Where to start?

[TheBs]

Hi everyone,

 

The last time I looked into making the move my husband and I were going in the 457 permeant residency. We stopped our application and changed our plans and have now changed then back.

I'm a nurse with 13 years experience so was hoping to come on a working visa maybe via sponsorship, but I can't seem to find where to go, does anyone have a reputable link to a recruiter? 

If employed do they help with the visa application? It's just a massive mine field and I feel like I'm just aimless trawling 

 

Tia 

X

[can1983]

33 minutes ago, TheBs said:

Hi everyone,

 

The last time I looked into making the move my husband and I were going in the 457 permeant residency. We stopped our application and changed our plans and have now changed then back.

I'm a nurse with 13 years experience so was hoping to come on a working visa maybe via sponsorship, but I can't seem to find where to go, does anyone have a reputable link to a recruiter? 

If employed do they help with the visa application? It's just a massive mine field and I feel like I'm just aimless trawling 

 

Tia 

X

There's a few agents on this forum that can advise on the skilled migrant path which I would think is more sensible unless you are young but I'm guessing if you have 13 years experience you are mid to late 30's? 

457 is dead 482 is the new number I think, but not a good path for older people (like I was when I moved)

The 'rona is going to be the biggest hurdle at the moment

[Marisawright]

You're right, it is a massive minefield.  By far the best thing to do, if you're serious about moving, is to book a consultation with a good migration agent (it can be over the phone).   Try Suncoast Migration or Andre Burger.  They'll look at your qualifications and experience and help you work out the best way to proceed.

Right now, most migration is at a standstill - but as a nurse, you're in a priority occupation.  Pre-Covid, it was getting quite difficult for nurses to get visas, so you'd be wise to grab this window of opportunity, I think.  Your hurdle might be getting registered in Australia, which can be a slow process I believe.

You say you were going for the 457 permanent residency. Two problems there - the 457 doesn't exist any more and it was always just a temporary visa, not a permanent one. It did give you an opportunity to apply for PR at the end of the visa, but it was never guaranteed you'd get it.  You may have got the impression it was guaranteed, because a lot of people thought it was.  There are some awful stories of people who moved their whole family, bought a house and set up their life only to be forced to sell everything up and go home after 3 or 4 years.

That's the problem with a working visa - it's usually a temporary 482 visa, for 2 to 4 years, and there's no guarantee you'll be successful in getting PR at the end.  Employers often make the chances sound better than they really are, (because of course, they want you to take the job!).  The good thing about them is that they're processed fairly quickly.  If you go for a permanent visa, you can be waiting a year for the whole process to go through (and probably longer with Covid).  With a 482 visa, it's much quicker.  

If you're a couple with no kids, I'd say it's definitely worth going for.  Travel light, have fun, enjoy an adventure for a few years, and if you get a chance to stay at the end it's a bonus. 

If you've got children, you've got to consider the cost and the risks.  It's much more expensive to move a whole family (more air fares, more stuff to ship) and you have to budget to move your whole household twice.  If you have a pet, it costs more to fly than a human.  Also, how would it disrupt your kids' education if they have to move back to British schools in 2 or 4 years' time?  

For a family, it's usually better to be patient and go for a permanent skilled visa, so you have certainty before you spend thousands of pounds on moving halfway across the world. There is an employer-sponsored permanent visa, but they are more difficult to get.  

 

Edited August 25, 2021 by Marisawright

[TheBs]

That's great thank you so much.

Yes the one we were looking at before was 7 years ago and I done my IELTS, completed skills assessment, made my EOI and then our plans changed, we do have 2 children, so from what you're saying I understand I can go on a working visa but it's riskier than a PR which is now a 186? However nurses are in demand at the moment.

 

[TheBs]

13 minutes ago, can1983 said:

There's a few agents on this forum that can advise on the skilled migrant path which I would think is more sensible unless you are young but I'm guessing if you have 13 years experience you are mid to late 30's? 

457 is dead 482 is the new number I think, but not a good path for older people (like I was when I moved)

The 'rona is going to be the biggest hurdle at the moment

Thank you, it's all changed so much since we last looked into it.

I am mid 30s (36) so it's a now or never opportunity. I remember how long the process was before, it's all coming back to me now 

[can1983]

4 minutes ago, TheBs said:

Thank you, it's all changed so much since we last looked into it.

