Agents - to use or not to use

SO heres the deal with agents.

Some prefer them some do not.

In our case, we knew absolutely nothing of the process and were far too busy with our careers to bother going through every nook and cranny of the migration process on DIAC's website www.immi.gov.au

All i knew was that i wanted to migrate and permanently live in Australia using my qualifications.

So i did a google search - got a list of websites. Was i sure they were the real thing?

No- how could i be? o

The only way to be sure is to check the MARA website- do a check on the said agent. If his/her name and number is in- by all means go ahead.

But a word of caution - try communicating with your agent - physically on phone or skype.

As you proceed you will find that it is essential that you both are on the same page and both of you understand each other perfectly.

We chose a global migration agent - so far no major complaints - i did have a few but the company or rather my Customer Service Agent did a fine job of sorting it all for me.

But for those of you who would rather do it all yourself and save a lot of money in the process, please do so.

We paid our agent 1200KD for their services.

The cost implication totally is as follows:

Agent Fees: 1200KD

AACA Skills Assesment : 300KD (1000AUD)

IELTS :69KD

Visa Application :1000KD (2960AUD)

This is about it. There will be other fees later during the medical checks PCC etc.

But since i have not yet done them I will leave it for later.

The IELTS

So what's the big deal with the IELTS?

I mean I know English and I really don't need anyone else to tell me whether or not I can communicate and understand the language!!

Anyways, as it goes DIAC won't take my word for it- and gave the IELTS I did.

I could not give it in Jan as earlier suggested- but that's a long story.I ended up giving it in the last week of March.

Do i really need to
prove my English proficiency!

The process itself was easy enough.

First things first :

Please Register.

In Kuwait atleast, there are lots of people appearing for the IELTS- I had to wait about a month after registering for the first available slot.

The IELTS is conducted every second week n Kuwait. 

Having registered online through the British Council, I was given 3 days to make the payment and complete all the registration formalities.

Having done that I decided to take the bull by the horns and took my IELTS preparations quite seriously - its a good thing I did.

Listening is not so much about understanding what is being spoken as it is about concentrating.

(I lost my concentration for about a couple of seconds during the real test itself - and lost 4 answers in the bargain. I guessed the answers and wrote them anyway (there are no negative marks for the wrong answers) - lets see how that goes- assuming i got all four wrong , i should get a 7.5 for listening hummmphh!!!)

Reading for some crazy reason was not my strong point- I read a lot , am an avid reader- but I just could not manage getting more than a 7.5 at all my practice tests. Well we'll soon find out how I actually did the real test!!

Practice, Practice ....

Writing - that was the easy part

Speaking - not bad just don't get nervous.

In all, it is pretty good and not that hard- but there is such a thing like over-confidence.

As and when you do give your IELTS here is my word of advice:

Practice :)

Until next time - Cheers!!

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:)