Best way to migrate to Aus?

[gary_tholl]

Hey all,

I'm considering moving down to Australia as I feel it's time for a change.

I'm an Electronics Systems Engineer, and I am eligible to get a visa as a 'skilled worker'. Now, what I'm wondering is, what is the best way to do this??

Do I take a holiday down there and look around for a job in person? Do I try applying over the net? Do I pay up for the Visa first (~$2000)?

Guess what I'm saying is: are there any Aussie PH'ers who run a successful business that needs an engineer??

I've never moved out of country before, so some stories on what to do/not do would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Gary

[robinoz]

Gary your best bet is to take a holiday like I did and see if you like the place. I live in Adelaide and after Bristol it's a bit quieter but still the fourth largest city in oz. The driving here is great once you kerb your speeding from built up areas and go mad in the hills etc.

As for the £2000- are you sure that isn't if you use an agent? We didn't and it worked out fine. Enjoy your holiday mate!

[pombstard]

robinoz said:

Gary your best bet is to take a holiday like I did and see if you like the place. I live in Adelaide and after Bristol it's a bit quieter but still the fourth largest city in oz. The driving here is great once you kerb your speeding from built up areas and go mad in the hills etc. As for the £2000- are you sure that isn't if you use an agent? We didn't and it worked out fine. Enjoy your holiday mate!

We also moved to Oz from Bristol...

Took the route of getting a Working Holiday visa, employer wanted to keep us on so paid for sponsorship (4 years) and then can take your time to apply for perm residency. We've used an agent each time, and its made things very easy, but good ones aren't cheap.

If you get the WH visa and come out for a year, at least you can travel and work and if you don't like it, get back on the plane with the knowledge that you had a look.

[stin hambo]

I can't think why anyone wouldn't like Australia!

I have got a working visa but I intend to start a business. How can I do this?

Well I am marrying an Australian! Not to get the visa though!!

I will apply for a temporary visa initially then permanent residency in due couse...

[gary_tholl]

Thanks guys!

I'm thinking the working holiday may be the way to go. If I find something suitable, I'll get a temp visa. As well, it's $170 compared to $1845 for the permanent visa.

One thing I don't quite understand though, is with a working holiday visa, you're not supposed to work with one employer for more than 3 consecutive months, yet to get a visa can take longer than that... How does that work then? Do you have to stop working for them after the 3 months until your visa is successful?

And to top this off, most job search sites require that you have a 'right to work' in Australia before you can register with them.

Confusing. Maybe I'll check in with the Aussie embassy in Canada, see what they suggest.

Gary

[stin hambo]

Gary, if you get a working visa then the company you work for likes you and wants to keep you then you can apply for another visa that will allow you to stay with one employer.

Go to www.immi.gov.au and look at all the options...

[gary_tholl]

Thanks Stin,

I've spent the last couple days at work going through the gov site, looking at regulations, exemptions, clauses... I was getting a little confused. I think that once I sat down and looked at it in a more controlled manner, it makes much more sense now.

Gary

[stin hambo]

Good man!

Hopefully see you over there some time!

[chim_knee]

gary_tholl said:

Thanks guys! I'm thinking the working holiday may be the way to go. If I find something suitable, I'll get a temp visa. As well, it's $170 compared to $1845 for the permanent visa. One thing I don't quite understand though, is with a working holiday visa, you're not supposed to work with one employer for more than 3 consecutive months, yet to get a visa can take longer than that... How does that work then? Do you have to stop working for them after the 3 months until your visa is successful? And to top this off, most job search sites require that you have a 'right to work' in Australia before you can register with them. Confusing. Maybe I'll check in with the Aussie embassy in Canada, see what they suggest. Gary

Just a quick question - are you under 30? If not, you aren't eligable for a WH visa.

If you are, great!

The 3 month thing: You're correct. After 3 months you have to leave the employ of the company otherwise you are breaking the law. Sometimes you can get around it by working for an agency that will employ you with a couple of their "sub" companies... but if you intend to stay there permanently I wouldn't risk pissing off the immigration dept!

As for getting the skilled migration visa through an agent - what about trying the people we are using live in australia. About £140 and they give you online support and a free phone call. Basically you do all the work but use their experience when you need to. With us, we are pretty set with the points and experience and stuff - we just need help to make sure we totally understand the questions and give *exactly* what they are asking for (can delay visa's otherwise).