I am mid 30s (36) so it's a now or never opportunity. I remember how long the process was before, it's all coming back to me now 

I never went through the skilled migrant process so other members or agents could advise the latest.

I opted instead for the partner visa route because it was an option and whilst it was more expensive it was not subject to annual quotas and the like.

Finally got my citizenship last month, I first lived and worked in Australia in 2008 so it been a long road!

It need not take that long for you and at 36 there is some time left but I did 3 years on a 457 and ended up having to leave and went completely back to square one, hence my advice to go skilled migrant pr route straight away.

Where are you thinking of moving to?

[TheBs]

Yeah I get that, it makes sense for the PR route.

We have an agent calling us back next week, I done a general consult today and she said were eligible which is a start.

Congratulations on your citizenship that's so good! We are likely looking at Western Australia we have family there and in Bali and I have friends in Melbourne, which is really helpful as I feel we won't feel so alone once out there and will have some friendly faces 

[Marisawright]

14 minutes ago, TheBs said:

We have an agent calling us back next week, I done a general consult today and she said were eligible which is a start.

Make sure the agent is MARA registered.  There are some dreadful scammers out there and their websites look very professional. They spend a lot of money on advertising so when you Google looking for an agent, they come out at the top of the search.   A few of our members have been burned.

Edited August 25, 2021 by Marisawright

[Marisawright]

35 minutes ago, TheBs said:

we do have 2 children, so from what you're saying I understand I can go on a working visa but it's riskier than a PR which is now a 186? However nurses are in demand at the moment.

The 186 DE (direct entry) visa is also an employer-sponsored visa but it's a permanent one.  The difficulty would be finding an employer willing to offer that visa. 

Otherwise, you're looking at a 189 visa (which allows you to work anywhere in Australia), but that is by far the most difficult visa to get.  There is a points system, and it's a competition.  You need to score over 90 points to have even the slightest chance of getting picked.   

The other option is a 190 visa (where the state sponsors you).  If you go for the 190, then you'll be obliged to live in that state for 2 years, then you can move anywhere in Australia that you want.  You'd need to check whether WA is interested in sponsoring nurses - worst case scenario, you'd have to start out in another state and plan to move there at the end of your "probation"".  

The problem with both those visas is that processing seems to be at an almost complete standstill.

.  

[Cobs_Ahoy]

I’m in a similar situation, 36yo nurse with husband and two children, plus family in Melbourne. 

Ive dithered around for quite a while looking at options (there aren’t many!) and planning what to do. I’m guessing you will have more points than me as I have 7 years experience - the points go up once you hit 8yrs experience and for me that will be August next year.  We are aiming to get out there for December 2022, will stick the EoIs in ASAP and hopefully I’ll get an invite this year but if not then I guess my chances increase from next August.

So now I’ve decided what to do, I’ve started the process of applying - I’ve got my English test at the start of September, have requested references from employers and got my NMC certificate + uni transcripts ready. As soon as I have my test results I will complete the ANMAC skills assessment.

As it’s free to submit an EoI I have decided to stick them in for a 190 (Queensland sponsored) and a 189. The problem is that you can’t submit a 190 until the state opens the (often very small) window for you to do so, I check the Queensland migration website regularly to see when the next window will be. They’ve only opened to onshore applications for a while now in Queensland, but I think it varies between the states as I’ve seen offshore OTs getting 190 invites for Tasmania. 

Good luck!

[TheBs]

21 minutes ago, Cobs_Ahoy said:

I’m in a similar situation, 36yo nurse with husband and two children, plus family in Melbourne. 

Ive dithered around for quite a while looking at options (there aren’t many!) and planning what to do. I’m guessing you will have more points than me as I have 7 years experience - the points go up once you hit 8yrs experience and for me that will be August next year.  We are aiming to get out there for December 2022, will stick the EoIs in ASAP and hopefully I’ll get an invite this year but if not then I guess my chances increase from next August.

So now I’ve decided what to do, I’ve started the process of applying - I’ve got my English test at the start of September, have requested references from employers and got my NMC certificate + uni transcripts ready. As soon as I have my test results I will complete the ANMAC skills assessment.

