shellykd Posted March 26, 2015 Report Share Posted March 26, 2015 (edited) Hello Everybody ...I am new ...although been reading through this very informative forum for a few weeks already...Its helpful to know you are not alone drowning in the vast amounts of information/requirements/etc in trying to attain a visa to get out of SA.Thank you to all members who have shared their experiences ....I will possibly find most of my questions already answered somewhere in the forums!So for those applying ..wishing you courage...and remain positive! (this is me talking to me...)Best wishes!shelly Edited March 26, 2015 by shellykd 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zamunda Posted March 26, 2015 Report Share Posted March 26, 2015 Hi Shellykd.Welcome!!This is a great place to get information, make friends and so on.All the very best with your moving plans. It is not an easy road, but with a lot of planning and commitment (as they say in Oz) "she'll be alright". We've been through it, 1 1/2 years into Oz and still not fully settled, but no regrets either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SDTCPT Posted March 26, 2015 Report Share Posted March 26, 2015 Welcome Like zamunda said, this is a great place to get info, help and encouragement. With the help of the people here my application process has been really smooth so far (touch every last piece of wood I can lay my hands on...) I really do believe that if you are unable to find an answer to your questions here, it might not exist...All the best with your application.Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shellykd Posted March 26, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2015 Thank you for the encouragement Z & S ...Starting on the 189 for my partner and myself ......and also taking our 3 dogs who don't need a visa but the pre-export requirements are still challenging! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mara Posted March 26, 2015 Report Share Posted March 26, 2015 Welcome, may your journey be a smooth one. With regard to your questions, ask away... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 26, 2015 Report Share Posted March 26, 2015 welcome to the forum Shelly. People are absolutely fantastic on this forum and have such a wealth of knowledge im surprised they are all not Mara agents in disguise ;-) Wish you all the very best in your journey to OZ and hoping that all comes right for you and your family and the 3 dogs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alchemist Posted March 30, 2015 Report Share Posted March 30, 2015 Hey I am also new. Very excited 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shellykd Posted March 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2015 Thanks Mara & Emma,Trying hard to grasp it all .... would prefer to do it on my own for my partner and myself ....I did actually have a meeting in February with a non-registered mara agent in Joburg but she was very condescending and never came back to us so this forum is giving me courage ...Thanks again!Hey I am also new. Very excited Welcome ....excited and anxious at the same time?! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alchemist Posted March 30, 2015 Report Share Posted March 30, 2015 i used an agent. Personally its a lot of paperwork and you have to be the meticulous type...which i am not.I got my PR in a month once the final documents were submitted and for me, that was worth it. The longest part was the skills approval. That took around 4 months. You can do part of it on your own which may reduce costs, but the final stuff, its just easier to get an Australian to do it......just my opinion.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 30, 2015 Report Share Posted March 30, 2015 Welcome Alchemist:-)My husband did our application online through the website. we were initially going to use an agent and had been to a group meeting to find a few things out. A friend who had already done the process himself told my husband to not waste his money and so he didnt. Went online and submitted his documents and you can just go and save the progress. I think if you have a complicated case (ours wasnt) then maybe using an agent is a good idea. I will say that some agents can kind of scare you into using them too, and say if you make a mistake it will mess your application up for good, some have actually told us that! Anyway we got ours done and the site is really simple.If you are looking for good agents ask on here or look on the threads for recomended agents. There are some good ones out there. All the best Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peanuts Posted March 30, 2015 Report Share Posted March 30, 2015 Hi,We have also just started the process and will bedoing everything ourselves.I think the most important thing is to gather as much information as possible.This forum is definitely a great place to gather info and meet people who is going through the same thing.Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shellykd Posted March 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2015 Thanks Alchemist - which agent did you use ?Thanks Emma!Yes I understand what you say ...of course I would prefer an agent (possibly just for the nerves) however our application should not be complicated ...it just is that my partner can get no points for his age...and so looking to find 'more points' would need to be gotten from somewhere.This is possibly where the agent could advise...but from what I see - I can try and get him 5 points by taking the English Academic ?Any enlightenment in this case?Many thanks!Hi,We have also just started the process and will bedoing everything ourselves.I think the most important thing is to gather as much information as possible.This forum is definitely a great place to gather info and meet people who is going through the same thing.Good luck!Hi Peanut - thanks & same to you!