Try answering these questions from the website below to assess your eligibility for any of the visas available.

http://www.immi.gov.au/visawizard/#vw=%23a_intro

Alternatively, consult a migration agent (costs more $) to do an assessment before proceding with the application.

Unfortunately your Marketing qualification is not a 'in need' category currently in AUS. Chances are you will require to take IELTS, however passing requirements might differ like what Vaedoris mentioned. For me I was only required to score an overall of 7 points, under the 'General Training' version. There are two different versions in IELTS, 'Acadamic' & 'General Training', people who are applying for academic reasons (e.g. further studies) will require to take the 'Academic' one, which is more difficult. The rest will only require to take 'General Training', which is an easier test.

This post has been edited by rg470: May 6 2013, 11:44 AM

I beg to differ, as the process is long and complicated if you are not familar with the process. An agent will help you through short cuts (though not always, case-by-case basis) and cut down time reading and figuring out how to provide and fulfill the process requirement. It is more so if the applicant is applying in a family which requires to submit countless of documents or an off shore applicant. The DIAC will also demand you to resubmit documents if deem unsatifactory.

The conclusion is you'll need an agent if:

1. English is not your first language, you'll need to fully understand the terms in the forms so that you furnish them the correct/required information. Else you risk delays, given a run around or even rejection.
2. No contact, relatives, or friends residing in Australia as your reference (depending on the type of application)
3. Off shore applicant (meaning applying from outside Australia)



This post has been edited by rg470: May 7 2013, 01:58 PM

Graduating from an Australian university no longer enables/qualify youself as an PR applicant, gone were the days when DIAC officers go to universities to give out application forms to final semester/year students. They now demand you to return to your country of origin as soon as you complete your studies and then apply whatever visa application you intend to from there onwards with the exception if you can secure an employer/state sponsored visa before your student visa runs out.

I agree, my sister did the same through online just before she graduated, that was about 4 years ago. It then took about a year to get it approved. If you are applying through skill migration, you'll need to have relevant work experience of at least 3 to 5 years (depending on type of industry/skill), or Australian working experience (sounds stupid to me coz' you don't get hired here without the visa in the first place). When I myself went looking for jobs online here, they will fail you as soon as they know you are not a PR or relevant working visa holder.

My sister applied for KPMG here and the 1st question they asked on their job application website was, "Are you a XXX visa holder?" Answer "No" and it will bring you straight to "Unfortunately you do not meet our recruitment requirements, thank you". LOL

It is always cheaper hiring an agent from AUS directly, there are plenty of formally malaysian agents around who understands our background and needs.

Even if one fully understands the forms and instructions given, you still lack of the tips & shortcuts of getting through and fast, which I think it all matters at the end of the day. Knowing someone who have gone through the application process is good, but remember all applications are vetted case-by-case basis so it might not apply to yourself.
You sounded like a permanant visa holder/citizen, mind sharing what sub-class did you apply for?

This post has been edited by rg470: May 8 2013, 09:00 AM

I think agent fees are pretty standard, the only difference is the type of visa you're applying and the different fees you need to pay.

That is all because you do not have the "Australian" working experience and do not recognize our malaysian working experience, but there are exceptions where in industries which they have no one or no choice then only they will take into account. Therefore the best way to maintain your whatever position/experience is through employer transfer.

Yes, but you'll need to proof your skills. For your case you'll have to write an CV to ACS (Australia Computing Society) to get it certified, best if you could take one of their certification. It is also a must to have all those IT certifications from Microsoft, Cisco, Linux, VMware etc.

How's the job market there? WA property/rental is carzy right now, average $550 per week!

You wished, not furnished of course!

Having said that, their meaning of 'not furnished' will still consist of basic things like kitchen cabinets, stoves with hood, carpet, basic bathroom furniture, window blinds, Air-con & dishwasher (if you're lucky) etc....

Renting here is a world apart compared to back home, you'll subject to an inspection by the agent/owner about every 3 months, you'll have to clean the whole house before they inspect or else risk getting your bond deducted or even black listed.

This post has been edited by rg470: May 9 2013, 04:07 PM

Buy instead of rent, with the interest rates now record low, no point puting your $$ in term deposits.

Haha, that's where your building inspection report comes into play when you first move in. You'll need to jot down every little defect in the report, and submit it to the agent. Make a copy of the report before you send if possible coz' mine never return a copy for me (by right they should). Lucky me

You're right mate! Mind telling which suburb you were looking? I was looking at Canning Vale, Harrisdale area but the accessibility is a problem if you need to drive to the city to work, heavy traffic. Unfortunately, the taxes here are getting higher & higher and utilities rates are increasing almost 6% every freaking year! I guess the only thing I can shout about is I get to save like $40k p.a together with my wife, but that's with no kids & mortgage.

Buy a house near the train station & bus station, can save buying car (if you don't do road trips ). My banker advised me to play safe, take a maximum of 70% only, just in case if shit happens, you never know. I think medical & income insurance is very important, especially people like me starting a family. The only problem now is I have yet to have the amount for that 20-30% downpayment, not to mention others fees like stamp duty, settlement agent fees etc etc..... Avoid the subburbs in the east and south east, lots of goverment housing filled with Abos.

Don't choose a house right opposite the station lah, else you get the train to "wake" you up everyday A house within 10 minutes walking distance to any train/bus station will be just fine. You might also want to choose a house within reputable school zones, for e.g. in Perth high schools like Rossmoyne, Willetton & Applecross are one of the popular top schools here. You don't hire a lawyer here, we hire a Settlement Agent where he will do all the necessary submition of documents & fees, but they'll charge around $1500. Have a look below an example of the breakdown of the fees and charges:

v Purchase Price $939,000.00
v Our Standard Fee ($2,343.35 less 50.93% inc GST) $1,150.00 (Settlement agent fee)

Government Fees
v Stamp Duty $39,474.00 (4% of purchase price)
v Registration Fee $350.00
v Title Searches $84.00
v Water Corporation Enquiry Fees $41.35
v Approximate Local Authority Enquiry Fee $65.00
v Land Tax Enquiry Fee $35.00
v Clause 42 Enquiry Fee $25.00
v Approximate Landgate Fees $30.00
v Total GST on Disbursements $35.54

Disbursements
v Bank Cheque Fee $10.00
v Postage $25.00
v Telephone $25.00
v Photocopies and Miscellaneous $15.00

Total:980,364.89

You'll also have other optional things like building & pests inspection fees if you're not buying a brandnew property, which will costs you about $600.

Haha, that's someone else's house, I just used it for example. The house is 700sqm, old but renovated with pool, in one of the high school zones mentioned. Building costs here is very different from Malaysia, for one you can't just simply hire a few bangla and do it, lots of rules and red tapes. Wages are one of the highest. One tip, since you say you're in the construction line. If you can't find a job after sometime, self-employ as a tradie here(blue collar jobs), I know a certified plumber here earns easily $150k p.a.

I know a Singaporean couple who bought land & build the house themselves without signing up a package with a builder. At the end of the day, they told me it's not worth it as it just takes up too much time, took him 2 years from start to end the of the day he got the keys & CF officially. If you really want to save, buy a land yourself, sign-up a package with a builder, try not to change the layout from the original design as you will incur extra costs for any changes. In this way you get goodies like kitchen appliances & centralised A/C which is good & useful. On top of that, you get builder's warranty which usually go up to 10-20 years, warranty is transferable so if you sell less than say 20 years you can sell for more.

A typical house takes around 10-12 months to build from the ground here.