Uk Move To Australia With Gf

[baannambua]

Hi to anyone reading, I have posted here before asking about the possiblities of my long term thai gf visiting the UK with me, I gave as much information about us both as I could so that people could give an opinion and I got some positive feedback most people saying that it shouldn't be too much of a problem because we have quite good circumstances to get a visa.

Now I have thought long and hard and am seriously thinking about moving to Australia and taking my gf there instead, I work in UK at the moment doing conservation work but i'm also trained in forestry/tree surgery and have seen plenty of jobs advertised in Australia in this line of work, it's warmer and there are large thai communities around Sydney that I saw last time I was there, I just think it would suit me and the gf alot better than where I live at the moment.

So basically I would just like to know what would I have to do and would it even be possible for a UK citzen to move to Australia and then even invite my gf to stay or live there with me?

Sorry for a long post I would love ny advice whatsoever or just point me in the right direction.

Thanks for ANY help

[david96]

http://www.uk.embassy.gov.au/

This is the website that can give you information that may help you. If you apply depending on your visa status you may be able to bring your TGF in if you are in a recognised defacto relationship.

[baannambua]

http://www.uk.embassy.gov.au/

This is the website that can give you information that may help you. If you apply depending on your visa status you may be able to bring your TGF in if you are in a recognised defacto relationship.

Thanks for the reply, but that website seems to be just the facts that are written in stone, i'm looking more along the lines of how the ozzy embassy/consulate works.

I know I can definatly find my line of work once in Australia, and all going well it won't be much of a problem.

My main answer i'm looking for is how will the embassy view a non-citizen of Australia wanting to bring in his thai gf to live or or stay long term .

Sorry it's not very specific i'm just looking for general infofmation and maybe any facts that I should know.

Thanks

[technocracy]

Right well the first problem you'll most likely have is she is you GF not wife. To allow you to settle in Oz you'd need to apply for a Skilled Migrant Visa - to do this you must qualify by the having sufficient points the current pass mark and visa assured is 120 points.

However if over I think 70 you can go into the pool - which means that essential IF you can get employment with an australian company then your visa will be issued. This may sound easy however consider the logisitics and the fact that you are 24hrs away makes it rather more difficult that it sounds. Most companies won't employ purely on telephone interviews some roles where if you are very specialised then yes - but also the culture in the Oz workplace is more to make sure you fit in the team etc.

Like I say the Migrant visa is for you and accompanying Spouse - if this covers girlfriend I don't know - however the biggest stumbling point you'll have is proving your relationship since they request at least 12 months worth of info with you and your partner (or her name alone) at the same address.

For a migrant visa you also have to have your skills assessed by an independant body there result will determine if and how many points for your work skills you would get. Here if you have skills which are classified as Skills Shortage in Oz you will get extra points towards your application.

Basically the bar for Skill Migrant visa is high, you need full marks on your age which the 18-29 bracket (20pts) and full marks in Skills (60pts) to stand a chance. The others are English skills (obviously no problem!). You can pick up extra point if previously worked or studied in Oz, also if you are fluent in Thai it would get another 5pts. When I say fluent - I mean degree level fluency is what they want so just ordering at the restaurant won't do!

Then is the costs approx £1300 for basic application - but if your wife/gf doesn't have the required english level (TOEFL level which I forget) then you have to pay another £1000+. This does actually cover english courses in Oz.

You both need a full medical including HIV testing - all paid for by yourself.

Once you get a visa you need to visa once for it to be activate in the first 9 months otherwise it's cancelled! Once active it's valid for 4 years but is easily renewed indefinately onwards.

I have been through it and got a visa - for myself and my wife - we have also had a UK Settlement visa previous and lived together for nearly 12 months in the UK, complete with Joint bank accounts etc. So for us this side of it was easy.

Like I say it's not easy to get in - but don't be fooled by agents and the blurb about how 'hard' it is to apply as it isn't! You don't need to write letters or other crap these cowboys supposedly say you need just complete the Skill Migrant Application form . . . . that is AFTER you have had you skill assessed - this is the 1st step.

To read more look at the Oz Immigration site - Oz Immigration

[baannambua]

Think that facial expression sums up how i feel after reading that post.

It sounds like more than a nightmare, would it still be as hard if she was just applying for a visitors visa? Or tourist visa?

Would it be better/easier to concentrate on getting myself to oz and settling down one way or another first, then trying to bring my gf over there? I have worked in Australia before but it was cash in hand and only manual work on a farm about 5-6 years ago.

My job is definatly a skilled/specialized trade in the UK and Australia but I know it would be hard to find a definate job while being all these 1000's of miles away from oz.

