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Since I got my visa loads of people have asked me how I went about it (says a lot about teaching in the UK). Below is something I did for a few people I work with to get them started. This may be out of date or bit's not 100%, but it's what I did and I now have my visa. Hope it's some use to someone. :biggrin: My easy (lol) guide for teachers to get their visa for Australia. 1) Check the http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/visa-options-outside.htm website to see if you qualify for points. Check to see if you qualify for state sponsorship (as this will up your points and really speed up your application). 2) Make sure you know where the whole families birth certificate, marriage certificates and passports are (make sure passports have a while left on them – we got our oldest sons renewed before we applied). 3) Book your IELTS test, make sure you do the academic test (you may not need it, but it gives you extra points and I needed mine for state sponsorship and teacher registration). See http://www.ielts.org//test_centre_search/search_results.aspx?TestCentreSearchSubRegion=01502ae9-cf4b-46ba-8214-c5d4331a543d This cost me £115. 4) Practice for the IELTS and remember spelling matters. 5) Get all your documents ready to apply for your skills assessment; they want loads including university transcripts and number of days teaching practice completed. See http://www.aitsl.edu.au/assessment-for-migration.html they want to know everything, so it’s better to send too much rather than leave things out. 6) Get all your documents signed by someone off the approved list and send it off, the application was $450 when I did mine. This should take 8 weeks from when they receive everything, but it starts again if you miss any documents. :arghh:Keep an extra copy of this as you’ll need it for your teacher registration once you’ve got your visa. 7) Once you have your IELTS and skills assessment apply for state sponsorship to the state you want to go to (if doing a 176 like we did). South Australia http://www.migration.sa.gov.au/sa/immigrate_from_overseas/visa_options/gen_skill3/criteria_for_state_spons.jsp West Australia http://www.dtwd.wa.gov.au/skilledmigration/detcms/portal Victoria http://www.liveinvictoria.vic.gov.au/visas-and-immigrating/state-sponsorship ACT http://www.sponsorshipaustralia.net/sponsorship-australia/why-you-should-consider-act-for-australian-state-sponsorship Northern Territory http://www.migration.nt.gov.au Queensland http://www.workliveplay.qld.gov.au/dsdweb/v4/apps/web/content.cfm?id=3998 For SA we filled in a form on line and then had to send hard copies of all the documents requested to them. It was supposed to take up to 8 weeks, but we got it through much quicker. It was free for SA, but I believe you may have to pay in other states. 8) Once your state sponsorship comes through you only have 30 days to get your visa applied for. We did ours online and then scanned all the documents and uploaded them. We needed to scan the following all birth certificates, passports, marriage certificates, IELTS certificates, skills assessment certificates. http://www.immi.gov.au/e_visa/general-skilled-migration.htm 9) Let the state you have got sponsored know as they need to get in touch with immigration so you get the extra points for being state sponsored and you get processed quicker. 10) Wait for your application to be allocated to a case officer. 11) Once asked send off for your police checks for all applicants requested this is £35 per person. http://www.acpo.police.uk/NationalPolicing/ACROCriminalRecordsOffice/PoliceCertificates.aspx 12) Once asked book your medicals http://www.immi.gov.au/contacts/overseas/u/united-kingdom/panel-doctors.htm 13) Wait for your visa to come through. Good Luck

It sickens me to read this link that was sent to me by a friend earlier. What is the UK Government thinking, or are they just following the US blindly. The contemplation of using such munitions is immoral, what is next land mines and chemical warfare? Here is a Youtube Video produced in 2008 explaining the Treaty and Cluster Bombs [YOUTUBE]qGwMYEDDRTc[/YOUTUBE] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cluster_bomb

Found this recently,:shocked: http://uk.news.yahoo.com/golden-ipad-t-rex-bone-costs-5m-105211961.html As I said, I love my Apple Mac gadgets but I think this is a step too far.:no: Besides the said item would still be a crumbled mess of Gold, Diamonds and T-Rex bone after I lose the plot and throw it through the window after once again saying 'Password Incorrect' :biglaugh::biglaugh:, just a bit of an expensive mistake is all.:realmad: Cheers Tony.