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peanuts Posted March 30, 2015 Report Share Posted March 30, 2015 (edited) You can claim 5 points for your partner if you can provide evidence that he is under 50. As far as I know your partner will need to do IELTS as well as skills assesment to claim those 5 points. Edited March 31, 2015 by Peanuts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shellykd Posted March 31, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2015 You can claim 5 points for your partner if you can provide evidence that he is under 50. As far as I know your partner will need to do IELTS as well as skills assesment to claim those 5 points.You can claim 5 points for your partner if you can provide evidence that he is under 50. As far as I know your partner will need to do IELTS as well as skills assesment to claim those 5 points.Thanks Peanuts ..Yes he is just under 50 but seems he can get exempted from having to do the English test.....question is - if you are officially exempted by the assessing body - do you still get points ?Can't seem to figure this one out ....For myself as well - I have asked for a letter from my university (out of SA) and once again if they actually reply and send the letter - will I also be able to use the points towards his application ?.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peanuts Posted March 31, 2015 Report Share Posted March 31, 2015 If you want to claim points for proficient or superior English you need to provide evidence in the form of test results(IELTS or similar). If your not claiming the points then you can provide other evidence for competent English.For your partner you can get 5 points only if you can provide the skills assessment, age and functional English (schooling etc as evidence) all together.Does that make sense? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shellykd Posted March 31, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2015 If you want to claim points for proficient or superior English you need to provide evidence in the form of test results(IELTS or similar). If your not claiming the points then you can provide other evidence for competent English.For your partner you can get 5 points only if you can provide the skills assessment, age and functional English (schooling etc as evidence) all together.Does that make sense?Thanks Peanuts....Yes it makes sense ... back to the drawing board!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shellykd Posted April 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 23, 2015 Hi AllStill scratching on the drawing board and can't seem to get past getting enough points!!!Age is the problem for my partner and he is the main applicant - so with '0' points there - can't see how we can make it to 60 considering he has not worked in Oz (nor done any work in the rural areas there!)....despite being a professional in his field!My degree counts for nothing as I can't find an occupation on either list that I can solemnly prove I have done - despite the fact I have started and run businesses here and in East Africa! Jack of all trades but master of none!Agitated and confused ...yet a glimmer of hope as I read all the positive success stories...Perhaps I need to find an agent ... ... although I thought I could hack it! Just rambling sorry ...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SML Posted April 23, 2015 Report Share Posted April 23, 2015 A friend of mine did IELTS purely for points, she then had enough points to apply for PR. I will be doing the same! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shellykd Posted April 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 23, 2015 A friend of mine did IELTS purely for points, she then had enough points to apply for PR. I will be doing the same!SML - thanks .... yes I was thinking of that...I have managed to get a letter from my university (out of SA) eventually to say I did the degree in English but don't you have to have a skills assessment also to get to add the points ? so distressed .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SML Posted April 23, 2015 Report Share Posted April 23, 2015 My husband got a letter & so did I for skills assessment but for the PR visa(I'm main applicant) I need points so will try get max on the IELTS so that I have enough points. My husband also can't add to my point total with skills assessment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shellykd Posted April 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 23, 2015 SML Thanks for sharing your experience... was also considering the PR.So if I understand correctly, you got an exemption letter from your university/higher education centre but that could not be equated to points - because that just confirms you are 'competent' which is 0 points...So you going to take the IELTS test and max it and get 'proficient' which is 10 points or more?Am I on the right track here ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SML Posted April 23, 2015 Report Share Posted April 23, 2015 That's correct!? Hope to get more than 10? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shellykd Posted April 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 23, 2015 Thanks SMLAll the very best ...There are lots of preparation tests you can take with IELTS ...also hear Pearsons is available in Sandton and easier for some who prefer to type than actually write or talk to a computer rather than a human!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoot Posted April 24, 2015 Report Share Posted April 24, 2015 With many agents you can book an initial assessment - they can give you a heads up on the best route then you can decide whether to tackle it yourself or sometimes people just use the agent for the skills assessment but lodge the actual visa themselves. Look at those sorts of permutations as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shellykd Posted April 24, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 24, 2015 Thanks ZootThink I must do this ... don't want to make a mistake or make assumptions ...Have seen other topics of agents recommended so will attempt the initial assessment and then take it from there.Thanks again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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