Thanks for opening my eyes to it all anyway.

[technocracy]

Think that facial expression sums up how i feel after reading that post.

It sounds like more than a nightmare, would it still be as hard if she was just applying for a visitors visa? Or tourist visa?

Would it be better/easier to concentrate on getting myself to oz and settling down one way or another first, then trying to bring my gf over there? I have worked in Australia before but it was cash in hand and only manual work on a farm about 5-6 years ago.

My job is definatly a skilled/specialized trade in the UK and Australia but I know it would be hard to find a definate job while being all these 1000's of miles away from oz.

Thanks for opening my eyes to it all anyway.

The basics are one way or another be it if she goes to the UK or Oz (if you've already settled) you need to prove that you have a genuine relationship and all the normal type of visa related requirements.

At the end of it all you can easily work out whether you will make the grade for the visa before applying and the skills assessment isn't expensive (varies on the assessing body). If you are serious about going to Oz this is the first thing you need to do - it is actually the most hassle of all the visa! Since you need to supply 6 years references and contact as well as certified copies of certificates etc. all sent by post - cannot email. Just getting this assessment took me nearly 6 months alone (including an appeal as the screwed up the first classification - classifying my skills completely wrong!) - the visa came through just 9 months later as I have Skill Shortage skills - you get priority processing.

[baannambua]

They need 6 years of job referances? I havn't even been in this type of work for that amount of time, and the last place I worked before that was within our family business.

I did see this though "If you are under 30 years old and have skills as a general gardener, landscape gardener or tree surgeon, it is likely you would be able to meet the current skilled independent pass mark for migration to Australia. Alternatively, if you are over 30 but under 45 and have a close relative in Australia to sponsor your application, you could still be eligible in one of the skilled sponsored visa categories". That was straight from another website that I have been reading about.

I couldn't see many problems with gaining a visa for the UK as my GF is quite secure in Thailand so hopefully it will apply for the OZ rules aswell. I can quite easily proof that she does have a life to return to in Thailand, e.g. business, house,car and children although I hear children is not a valid reason I would think that the rest are though. Maybe easier if I just get a 1 year work visa? And her a toursit visa?

[samran]

you are going to have to work out how you can be let in first.

there are what is know as a class 457 visa, a work permit. An australian employer can get this for you if they are offering a job, but you are tied to them. Essentailly you will be a temporary migrant worker who will have to leave the country when your job finishes (unless you get a new work permit). This visa doesn't lead to any sort of permanent residency status I beleive.

What has been described previously to you in other posts is basically skilled migration path, which is a way to get a 'green card' or permanent residency. The process takes about a year or so and targets young people with skill sets that are in demand in Australia.

I don't know what the allowances for you are if you just want to bring your GF over. It is unlikely she will be able to join you in any sort of defacto allowances under the visa rule, unless you have shown you have lived in an relationship akin to marriage for 12 months, and to be honest, i think this is only available to those with PR or citizesnhip.

So your GF will have to qualify to live in Australia in her own right, unless you got married of course.

[Nignoy]

you are going to have to work out how you can be let in first.

there are what is know as a class 457 visa, a work permit. An australian employer can get this for you if they are offering a job, but you are tied to them. Essentailly you will be a temporary migrant worker who will have to leave the country when your job finishes (unless you get a new work permit). This visa doesn't lead to any sort of permanent residency status I beleive.

What has been described previously to you in other posts is basically skilled migration path, which is a way to get a 'green card' or permanent residency. The process takes about a year or so and targets young people with skill sets that are in demand in Australia.

I don't know what the allowances for you are if you just want to bring your GF over. It is unlikely she will be able to join you in any sort of defacto allowances under the visa rule, unless you have shown you have lived in an relationship akin to marriage for 12 months, and to be honest, i think this is only available to those with PR or citizesnhip.

So your GF will have to qualify to live in Australia in her own right, unless you got married of course.

There is another way, if you can find an australian employer to give you a guaranteed 3 year employment on a 457 visa , 24 months into the contract, as long as you have had no problems with the police or your employer, you can apply legally for permanent residency or if you feel really secure you can apply Australian Citizenship, I arrived this way in february 1996 was accepted for permanent residency in august 1998 and australian citizenship in may 1999, at that time my trade qualifications were not even recognised, as much I love to wind our Illustrious colonial TV readers up We have never looked back, obtaining a visa after 2 years for a thai partner should be no problem!! we come from darkest lancashire and they let us both in!! even got the Whippet in!! sadly they surgically removed my Flat Cap and confiscated all my meat and potato pies, just be patient and write lots of job applications like we did Nignoy