Hello, my 2nd post and looking for info already....am a bit new to the vast array of terminology and acronyms associated with visa's. I'm about to initiate a request for a sponsored visa application for victoria and then a 176. I suppose for my question that is irrelevant but trying to think ahead and reduce impact of any complications like this..... Does anyone know the specific documentation/declaration required in the visa process for a step child. We have a good amicable relationship with my step-sons father who is about to go away for a ski season so trying to pre-empt the relevant documentation/ declaration required.. searched and found this in another thread, but also some suggestion of a parental responsibility declaration which solicitor may need to witness. is this enough? http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/pdf/1229.pdf

Thanks to my friend who recommended this site. It is an opportunity that knowing this site will help me learn more on how to migrate in Australia. I would appreciate any member who could extend their assistance to get started in applying my immigration to Australia.

I am soooooo excited just had my WA SS granted woooo hoooo

Hi guys have been on poms in oz for a while now and I just have one burning question.. Is Oz just a step back too far ??? We are hopefully going ahead with our visa, hubby booked in for his IELTS exam October but I have been panicking whilst browsing realestate.com. You see I can't help but think we are going to have to make a huge step back from where we are in the UK in terms of the housing market. In England we live in a 4 bed 2 bathroom house with large kitchen and 150 ft garden and are hoping once sell we should have approx 80k profit which will give us a good return.. However having looked at the website we would be struggling to get anything with 3 beds let alone 4 where we want :0( and rent sounds a lot per week and seems like a huge step back from being a home owner. Hubby is 35 and we have 2 girls 6 and 21months.. At present I am a stay at home mum which I love and hubby is a joiner / carpenter. I can't help but thinking are we making a huge mistake financially and will it be worth it ?? My hubby really wants to go and has been studying like a trooper to pass the IELTS. I also want to go and our eldest daughter is chomping at the bit to go over. How does everyone else feel about these issues or is it just me :confused: and I just need to chill out :goofy:

WOHOO! I just received my IELTS exam results and all the hard work (practised like mad for two weeks) has paid off : 9/7.5/8.5/9, overall 8.5. I needed 7 and was not expecting those results at all, SO happy! :jiggy: I also had an email about my skills assessment which sounded positive, all that's needed is a further confirmation of my employment dates because there was a typo in the original reference... And now the job hunt starts! How scary! And exciting! Scary exciting!:biglaugh:

Hi, Please can anyone kindly advice me on the first step to take; for a boy of 26yrs who is a graduate of business administration studies ( Higher National Diploma) and a skill in Painting and tiles laying. For him to be able to immigrate to Australia? The whole thing is so confusing to me here. please i need it splet out like a, b, c, the steps we are to take first and the subsequent ones. Thanks will appreciate your help. Jimlas:wink:

Major iron ore project in the Pilbara one step closer Updated August 09, 2011 13:49:25 The Environmental Protection Authority has recommended the State Government approve Aquila Resources' West Pilbara iron ore project. The project involves the development of eight iron ore deposits south of Pannawonica, and a heavy-haulage railway from the mining area to the proposed new port at Anketell Point, north-east of Karratha. The EPA says a number of conditions should be imposed on the project, including measures to protect rare flora and fauna. The EPA report is subject to a two week appeal period. Aquila says work is continuing with the State Government on the design of the proposed multi-user Anketell Port. First posted August 09, 2011 13:36:03

After ten long months on the market our house finally completes on Friday. We moved into a rental yesterday until we save enough money to pay for shipping, travel and a holiday on the way back. The feeling of homesickness was immense today I think its because I am just about free of the mortgage which has made me feel so trapped. Although I am ok here I do like Australia and we both have good jobs but after 4 years its time to return. We didn't leave the UK cause we didn't like it it was just an adventure and to try another lifestyle which worked well at first. I spent 4 and a half months over last winter in England which only re-enforced our decision to return. My 6 year old son asks daily to return to see his Grandma's and get on the plane he just loved being in England last year. It brings back what is important to us as a family. I have increased my hours at work to bring our dream towards us quicker. Our only dilemma is whether I return first and find work before my husband but would like to all return together. I found work easily last time I returned and have re-newed my nurses licience ready and have gained valuable experience here which I am truly grateful for. For all those coming to Australia follow your dreams, it has I believe it has been a wonderful experience which I will never regret but for us the UK is our home. :biggrin:

Hi everyone!! Thanks for reading this post. My husband and I have found out that we are able to get a Family VISA for NZ. We can apply for this as soon as we have a job offer for my husband!! The trouble is the Family VISA's can take a long time to process and it's finding a job that will stay open for, possibly, a long time! Does anyone know where we can start looking? Or, are there any Poms in NZ at the moment with businesses who are looking for people to start in the future? Any comments would be gratefully received! :laugh: Thanks for reading.

