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sara · Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 4:22 pm Post subject: CATH RE:AUSTRALIA

Hi

We are looking to move to Australia. Are you from Britain? If yes, how did you go about it?

Thanks

Sara x

Cath · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 1:13 am Post subject:

Hi Sara, yes I'm from Essex.

First of all you need to know what visa type you would be applying for as there are a few different types.
Go onto www.immi.gov.au and have a read or www.austimmigration.com.au/site/?q=node/5 is really good. This will tell you all the different visa types
My husband used to be an electrician so we applied under general skilled migration.

Then it's a case of applying for the visa, you can either do this yourself or appoint a migration agent. We used an agent and think it was worth doing so. They are the experts, they know if you will get in or not and they know how to fill the forms in properly.
We used www.conceptaustralia.co.uk they say they have a 100% success rate and won't take you on if you won't get in.
Another good one is www.gomatilda.com

We went to visit concept australia, they told us, yes we had enough points to get in, so we started from there. We had to first get hubby's skills approved by trades recognition in Australia, then when that came back we submitted the application, then it was just a case of waiting for the visa.

What part do you want to move to? I love it here, we've been here nearly 2 years now, the lifestyle is fantastic.
Let me know if you want to know anything else.

Cath

sara · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 10:15 am Post subject:

Hi

We are looking to go to Townsville. My hubby's dad and sister live there, will that help?

Do you need to have a certain amount of money, or means of getting it such as a house sale? We don't own our house and have no savings.

Hubby works for a plastic thermoforming company which is quite a specialised trade, but don't know if Australia need him!!

We are 38 and have 2 kids age 13 and 11, I know all this will make a difference but in a good or bad way!

Thanks for the links I will have a look very soon.

Sara xxx

Cath · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 10:37 am Post subject:

Hi Sara,

Skilled migration visas are done on a points system and you have to get a certain number of points before you can apply.

Have a look at this: http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/pdf/1121i.pdf this is a list of occupations and how many points each occupation is worth. Your occupation gives you the majority of points. You will find most occupations are on this list.
Age gives points as well, and the younger you are the better. At 38 thats quite good point wise, its 5 more than we had anyway! 45 is the max age you can be to apply.
But if you have a good read of those websites you should find out all you need to know.
Having family there can help as well as they can sponsor you so you can get points that way.

As for money, they do ask you how much you have but I don't think it makes any difference, you will have to be able to support yourself though as the Australian government give migrants nothing only family allowance for a few years. However, there are pages and pages of jobs in the papers so finding work shouldn't be a problem. I know people who came with nothing.

Cath

Snow · Joined: 04 Feb 2007 Posts: 212 Location: Australia

Hi there,
I know this thread was not posting to me, but hopefully you won't mind an Aussie putting in her two cents!
I am an Aussie from Queensland - about 11hours south of Townsville.
I live just outside of Brisbane - the capital city.
I need to tell you a few home truths about our country and our state - which may or many not be worth you considering.
1. Townsville, as a matter of fact, anywhere in Queensland is extremely hot.
I know it might sound exotic at the moment, and perhaps you have been there many times before as you have family there, but I would certainly not recommend a UK native moving anywhere in QLD - let alone in the tropics.
2. Timing
Right now it's more expensive to buy/rent property based on the incomes here than it is in NEW YORK!
While wages have grown, we are most disadvantaged country in terms of wages vs property prices etc.
Unless you're bringing a lovely sum of money from the UK and the exchange rate is good at the time (in your favour) then you have to consider that too (tell me to shut up if you like, I am a frickin' finance journalist...annoying person alert!)
3. Proximity
Places like Townsville are rather off the beaten track.
This country is huge, I think a lot of migrants have no idea until they get here...but honestly to get to the CLOSEST capital city in your state you are looking at a 11-14hour drive (ono bad roads, sorry, but Queensland roads are delplorable!) or a 2hour flight.
However, if you opted for a capital city you would be battling against the major population explosion we are experiencing.
It might still be decent where Cath is in WA right now, but over here you are looking at MAJOR traffic hassles in and around Brisbane, slow jobs growth, slow wage growth, huge housing costs, little healthcare and general overcrowding.
I live 20mins from the city but it takes me over an hour each way to get in and out to get to and from work each day.
That is the same in the car or on a train.
Don't even ask about a bus!
:-)
Ps. - IT IS HOT HERE!
4. Have you ever been here?
I suggest you take a trip to Aust first and try a few places.
My english migrant friends are mainly in Melbourne - the capital of our state Victoria.
Melbourne is a much much cooler climate than Queensland, WA or SA and NT.
And it is also a place that seems to make migrants from colder climates and parts of the UK much more comfortable.

Please do your research.
A lot of my extended family are from the UK and despite having lovely family to come over here to, not one of them stayed for good.
They didn't realise Australia was so isolated, and that parts of Australia were so isolated from each other.
Good luck!
Em
xx
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Snow

sara · Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 10:19 am Post subject:

Hi

Thanks for your reply. We are not going with our eyes shut. We have been there before, we stayed for 7 months with my hubbys sister in Townsville so we know just how hot it can get! My hubbys family moved from Wales to Townsville 15 years ago and they have coped with it all fine.

As for economics, have you lived in Britain? This country is beyond a joke when it comes to money. We work 2 jobs each and still don't have enough. Our reasons for moving to Australia are nothing to do with money, but the fact the the life is so different and more catered for families.

We have a house out there already which my hubbys dad has bought us (he buys houses, does them up to sell on) so all we need are jobs.

I still think that a life in Australia beats Britain hands down.

Sara

dragonfly · Joined: 21 Aug 2007 Posts: 822 Location: South Wales

OMG true... noone can afford to buy even a two-up two down these days for £150,000 k... and the credit crunch etc has made it harder.....
Even in the worst areas are becomming un buyable and the govenrment can not provide and build enough affordable houseing... doctors nurses etc have to buy shared homes or commute stupid ammounts of miles because they can rent or buy near the hopital... awful here.

we have considered canada..... butim too scared to move.
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Cath · Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 1:20 am Post subject:

Don't be too scared to move dragonfly. There would be nothing worse than in the future thinking "what if?". Just before we moved here someone said to me that their parents wanted to move abroad years ago but never did it, they now regret it deeply and are of course too old, so she said her family was going to do it because she didn't want to look back in 30 years time and say "what if".
Remember you can always come back again if you don't like it.

dragonfly · Joined: 21 Aug 2007 Posts: 822 Location: South Wales

True.. but.... its having the money to return!!

Maybe when dannis bigger and at school when child care costs arent sdo high!

I have already moved 200 miles from my family and friends...
_________________
I hate the fact i live in fear of what my own body does to protect me from poison.
[url=http://www.TickerFactory.com/]

[/url]
I am 30 this year!!

Lolly · Joined: 05 Oct 2007 Posts: 339

I didn't like Aus when i was there :(

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