thekeans Posted January 14, 2013 Share Posted January 14, 2013 Hi, Im new to the board. We made the decision yesterday to try and make the move to Oz. We have been thinking about it for the past 12 years and the current british weather and way of life now that we have 3 children is making the decision easier. My husband is a graphic designer, he has a batchelors degree in graphic design and advertising and has worked in his profession up to a senior level for the past 11 years. We thought that our ship had sailed when graphic design was taken off the skilled list, even though we never made the points so any past ideas to go had been shelved. However from doing a bit of research I have discovered that graphic design is an open category on the skills in demand for state sponsorship in ACT. This is the first clear path that we have ever had and I want to grab it with both hands, but we are wary as looking at jobs even though his skill is in demand they do not seen that popular. Basically I would like some info/help from anyone who has any idea on this profession and has made the move or is making the move and what the wages are like etc. He would go as a graphic designer but is also able to do interactive design and web front end design. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
everton1878 Posted January 16, 2013 Share Posted January 16, 2013 Hi im also new to the board, Im actually in the final stages of going through what youre looking to do as a graphic designer..... wih just my medical to go. as soon as i saw graphic design on the list i jumped on it straight away. It sounds like you husband has similar background to me and should be within the points threshold ( depentant on age.... im 32). like i said I just have my medical to go and heres the steps i had to go through step 1. vetassess skills assesment - you must have one of these to apply to the state, you need certified copies of academic transcripts and work references and this can take upto 12 weeks to process by vetassess (which i thought was a disgrace) so it can delay you making the application (i was always worried that the list could change in the time it took to process this but it was still there.look on there the vetassess website for details on this (at this point i would also open an expression of interest (EOI)on the skillselect website. as you will need to have one anyway at a latter point. Step 2 ACT application, this is stage that apply to the act for sponsorship and they make a decision, you need quite a bit of documentation to support this including a statement of commitment, financials and evidence to support your application, the application for this was online and took 30 days to get the answer from them.. i was fortunate enough to get the invite. this website and in particular the pdf guidelines were really helpful http://www.canberrayourfuture.com.au/portal/migrating/article/skilled-visas/ Step 3 DIAC application - if you get invited you will need to supply DIAC with documentation to support what you have said in the canberra application together with health chacks and police checks. then its just a case of waiting. Im 5 months into this now and almost there. at first it seemed very daunting but i must admit when you break it down into manageable chunks and organise all of your supporting documentation before hand its quite straight forward... i did it without a migration agent but i felt quite comfortable to do so. Hope this helps and any other questions then please dont hesitate to ask Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thekeans Posted January 17, 2013 Author Share Posted January 17, 2013 thats wonderful info thanks so much! We are not using an agent either and I have taken it on as a full time role I have to admit. I have read every bit of literature going and made notes for each stage. My husband is 34 next week so we have the points we did double check this with an agent. Like you we are anxious that it will be removed from the list by I did have a look at the ceiling for graphic design and it was 3000 so fingers crossed. We are in the process of compiling work refs and self decs. Did you have to do any? We are unsure if the certified person needs to have links to oz as I have read so much conflicting advice on this. We have a solicitor friend who will do them for free if this is fine but she has no links to oz. Did you certify all pay slips and p45s?? Have you found jobs in Canberra? My husband has contacted a few agencies who have said that they dont tend to use employment agencies have you found this to be true esp when compiling your research evidence for state nomination? For vetasses did you do 5 or 10 years of previous employment? Did you ahve the points advice letter done and pay for this? Sorry for all of the questions lol Thanks Clare Kean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
