Which visa?

[Guest imigrate Australia]

Hey Russ and Claire

 

A pleasure.

 

Nursing is in demand in WA, so I would expect (but cannot guarantee) that it will be on the new State Migration list. Basically, there is still a chronic skills shortage here.

 

Have you looked at the Employer Sponsored route at all?

 

Also, how did you break down your points? Would help me to understand your assessment.

 

Happy to help guys

 

Also, you may find this useful (its a short video I recently made regarding the new Skill Select program)

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVRQP7rbxmw&list=UUL7lrpwtvuesfSc9WMzgO9Q&index=1&feature=plcp

 

Cheers

 

Phil

 

PS where are you from?

[Russ and claire :)]

I will look into the points system but if they were still having the 175 then we would only just get in. I have said to Russ we may need to get sponsored but was concerned cause it is not a permanent visa. We are near Portsmouth in Hampshire. Thank you for the link, will look at it today I would be surprised if nursing wasn't on the list but I'll be happy once I see the list.

Claire

[Guest imigrate Australia]

Hey Claire

 

the ENS visa is a permanent visa and you get residency in Australia. The 457 is the temporary visa and there are pathways to the permanent visa when you get to Australia.

 

If you go down the Skill Select route, you will still need the requisite pass mark points, so it is important.

 

Please ask the questions - happy to help

 

Cheers

 

Phil

 

PS I'm originally from Wales, couldn't stand the clouds anymore! so came here 16 years ago

[Gollywobbler]

I will look into the points system but if they were still having the 175 then we would only just get in. I have said to Russ we may need to get sponsored but was concerned cause it is not a permanent visa. We are near Portsmouth in Hampshire. Thank you for the link, will look at it today I would be surprised if nursing wasn't on the list but I'll be happy once I see the list.

Claire

 

Hello Claire,

 

I've only just read this thread.

 

I'm not a migration agent. I've just been around the several "move to Oz" forums for quite a while now. My close family live in Perth.

 

Over the years I've known dozens of British Nurses of all sorts (RMN, RGN, Midwives etc) who have moved to Oz. I'd say that about 60% of them went to Oz on employer-sponsored visas, usually the 457 visa to start with and then they have obtained Permanent Residency either visa the ENS or the RSMS visas depending on location. I've never heard of a British nurse having any problems with this route to PR in Oz.

 

The remaining 40% or so went out on skilled independent visas, including Ali. Out of this group, about half do their visas on their own (Ali did and she's not alone by any means.) The other half have used migration agents to give them a hand. The choice mainly depends on how much time the Nurse is able to spare, whether or not s/he finds it easy to understand the DIAC website and whether or not the Nurse feels nervous about tackling the visa end of things on his/her own.

 

Ali is one of the Moderators on this forum. She's an RMN and she moved to Perth on a skilled independent visa in about 2006. Ali might be able to help you by offering pointers, names etc depending on what sort of work Russ wants to do. I believe that Ali has always done community-type Nursing whilst she's been in Oz.

 

What sort of RMN work does Russ do in the UK / want to do out in Oz, please? By this, I mean is he the type of RMN who prefers to work in a hospital or does he prefer the community-type thing where he goes to visit people in their own homes? (I've never been involved with Nursing myself so I'm sorry if my question is vague and clumsy but hopefully you will be able to get the gist.) The answer to my question might drive which type of visa would be best for you.

 

My guess is that even after the 01 July 2012 visa shake-up, British-trained Nurses of all types will still be in top demand by the Aussie Govt though I don't know how long-winded it will all prove to become. I've got bored with trying to follow all the constantly-changing rules about skilled immigration.

 

With the 457 visa, the hozzy in Oz's HR Department usually seem to organise the whole thing and all that the Nurse needs to do is to follow the instructions from HR in Oz. Later on, HR seem to organise getting the PR visa as well.

 

With the employer-sponsored route, the hozzies sometimes organise attractive relocation packages as well. Several seem to provide free accommodation for the first month in Oz. Some seem to pay all or some of the costs of having the immigrant Nurse's personal effects shipped out to Oz etc. Of course, the employment contract contains claw-back provisions about these types of costs unless the employee stays with the employer for however long has been agreed. That said, though, this sort of option is the cheapest way to do it.

