Immigrate to Australia

Staritskoje
New Member


Ed

Joined: 05 Aug 2008
Posts: 1
Location: british columbia

Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2008 4:10 pm

 

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Hey everyone,

I'm looking forward to immigrating to Australia. I have trouble because, I don't know where to start. I hope to find somebody who came into Australia with a work visa. I live in BC,Canada, I'm 36 years old, have 2 kids (4 and 12 years old). I have experience for tower cranes, excavators, and welder. My wife is a hairdresser, has 15 years. What would be the best thing for me to do?

Thanks,
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Ed

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possums
Junior Member



Joined: 10 Aug 2008
Posts: 10
Location: Australia

Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 2:53 am

 

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Hi there, have you tried the Government Australia website? Find out if those careers are in demand and then go from there. I'm pretty sure alot of trades people are in demand in some areas but it depends on where you would like to move to. You could always start out somewhere where they need people then move later.

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kalun
Junior Member



Joined: 17 Jul 2007
Posts: 11
Location: gold coast

Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 4:03 am

 

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i heard from my hairdresser that it's a career heavily in demand - i notice here too that there really seems to be a shortage.

if your wife could get sponsored, i believe her visa will allow you to bring your spouse/family members, though you might want to check that with an immigrant agent to confirm. that might be an option.

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comet555
Super Member



Joined: 28 Jun 2007
Posts: 197
Location: Brisbane, QLD, Australia

Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 4:35 am

 

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Without knowing all the details I'm going to guess the best way in is for you wife to be the main applicant. Do either of you have any education or formal training to go behind your trades?

One of the best visas to come on is the skilled independent 175 permanent visa. This visa would allow you to come to Australia and stay indefinitely, and also to get citizenship. Once in Australia you could live or work wherever you want and be entitled to Medicare (public health care) and free state schooling for the kids.

Coming on a sponsored visa may be faster in some cases but not does not have the same type of security and benefits that a permanent visa can give you.

To see if you qualify for the 175 visa check here:
http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-...ion/175/index.htm

I see hairdressors are on the SOL (skilled occupation list) for 60 points. That's good. The next step is checking to see if your wife can pass the skills assessment.
http://www.workplace.gov.au/workplace/Programme...tetoAustralia.htm

I didn't find the TRA website to be particularly helpful. But it appears as though your wife would need to have formal training and at least 900 hours of paid experience.

You might need to look for more info or ask questions here:
http://britishexpats.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=32
http://britishexpats.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=81

Anyhow, the basic path you need to follow is this:
1. Check and see what visas you qualify for, and then focus on that one. The permanent ones are better (in my opinion anyway).
2. Make sure you pass the points test. For the 175 it's a minimum of 120 points, having more than that doesn't matter. You just need to have 120 or more. If your wife can get 120 based on her skills along then you won't need to do a skills assessment. You and the kids just tag along on the application.
3. Make sure you can get a positive skills assessment. If you're using your wife as the main applicant than you'll be getting this from the TRA.
4. Figure out if you'd have any problems passing the medical. As long as you aren't costing the health system a lot of money then it should be fine.
5. Be aware of what might show up on your police checks. If you've had no run ins with the law then you should be fine. If you have then hopefully it was some time ago and not particularly serious.
6. If you've got the points and can pass the skills assessment and are confident about the medicals and police checks then you should have your visa. You just need to apply, pay the fee and supply all the relevent information for the application.

You may or may not want to use an agent. We did our applciation ourselves and I did all the paperwork. Our case was very straight forward and we had no complications. We did it all ourselves because we wanted the security of being able to stay and do what we want. Also, we don't have to worry (or pay a fortune) for health care or schooling for the kids. Although you can still choose to take out private health care or send kids to private school. My husband had 135 points based on his skill so I did not need a skills assessment and the kids and I just tagged along.

If you don't qualify for the 175 visa then you can look at other options. You can gain a few points by being sponsored by a regional area, which means you'd have to move there. Or. you could go for an employer sponsored visa, which for most people is the 457 temporary visa. Those visas are pretty quick and usually the employer pays for the cost of the visa. But. you are tied to that employer and you don't get medicare. In some states (like NSW) you might even have to pay a large sum of money just to send the kids to school. What I find to be a big drawback is if you lose your job for whatever reason (while on the temp visa) then you have to find a new employer to sponsor you within 28 days or you'd have to leave the country. So not very appealing.

Anyway, I hope that helps a bit. At least you'll have something to think about. If you have any more questions just ask.

Haley

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