A few questions

[craig_lisa]

Hi all

I have a few questions and I was wondering if anyone could answer them.
If going through an agent, all in how much does it cost on average?
Is the visa application difficult to do without an agents help as they make out?
Where can I look to try and find a company to sponsor me? (oil,gas, chemical,mining)

I hope someone out there can help

Thanks

Craig and Lisa

[Django]

Hi Craig & Lisa,

The visa application is a doddle. Its the skill assessment however that can be a minefield. As for getting a sponsorship. I would email your cv to all the companies your job would suit with an letter stating your intentions and the need for sponsorship. Have a google for companies over there and you should come up with the email addresses.

Good luck

Pete

[craig_lisa]

Thanks for that. So would you recommend an agent then? How much do they cost?

craig and lisa

[Tracijbc]

IMHO using an agent was the best thing for us, but it appears to be a matter of opinion. An agent makes the process easier and they can answer questions etc for you. Our agents are Aussies (Visa-Go), and know all about the tax system etc, but I'm sure you can also find a lot out yourself through internet research (we have done both!!).

Do some research, you obviously have internet access, so get out there and do some searching. No one can make decisions for you, they can only give opinion based answers, as each experience is different.

Good luck whatever you decide. Enjoy the process, as waiting for the visa is actually the easy bit, it's when you get it that the real stress begins!!

Cheers

Traci xxx

[Django]

As Traci says different people have different ideas on using agents. We haven't used one but that was purely because the skill assessment for nurses is so straight forward we felt it an unnecessary(spelling?) expense. They are expensive somewhere around £1500 I believe but worth their weight in gold in the skill assessment stage should it be a bit complex.
Have a google and compare a few or phone around from those advertising in Australia and New Zealand Magazine.

Pete

[andi]

Hi Craig, Lisa

We are just starting out too and from what i have seen the skills assessment is the difficult bit but depending on your occupation it can be cut and dried.

The forms seems straight forward and have booklets to help you.

I have contacted lots of agents some good and some not so. Go Matilda, Visa Go, Concept Australia & Visa Bureau seem to be top of the list. You can just get quotes for the skills assessment only if you want. For the whole process they seem to be between £950 and £1560 for the agents then you have the other fees on top.

My advice would be download booklet 6 from http://www.immi.gov.au/immigration.htm and see where you fit in and then ring around and speak to some agents as you will get a feel for who you want or if you really need one.

Hope this helps and good luck.

Andi

[jetskitony]

Hi,
we have done it all ourselves and with help from forums,some people just use an agent for the TRA as this is the worse bit,there is always someone willing to answer any questions you have,good luck.
Myrtle,Tony,Callum.

[craig_lisa]

thanks al. i am still unsure of which route we will go down but will research it further

craig and lisa

[Gollywobbler]

Hi Craig

Sorry to be tardy in replying but I don't come on here very often.

Why do you seem to be convinced that you need a sponsored visa?

Please see here:

http://www.immi.gov.au/asri/a-z.htm

I assume that an instrument technician is something to do with elecroic instruments? However, since I know nothing about your job I can't tell you which iod the ASCO codes you might come in to.

I am guessing that it might be this one since you are also asking about mining?

http://www.immi.gov.au/asri/occupati...s)-4314-13.htm

If so, it is a 60 point occupation if you have the required qualifications and experience, in which case the next thig to work out is whether you will have enough poits for skilled independent migration under subclass 175, I suggest. Please see the following links:

http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/gener.../175/index.htm

http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/booklets/booklets.htm

To start with, read Booklet 6 because you may not need company sponsorship.

As far as jobs are concerned if you are looking to move to SA then Global Tradeseach, based in Adelaide, may be able to help. The recruitment part of the business is run by a lady called Sandy Coates. I happen to know that she has recently received instructions to recruit staff for a major mining project and is tooking for people in all disciplines. However I also know that she is coming to the UK this week for a while and I don't know how long she will be here for.

It might be that if you e-mail Sandy, there may be a possibility of a chat on the phone with her whilst she is in the UK. Their website is here:

http://globaltradesearch.com.au/employment.php

Sandy's e-mail address is sandy@globaltradesearch.com.au

I see that they are specifically looking for instrument technicians.

Her husband Richard is a Registered Migration Agent and he also works for Global Tradesearch. Therefore if you find a job via them and you need an employer-sponsored visa of some sort, I imagine that Richard would organise the visa on behalf of both you and the sponsoring employer. Richard's e-mail address is richard@globaltradesearch.com.au

Does this help?

Best wishes

Gill

[craig_lisa]

Thankyou very much gill, your post has been extremly helpful. Yes my job is to do with mining, oil and gas etc and is worth 60 points