Hi everyone,

We are Craig and Nicky, we're thinking of moving to Oz with our 3 children
(15, 13 and 10) and four dogs!! No idea where yet, possibly Perth area.
Don't really know where to start or what to say, no visa application as yet, we've toyed with the idea of emigrating before but nothing came of it, this time we've made our minds up this is what we want. (Scottish winters do strange things to folk!)

Anyone offering advice, info or just to say hi would be appreciated.
C&N

Welcome to the forum Craig & Nicky and hope your plan can be fulfilled without too much drama and it becomes what you hope for.

Though we certainly have it drier and warmer than Scotland with Perth and Adelaide being two driest Capitals normally, the whole country has been in drought throes for quite a few years, so dry in fact, I wouldn't mind betting they will come up with a roofless house design soon!.

The eastern states offer more of a mix of Scottish dampness and Aussie dryness, and very mild winters and variable summers with autumns and springs much like or even warmer than a Scottish summer.

You'll have more to think about than weather though with children of school age and the hounds.

First thing on the agenda though is how does the emigration happen, and for that have a look at "Visas and Immigration" on the immi site here - Department of Immigration and Citizenship .

Essentially, the immigration is only going to be possible if you have the skills etc. to get enough points or enough money to set yourself up in business.

#1. Looking at the Skills area, and there is a massive ammount of info re options and eligibility, so start here - Visa Options – Professionals and other Skilled Migrants – Workers – Visas & Immigration

[ Seeing as your oldest child is already 15, I'll hazard a guess that you are already close to cut off age of 45 and if past it you may have an insurmountable problem.]

But at 35-40-45, You'll be struggling to muster sufficient points (120) for independent skilled migration with any skills (60 is max.) and so you may have to be looking at a Sponsorship where points are 100 but you still need to be less than 45 years old.

#2. So at that page of the immi site above (#1.) , select the appropriate visa, and then click on eligibility at #3 on top of page and then "main applicant" and you will get a DIY assessment type chart.
Have a look at that for starters.

You will not be the first person to think it is all too bamboozling and I would not mind betting immigration agents rub their hands with glee as $$$$ signs flash past, but they have no magic wands and you can at least see where you stand - just follow those instructions #1. & #2.

Come back with any further enquiries, and good luck.

PS.
#1. If and when you are granted a visa and it only needs to be for one of the parents as main applicant, if it is a PR you have a number of years (used to be five) in which to use it.
If that is the case, don't know how old the hounds are, but bringing them is going to be another organising saga, not to mention expense (maybe costlier than for the humans), and so you may want to consider that situation closely.

#2. And on a lighter note, did you know that Cheeta of Tarzan and Jane fame is 76 years old and is on a healthier diet npw than booze and cigars!
Pays for his retirement with " Ape-stract paintings"
I'll have to put up a special post!

Hi Wanderer

Thanks for your reply, we'll be back with questions galore as and when they pop into our heads! !!
Actually, we had kids quite young- Craig is 33, he's a joiner and I am 36! Our eldest will be 16 soon. And.......how did you know it was hounds we have, lol?? They're quite young actually (eldest is 3, youngest 9mths and the expense and organisation of getting them to Oz is one of our biggest concerns, I have to say though, that if it came down to 'that' decision we'd stay here with them, couldn't part with them!!
C&N

No Aprils fools jokes today guys, for it can all be a good news day.
. Had thought of possibility on being early starters and no better time than now hey!
. With 25 points for age, 25 for english (we could find the accent tough!)
And (Carpenter and Joiner or Cabinet maker etc.as they are called here) most if not all building trades are on the "Migration Occupations in Demand List" (MODL) and worth 60 points plus 15 if Craig has one years employ in trade within last four.

So you will be over the line I suspect with 125 as long as trade assessment is positive and you have documentation supporting work recency.

It is a standard requirement that anyone has two in last four.

The MODL is subject to change and with world economies turmoil, or the US one in particular, a huge downturn along with rising interest prices could have a significant impact on the building industry, though the government is committed to developing indigenous peoples housing programs and formulating policies to encourage greater investment in domestic building - huge shortages and great potential for building trades people to start their own businesses here - ready made potential apprentices there in your family!
But my point is if it changes and once Craig gets to 35, immigration could get more difficult.

