Any advice appreciated!

[tommoturbo]

Hello there.
We are in the very early stages of getting ready to start the process of emigrating to Oz. we are very confused at all the various visa types and proceeses needed.

I am an instrument artificer by trade but been working in the OIL industry for the last 8 years and currently a Shift team manager.
My wife is an Occupational Therapist with a degree and 3 years experience.
we are both 34.

Can anyone recomend a migration agent they used in the UK and what Visa application we will need,

ive looked through the forum and am overwhelmed at the moment at the amount of info available.


there is so much to take in and just need to try and take it one step at a time.

Regards ian

[kaz101]

Hi Ian,

There is a lot of info here and a lot to go through but as you say just take it one step at a time.

You know your full circumstances so it's easier for you to look through the visa types (or go to an agent) than it is for us to guess. The visa links are at the top of the "Please read...." post.

Things to consider when looking at a visa is where you want to live and whether you are happy coming to Oz without a job (which is what most people do). Where do you want to live? Do you mind living somewhere out of the major cities for a while? Do you want a permanent or temporary visa?

Sponsorship gives you a job but you are tied to living in that area for a specified amount of time, and I think that most of them are temporary (although you can apply for a permanent visa).
Coming through the skilled independent route gives you permanent residency and you get to choose where you want to live but you have to find a job when you get here. We went the skilled independent route - there is a points test in the "please read..." post to see if you have enough points.

We have 2 agents on the forum and I think that Alan Collett has a branch in the UK.

We used an agent in the UK called the Emigration Group who also have a sister company in NZ. They have a seminar coming up on June 29th in Peterborough, UK - if that's anywhere near you.

Regards,
Karen

[Dolly]

Hi,

I'd definitely get the advice of an agent. We used George Lombard (Welcome to Austimmigration | George Lombard Consultancy Pty. Ltd. ).

Have a look at the sticky at the top of the page "Thinking of emgrating?".

As far as both your jobs are concerned, I could only find your wife's occupation on the SOL (Skilled Occupation List) - not to say yours wasn't, but I couldn't see it:
1220.0 - Australian Standard Classification of Occupations (ASCO) Second Edition, 1997

And this would be the assessment board for her skills assessment Council of Occupational Therapists Registration Boards (Aust & NZ) Inc.

There's a huge amount of info you'll have to take in....but as you say just take it nice and easy and you'll be fine. Any other questions just ask.

Dolly

[tommoturbo]

Thanks very much for taking the time to reply, been at work the last few days and internets been down so im going to sit down and have a good look through the info,


Best regards Ian

[wannabeozzie]

Hi guys

Have you since apply at COTRB for your wife's skills assessment. i have applied beginning October and was wondering how long they take?

Good luck

[ellisa]

Hi Ian

I recommend visa-go for your agent as i and 3 others have used them and they were superb. We were granted a visa 176 in july and are off to Brisbane in December! I am a midwife so am in the health profession like your wife and we wanted permenant residency, you will have no problems as your wife is on the SOL. Best of luck with everything. ellisa