As it’s free to submit an EoI I have decided to stick them in for a 190 (Queensland sponsored) and a 189. The problem is that you can’t submit a 190 until the state opens the (often very small) window for you to do so, I check the Queensland migration website regularly to see when the next window will be. They’ve only opened to onshore applications for a while now in Queensland, but I think it varies between the states as I’ve seen offshore OTs getting 190 invites for Tasmania. 

Good luck!

Good luck to you too.

So does that mean I can submit my EOI without doing my skills assessment first as I started it, and got worried I was doing it round the wrong way and saved half way through! 

My husband also meets the criteria of wanted professions so we're doing a double angled approach and he is looking at companies wanting to recruit too. 

I feel like the whole thing will just be along process what ever route we take x

[Cobs_Ahoy]

No you still have to do your skills assessment first, I just meant I will stick my EoIs in once the skills assessment is done.

if your husband is getting you extra points due to his profession it sounds like you will have a high points score, have you checked on the immi calculator exactly what your score is? You might find you can get a 189 fairly quickly as a priority professional with 90+ points. I’m relying on the extra points from state sponsorship really, don’t think I’m likely to get a 189 but figure no harm in sticking an EoI in.

Are you trying to get out ASAP or have you got a specific date in mind?

[TheBs]

19 minutes ago, Cobs_Ahoy said:

No you still have to do your skills assessment first, I just meant I will stick my EoIs in once the skills assessment is done.

if your husband is getting you extra points due to his profession it sounds like you will have a high points score, have you checked on the immi calculator exactly what your score is? You might find you can get a 189 fairly quickly as a priority professional with 90+ points. I’m relying on the extra points from state sponsorship really, don’t think I’m likely to get a 189 but figure no harm in sticking an EoI in.

Are you trying to get out ASAP or have you got a specific date in mind?

Ahh ok, I score 95 points 

We're kind of looking to just get out ASAP, within the next year really. No specific dates. Sooner rather than later, but I don't want to go on any old visa if like someone before said, we may end up having to come back if it's the wrong one.

I've checked the agent ringing is MARA accredited, she was really enthusiastic, but then I suppose they all are

Edited August 26, 2021 by TheBs

[Cobs_Ahoy]

Oh 95 points is great, I check the ISCAH Facebook page fairly regularly as they often post info about the profiles of people getting invites, I think I remember the last round including offshore nurses with a minimum score of 90 points. 

No wonder your agent was enthusiastic!

Which specialism are you? I’m mental health and work in the community. I feel a bit antsy about moving as I recently got a B7 clinical lead post and from what I understand most UK nurses have to start in junior roles (on the wards) once they get over and then try and work up.

Edited August 26, 2021 by Cobs_Ahoy

[Marisawright]

33 minutes ago, TheBs said:

I've checked the agent ringing is MARA accredited, she was really enthusiastic, but then I suppose they all are

Sometimes the worst agents sound the most enthusiastic, because they are desperate for the business!

[TheBs]

40 minutes ago, Cobs_Ahoy said:

Oh 95 points is great, I check the ISCAH Facebook page fairly regularly as they often post info about the profiles of people getting invites, I think I remember the last round including offshore nurses with a minimum score of 90 points. 

No wonder your agent was enthusiastic!

Which specialism are you? I’m mental health and work in the community. I feel a bit antsy about moving as I recently got a B7 clinical lead post and from what I understand most UK nurses have to start in junior roles (on the wards) once they get over and then try and work up.

I am a specialist community public health nurse aka Health Visitor B6, which from what I've seen doesn't exist, the closest to it is maternal health nurse, so I'd hope to have something in that field.

Though I am adult nurse trained and have medical surgical and ITU background at B7 level so if I need to I will take ward work again, but I'd prefer a community based job.

[paulhand]

21 hours ago, TheBs said:

I've checked the agent ringing is MARA accredited, she was really enthusiastic, but then I suppose they all are 

Good agents are realistic, not enthusiastic. 

[Raul Senise]

On 26/08/2021 at 09:09, Marisawright said:

Make sure the agent is MARA registered.  There are some dreadful scammers out there and their websites look very professional. They spend a lot of money on advertising so when you Google looking for an agent, they come out at the top of the search.   A few of our members have been burned.

This is very true. I've had some companies use my name as a Google AdWord so when people searched my name their business would be displayed first.

As for the OP, an application as a Nurse may be possible as this occupation is on the Priority List.