FIRST STEP IF GETTING SERIOUS
. Contact TRA - details at end of http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/pdf/1121i.pdf
The qualifications assessment is entirely independent of the immigration application but being an immigration requirement for skilled migration has to have a positive outcome for an immigration application to also have a positive outcome.

My approach with the hounds would be to get your immigration approved and then get the Hounds AQIS immigration approved
. Your Vet if an approved AQIS one should be able to help no end
. You'll probably find there are specialist pet transport companies who can organise everything but you pay them of course.
. I'd do some independent getting of costs from airlines, whether they supply cages etc. and see if with your or an approved AQIS vet, the process is something you feel as though you could handle - mind you, as leave date approaches there'll be a heap of other stuff to be done I'd expect, not to mention fitting in farewell parties and all.

The hounds! - you only have hounds on the moors don't you?
No just joking for my reference to hounds was generic in sounding better than a pack of dogs - not a kindly reference here in Oz as it more often than not refers to wild dogs - yes, bastards out here dump dogs and in rural areas you can have packs forming, breeding with dingoes possibly and causing mayhem for some farmers and even been known for such dogs to be in around some country towns.
We have two something X's refugees from RSPCA and Animal Welfare getting a bit older now but certainly part of the family and if you have heard of the musical "Annie" - NY orthanage story, our two dogs have been in a stage production of it!

Anyway, good news on that in a way too, for costs all up for four this end will be about $2500 on my tally from the link here - Category 2: 30 days quarantine in Australia - DAFF
The first pic in banner is an omen possibly - they're used as sniffers by customs here.

Of course you will have the costs your end and whatever airlines charge, but all up a bit cheaper than what I thought you could be looking at.
. The AQIS link outlines the steps pretty well, and you'll just need to make a plan meeting a particular timetable that suits your immigration.

Actually, seeing as they have to be in quarantine for a month out here, you could have them on the way here before you even leave - and then it will at least be one thing done and out of the way in the rush of some last few weeks.

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship has relevant info on living in Australia and banks just love getting your money but this site may have some helpful info too - Moving to Australia

You can have a bank account arranged, money transferred etc. before you arrive and then just rock into a bank on arrival and you'll have an instant account.

Stuff like taxation can wait until you're here but Australian Taxation Office Homepage will give you an idea of taxation rates etc.

Hope the above is further help.

Welcome to the forum! Just curious if you have been to Australia or not. I know of some people who migrated and found that it wasn't for them.

Anyway with your husband's trade you should be almost guaranteed a never ending supply of work if you make it over.

Mike raises a good point there for you would not be the first from UK or elesewhere that have emigrated and then returned, though the Scots are supposed to be a tougher breed!

It is a pity you are not a few years younger and without the tribe for then a Working Holiday Visa would have been a possibility for a trial.
You (or Craig) could still do something similar as a trial indirectly for BUNAC - Work and Volunteer programmes abroad for students and young people including Summer Camp USA have working holiday visas available for people up to 35 for NZ.
If you thought about a step by step plan one option you could look at might be:
. Craig tripping out to NZ (getting work ought to be easy enough there too) and then with earning/saving money for a few months trips across to meet you in Oz on an ETA for a couple of months (school hols for kids with grandparents?)

OK, you like what you see and so you get cracking with the quals assessment and immigration paperwork
Maybe you have a look at NZ too and like the greeness there better - more like Scotland but greater diversity and not so severe.
With Craig working there already, it is likely he would be able to do what they call a "Work to Visa" easily enough there.
Once you got NZ citizenship it also enables you to move/work in Australia and you could then look at prospect of getting an Australian PR vias from within the country which ought to be doable on existing points up until Craig was 40

. Either way the immigration ball starts rolling.

Whatever you do, with sending four hounds out to wherever, another thought I had was that it could pay to be out there for as long as possible before they are out of quarantine to organise some housing as that will not be too easy with four, especially renting.
You may have to be looking for somewhere a bit rural on edge of urban areas as some councils have restrictions on numbers of dogs (usually two without a special permit) that can be kept at the one urban residence.

Doing a split/stepped immigration creates all sorts of other difficulties too but you need to look at the broader picture.

If it helps, I have a Scottish SIL who was probably about your age or younger when she came to Australia about 30 years ago, married my bro and has been here ever since other than for a recent trip back, so some Scottish people do like what they find.
It is more the exception than the rule that people get here and do not like the lifestyle or whatever.