspx

There is a Forum under Victoria of places to live in Melbourne and surrounding suburbs, worth a look and a good starting point. Also have a look at Real Estate Australia and Domain to give you an idea of rental costs. Good Luck!

Thanks Cheryl, Congratulations, so very happy for you and family, you are truly on your way. I was hoping they would at least have paid the Visa upfront but wishful thinking... Is the Visa electronic or do they need to stamp your passports, we were not sure as we are hoping to do a bit of travelling and not sure if we have to be in the UK whilst the process takes place. We are looking into getting health insurance with Bupa, not sure if they are the best? Who did you go with and how many months insurance did you take out for you and family?

Hi Cheryl, Did you and the family have to do any health assessment? I was thinking they might ask us to do this next once the skills assessment comes back? Also, did you have to pay to lodge the 457 Visa or did the Department of Victoria cover this cost upfront on their side? Have you made the move to Australia yet? How's it all going Well done Freyja, I would send of my skills assessment ASAP without waiting for agency to get back as the process takes quite long, 5-6 months as Cheryl has confirmed. We sent of Husbands skills assessment in August so just waiting for this to come back and then we hope to lodge the nominated Visa. Have you done your police checks? Took about 2 weeks once sent off, cost £45. You could do a bit of research of areas you would like to rent etc in the meantime...what office did you get allocated? All the best!

Depends on what type of items you are looking for but a good start could be 'Offer of the day,' they generally list reduced items and bargains on one website covering many stores across the UK. Money saving expert also have threads on bargains to be had across the UK. Facebook also has marketplace which is similar to Ebay and quite useful, mainly second hand but new items are sold as well. Check Ebuyer.com for bargain electrical items.

Thanks Pom Queen, Seems like you are living the dream with a very respectable house equity that most would only dream of. We will email him for some advice once we have settled in Oz. Read yesterday that some people are buying cheaper houses on decent sized land to then bulldoze the house over and build a new one to their standards and taste. Would be far cheaper and would add instant value to house IMO but depends if bank would lend for a project like this, who knows but this might become the norm in the future if house prices continue to climb?

Thanks ScottieGirl, We are currently just browsing to get an idea but will definitely only buy once we have PR for exact those reasons as well as the cost associated to get FIRB approval ($5000 for a house costing $1 million or less), just looking at our options for the future as house prices in Oz seems to be ever climbing....for now anyway!

We were looking at house prices last night in the areas we thought we would like to purchase in the future, we looked up to 1 hour from Melbourne CBD and we knew it would be expensive but gosh to get a modern decent house in a nice area really is like breaking an arm or leg. We've noticed that there are a lot of house auctions on the real estate websites, do banks in Australia lend for auctions or would it apply to cash buyers only? Also, we are looking at what it would cost to buy land and get a house building company to build those ready packaged houses there...any ideas if the Banks would lend for land and house to be built? After our house sale, we will only have £70,000 for a deposit for a house in Australia...from what I am reading, this will not be a great deposit, although I hope acceptable???

Not in Australia yet but I plan on looking at among the ones you already mentioned...Ebay, Groupon, Charity shops, markets, boot sales, The Reject Shop and Dollar King or equivalent for bargains... I don't think there is a thread for Bargains, there should be a 'Bargain Corner,' thread for each city

http://movemigration.com.au/how-to-calculate-australian-visa-eligibility/ I believe it must be paid employment of a minimum 20 hours/week.

http://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visa/visa-about-to-expire-or-expired/extend-my-stay

Hi Sunshinedawn, Have you had a response back from The Department of Education, Re: School Fees???

Good Luck Cheryl and please keep us updated of your journey, would love to hear your experiences and advice, especially as you are in the same profession as hubby and taking the same route as us. I still can't remember where I read that employees of the Department of Victoria are fast tracked as they have some agreement with DIBD, hopefully this is still correct and you will soon be on your way!

