Hi, my OH and I have decided to finally take the plunge and hopefully migrate to Australia with our family, but we're not sure where to start or which sort of visa to apply for??

The OH is 37 years young, a qualified Joiner, with 20 years experience, he is self employed, although business has been a little slow over the last 12 months. I am a full time mum, I was planning originally to return to education and qualify as an english teacher before putting in our application, but we have now decided to try and get our visa now, using the OH's profession. We have family in the Kariong area already, my partners uncle has been living there since 1956 and is willing to sponsor us.

Hello Karen.

The skilled migration program is likely to be your pathway to Australia.

More details are on the Department of Immigration website here: http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled...-options-outside.htm

Before you can apply for your visa the main applicant (probably your OH) must have his competencies as a joiner assessed by the relevant assessing body, which will be VETASSESS if you are in the UK: http://www.vetassess.com.au/mi..._my_trade_skills.cfm

The other aspect you will have to consider is the prioritisation of applications within the skilled program, and whether or not to seek Sponsorship from a State or Territory Government under a State Migration Plan. These SMPs have been expected to be published for a few months now, and are presently being held up by the Australian Federal election (the Immigration Minister has to sign off on the SMPs).

If you can secure Sponsorship under a SMP you can anticipate the visa application being processed quickly by the Adelaide Skilled Processing Centre.

Note that so long as you have sufficient documentation to confirm you are indeed your OH's de facto partner only one of you has to meet the requirements for grant of a general skilled visa.

If you would like to discuss further:
http://www.gomatilda.com/contact.cfm#ouroffices

Hope this helps.