Starting our journey

[Natia]

Good morning fellow forum peeps, I have read so much helpful information on this forum and thought it was time to join in the fun

 

My name is Natia and my husband is Antonio together with our 5 babies 2 Boston Terriers and 3 cats. 

We have wanted to immigrate for some time now and applied all over the world, Australia was always our first choice but we gave up some years ago because of quarantine periods they had for pets, only recently have we discovered that this changed and is now only 10 day!!! We will be applying for a 189 permanent visa with Antonio's qualifications under Software Engineer. He got his BSC in 2012 and has 15 years work experience in IT, we signed a agent yesterday, but now the real work begins. 

 

We are so excited and nervous but glad we have a forum where people are going through the same processes and getting successful outcomes. 

[ChrisH]

Welcome @Natia, did he get his BSc in 2012 or 2002?

 

Good luck, I recently went through the ACS certification process and got my successful result back very quickly.  Have you looked at companies for help in moving the fur kids over?

[monsta]

That's brave... finding a rental with all those pets will be hard!

 

What I am saying is the software engineer jobs are in the built up areas   like the Syndey CBD or Melbourne CBD. Finding an apartment that is big enough for two humans is hard, let alone with animals. 

 

In Sydney if you work in the CBD and want to buy a small house that is less than a 1hour 20mins commute from the city (each way)... that's probably 7 years gross salary! 

 

Aussies are some of the most dept ridden peeps in the world .

[Natia]

Hi @ChrisH, he studied part time and it took him a while but he graduated in 2012.

 

The ACS seems to be the difficult part that is going to keep my husband busy for a while as he needs to get reference letters from every job with as much details as possible relating to software engineering. 

 

This whole process is still very confusing to us at this stage, but I am doing ALOT of reading.

If I may ask, what code are you basing your visa on? 

 

Regarding our fur kids, I have phoned up a couple of agencies and received our guidelines and quotes on what needs to happen and when for their travels and its very very costly, nevertheless they are going with!!! 

[ChrisH]

I am applying for 261313 (Software Engineer).

 

My reference letters didn't actually have much detail in it at all.  It basically said something along the lines of:

Chris occupied the position of Senior Developer during his time at x and his key responsibilities included, but are not limited to:

• Production support
• Maintaining existing software platforms
• etc
• etc

Further to that it mentioned whether the company was a Microsoft/Java shop and what my annual salary was when I left.  Essentially a single A4 page per reference is all you need.

 

On the pets, I got quotes for our dogs (pugs).  About R30k each, but that includes vets bills, flights, quarantine and everything else involved.

[Natia]

@monsta , is it really that bad? I had a quick look at rental properties in Melbourne but never thought we would struggle finding something, my fur kids are like my children. Any advice on what we could do?

Edited July 29, 2016 by Natia

[ChrisH]

I would say look at Brisbane as well.  Sure the IT industry is smaller in Brissie, but you will likely find much better accommodation with a proper yard.

 

I think @SurferMan lives in Brisbane and works in IT.

[Natia]

@ChrisH, Did you go the RPL route, and if so with the degree and work experience how many points did you end up with?

 

Because our dogs are short snout dogs, they can only fly with Emirates during winter months 1 April - 31 October. I have not gotten all the costing yet but if I factor in what I have thus far it is around about the same figure. I got quotes form 

Global Paws, Karinga and Animal Travel Services here in Cape Town. Whom did you use, they sound full service 

[ChrisH]

12 minutes ago, Natia said:

Did you go the RPL route, and if so with the degree and work experience how many points did you end up with?

 

What is the RPL route?  I basically sent my degrees, academic transcripts and proof of work experience throught my emigration agent to the Australian Computer Society.  I did my degree full time after school, graduated in 2004 then did my Honours part time.  I am in the fortunate position to be in the age, experience sweet spot so I got full marks (60) for qualifications, age and experience.  Currently waiting for my Pearson results to add some points as Software development was put on the pro-rata list during the last rounds and you now need 65 points minimum to qualify.

