Smith Tribe Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 :wacko: Hi all, Just registered to use your site. My husband (Dan) and l (Lynsey) have decided we want to move to Oz. We want to find an agent but we really don't know who. We have sent off a client profile with Visa Plus in the UK and we already know we have enough points (130). My husband is a roofer tiler and slater and l am a part time teacher so we think we think we need to apply for a skilled migration visa (136) and Dan as the main applicant. I believe there are a shortage of roofers. Anyhow some people have said 4 months and some 18mths, how can they differ so much? Dan is 32 and l am 31, we have 3 childrern 11, 9 and 5. Who could you recommend? Any suggestions good or bad! Ta :Randy-git: P.S love the smilies Smith Tribe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calNgary Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 Hiya i think your hubys trade is in demand ,if the amount of houses being built is anything to go off he will get a job easily ,remember most roof styles are rolled tin (colourbond) rather than tiles but you do get a few .We used VISA BUREAU who we found excellent we highly recommend them and found them very helpful.Our visa took 7 mth start to finish but i think its a bit of pot luck sometimes,,good look with your quest Cal x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest steve110 Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 i am using the Visa Bureau,they seem to be ok at the moment,got a guy by the name of Martin Beveridge tyring to sort my job description for the TRA ......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calNgary Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 We used a girl ther called Lauran Mennie and she couldnt do enough to help ,,maybe you could ask Martin to say hello to her for us steve ,,she will remember us because of the bbc,,cheers Cal x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest the dales Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 we started with martin and he made things clear and consise with no B******** They are a good company and well worth the money so would have no problems recommending them. Good luck and all the best Tan and Craig +3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest london cabbie Posted March 13, 2007 Share Posted March 13, 2007 Hi the smith tribe...we are with visa plus and find them very helpfull and professional,we dealt with graham copsey in pall mall who is a nice guy,i thoroughly reccomend them. Good luck ...jamie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Welshtone Posted March 13, 2007 Share Posted March 13, 2007 Dear The Smiths 12 to 18 months would be a realistic time frame from here to visa grant assuming you can get the TRA prepared lodged and approved say within 3 months. Things can happen quicker and DIAC are currenlty pulling out some January 07 lodged cases and processing so some will get their visas within 4 months from lodging the visa application. Assuming your husband meets other criteria like having worked for a minimum of 20 hours per week in a skilled occupation for at least 12 months in the last 18 month period, the whole application hinges on him getting his trade recognised by the TRA. TRA applications can be very easy but they can also be impossible depending on the training and experience your husband has and what evidence he is able to get to prove this. So, depending on how difficult the TRA is going to be would then govern whether you would need specialised Trade assessment help. So you need a detailed assessment of your circumstances. If TRA help is required this can be got at a cost of around £600 zero VAT from Australian based specialists. With a detailed initial assessment and the TRA help, you could then handle your own visa application. If you want to email me your c.v., I will give you a detailed assessment against the skilled visas. Included in this assessment will be highlighted areas where you need to be careful. Then you can decide whether you need help and where specifically you need that help. Then you can target your search for a specialist that provides that particular help. I can provide this assessment for any member of PIO. Regards Tony Coates MARN 0635896 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Scarletfever Posted March 13, 2007 Share Posted March 13, 2007 What a nice guy your are Tony.....:rolleyes:..You can tell you're Welsh!!!:biggrin: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smith Tribe Posted March 13, 2007 Author Share Posted March 13, 2007 Cheers Welshtone, This is me being completely stupid but where is your e mail address so l can send you the Cv's. I know that l could not apply as the main applicant as l only work part time as a teacher 16.5 hours. Whereas Dan has worked in roofing for 16years and has a BTEC HND in building studies and CITB roofing qualifications in tiling and slating to level 2. He has been working full time in his dad's business for 16 years. We are so excited at the prospect of starting a fresh challenge and once you have made your mind up you expect/want it to happen sooner rather than later. I know we have to be patient and we want to get it exactly right so we are successful. Would it be beneficial if Dan had a job to go to? We do have contacts in Perth, although for some reason we were favouring Brisbane. Smith tribe:v_SPIN: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Welshtone Posted March 13, 2007 Share Posted March 13, 2007 Maybe my Email address would help - tonycoates[at]eircom.net Regards Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smith Tribe Posted March 13, 2007 Author Share Posted March 13, 2007 Hi again, Ta for e mail will send them off to you. Do you work for yourself as an immigration agent? Is this skills assessment easy to fill in? I have heard my husband will need a reference, is this true or is this the skills assessment people are referring to? Smith tribe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ian&Lou Posted March 13, 2007 Share Posted March 13, 2007 Hi Smith Tribe, We are also using Visa Bureau and cant fault them to date. We are just about ready to send off our TRA application (some of which has been a nightmare due to not being able to get ref's from previous employers). We are dealing with Bodo Hoenen and he has