South Africa's long walk to decline

[Ike_009]

Personally I'm hoping to move to Hong Kong or Canada once I finish my articles.

The DA and the EFF will demolish the ANC soon. Its the first time I feel like there is actually real opposition to the ANC.

I doubt it, the masses still have some misplaced faith in the ANC. I believe the general consensus is that the ANC saved us from apartheid and only the ANC can prevent the return of Apartheid (thanks to the ANC brainwashing at our public schools).

[bradbear117]

Well aside from a passport, you need a visa that gives you the right to work and live there, and getting that takes a lot of effort, and money as it turns out. For Aus, a good place to start is to check if your profession is on their skilled occupation list https://www.immi.gov.au/Work/Pages/s...lists/sol.aspx , if it is, you can maybe get in on the general skilled migration program. That's what I'm trying.

You'll also need unabridged birth certificates (and marriage certificate if you're married) for the family, a police clearance certificate, a good CV with references, and documentation for whatever certifications or higher education you have, and you'll have to do an IELTS test to prove that you can speak English proficiently.

If you go through an agent, they will help you through all that and do all the dealing with immigration for you.

Thanks for that info Matt! Looks like I'll have to hitch a ride on my wifes qualifications as she is a chef and its on the list. awesome.

Looking at the recent political forecast we are looking at another 10 years of ANC rule at least. I for one, am not keen.

[shadowfox]

Wow! Amazing it seems the writing is on the wall for everyone because I have also started seriously researching immigration. I feel I have been as positive as I can be but things are just too apparent now. Also looked at Australia and New Zealand and just signed up to go to an immigration seminar in CT 3rd August because I have no clue where to start besides having a valid Passport.

Where can I find out about this seminar? I'd like to take a look as well - given that I'm a qualified HS teacher, and it seems they're looking for some.

[matt]

Thanks for that info Matt! Looks like I'll have to hitch a ride on my wifes qualifications as she is a chef and its on the list. awesome.

Looking at the recent political forecast we are looking at another 10 years of ANC rule at least. I for one, am not keen.

Sure thing dude. And if you can get in with the Skilled Independent Visa (189), which is what that list is all about, it comes with immediate permanent residence, which means you can live and work without restriction anywhere in Aus, and you don't even have to work in the profession that you applied for the visa with. You also get the benefits that full citizens would get, like access to the health care and education systems, which are state funded, and you can apply for citizenship after 4 years or so. Definitely the best visa to get in my opinion.

The agent I talked to says the whole process takes around 9 months, then there's a few months waiting for everything to get finalized, so getting the visa takes around a year. Then you have 5 years to actually make the move.

Try do the free assessment on http://www.migrate2oz.co.za/, if you score enough points on that, then they will call you to do a quote.
I talked to Reuven Abeshouse there, and I keep seeing his name coming up on migration forums and stuff, usually people saying they are using or did use him and his team to handle their visa application, and that they are awesome.

Tip: if you're using an agent, make sure they are MARA registered.

Bear in mind that you will need a lot of money. Sounds like it varies per profession though. The agents are charging R35 000 odd staggered throughout the entire process, but the main expense is visa application fees of around R65 000 (for the family of 3) that you pay straight to the Australian government, then you have to pay for skills assessment with the relevant authority in Aus (which he tells me means that they will double check all my qualifications that I claim to have and transcripts from uni, and they will call my references, particularly my current employer). Then it's around R2400 to sit the IELTS test, and then of course all the little fees involved in getting all the birth certificates, police clearance certificates, passports, etc. So you'll need over R100K just to get the visa, never mind the cost of actually moving there.

So I'm going to have to sell the house just to get a visa, but I should make enough money to get us there as well.

[matt]

Where can I find out about this seminar? I'd like to take a look as well - given that I'm a qualified HS teacher, and it seems they're looking for some.

To be honest, I have friends who went to one of those, and they say it's more of a sales pitch to get people to sign up with the agency than anything particularly informative about living in Australia or the emigration process. But it might vary depending on who's giving the seminar.

But, I think if you're keen, chat to an agent directly, or do an assessment here http://www.migrate2oz.co.za/free-assessment.

If you want to attend a seminar, these guys do them http://www.immagine-immigration.com/seminars/, and I think that Migrate2Oz does as well.

Migrate2Oz have offices in SA and in Sydney, which is handy, immagine-immigration are Aus based and they seem to do tours around the world to do seminars and sign up clients, so you have to wait till they are in town.

[shadowfox]

To be honest, I have friends who went to one of those, and they say it's more of a sales pitch to get people to sign up with the agency than anything particularly informative about living in Australia or the emigration process. But it might vary depending on who's giving the seminar.

But, I think if you're keen, chat to an agent directly, or do an assessment here http://www.migrate2oz.co.za/free-assessment.

If you want to attend a seminar, these guys do them http://www.immagine-immigration.com/seminars/, and I think that Migrate2Oz does as well.

Migrate2Oz have offices in SA and in Sydney, which is handy, immagine-immigration are Aus based and they seem to do tours around the world to do seminars and sign up clients, so you have to wait till they are in town.

Thanks for the info. I'll take a look at them, but taking into account your post above I'll have to do a bit of saving first - I don't have any assets (apart from my car) I can part with for cash. At least I only have myself to worry about.

But I'll definitely check things out in the meantime.

[matt]

Thanks for the info. I'll take a look at them, but taking into account your post above I'll have to do a bit of saving first - I don't have any assets (apart from my car) I can part with for cash. At least I only have myself to worry about.

But I'll definitely check things out in the meantime.

If it's just you, it'll be way cheaper, but you can also look at other visas, which aren't so pricey.

If you do it yourself, then you don't have to pay the agents, and it looks like the 457 (Temporary work) visa is about R10K for application fees, and I think a lot of people get in on that visa, and apply for residence after a couple of years. It's another route to take.

The permanent res visas are, I think, harder to get and more costly up front, but then you don't have to apply for residence later on.

Check here for pricing estimates for visa application fees http://www.immi.gov.au/Visas/Pages/P...Estimator.aspx

http://www.immi.gov.au/ has all the info on all the different visas, options and requirements.

But get hold of the agents, they'll give you an initial assessment, quotes and a bit of advice for free, and to be honest, if your visa application gets rejected because you missed some detail that an agent wouldn't have, then you stand to lose way more money than they would have charged you, so I don't know if it's worth it to do it yourself.

[HavocXphere]

So you'll need over R100K just to get the visa, never mind the cost of actually moving there.

Unless you get an offer where the employer agrees to cover visa & moving costs...

[FarligOpptreden]

I considered the move years ago and I might be moving towards it again. I scoured every thread on www.saaustralia.org back in the day and started reading there again recently. I also considered the 189 visa back then, but the estimates were 12-18 months before it's granted, which is too long for me.

Apparently you can do a 457 (which guarantees work when you land there) and apply for the 189 when you're there. The 189 is granted within 3-6 months if you're already living and working is Aus. The visa fees are also less of an issue, due to the $ being worth more there and the fees won't seem as exhorbitant there.

[HavocXphere]

I scoured every thread on www.saaustralia.org back in the day and started reading there again recently.

http://www.expatforum.com/
...also has a ton of info & old threads about various visa combinations & situations for most countries.