If anyone has a low step through bicycle that is in new condition please PM me. I need one of these as I have a hip problem and cannot use my original new bike. Caz

Hi all, I have just started the process of applying for a 176 visa. I have passed the skills assessment and was wondering what comes next. I am a plasterer and have found a few good sites with jobs on. I am excited to get under way as I have someone waiting for me over there already. Is there months of paperwork waiting for me or is it a fairly quick process. I read some where that certain trades are getting pushed through quickly? Which obviously makes me wonder about costs, Visa prices and if I have to have a certain amount in my bank account similar to a working holiday visa? All help would be appreciated!

Hello, still just getting started:unsure: i have a couple of questions if anyone can help please. I have passed my ielts and now would like to know the next step as a nurse. I am not a natural with computers so find the web sites all quite confusing. So now a little lost. Does anyone know how much it costs for an agent? Thanks for any help much appreciated Lynne x PS just came back from a quick visit to Brissy met up with my friends who moved over 3 years ago and they still love Australia. Cant blame them i love the place too

well we had the surveyor and photographer here this morning so house will be formally on the market next week, just have to hope it sells and quickly would be good. Funny as tpday was the first time i actually said to someone "were emigrating to australia" and was actually able to mean it and know we really are moving!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

can you post something regarding Oz, UK, immigration, muslims or whatever that is the opposite of what you'd normally post, AND MEAN IT? transposed kernow's post from another thread A lot of us (myself included) tend to take sides on any given topic, so much so that you can often predict what certain posters will say and TBH it gets a bit bloody dull. We tend to take sides, thank the people we like (sometimes regardless of what they say), never thank the people we don't like, EVEN if you agree with what they say... IT DAFT and VERY CHILDISH!!!!!! I'll say this (and mean it): Australia is a great country, with much to be proud of. Aussies are on the whole very friendly and outgoing, they are not afraid to smile and say hello to strangers which is very refreshing. And I LOVE aussie women!:yes: The diversity of cilmate, geography and culture means there should be somewhere here for everyone, IF they're prepared to make some sacrifices, adjust to change and can deal with homesickness. The proximity to SE Asia, Pacific Islands and NZ is a major bonus The food here is excellent, if you know where to look ie branch out from the big 2 supermarkets and get into the old fashioned habit of going to the butchers, green grocers etc (or going to Aldi of course:wink:). can you post the opposite of what people expect and mean it?

well we had our medicals today in Manchester. 2 adults and our 3 year old. medicals x 3, chest xray x 2, blood tests for myself (midwife) and also for oh- main applicant (boilermaker). all went well apart from the cost of £725.00 and then told that because i have crohns disease mine would be referred. i was expecting that so no suprise. What i was confused about though was this, my fella who is the main applicant, his details were registered on the e health system, so too were our daughters. but mine were nowhere to be seen. Anyway the doctor who was superb, especially with my little one, asked me to email DIAC to enquire about why i am not registered on the system and to request that i am put on, otherwise my medical will have to be dealt with as a paper copy. Does anyone know if this will cause a problem, or will it delay things in anyway. I have to email the doctor who we saw today to inform him of my case officers reply. Has anyone else encountered this????????????????????/ many thanks nicola

Hi, My OH has been offered a job based in either Canberra or Sydney - I think it's a 457 visa (sponsored). What happens next? Does the company have to specify where they want him to go? Do I and out children need our own visas and which one (is best)? Our eldest is 18 and will be going to University over here, do we apply for a visa for him to visit aas he plans to join us on completion of his degree? Is there any point continuing as I had a kidney transplant 12 years ago, alls well, but can I get my meds over there, or sent over, how does it work? Will I be let in anyway? Confused.com :wideeyed:

Hi all Hope your all doing well and plans going well I'm just trying to get it straight in my head what my next step will be. I have just applied to get skills assessed so that will be around 8 weeks I was hoping to then apply for SS (8 -10 weeks) and then visa but won't have enough time before July changes. So what are my choices? Do I just apply for 175 visa once I have skills ass. Or do I go over to WA and try for employer sponser? What other choices are there?