been great as well. They are really quick at replying to emails or phone calls and cant seem to do enough to help. Hope this info helps and good luck with your application. Lou Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smith Tribe Posted March 13, 2007 Author Share Posted March 13, 2007 Hi Ian & Lou, at the moment we have just sent off a 'client profile' with visaplus, Graham Copsey is dealing with it. We are now waiting to hear if we are eligible to go any further. In the meantime l have been contacted by Visa Bureau and l am waiting for a phone from Bronwyn on Thursday to discuss it further. I am hoping the skills assessment will not be as hard for us as my husband Dan has only ever worked in his dads business for 16 years, so only one reference to get! Have visa bureau given you an idea on cost? Smith tribe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest steve110 Posted March 13, 2007 Share Posted March 13, 2007 Visa bureau gave me a figure of £3000 for the whole process. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smith Tribe Posted March 13, 2007 Author Share Posted March 13, 2007 Hi Steve, did they give you a time scale and how do you pay this money is it in installments. My concern is how much money do you pay out before you know you are going to get in? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smith Tribe Posted March 13, 2007 Author Share Posted March 13, 2007 :goofy: Hi Steve, did they give you a time scale and how do you pay this money is it in installments? My concern is how much money do you pay out before you know you are going to get in? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest steve110 Posted March 13, 2007 Share Posted March 13, 2007 I was told it can take up to 2 yrs to get a final say,but normaly its about 18 mnths. you don"t pay all at once,you pay for the TRA process first,then if you pass that you go tyo the next stage,and pay appropriate costs. this is what i was told. no doubt others on here have different experiences. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smith Tribe Posted March 13, 2007 Author Share Posted March 13, 2007 Message for Welshtone, I have sent CV's hope u get them. Let us know what you think Smith tribe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ian&Lou Posted March 13, 2007 Share Posted March 13, 2007 Hi Smith Tribe, They have told us to put aside £3500 for everything, including meds and PC's. They are charging us £1800 (plus VAT) for their admin. They do promis a refund of the first £900 paid, if after there two stage process check, they dont think you will be able to get a visa. In total they have given us an 18 month time line, although much of this is dependant on how long the TRA takes to put together and then be agreed, along with possible backlogs with visa applications. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calNgary Posted March 13, 2007 Share Posted March 13, 2007 Just to add ,,visa bureau were offering a money back guarantee when we used them so you didnt need to worry about parting with your dosh for nothing Cal x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pippycol Posted March 13, 2007 Share Posted March 13, 2007 we used lauren mennie she is very good Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smith Tribe Posted March 13, 2007 Author Share Posted March 13, 2007 Smith tribe again! Has anyone heard or used visafirst. They have offices in Ireland and UK. They have claimed to be the quickest and cheapest in the market. They have said it might take 4-7mths to process our application. You have to pay £50 to get the pack 'applications' and then when you return them you send £350. The last payment is made later £2100 at the end. Not sure how much assistance you get, they say from start to finish, including accomodation, help with jobs etc. Any advice? Is this realistic? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Collett Posted March 14, 2007 Share Posted March 14, 2007 I recommend you do a google.co.uk search on the first agent you have mentioned ... Best regards. Hi Ian & Lou, at the moment we have just sent off a 'client profile' with visaplus, Graham Copsey is dealing with it. We are now waiting to hear if we are eligible to go any further. In the meantime l have been contacted by Visa Bureau and l am waiting for a phone from Bronwyn on Thursday to discuss it further. I am hoping the skills assessment will not be as hard for us as my husband Dan has only ever worked in his dads business for 16 years, so only one reference to get! Have visa bureau given you an idea on cost? Smith tribe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Collett Posted March 14, 2007 Share Posted March 14, 2007 Can I recommend that all who are thinking of engaging an agent for the purpose of their Australian visa application and/or skills assessment application please be aware that only MARA registered agents are subject to any form of monitoring/regulation in respect of Australian migration assistance? You are therefore (in my humble view at least) taking a risk if the agent you instruct is not registered with the MARA. Details of MARA registered agents can be found at http://www.themara.com.au Also, the first two digits of an agent's number indicate the year he or she was registered as an agent with the MARA, which may (or may not) indicate the experience of the agent in question insofar as Australian migration issues are concerned. Good luck to all! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Collett Posted March 14, 2007 Share Posted March 14, 2007 Anyone who claims to be the quickest in the market is talking nonsense. Who are they comparing themselves with? What research have they done to back up that claim? Caveat emptor! Best regards. Smith tribe again! Has anyone heard or used visafirst. They have offices in Ireland and UK. They have claimed to be the quickest and cheapest in the market. They have said it might take 4-7mths to process our application. You have to pay £50 to get the pack 'applications' and then when you return them you send £350. The last payment is made later £2100 at the end. Not sure how much assistance you get, they say from start to finish, including accomodation, help with jobs etc. Any advice? Is this realistic? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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