migration agents

[charlmillard]

hi my name is charl im new to the site and about to begin the application process in the summer but we dont know where to begin to be honest - lol. I am an RGN and my husband is a spark but we dont have much experience, we have a 13 yr old and a 2 yr old, can anybody recommend a good migration agent?
Thanks Charl

[stringfellows]

Hi Charl,we used a company called Ambler Collins.It is an Australian guy who owns it and they have been around for at least 14 years when my hubby first got his visa.They have an office in London.Good luck.Sharon

[charlmillard]

Hi Sharon, thanks for that I will try them! thanks

[IrishStew]

Hi Charl

Great to see new faces on the forum.

We did not use an agent and to be honest I am very glad we didn't. If your case is complex fair enough, but, if its simply a lack of information and confidence, then it's a very expensive way to get the info that you can have for free from this site and from the IMMI booklets.

If you can get to one of the seminars such as http://www.downunderlive.co.uk/ (Feb) you will be able to get the basic questions answered.

If you are not planning on applying for a few months and you can see that you meet the current points test- http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/gener...-applicant.htm then if you meet the points test, start by getting your skills assessed.

Once you have got the skills part done, it will give you confidence for the other stages.

You should be aware that there are changes planned to the immigration system come the summer. If you qualify for a VISA now go for it before the summer.

You may wish to let us know how many points you have what VISA you or hoping to come on etc and I am sure we all help out.

Hope this helps for now

IrishStew (OH)

[Adelaide_bound]

I'll second Stew's post - we didn't use an agent either and it was as easy as tbh, but if you have a more complex case (children from a previous relationship, medical or criminal record issues) then it can be handy. I'm very pleased to have the couple of grandwe would have spent on an agent to put towards starting up down under anyway :)

Obviously most of us aren't registered agents on here, but the advice given is generally very good - when you've got 10 people who have just gone through the process all saying the same thing based on their actual experience, its a fair bet its the correct thing. You just have make sure you separate the facts from the opinions sometimes :D

Anyway, welcome to the boards, get yourself onto DIACs website to do the visa wizard to see which way you might want to go - I believe nurses can either go indpendant visa, or down the route of an employer sponsored one, but there are many nurses heading that way that can give you far far better advice than I on that one I'm sure :D

Best wishes
AB

[mattyegg]

Give it go yourself, being a nurse and an electrician your cases should be fairly straight forward.

http://www.immi.gov.au/visawizard/

http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/gener...ns-outside.htm

You may be able to go along the 175 visa route or failing that the 176 Route.

Give the DIAC site a good read and it'll become a lot clearer.

We were going to go it alone but the rules changed a few times during the process and we used an agent, Peter at PTlabs who was excellent and not as expensive as other agents.

[Misplaced]

Just out of curiosity has anyone been to any of the Down Under Live Seminars? If so were they of use?

[IrishStew]

Just out of curiosity has anyone been to any of the Down Under Live Seminars? If so were they of use?

We attended one in Dublin a couple of years ago. For anyone who is considering the move to Oz it would have been useful. However for those who have already got the VISA etc the benefit will be a lot less.

Regards
IrishStew (OH)

[Adelaide_bound]

Us too - Hubby found it useful because I had instigated the move, and therefore had done lots and lots of research already, so I didn't really learn anything too new (although was helpful to speak to people in person and get specific questions answered on shipping, bank accounts and so on, all in one place), but as he hadn't even watched an episode of Wanted Down Under, he learnt a lot and came away a much happier bunny - we just sat and watched the seminars back to back all day really.

So if you don't know much, imho they are a good starting point, you get some nice 'free' pens and maps, you get specific questions you may have answered directly and its a nice day out to get excited about moving to oz. If you already know loads, its probably a bit of a waste of time. And I WISH they would either ban children (bah humbug) or make the parents look after them - sometimes its kind of hard to hear the seminars due to hordes of screaming children that have been left to run wild at the back - grrrrr - so try and get near the front and/or a speaker!

[Misplaced]

Might just go to one and ask the question that has put doubt in my mind (medicals for jobs) - see what they say and then I can take it from there. Now then Birmingham or Edinburgh mmmmmmmmmm........?