 

My dogs are also short snout, haven't heard anything about only being able to fly with Emirates or limitations for time of year.  I think our quotes were for Qantas.  I got a quote about a week ago, just need to look for it.

 

I'll send you a direct message on the pups.

Edited July 29, 2016 by ChrisH
Went and read the quotes properly

[Natia]

@ChrisH, Don't quote me on this, because I myself am not 100% sure how this works yet, but if we go on Antonio's degree finished in 2012 they only factor in work experience after the fact and leaves him with 3 years work experience. So he needs to get the reference letters to prove his work history is related to a Software Engineer and that gets lodged as a RPL to give him work experience points and the degree points.

 

It seems because you finished your degree in 2004 your work experience would be sufficient for max points, the only thing I am wondering about is your code you are applying under. I will send you a private message regarding that. 

[PhatMyles]

I am sure there are lots and lots of people with pets living in the large Australian city centres with all sorts of pets, and they are okay financially. You will be okay. I am just shocked by the pet migration costs. 

 

I have two jack russels I thought of taking with when finally moving. But I haven't taught them there are times when it is inappropriate to bark, so they might end up getting me in trouble. Fortunately I have a baby sister who loves them to bits, and will give them a good home...

[SurferMan]

I am in IT (Solution Architect) and live in Brisbane.

[Waylander]

Pets - tough decision for us, probably the hardest thing about the move.  We had 2 horses, 4 cats and 4 dogs before moving.  Horses are completely out of the equation, but we could not afford to move all of our smaller furry kids - so we had to find homes for them - that was for THE most stressful part of emigrating.  

 

Regarding finding a rental with animals........it is a numbers game.

 

50% dont allow pets at all.

 

The other 50% might allow pets, but the yards are not pet friendly (ie not fenced/walled in properly), so that cuts down the number of rentals you could go for.  

 

Then, if the suburb you are looking for is "desirable" and has a good school, you may be one of 10 applicants for the property - and for most landlords, all other things being equal, they would prefer tenants without pets - so that cuts down your options too.

 

You can find rentals with pets, it is just WAY more difficult and more stressful......

 

 

[ChrisH]

On 30/07/2016 at 0:43 PM, PhatMyles said:

I am just shocked by the pet migration costs. 

 

It is very pricey, I think the breakdown is more or less R20k per animal for transit costs.  The other R10k is vets bills, permits, admin, etc.

 

3 hours ago, Waylander said:

not fenced/walled in properly

 

I never even though of that, South Africans automatically assume a property will have fencing around it!

[ChrisH]

On 29/07/2016 at 3:00 PM, Natia said:

@ChrisH, Don't quote me on this, because I myself am not 100% sure how this works yet, but if we go on Antonio's degree finished in 2012 they only factor in work experience after the fact and leaves him with 3 years work experience. So he needs to get the reference letters to prove his work history is related to a Software Engineer and that gets lodged as a RPL to give him work experience points and the degree points.

 

Did you manage to find out how the RPL process works? 

[RedPanda]

On 01 August 2016 at 2:21 PM, ChrisH said:

I never even though of that, South Africans automatically assume a property will have fencing around it!

 

Hahaha! Yes, the fence between us and the neighbours is all but rusted away into the ground cover, but they have a dog, and somehow he knows exactly where "the fence" is, and never crosses it. I have never encountered such well mannered dogs as the ones here. They are all so relaxed and friendly.

[ChrisH]

2 hours ago, RedPanda said:

I have never encountered such well mannered dogs as the ones here

 

I fear my dogs might embarrass me in that case.  We're thinking of letting them stay at friends/family at first, we can always bring them over later.

[JoVincent]

Hi @ChrisH - what companies did you look at for your pet migration? We have 1 dog. I saw on another thread that the cost was in the region of R80k!! Which completely freaked me. I think it was with Keringa. But perhaps it was outdated, when quarantine periods were longer.