everton1878 Posted January 17, 2013 Share Posted January 17, 2013 Hi Clare Sounds like your well on with it, my advice would just be to get the vetassess stuff done and sent off asap, and while your waiting for a response from them get the act application done. so its ready to go... thats what i did anyway !!!!! youll find you use alot of the same documents for both parts. just some additional things like commitment statements, job research and financials go with the act application. i just scanned everything so i had a library so it was ready to go. In answer to your questions We are in the process of compiling work refs and self decs. Did you have to do any? I was lucky that my previous employers were happy to sort a reference out for me really quickly, in the vetassess guidelines theres some bullet points for what they needed to cover, startt end dates etc Did you certify all pay slips and p45s?? everything i posted to vetasses was a certified photocopy, i also scanned everything (which will be handy when you apply to the ACT) Have you found jobs in Canberra? My husband has contacted a few agencies who have said that they dont tend to use employment agencies have you found this to be true esp when compiling your research evidence for state nomination? I used seek.com.au and other jobsites in australia including gumtree, and did regular job searches and over the period i was waiting form my skills assesment ,i would print off any jobs that were relevant, i had a bout 10 really relevant jobs saved up over around 12 weeks.... however it has gone a bit quiet on thata front since deccember. might just be the time of year For vetasses did you do 5 or 10 years of previous employment? Did you ahve the points advice letter done and pay for this? I didnt get the points advice as your employment references will prove your periiod of employment, i came in under the 5 out the last 8 years catagory Good luck with everything, i remember how much work it seemed before i started but it'll be woorth it if you pull it off Simon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thekeans Posted January 17, 2013 Author Share Posted January 17, 2013 So did you just apply and pay for a skills assessment with just 5 years worth of employment? This would make life so much easier if we could do the same! I was a bit confused by the whole points advice thing anyway to be honest. <br>Do you have family or are you going alone? Seen any areas you like?<br><br>thanks again<br>clare Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
everton1878 Posted January 17, 2013 Share Posted January 17, 2013 (edited) theres a points tab on this page to help you work it out, http://www.immi.gov.au/skills/skillselect/index/visas/subclass-190/ i wouldnt like to advise you either way as each application will be different, but with my application for instance i got more points than you guys will just for being under 32, so you may neeed more points in the Skilled employment outside Australia section. you may need "At least eight and up to 10 years (of past 10 years)" to make up those extra 5 points with being over 32. you score a standard 0 in the english laanguage for having a uk passport, the benefit is that you dont need to take an ielts test, but you can if you need extra points I basically had just enough points to get the visa, you need 55 points from age, work experience and quals then and you get 5 for the state sponsorship which gave me the 60 required As for the vetassess points advice that depends on weather you think youll need it, i personally didnt think i did as my references were clear on how many years experience i had. Hope this helps. Edited January 17, 2013 by everton1878 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
everton1878 Posted January 17, 2013 Share Posted January 17, 2013 P.S im going with my wife, but we dont have any kids. we visited canberra a few times when were over there last year, its a very quiet place compared to sydney or melbourne, not much in terms of nightlife or anything but its really clean, lots of green areas, would be a nice safe place to bring kids up.. were probably looking at living in the inner south somewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
claudiodr Posted January 19, 2013 Share Posted January 19, 2013 Great info Everton! Kean - Re the certification, the person doesn't need to be linked to Aus in any way. We had all our doc's certified at the Post Office (reaaly cheap and efficient!). The only thing they don't certify is the passport photos, these need to be certified by someone who is qualified to but also knows you personally (we got my brother-in-law to do it as he's a Deputy Head Teacher). Just my recommendation but if it doesn't delay your submission too much I'd recommend you get as much relevant backdated employment references as you can. Also, certify copies of EVERYTHING! As Everton said, the nice thing is once you have the doc's and they're certified you'll use them repeatedly during the submission. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thekeans Posted February 7, 2013 Author Share Posted February 7, 2013 Hi Everton just wondered how your application was going? We had a slight doubt about going for a couple of weeks (well hubby did as) was unsure about designing in canberra but he seems to be ok now and is contacting all his old employers. Some have been liquidated so I'm getting evidence from companies house and for a few years he was self employed so we are having to do a few self decs but hoping to have it all sorted soon ish. Just praying it stays open on the list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skellysgirl Posted April 4, 2013 Share Posted April 4, 2013 Hi Keans...keep that chin up Fear is fleeting. Regret is forever I got accepted by ACT. They were really good, it took just over 5 weeks for a CO, but when i got one she has been lovely, they asked me for updated job searches, and it went through almost straight away. They gave me plenty of chances to ask questions etc. Keep in touch, i know its nerve wracking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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