Has anyone here done it?

I'm traveling to Oz on a WHV from June '07 to June '08, and from everything I've read about it I think it's a place I'll likely want to immigrate to afterwards.

I have a bachelor's degree in environmental-chemical engineering and IT experience. Does anyone know how difficult it would be to immigrate with these qualifications?

I've checked out the whole points thing, and I think I would qualify without needing sponsorship... but just to get prepared I'm wondering if there's an easier or faster route.

Suggestions? Is it feasible to make potential employment contacts while in Oz on a WHV for later on??

Obviously have not had to do it myself CH but from your qualifications and experience, as you have considered I'd reckon also that there would not be too much of a problem.

I think it is the Institute of Engineers Australia (once a member myself) that is the assessing authority re qualifications and if you are a member of the equivalent institute in Canada, that would help as far as being accepted in engineering.

It is the assessment that can take longest and if you have qualifications/experience for IT, then it may be worth considering that route either unsponsored or sponsored as ah che' seems to have got quick action

There is no reason why you cannot make contact with prospective employers and seeing as the WHV now allows employment with one employer for up to six months, then a good chance that you could find one willing to employ you while on your WHV and no reason why you could not be having a skilled immigration processed while you are there.

The sites in the above link will give you an idea of employment opportunities as will capital city weekend papers that have huge career/employment sections.

As to whether you go sponsored or not, just have all qualifications and experience evidence in a well prepared resume type document and the sooner you submit something for assessment, the quicker you will have an answer on that aspect.
Once done, the rest is straightforward enough, may take a few months for immi to process.

So all up, unless going via a sponsor (and no harm in asking of assessing authority whether they put a priority on those) I'd allow six months in round figures.

Six months doesn't sound long to me at all! If that's all it takes to get things underway, then I'm definitely game -- that's certainly loads less time than immigrating to Canada or the US!

Sorry to burst the '6 month' bubble, but my fiancee and I applied for 'Skilled Migration' using the points system while we were living in Dublin. I am Australian and he is Irish. It took us at least 5 months to get all the necessary paperwork in order, as you need to apply for different things from different agencies in Australia in a specific order (i.e not just one 'asessor' for qualifications, but three different types of assessment from one agency). Most of these have around a 6 week turn around time.

Then, when we did put the application in, it took 11 months for it to all happen! Another friend from Dublin put his application in at the same time as us, and his took 12 months!

So, if this is something you are really interested in, then I would be starting the ball rolling ASAP. One thing I would reccomend is using a qualified and recognised 'Migration Agent'. They charge a fee, but they wont put together applications that they don't think will be approved, so at least you know you aren't wasting time. They also handle all the paperwork!

Good luck!

It certainly does help Katy to have documentation together and some people handle the paperwork better than others but if an agency suggested that you need to see three assessors on qualifications alone I would be wondering why.

The Skilled Occupations List immi form clearly states what organisation is the assessing authority for any given profession/trade, there sometimes being alternates for management positions depending on nature of skill under which application is made.

There are health/police checks in the application process but again, that is just a process of forms being submitted to appropriate authorities and having required examination etc.

Agents just take information and even if you yourself had attempted to get a guarantee from an assesing authority on acceptance, you would be pissing in the wind a bit and likewise with an agent for assessing authorities have their own process and you will get an answer when you get a letter from them, that's from experience of doing it for others and their speed will be dependant on a number of factors.

Most people with a professional background do have experience of collating information, filling in forms etc., as tedious as it may be, and for them whilst some will be happy enough to pay others to handle it, it is by no means a necessity and if anything just adds more factors/time into the process is my approach.

Sorry Gonorth but you really don't know what you are talking about in this instance.

Your understanding of what a registered Migration Agent does is completely false:

Agents just take information and even if you yourself had attempted to get a guarantee from an assesing authority on acceptance, you would be pissing in the wind a bit and likewise with an agent for assessing authorities have their own process and you will get an answer when you get a letter from them, that's from experience of doing it for others and their speed will be dependant on a number of factors.

From the Dept of Immigration and Multicultural affairs:

"What services can migration agents provide?

A migration agent can:

* advise you on the visa that may best suit you
* tell you the documents you will need to submit with your application
* help you fill out the application form
* submit the application for you
* communicate with the department on your behalf
* From 1 October 2006 registered migration agents, in Australia and outside Australia, may certify copies of original documents that relate to visa applications, provided that their registration is not currently suspended and they are not subject to a caution that is in effect.

In Australia, migration agents must be registered with the Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA) in order to provide immigration assistance services."


When you have been through this process yourself (and have helped others actually through the process) then you may have some idea of what you are talking about.

And thanks, I really appreciate your insinuation that I did not have a "professional background" and that I may not "have experience of collating information, filling in forms".

Yep Katy, that information from immi does describe some of the information processing but nothing re the skills assessment, and yes I have been involved with that as well as the general immigration regulations.

I have made no insinuation of your qualifications which would have been irrelevant seeing as you are an Australian and would not need to immigrate, nor have I made any attack on you.

Like you, I am entitled to an opinion which would definitely have me not using an agent, but then I confess to be doing a DIY type on as many matters as possible.

Hey Seaward! With those qualifications companies will be drooling on themselves. While you are here- talk to a few recruitment agencies- but also just check out the Environmental consulting firms directly as well- URS, Parson's Brinkerhoff, Coffey, SMEC, Douglas Partners, etc... there are tons. Definately check out seek.com as well. There is a huge need for Environmental personnell. I get a weekly news letter with all of the openings in the water field. Good luck!

My husband and I have also thought of making the move to OZ. He is in IT and has been leisurely looking at job openings in IT for the past few years. He claims there are tons of jobs available for what he does (whether they would give those jobs to an expat is another question).

One other thing he found out is that Australia does not accept immigrants over 40 yrs old. I do not know if this is conditional or even true, but it would affect us in a few years.

There is a webzine, EscapeAmerica.com that I subscribe to. There are some excellent resources there.

Hi Seaward,

You'll piss it in!! (That's Aussie slang for "you don't have a thing to worry about" - "easy peasy"). A job using those quals will take you to some really interesting places.

Unemployment is at record lows here so there are jobs everywhere.