JoVincent Posted June 10, 2016 Report Share Posted June 10, 2016 Hi All, I am fairly new to the forum. Just introducing myself & feel free to give any insights or tips for the great move from SA to Aus! We decided earlier this year that we wanted to emigrate. We had been on the fence, half-heartedly talking about it around a braai a few times last year. But something solidifed this year and we just knew. After a month, we hadn't changed our minds (and still haven't), so we then started researching countries & our options. We settled on Aus mainly because of the lifestyle similarites we could get - the weather, the outdoors, sports, the sea & coastal living (we are from Durban, SA), and what we ultimately want for our kids we feel Australia has to offer (1st world living, education, opportunity). It is certainly a lot more difficult a process to get there (VISA, expense etc), especially considering as my hubby has a British passport so we could have easily made the move to the UK, but we just couldn't reconcile to the idea of grey skies and too many people everywhere you go! So here we are - we are a few months into the process of trying to get a Skilled 189 visa for Accountants. We have signed up with a MARA registered agent (Australian Migration Specialists - based in Rosebank, Jhb), and pretty much collected all the necessary documents from Home Affairs, University, employers etc. My husband wrote the IELTS Academic exam last Saturday. Unfortunately the points threshold for accountants has gone up this year (70 points needed), so he has to score 8 out of 9 on every section. He felt confident with how it went as he prepared well for the exam, however he is concerned that he may not have scored well enough on the writing. He is left handed and has always struggled with the legibility of his handwriting . We will get the results on Friday - cross fingers that we got the marks! If he got sufficient marks for the skills assessment (7 out of 9 on each band), then at least our skills assessment will go off straight away. We are thinking of signing up for the Pearsons test instead if necessary, as it is computer based . So hopefully his skills assessment will be back by mid July, and by then he has his English scores so that EOI can be submitted. And then I suppose it is a waiting game for an invitation!? It seems that there are so many steps left to this process and it will all take time. But I think that's a good thing - it gives us time to truly be at peace with our decision and motives for leaving, and to prepare ourselves mentally for the move. So I guess my only questions at this stage are: - have any of you used our agent, and have you had a good experience with them? - would any of you recommend the Pearsons test instead of the IELTS, to achieve higher scores? I'm sure I may have more questions along the way - and this forum really is a great way of gathering information about the journey. I have already starting some light reading Thanks for taking the time to read the above (if you managed to make it all the way to the bottom). It's a tough place to be because it's not something we are really talking about with friends & family all that much, for reasons that all of you are familiar with I'm sure. So it's nice to be able to speak to people who have been through this process already. Hope you all are having a great weekend wherever you are... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monsta Posted June 10, 2016 Report Share Posted June 10, 2016 Good Luck!. Unfortunately I haven't used your agent... and when I did my VISA the IELTS was the only real option. But yes, South African's don't really get why anyone would want to migrate. For over 90% of migrants moving out to Australia is all about money. The Aussie dollar isn't going to go from R3 to the USD to R15 to the USD by the time I retire. Lets be honest, very few people predicted the current situation with the Rand. So, how do you plan for retirement in 30 years? e.g. will it go back to R3 to the USD??!? Nobody would a reasonable intelligence can say, "there is more to life than being able to afford to retire one day". For me, leaving was about certainty. If I quite my job, I will find one in 3 months. If I leave my job in 15 years, I will find another one in 3 months. If you follow what I mean. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sol1 Posted June 11, 2016 Report Share Posted June 11, 2016 (edited) I wish you all the very best in your journey though and eventually to your new life down under. ? Edited June 11, 2016 by Sol1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DXB2OZ Posted June 11, 2016 Report Share Posted June 11, 2016 IELTS markers are not allowed to mark down for handwriting. The only concern is if they genuinely cannot make out a word or sentence. Best of luck to you. There are so many varied characters on this forum, someone usually has value to add no matter what the question. It's a good bunch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackoFam Posted June 11, 2016 Report Share Posted June 11, 2016 Welcome to the forum. It sounds like you guys are doing well thus far. I understand the feeling of needing somewhere to chat about this journey. I agree with @DXB2OZ most South Africans don't understand why we want to emigrate so its wonderful to have this "safe" space Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Husky Posted June 19, 2016 Report Share Posted June 19, 2016 Welcome. Also "newish" to the forum and am so grateful to have this safe space to share my thoughts and learn from those that have been there and done it. We have not told anyone yet and so this is the only place I feel I can get sound, positive advice and feedback. With regards to the English test, my husband did both and actually preferred the IELTS format but ended up getting the Superior scores we needed on the PTE. Much easier to book and find test date availability. If you go the PTE route, suggest buying the gold package preparation package. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WillemPrinsloo Posted June 20, 2016 Report Share Posted June 20, 2016 We are on the more or less the same time line as you guys. My wife did her IELTS test but unfortunately did not score 8's all round. She scored 7,5 for writing and 8's and 9's for the rest. At least we could use her scores for the skills assessment. She is writing the Pearsons test next month. The emotions that we are going through is crazy at the moment, but every time I think we are making a mistake I just think of the reason(s) we decided on this in the first pace. Our laaitie is 18 months old and I cannot see a future for him in the country. Another way I motivate myself is to think that we only live once. Why not take a chance like this? I try and see it as a big adventure. Good luck with the rest of your process. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoVincent Posted June 20, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 20, 2016 6 hours ago, WillemPrinsloo said: We are on the more or less the same time line as you guys. My wife did her IELTS test but unfortunately did not score 8's all round. She scored 7,5 for writing and 8's and 9's for the rest. At least we could use her scores for the skills assessment. She is writing the Pearsons test next month. The emotions that we are going through is crazy at the moment, but every time I think we are making a mistake I just think of the reason(s) we decided on this in the first pace. Our laaitie is 18 months old and I cannot see a future for him in the country. Another way I motivate myself is to think that we only live once. Why not take a chance like this? I try and see it as a big adventure. Good luck with the rest of your process. My husband got his results last Friday - and he missed an 8 on reading by 0.5, the rest were fine. So frustrating!! He has also booked the Pearsons for next month. So we're in exactly the same place as you :). Good luck for the PTE! From what I've heard it is easier to score higher (we hope)! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoVincent Posted July 11, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2016 @WillemPrinsloo Hi Willem, I thought I would update you, not sure if your wife has written the Pearson's test as yet, but my husband did a week ago and did WAY better than IELTS (he got the required 80s and 90s for the different bands). So I do believe it is easier to score higher in Pearsons than the IELTS. The tests feel just as (if not more) difficult as IELTS, but the marking more lenient and scoring higher. Would definitely recommend buying the Gold package as practice, it really helped him to prepare and is worth the cost, as you then know exactly what to expect. Please shout if you need any prep tips for the Pearsons, my husband made a list and sent to another friend, so I could forward it onto you. All the best! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WillemPrinsloo Posted July 12, 2016 Report Share Posted July 12, 2016 Thanks JoVincent. that is great news for you guys. My wife is writing the 22nd. If you don't mind please PM me the list. Any help will do. We did buy the gold package as well. We are now waiting for Skills Assessment and then we are ready to lodge the EOI. Hopefully it all comes together in the next few weeks for all of us. Thanks again for the feedback. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SurferMan Posted July 15, 2016 Report Share Posted July 15, 2016 Well done @WillemPrinsloo, Never give up and its all one big adventure! Thats PRECISELY the way we view it. And guess what, it works! Keep going my friend, you will succeed. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoVincent Posted August 2, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 2, 2016 Just received news from our agent that my husband has received his invite to apply!!! Over the moon with happiness ???. And it's his birthday today too, what a great gift. Now hoping for smooth sailing with the visa application. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deezo Posted August 2, 2016 Report Share Posted August 2, 2016 Fantastic news @JoVincent Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yuvi Posted August 2, 2016 Report Share Posted August 2, 2016 Great news @JoVincent Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 3, 2016 Report Share Posted August 3, 2016 Well done Jo. It is a fantastic feeling knowing your one step closer to being here in Oz. All the best going forward.? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mangels Posted August 14, 2017 Report Share Posted August 14, 2017 (edited) Hi We wrote our IELTS two weeks ago and my husband missed his score by 1 in one of the sections. He need to rewrite all of the IELTS setions right? Edited August 14, 2017 by Mangels spelling Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Husky Posted August 14, 2017 Report Share Posted August 14, 2017 @Mangels Yes, he will need to do all sections again. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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