Hi, Please can someone help. My husbands kids (from a past relationship) mother has just been diagnosed with terminal cancer. They are 18 & 23. We have been state sponsored and have just been requested to go for the medicals. Is there anyway we can add them to the visa application as dependants so they can come with us or is it too late. We have not mentioned them coming with us yet as we did not want to get their hopes up. As you can imagine it is a terrible time for us all but I could really do with knowing what the options are - many thanks

Hello all, Not Pom here, actually from the USA, but this seems to be the absolute most knowledgeable place about moving to Oz! So I thought I would post our dilemma to you. Please help us out here! I was recently offered a position in Sydney. The offer is a match plus a moderate bump from my current pay coming to a total of $115,000 AUD (I am currently at $110,000 USD). The job is my dream job and so my wife and I are motivated to make this work. But we agreed when I started looking that we would not do anything that would take us backwards in our standard of living. The problem is the difference in the cost of living, and particularly in housing. Right now we live in the mid west USA. We have a very nice 4 bedroom, 4 bath house with a 2 car garage on about 1/8th of an acre of land that is nicely fenced in with a woodland view. (We bought the home with the extra rooms because we intend to start a family and I have a teen aged daughter from a previous marriage.) We have one nice car and one not so nice car. We are able to eat out 3-4 nights a week and take ballroom dance lessons. We are able to afford a full cable TV and high speed internet package. Our groceries typically come to about $400 a month. I have a long commute (59km each way) so gas is serious expense. So it breaks down like this: House Mortgage: $1,300 month Retirement Savings: $1,000 month Car Payment: $425 month Car and Life Insurance: $300 month Health Insurance: $350 month Cable TV/Internet: $100 month Gas: $250 month Groceries: $400 month Medical Debt Payments: $200 month ------------------------------------------- $4,325 month Other factors: My daughter will not be coming with us, but may visit during the summers. So we only need 3 bedrooms. We intend to rent rather than buy. We will probably only need one car if I can use the train system to commute, and it can be mid-range. I am OK with a commute of up to 45 minutes each way. We need to know if we will be able to work out our budget to give us a lifestyle like we have now. But we can't seem to find a good site to give us real world expenditures in Sydney so that we can make the calculations. So we need the numbers for: 3 Bedroom Apartment Rent (in a good part of town) Mid Range Car Payment Car and Life Insurance Health Insurance Cable TV/Internet Gas Groceries Thanks in advance for any help you can give!

Hi, Looking for some help/advise. Has anyone used Next Step Australia to find a job or a sponsor? Thanks

In 6 weeks and 1 day I am going home for four weeks. My children are 13 and 11 ( their father from whom I am divorced is aussie ) myself and my hubby ( english) are very excited ..... I am hoping they love it as they did last time we went , my master plan is that when they have finished school we will all go for a year see how we all like it and then make a decsion.... that is 6 years away. I know all the variables in my plan but that is my plan !! It gets easier going home now as I know the time is coming when I will have the option to spend much more time there if not live there ..... Anyone else married an Aussie , divorced and eventually made it home WITH children ???? Wishful xx

Hi all, I hope you might be able to advise....... I am currently at university and will graduate in 2013, at which point I plan on moving to Perth with my husband, daughter and stepson. However, my step son will be 19 by the time we move. Will he still be able to come over on our family visa? We will only move if he can come with us, which he is desperate to do. If he can come on our family visa, does anyone know what the maximum age is to be included on the family visa? As my step daughter who is a little older is also considering the move. Mind you, she will have graduated from uni herself by this point so could probably apply herself if needs be. Thank you in advance for any advice. Abi :v_SPIN: