Skills Assessment

Hi all!! Its been a while , i know.

After you've made your decision to move to Oz, and having decided on going about the whole process on your own or use an agent, among the first things you've got to do is to have your skills assessed.

Since I am a qualified Architect. I had to have my skills assessed by the AACA.

Now from most accounts, this was supposed to be one of the hardest certifying/ assessing bodies of all. This was conveyed to me by 3 out of 4 Agents. Needless to say, i was worried.

Here is what i first did BEFORE i decided to take it on.

1) went through their website

2) Carefully read all points noted on Form M

3) Contacted alumni from my Uni who were based in Australia. Iaskedthem if they got through and if yes, if they had additional qualifications that i did not. When they answered saying that they got through purely on the basis of B.Arch from our Uni, i gathered courage and took the plunge.

About 3 months later, having obtained all necessary certificates and having certified them as required, i sent off my application to the AACA with a DD for the amount of AUD 1050/- only.

27 days later, i got their reply. I passed the assessment!! Woohoo!!

Now, for step 2. The IELTS. I intend to give the IELTS mid January 2012.

Lets hope for the best!!

Until later!!

First things first

So you've decided to migrate to Australia.

First and foremost, making that decision in itself is a big step. I should know it took us almost 5 years to reach there!!

Do your research!!
(that is irrespective of
 using an agent ) 

After you've done that, you might want to look up www.immi.gov.au and see the various visa options available.Do your research!!!

If you are skilled at a particular profession you might be needed by Australia and you will find their requirements in the SOL list.

Once you are done with that you will have to decide if you want to go about this by yourself or use the services of a Migration Agent.

By yourself, do follow the step by step instructions in www.immi.gov.au.

Use an agent, spend a lot money-
but basically save your self the pain of
 too much  research!!

If you decide to use an Agent, please ensure they are registered with MARA ( a body that over sees the working of agents), since you are going to be spending a little of your moolah, you need to make sure its not a Mickey Mouse outfit that will hog your money and have nothing to show for it.

One of the first things you agents will do is see if you are qualified or rather stand a chance in the obtaining a PR (Permanent Residence Visa) and will guide you accordingly.

As of now, am gathering all my documents to get the first step done, having my qualification assessed by the relevant assessing body in Australia.

Will keep you updated.

Until later!!

Birth of this Blog

As strange as it may seem, we have finally decided to take the first steps in order to make a move to Australia.

We finally contacted Migration Agents and zeroed in on one of them. (the process explained in following posts)

Strangely, all my googling brought me to hardly anything on the whole experience to making a move to the Land Down Under, hence, this blog.

In this blog, i will try to explain as realistically, the procedures and steps to making the move, and then hopefully someday the actual move itself and the sacrifices it entails.

Until next time....Cheers:)