If you want, you are more than welcome to mail me offline. I lived out in Oz for 2 and a bit years (started on a WH visa and then got sponsored).

Phil.

[Ozzie Dave]

Come over 13 years ago from St. Albans , If you are serious then I would suggest you hire a migration specialist . The laws are constantly changing and in the Govt departments the staff are often poorly informed .
Sposorship will only work if there is proof that NO-ONE in Aus can replace your skills , very difficult to prove .
On the good side the weather is better . but bring your car with you , what is here is mostly crap!!!

Good luck

[pombstard]

Just as an update on this, the company I work for often employes overseas residents, and our migration guys are telling us to watch out for changes after the Fedeal Election - Oct 9. Nothing written, but lots of whispers. Truth? Who knows, but as they've just put up the points requirements, I wouldn't have thought another change was on the cards, but keep yourself up to date.

[VYT]

gary_tholl said:

Hey all, I'm considering moving down to Australia as I feel it's time for a change. I'm an Electronics Systems Engineer, and I am eligible to get a visa as a 'skilled worker'. Now, what I'm wondering is, what is the best way to do this?? Do I take a holiday down there and look around for a job in person? Do I try applying over the net? Do I pay up for the Visa first (~$2000)? Guess what I'm saying is: are there any Aussie PH'ers who run a successful business that needs an engineer?? I've never moved out of country before, so some stories on what to do/not do would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Gary

Gary

I have a permanent Resident visa, did the application myself, no problem at all, compared to getting a US visa 10 years ago it was a doddle. Everything you need to know is on the net. Takes about a year. In short there is a points test. If you have a degree and are <30 then you should be OK. If you are a craftsman then the same applies but you will need to get your skills assessed.
Other than that you can exchange cash for points or if you have family in Australia that lowers the points requirement.

Cheers

Bob

[stin hambo]

And if you are getting married to a Permanent Resident?

What kind of questions do they ask you and what does the health test entail?

[gary_tholl]

Cool, thanks for the info. I am under 30, and I am a skilled worker (Electronics Engineer). I was looking at the Live in Australia site, I filled out most of the forms, but I couldn't really see what they were going to do for me for the $299US (it's just gone up). I do pass the current points check, so I think I should be ok.

I guess I'll have to watch the gov sites after the election, hopefully they don't make it too much harder to get in, although, it doesn't really seem that bad.

YVT, when you did the permanent res visa, did you have a job lined up, or did you just go and find one when you got there?

That's my dilemma, I don't want to shell out for the visa, then discover I can't find a decent job there or don't like it. On the other hand, it's hard to find a decent job without some type of visa.

In any case, thanks for the ideas guys. I just have to decide that it is definately what I want to do, then I'll make it happen.

Gary

[pombstard]

Gary, this is Australia. Whatever you do its gonna cost you some cash. Though you ca always claim it back at the end of the tax year.

[Ben 2500]

Hi Guys.
This is a bit off to the side of the topic!!!
I Don't want to move to Aus. I'm very happy here in NZ.
But my mate and I are considering heading over your way later next year for a working holiday (about 3 weeks work and 2 weeks holiday.) Are there many jobs for this sorta lenght of time??? I did here about driving trucks. (this way I could see a bit of the place)I'm actualy a Beekeeper and my mates a computer Techie!!!
Thanks
Ben

[kevtherev]

Sorry Im not up to speed on visa's etc, me and my wife came here in 87, they wanted nurses desperatly so my wife was the principle applicant, we did it ourselves and it was a breeze, I dont know if the points system is still going.

What I would say is that, I live in Brisbane and IMO Oz is the best damn place to live in the world, low crime rate, nearly constant sunshine, happy people who are proud of their country, parrots in the trees, great beaches, you can live in practically any climate,....Ive just done a round the world holiday and beleive me ..Oz Is CHEAP to live....plus you dont need any clothes in Brissy!!!

In the UK last month it cost me 33quid ($80) to fill up my hire car (1.4Astra), I fill up my 2.5litre V6 here for $33 (13quid), even California seemed expensive to me.....Just Do it!!