we are 139ers also, and have our visa.
You will need a sponsor and an butturor for this route, your butturor doesnt have to be related but the main criteria is he has to earn a certain amount per annum. this is a complicated area as tax etc comes into it also.
If you are opting for designated area 139 and do not lodge your application before July, then you will have to stay on a temporary visa in the designated area for two years!! at the moment you dont have to do that you can pretty much live anywhere! after the two year period,, you then apply for permanent residency. You can start the whole process asap as your visa is usually open to validation for approx 1 year after the meds-police check whichever is soonest (unless there are problems etc. then it is six months) so in theory you could apply this year, get your visa by the end of the year and move out summer 07 (approximate!!) or you could simply validate your visa and return to the UK until you are ready to move! the agents may be able to advise more on this one as i am not 100%.
regarding your trades buttessment, my advice on this is to be extremely thorough!!!! they are particularly keen on your training background and specific duties etc. type your work as if you were teaching a child, break everything down into basic language therefore allowing someone who knows nothing about your profession to understand your training and your job!! pay particular attention to your training courses, and again break everything down into basic step by step structure!! we failed TRA first time, therefore once bitten twice shy and all that!!
Its a long rollercoaster process, therefore sooner you start, sooner you know!!
good luck
vb2
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