Sarah's Blog
About 3 years ago we left the UK for Australia. Although we didn’t have Permanent Residency (and still don’t!) I thought I’d share our journey.
Being a secretary, my occupation wasn’t on the Skilled Migration list and although my husband’s a plumber – he was over 45 and therefore couldn’t apply. We always came up against a brick wall and despite really wanting to emigrate we could never find a route in.
A friend saw an advertisement and we contacted a migration agent in the UK – Immigration Unit (http://www.immigrationunit.com/). As I was under 45 they suggested I train and get qualified in a profession that Australia had deemed “occupations in demand” - they suggested Hairdressing, Patisserie Chef or Motor Mechanic. You can live in Australia whilst the training takes place and once qualified you can apply for Permanent Residency.
Here’s how it all worked out ....
We contacted Immigration Unit and initially they told us (for free) whether we had a chance or not. Then for a small fee (I think around GBP 95) they conducted a detailed assessment of whether we would be eligible to migrate to Oz.
We then started Stage 1. I chose Hairdressing (although I’m sure I would have made a better motor mechanic!) and they enrolled me on a Hairdressing course in Brisbane. We then applied for a student visa, had the medicals and within about 3 months of first calling them we were in Oz!
There are some conditions of the student visa. Basically, you and your partner can only work 20 hours per week, you have to pay your children’s school fees and you must have private medical insurance.
The hairdressing course took me approx. 1.5 years to complete – for the first month or so it was full time and then it went down to 3 days a week. It really is for beginners and anybody can do it. The course is made up of theory and practical work experience which is done in the salon (which is part of the college). At the end of the course you do your finals and issued with your hairdressing certificate.
With anybody emigrating to Oz – their qualifications (from any country) have to be assessed by Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) to ensure that they are equivalent of an Australian qualification. As I’d conducted my course in Oz .... believe it or not - they recognised their own qualification!!
Stage 2 is work experience. This is a bit of a complicated one. Basically, if you do not have family in Australia and/or need the points to qualify for permanent residency – you will need to get a further 1 years work experience in your chosen profession. I was lucky as my parents live here and therefore sponsored me and this gave me sufficient points not to have to do a further year’s work experience.
Stage 3 – Permanent Residency. Once Trades Recognition Australia has recognised your qualification you can submit your PR application. I applied in February and hopefully it will be coming through any day soon. Once you have been a resident in Australia for 4 years you can apply for Citizenship and get an Australian passport.
I hope this helps!
Sarah
Being a secretary, my occupation wasn’t on the Skilled Migration list and although my husband’s a plumber – he was over 45 and therefore couldn’t apply. We always came up against a brick wall and despite really wanting to emigrate we could never find a route in.
A friend saw an advertisement and we contacted a migration agent in the UK – Immigration Unit (http://www.immigrationunit.com/). As I was under 45 they suggested I train and get qualified in a profession that Australia had deemed “occupations in demand” - they suggested Hairdressing, Patisserie Chef or Motor Mechanic. You can live in Australia whilst the training takes place and once qualified you can apply for Permanent Residency.
Here’s how it all worked out ....
We contacted Immigration Unit and initially they told us (for free) whether we had a chance or not. Then for a small fee (I think around GBP 95) they conducted a detailed assessment of whether we would be eligible to migrate to Oz.
We then started Stage 1. I chose Hairdressing (although I’m sure I would have made a better motor mechanic!) and they enrolled me on a Hairdressing course in Brisbane. We then applied for a student visa, had the medicals and within about 3 months of first calling them we were in Oz!
There are some conditions of the student visa. Basically, you and your partner can only work 20 hours per week, you have to pay your children’s school fees and you must have private medical insurance.
The hairdressing course took me approx. 1.5 years to complete – for the first month or so it was full time and then it went down to 3 days a week. It really is for beginners and anybody can do it. The course is made up of theory and practical work experience which is done in the salon (which is part of the college). At the end of the course you do your finals and issued with your hairdressing certificate.
With anybody emigrating to Oz – their qualifications (from any country) have to be assessed by Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) to ensure that they are equivalent of an Australian qualification. As I’d conducted my course in Oz .... believe it or not - they recognised their own qualification!!
Stage 2 is work experience. This is a bit of a complicated one. Basically, if you do not have family in Australia and/or need the points to qualify for permanent residency – you will need to get a further 1 years work experience in your chosen profession. I was lucky as my parents live here and therefore sponsored me and this gave me sufficient points not to have to do a further year’s work experience.
Stage 3 – Permanent Residency. Once Trades Recognition Australia has recognised your qualification you can submit your PR application. I applied in February and hopefully it will be coming through any day soon. Once you have been a resident in Australia for 4 years you can apply for Citizenship and get an Australian passport.
I hope this helps!
Sarah
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