AdamStafford

Thanks all. With no guarantee the visas will ever come, life is continuing here and I am currently getting involved in a new business venture, so just want to be clear ahead of time what my position will probably be in a few years time. With businesses back home I would not want to be "stuck" over there and not be able to return if needed, so just making sure I am understanding the technicalities as they currently stand. Thanks again...

Thank you, so we might be able to get around it once set up, but should probably plan for the 2 years just in case. Of course if we get over there in 4 years time then could have a break before the 5 year cutoff, then there will only be 12 months to spend there to tick the 2 year box. Thanks for your advice

Hi all, We have EOI's in for 189 on 65 points and 190 on 70 points (5 months ago). IF we get an invite by the end of this year, we will need to travel to Oz within 12 months to get it all stamped etc., then will be returning to the UK to get sorted. I have business interests back in the UK that could take 2 or 3 years to sort out, so was relying on having the 5 years of the visa to get all finished and move down to Oz before the 5 years deadline, so we had plenty of time to get affairs in order. Problem is it seems once there, we won't be able to get a residents return visa unless we have spent 2 out of the last 5 years there. So, just checking my understanding is correct please - as an extreme example if our application was accepted, we had this stamped 1 year later, moved to Oz 4 years after this, we could still move (just before the deadline), but then would be unable to leave (and return) until we had spent a further 2 years there. Is that right? Thanks everyone

Hi again, and thank you for the advice. I will get the assessment sorted first. I have 10 years of regular electrical work as well as the ICT side of things so I don't see the assessment being a problem. This week just gone for example we have installed some additional sockets and replaced some emergency lighting at two different sites. At the same time I have also been configuring some wireless networks and installing communications cabling, so I am really 50:50 on which route is best to go down. Do you have any feedback on the skillselect invitation numbers I posted? ie the Electrician figure of 29 invitations with a ceiling of 9354? Should I read this as they are not handing out many invitations for electricians, or that there are plenty needed but not many applying? 29 out of 9354 ceiling for the year is a tiny percentage. Many Thanks

Hi Stormy. I currently do both jobs really hence the question, as I won't be sure what to go into until we get there. Brief history is: In 2000 I qualified at college with a BTEC in Electrical / Mechanical Engineering In 2003 got my BSc(Hons) in an IT related field 2003 - 2008 Worked for an IT Company as a network engineer 2008 I setup in business, took my 17th edition and building regs courses as an electrical refresher (8 years since college!), and registered with the NICEIC to be able to offer a complete service including electrical to customers. For the last 10 years I have run a business designing and installing IT environments for schools. This includes wired and wireless networking, audio visual technologies and associated electrical requirements (think ICT Suite fit-outs, stage lighting installations etc.) I could happily drop into either role and am skilled at both, but the entry numbers for each seem wildly different. It looks to me as if they are receiving too many applicants for the IT side of things, but have a shortage of electricians? The ceiling value is much higher for electricians, but there have been far more invitations for the network role. This could simply be down to very few electricians applying for a visa - I am not sure really how to interpret the figures Is there anything stopping me from filing an EOI for each occupation, seeing which comes in first and cancelling the other once I have an invitation to apply? Cheers

Hi all, I am applying for a 189 for myself and the other half. I have been absorbing much of the advice on here and elsewhere and am at the stage where I want to get skills assessed and submit the EOI. I am eligible for two occupations, so am unsure which is going to be more favourable for the application. I have pasted the info below. The networking role is subject to "pro rata", whereas electricians are in the "general pool". Assessment wise the network one I could get started next week (sending off certs etc.), whereas for the electrical I would need to book in a practical assessment somewhere. We are wanting to move next summer so have roughly 15 months or so before we would like to enter. This may be enough time for either option to come through, but numbers seem to be dropping so of course I want to maximise our chances. I will be taking the IELTS language test, and will have 70-80 points once this is done. Any advice one way or the other much appreciated folks! Many thanks Occupation ID Description Occupation Ceiling Value 2017-18 Invitations to 21/03/2018 2631 Computer Network Professionals* 1318 687 3411 Electricians 9354 29