city and guilds Australian equivalent

[zak terry]

hello,

I am hoping that someone will be able to advise me on immigrating to Australia. My profession is an electron beam and TIG welding operative and i am undergoing my city and guilds in all four main manual welding processes( oxy-acetylene, MIG, TIG and ARC). Once qualified I want to immigrate to Australia. Is these qualifications enough with my year to two years experience to gain sponsorship and is city and guilds qualifications recognised in Australia? Any advise on doting the i's and crossing the t's to insure I am prepared for the formalities of gaining sponsorship I would be very grateful for.

Many thanks 

zak 

[calNgary]

For a skilled visa i am pretty sure the work experience has to be AFTER you qualify..What sort of visa are you thinking about getting?

Cal x

[zak terry]

To be completely honest Cal I do not much about the visa's, I was just hoping to get sponsorship so I can eventually  become an Australian citizen. Any advice on how i would do this would be great, thanks for your reply.

Zak x

[VERYSTORMY]

Sponsorship is not the way to citizenship as generally sponsorship is only a temp visa. You need to look at permanent visas - only the holder of a permanent visa can apply for citizenship - after you have been a permanent resident for four years. 

You need to get your C&G and then get 3-4 years experience. 

[kelv]

I've just moved to Melbourne yesterday on a 457 visa,my city and guilds where not recognised here and had to take a skills test conducted by vetassess so I could work in australia,my advise is speak to a migration adviser.

[welder85]

Hi Zak,

Im pretty sure a city and guilds is not recognised mate unfortunately BUT getting an ASME 9 code IS. The City and Guilds will help in you Skills Assessment as evidence, to gain this you'll need to 'exchange' 4 years experience for a AFQ Level 3- 1st Class Welder, Metal Fabricator etc. I had an apprentice doing the same course.  

calNgary is spot on, you claim points after a qualification. For instance if you worked for 10 years, you would only claim 6 years as you would have used 4 for your skills assessment.

My suggestion would be to go down the 189 Skilled Independent or 190 Skilled State Sponsorship route. As VERYSTORMY says, 457 employer sponsored is only temporary.

Speak to a migration agent mate and give yourself plenty time. 

Good luck

[zak terry]

Hey guys

thanks so much for the advice it’s much appreciated. Do you know of any good migration agents I could use? 

Thanks again 

Zak