Wanted Down Under recently featured Visa
Bureau clients Tanya and John Wilson
(Image: BBC)
We were delighted to see some current Visa Bureau clients appear on the BBC's
Wanted Down Under programme recently.
Tanya and John Wilson have both been in the midst of the Australia visa application process for a couple of years now, with their situation summarised in the BBC's programme listings as follows:
"The Wilson family from Liverpool want more space and better weather to enjoy an outdoor life. They try out life in Perth, Western Australia, for a week. John Wilson finds a potential job as an artisan baker. But, the family hadn't bargained on the emotions they experience at the prospect of leaving friends and family back on in the UK."
Sadly, the programme in which they appear is no longer available on the BBC iPlayer (although we're sure it'll be repeated at some point on the future).
However, we recently got in touch with Tanya to get her thoughts on the Wanted Down Under experience, as well as how they've been helped by Visa Bureau in their process of emigrating to Australia:
“I’m absolutely buzzing about Australia and I can’t wait to move. We all loved Australia, our family are all behind us to go, so we have all the support we need,” she said.
“Perth did seem brighter, not congested. It was nice, bright, airy and not daunting at all.”
“We had a good experience meeting expats and Australians and getting a taste of the day-to-day life. Household chores are always going to be the same, but experiencing the outdoor lifestyle was different,” she said.
The Wilson family at the bandstand in
Adelaide Botanic Park.
(Image: Tanya Wilson)
"John spent some time with the New Norcia bakery in Mount Hawthorn, Perth. Director Kingsley Sullivan, the staff and customers were lovely. John really enjoyed his experience there.
Filming for Wanted Down Under was a little daunting for the family, but ultimately they found it a rewarding experience.
“The filming process was brilliant, although you did have to follow a strict filming schedule and you did feel a little like stars having to stop and re-film sections. It was a worthwhile experience.”
Tanya said the family enjoyed the week in Perth, which was filmed in September last year, and have chosen to complete the process and emigrate to Australia to live in Adelaide.
"We went to Perth as that was the only option for filming but it still gave us a great insight into Australian life, of which we loved every minute," Tanya said.
The Wilson boys are Owen 12, Callum 14, and their hobbies include karate, fishing, walking and camping
"For ourselves, karate, camping, walking and we really enjoy the beach be it summer or winter. Our karate club, GKR Karate, originated in Australia, which we also attended courtesy of Wanted Down Under in Perth. The boys loved every minute, except the thought of leaving friends and family. Owen has his case 'theoretically' packed already," Tanya said.
The Wilson family lodged their Skilled Visa application around the same time of filming Wanted Down Under, and unfortunately have been affected by recent changes in processing by the Australian Government and are still waiting for approval.
Tanya though is upbeat, and remains positive.
“I’m very optimistic and positive about the move, although my husband is a little worried that we won’t be able to go,” she said.
Visa Bureau caseworker Leonie Cotton helped the Wilsons with their application, and Tanya said her help through the skilled migration application process was invaluable.
“It would have been an awful lot of hard work if we had decided to do the application process without Visa Bureau, particularly on the initial preparations. As much as we did our own research and preparation the help with writing and re-writing the application questions was excellent. Our application under the Trades Recognition Australia was accepted the first time, we didn’t have to resubmit.
“I’ve recommended Visa Bureau to my friends and I wouldn’t have done that if I wasn’t happy with the service.”
- Stephanie Bradley is Content and Communications Editor for the Australian Visa Bureau.
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Visa Bureau takes no responsibility and cannot be held accountable for action taken as a result of any information or comment provided on this blog, and we recommend that you always seek a number of opinions before making a decision regarding your migration or visa application. Please refer to the Visa Bureau terms of use for more information.