 

With the skilled independent visas, for the minute I'd be inclined to think about using a migration agent because the new rules do look fiddly to me and I don't think it will become easier to understand until DIAC alter their website, which I guess they will do sharp on 01 July 2012 - though DIAC's IT guys are probably biting their nails, testing everything etc to make sure that nothing will go wrong while they make the changes. I'd guess that they might take the DIAC website off-line for a few hours just in case it needs IT-type tweaking at the last minute. DIAC have a very keen understanding of the fact that nobody wants a website where the links in the thing don't work etc.

 

If Russ were, say, a Plasterer then I'd be screaming that a skilled independent visa would probably be best for him but the employers never seem to let British Nurses down so I think which visa is probably an evenly-balanced question in your own case.

 

Has Russ been in touch with any potential employers in Oz as yet?

 

Cheers

 

Gill

[Russ and claire :)]

Thank you Gollywobbler-

 

Russ works in hospitals and I think he prefers to stay on wards as he doesn't have any experience with community work. We have looked at some jobs but I find it confusing as they talk about levels, where as Russ is a F grade/band 6 deputy ward manager, although if he was offered a community job then he may accept that. Before Russ looks for jobs, should he do the IELTS and register with the Nurse and Midwife Board of Australia? It is so daunting! But I do like the idea of a employed sponsor visa, especially if they can help with fees. Would Russ have to wait till July before applying for a job?

[Guest imigrate Australia]

Hi Claire

 

The answer is no, you don't have to wait to apply for an Employer Sponsored Visa. The Government really likes these types of visa's and they are here to stay I believe and will be the Governments visa of choice because it satisfies their aims of matching people to specific areas of shortage. Nurses are in high demand and I would strongly suspect that they will be on the CSOL (Consolidated Skilled Occupation List) from 1 July.

 

I would, if I was you, initiate your search and application process now. The new Employer Sponsored route is going to be termed the 'Direct' route from 1 July for permanent Employer Sponsored visa's. If you want a permanent Employer sponsored visa, then you will need a skills assessment. Not sure about the new ENS laws yet, but you may not need an IELTS being from UK (almost definitely won't) - its an Employer Sponsored Visa not a Skilled Visa (where people MAY need an IELTS test depending on their points).

 

Recommendation - start now, search for an employer first, they will most likely guide you through the visa process, what to do and provide a step by step process.

 

Cheers for now

 

Phil

[Russ and claire :)]

Hello,

I like the sound of a permanent employer sponsored visa but may settle for the employer sponsored visa but have concerns that we won't eventually get a permanent visa. If Russ hypothetically applies for a job and gets offered it, from him registering with the nursing board (approx 14wks long) to him getting a visa, how long will it take? Hope that makes sense, all going well I'm expecting a baby early dec, so concerned about when he should start looking for a job.

Thank you

claire

[Guest imigrate Australia]

Hi Claire

 

Processing times vary, but it should be relatively quick - within a few months (the DIAC is focusing on this type of entry to Australia and speeding up the process).

 

Its always good to start looking for a job as soon as possible.

 

Cheers

 

Phil

[Russ and claire :)]

Thank you for your reply, I'll probably get Russ to start looking for a job in the next few months, if all goes well and he gets a job, I don't think I could stand the stress of sorting visa's and all that goes with the visa's, selling the house and then fly over before the birth of the baby

[Guest Claire and Brian]

My wife is an RGN on an elderly care ward. Can someone give us some pointers on where to look for an employers sponsored visa. It's her dream to come to ox now since Claire(Russ and Claire) talked her into it. We' are looking at going in 5 years once we have cleared our debts. This way when we sell the house we should have a good 30k to take to oz with us.

 

I appreciate any help.

Thanks

Brian.

[Guest imigrate Australia]

Brian

 

A word of caution. The visa laws can change pretty rapidly in Australia. Personally, I came here 16 years ago (had no equity in my house, very little money) and I am so glad I made the move sooner rater than later. I cannot speak for your personal circumstances and what your personal goals are, but I always advise my clients that there has never been a better timeto move - because we don't know what the migration plan and visa system will look like in the future.

 

hope that helps, just a bit of personal experience

 

Cheers

[ali]

My wife is an RGN on an elderly care ward. Can someone give us some pointers on where to look for an employers sponsored visa. It's her dream to come to ox now since Claire(Russ and Claire) talked her into it. We' are looking at going in 5 years once we have cleared our debts. This way when we sell the house we should have a good 30k to take to oz with us.

 

I appreciate any help.

Thanks

Brian.

 

If you're not thinking of going for 5 years then there is little point looking for a sponsor now - they're not going to keep a job open. Your wife can apply directly for jobs and say that she is looking for sponsorship on the covering letter of the application.