 

If you have some names of reputable (but affordable) pet migration companies, please pass them on

 

Our little dog will definitley not do well without fence barriers, she's escaped once before and ended up at the SPCA, also just loves barking at all the passers by. But at least no monkeys in Aus for her to bark at like we have here in Durbs ;). She goes nuts for them! Also not very car aware. Gosh. Very concerned about the pet friendly rentals issue - we are looking at Sydney and the idea of living an hour and 20 minutes outside CBD doesn't sound too good  

Edited August 20, 2016 by JoVincent
spelling

[ChrisH]

@JoVincentI think the quote was from keringa in the region of R30k. It depends completely on the size of the animal in question so I would say get quotes from a couple or places. 

[RedPanda]

First: We don't have pets. (so that does limit my practical experience on this topic)
BUT...in terms of experiencing interactions with other people's pets...

1. The dogs here don't bark, and when they do, they also seem slightly embarrassed about it and look around for their owners. And this is a dog in its own yard, when we walk by on the sidewalk.

2. People don't shout at their dogs, if the dog barks at me as I'm walking past and the owner is in the yard with the dog, they just give the dog a conversational admonishment.

3. Dogs go out in public with their owners, on a lead, sometimes with a muzzle strap. They don't bark, or jump up, or growl. Mostly the dogs are overtly friendly and the owners are happy to let you pet the dogs if you ask.

4. Dogs get tied outside shops for short times, almost like cowboy horses, and just wait for their owners to get them when they leave the shop (like outside OfficeWorks or Woolworths)

So personally I'd be worried about how well my South African dogs are going to adjust and be accepted in Aus.

But this is just what I've seen so far, and what I think. Like I said at the top: We don't have pets here. Perhaps some people who've brought dogs over and are happily settled in can weigh in on this topic?

[RYLC]

Totally agree RedPanda.  I worry for RSA dogs for these exact same reasons.  In Oz dogs are JUST pets whereas in RSA they have to be guard dogs too.  Whether they can adapt and stop the barking and vigilance will be something to think about.  RSA is stressful for dogs on many levels and they might be too used to this way of being.

 

[PhatMyles]

7 hours ago, RedPanda said:

 

1. The dogs here don't bark, and when they do, they also seem slightly embarrassed about it and look around for their owners. And this is a dog in its own yard, when we walk by on the sidewalk.

2. People don't shout at their dogs, if the dog barks at me as I'm walking past and the owner is in the yard with the dog, they just give the dog a conversational admonishment.

 

My Jacks enjoy barking... They bark all the time, and I have never given a conversational admonishment. I have shouted a few times, but gave up when I saw that it doesn't work. So they bark to their hearts content. So I know they are not coming with....

[Shellfish]

Dogs in Australia are companions not for security so they are regarded as family members and generally are well socialised.

It is safe to take a dog for a walk or to the park and so most people do it (where I live, anyway). Dogs are not just left in the back yard to bark at will. 

Edited August 21, 2016 by Shellfish

[Waylander]

Ha - come stay with us for a week - our neighbour is a policeman with 2 x massive German Shepherds. They bark all the time (much worse when the owners are not home) - and he has NEVER tried to get them to stop.  They get zero attention and might get a walk once every 2 weeks.  Not all Aussie dogs are well behaved........my dogs, on the other hand, are paragons of innocence.....

[RedPanda]

3 hours ago, Waylander said:

Ha - come stay with us for a week - our neighbour is a policeman with 2 x massive German Shepherds. They bark all the time (much worse when the owners are not home) - and he has NEVER tried to get them to stop.  They get zero attention and might get a walk once every 2 weeks.  Not all Aussie dogs are well behaved........my dogs, on the other hand, are paragons of innocence.....

Haha...see, I knew our spot was a bit too good to be universally true...  

But seriously, can't you complain about the dogs? Like formally lodge a complain for 'disturbance of the peace'. (Yes I read that the owner is a policeman, but there have got to be other cops in the area?)