Thanks Cheryl, I think am just confusing myself with all the different information I am absorbing and I think the processing link I sent was referring to pathway to PR after being on 457 rather than 457 visa processing time itself. However, where people have previously stated there is no pathway to PR on 457 visa, this seems to have changed to Streamlined Pathway to PR, which is good news! I have seen a forum on here specifically for 457 visa processing times and there seems to be a backlog but then it seems some people have been processed very quickly so it might be luck of the straw. Hopefully not too long for you but please give us an update once you hear back so we can get an idea of waiting times. Hubby is applying via AASW for the same reason you quoted, he is sending off the application next week so it looks as we might spend our last Christmas in the UK.

Hi Cheryl, So pleased for you, I think if you are on the 457 Visa, they say that it will be processed within two weeks instead of the usual 12 weeks http://www.liveinvictoria.vic.gov.au/visas-and-immigrating/skilled-visas/streamlined-pathway-to-visa-nomination-for-457-visa-holders#.WasYLK-GPvJ Whilst searching for the processing time, I noticed that The Government of Victoria seems to have removed nominations under 457, please correct me if I am wrong??? http://www.liveinvictoria.vic.gov.au/visas-and-immigrating/visa-nomination#.WasZfa-GPvI Maybe they are now prepping us for different Visa routes, not sure what is happening but we will wait and see what the Department says. On a positive note...the two Visa options they are now nominating under do lead to PR so I guess it's worth the wait, even though it sounds these two routes will take longer to process. Not going to speculate too much but seems that The Department of Victoria are taking no chances with the new changes that will take effect in March 2018. The agency have asked us to apply for the Skills Assessment for migration purposes, is this what you applied for?

Thank you, yes we have also recently had confirmed that $7000 is the maximum they will pay for relocation assistance and includes the flights, shipping, visa etc...not that great when you have three kids and won't cover all our relocation costs but it is better than nothing and will really help financially. We have however had confirmed by McArthur and read the employment package booklet, that the 457 VISA sponsorship by the Department of Victoria that we will eventually be going on will be valid for 4 years, also Social Workers are listed under the MLTSSL Occupation List so not sure why they are just sponsoring you for 2 years? Or are you saying that they are just willing to offer you two years employment on a 4 year visa with the possibility to extend??? Have you applied for a position in Victoria? Yes sadly the 457 Visa does not lead to automatic PR but with the Skills Assessment now requested by them, we are more than half way there and will be able to apply for PR ourselves without sponsorship. Sounds like you are well on your way to Australia, good luck and hope you don't have to wait too long as I have read that Visa's are fast tracked for Government Workers, in high demand jobs. Looks like we still have some wait but staying positive! All the best!

Thank you Apollo, hubby and I have decided to just this after they asked him to submit Skills Assessment this week, so really we have almost everything that is required for PR. He will do the English Test to boost his points required for PR straight after we arrive in Australia on a 457 visa.

http://www.mondaq.com/australia/x/589232/work+visas/PM+announces+abolition+of+457+visa+introduces+458+visa+instead We will be going on a 4 year- 457 Visa, my understanding is that people on the short stay will have no pathway whereas Mid/Longstay 457 Visa holders will still have an option to apply for PR. Article submitted above is by an immigration Lawyer.

I have read this on a numerous articles and my understanding is that from January 2018 All States will adopt school fees for 457 Visa holders... I would personally write to the Department of Education in Victoria and clarify what their current and future guidelines are...it might be that they themselves are waiting for instructions and with the immigration system facing so many changes in the coming months, including the scrapping of 457 visas, they might have put this on hold! I think I will write to them myself as this will affect my family personally when we relocate, will post the answer here if I hear back.

You are welcome, Make sure your husband confirms with his employer if they are paying your rent up front. Husband is on a sponsored visa and gets relocation assistance, however we have to pay for everything upfront first and need to save all the receipts, he then has to claim back all the costs via his employer (Department of Victoria) within 6 months of employment. It's all adding up financially. Make sure you research everything and read the good, the bad and the ugly about Australia (Australian Newspapers online, Government and Migration news, look at housing costs - domain.au or realestate.com.au, also this Forum gives you really good advice but check that statements are current facts). There are also family blogs from Expats online which will give you a better picture. All the best!