Newby needs advice

[Guest andymb]

Hi everyone.

New to the forums and in big need of some advice and guidance.

Im Andy 34, a firefighter, married to Elina who's 35 who works as a customer service trainer we've got 2 kids 13 and 9. Friends of ours moved to Perth 14 months ago on a skilled visa (he's a panel beater), they recently returned on hols and have planted the seed with us, I've spoken to another friend who's in Melbourne and he has echoed everything they have told us, so now were starting to think seriously about it.

 

Right the problem we've got, Im a full time firefighter with 19 years service (started at 16) and qualified to the hilt, All of which is irrelevant when it comes to Oz. 4 years ago I started a 2 year Plastering course at my local college (part time) in my haste to go out and start earning I only completed 1 year as I didn't see the need for a qualification. I've now been working for my self for the past 3 years or so, on a part time basis with no real checkable work record (as all of my work is charity or non paid :skeptical: )

My wife's qualifications are not in demand either so we are at a bit of a loss. We've spoken to a few companies via phone numbers on the web and have been told I would need a qualification and 4 or even 6 years checkable work history.

I have resided myself to the fact that I will have to change career to move to Oz but now it looks like if I want emigrate I will need to wait 4 years minimum to show a checkable works history.

 

Im hoping there is another way to move to Oz but at the moment I just can't find it.

 

Any advice would be great

[Guest Sam&Si]

Hi Andy,

 

Sorry don't know the answer other than to speak to a reputable Agent who should be able to offer you a free assessment without obligation (Go Matilda and Ian Harrop get great reviews on here but there's others as well if you have a search through the Forum) or perhaps you could ask Gill (Gollywobbler) who is the resident PIO legal expert. There's also a couple of firemen who use this site - one of them is 'Mr Luvpants' perhaps you could send him a pm.

 

Hope it works out for you,

[Guest The Pom Queen]

Hi Andy

You could maybe get here on a student visa, however, we have a friend who has recently done this for him and his family and it has proved very expensive as you have to pay for the childrens education etc which is around $8k a year. After the 2 years studying there are no guarantees that this would lead to a permanent visa. I have no expertise in visas so there may be other routes available, like the previous poster has mentioned we do have Alan from Go Matilda on this site as well as some other agents and our resident visa guru Gill, so hopefully they will come along soon and give you some good news.

Good luck

Kate

[MTB & G]

Hi Andy

I am also a full time FF in London or was! But also have been a bricklayer for the same time as joining the fire brigade. My best advise is to inform the uk tax office of your plastering activities as soon as poss and fill in your tax returns each year. This is to show that you have …(you may want to check the up to date figures here) that you have worked for 4 out of the last 5 years in your trade and have been working for the last 3 years constantly. You can then get letters form your subies confirming you years of work and qualifying your skill levels. Also evidence from your accountant etc etc.

I used Ian Harrop for all of this for myself, give them a call they will tell you what you need and all the other types of visa’s available, they are good.

It does mean that using this way you will have to work in the uk as a FF and a plasterer for the next few years but come out of the recession with some more savings and with all the research behind you to find where you might want to go in OZ!

Good Luck

M

[Guest andymb]

Cheers for the replies guys, I will look to going down this route, bloody minds spinning at the moment.

Am looking to possibly use the wife's qualifications will post this in a new thread though.

Any more advice greatly appreciated.

[TaniaColin]

Hi Andy

Welcome to PIO, i hope you will find a way to get to Oz

Best wishes

Tania X