SID is a temporary visa that allows Australian employers to sponsor overseas skilled workers when they cannot find suitably qualified Australian workers to fill genuine skill shortages.

This visa can provide a pathway to permanent residency for eligible applicants and currently has no age limit.

Main Streams of the Subclass 482 Visa

Core Skills Stream

This is the most common stream for skilled workers.

Eligibility Requirements

You must:

• Be nominated in an occupation listed on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL)
• Have at least 1 year of relevant full-time work experience (or equivalent part-time experience) within the last 5 years
• Meet the relevant skill requirements for the occupation
• Meet English language requirements unless exempt
• Be nominated by an approved Australian sponsor

English Requirement

Generally:

• IELTS overall 5.0 with minimum 5.0 in each band, or equivalent
• PTE Academic equivalent accepted

Visa Validity

• Up to 4 years
• Hong Kong passport holders may stay up to 5 years

Permanent Residency Pathway

Eligible applicants may apply for permanent residency through employer-sponsored pathways such as the Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186), subject to meeting eligibility requirements.

Specialist Skills Stream

Designed for highly skilled professionals earning above the specialist income threshold.

Eligibility Requirements

You must:

• Work in a highly skilled occupation (excluding certain trades, machinery operators and labour occupations)
• Receive a salary above the Specialist Skills Income Threshold
• Meet skill and English requirements
• Be sponsored by an approved Australian employer

Benefits

• Faster processing priority
• Broader occupation flexibility
• Pathway to permanent residency

Labour Agreement Stream

This stream applies where employers have a Labour Agreement with the Australian Government.

Eligibility Requirements

You must:

• Be nominated under an approved Labour Agreement
• Meet the requirements specified in the agreement
• Have relevant skills and work experience
• Meet English requirements specified in the agreement unless exempt

Visa Validity

• Up to 4 years
• Up to 5 years for eligible Hong Kong passport holders

For further in depth information regarding Skills in Demand – SID (Subclass 482) visa, please book a free consultation with our registered migration agent.

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The burning question of how to get permanent residency in Australia has been in the mind of many internationals as Australia gained popularity as the destination for international students. In this post, we have laid out the procedure in the simplest way possible in this post for your convenience. 

Skilled migration program Australia – What is it?

The Skilled migration program of Australia is designed to attract migrants from particular fields who make a significant contribution to the Australian economy, and stimulate economic growth. There are various streams of skilled migration programs such as Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189), Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190), Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491), etc.

In this post, we will shed light on the pathway to Australian Permanent Residency (PR) via skilled Independent Visa (subclass 189) with an example of an international student who has completed an IT degree in Australia. Nevertheless, the process is fairly similar and can be used for other occupations in the skilled list as well.

To be eligible for any skilled migration program, your nominated occupation must be an eligible skilled occupation in Australia or be closely related to it. You can check that on the official Department of Home Affairs website. Similarly, you must understand how the points system works in Australian migration programs. Skilled independent visas are based on points systems where you get a certain number of points for each category such as age, education, relevant work experience, your English language proficiency, etc. 

The procedure to Skilled Independent (subclass 189) Visa – Simplified

Step 1: Gather relevant documents and take an English test ( PTE or IELTS or any other equivalent test) to maximize your points.

Step 2: Get your skill assessed 

Step 3: Lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI)

Once you have received your skill assessment certificate, you can lodge an expression of interest via the Skillselect online portal. No documents are required to be attached at this point.  After you have lodged your EOI, you simply wait for the invitation for the visa.

The time of wait depends on your nominated occupation and your total points. The minimum bar set by the department to get an invite is 65 points. Logically, the higher your points, the sooner you may get the invite. It can take anywhere from a few weeks to months or even a year. However, please note that due to the high volume of applications and competition,  lodging an EOI does not guarantee that you will receive an invitation to apply for the visa.

Step 4: Lodge Visa application

In case you receive an invitation, you will have 60 days from the date of the invitation to lodge your visa application. You will be required to submit supporting documentation such as, passport, English test report, qualification, proof of skilled experience, skill assessment certificate, etc. Likewise, you will also need to fill in many other details such as your travel history, residential history, family information, etc.

Further, during the visa processing, you will be required to present police clearance certificates and go through a medical examination. 

And, that’s it! Then you wait for your visa outcome.

Please note that this is a general guideline on how you can apply for permanent residency in Australia. Every case is different, and we highly recommend getting assistance from a registered migration agent if you are unsure of anything. 

We provide all education and migration-related services, and also provide assistance to apply for skill assessments. If you have any related queries, please feel free to contact us.

Looking for ways to increase points for migration? Check out our post on  5 ways to increase your points for migration to Australia.

The post Getting Permanent Residency in Australia appeared first on Noble Career Gurus.

Completed your studies in Australia? You may be eligible to stay, work and gain valuable Australian experience through the Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485).

The 485 visa allows eligible international graduates to:
Live in Australia temporarily
Work full-time
Travel freely
Include eligible family members in the application

The 485 Visa currently has 2 main streams:

Post-Vocational Education Work Stream
This stream is for graduates with qualifications linked to occupations in demand in Australia.

Stay up to 18 months
Requires a nominated occupation on the skilled occupation list
Positive skills assessment required

Post-Higher Education Work Stream
This stream is for graduates who completed an eligible higher education qualification in Australia.

Typical visa durations:

Bachelor Degree – usually up to 2 years
Master by Coursework – usually up to 2 years
Master by Research – usually up to 3 years
PhD / Doctoral Degree – usually up to 3 years

Additional stay periods may apply for:
• Eligible Indian nationals under AI-ECTA
• Regional graduates
• Hong Kong & BNO passport holders

General Eligibility Requirements:
• Must be under 35 years of age (Under 50 for Master by Research or PhD graduate)
• Must apply while holding an eligible visa within the required timeframe
• Must meet the Australian Study Requirement (minimum 2 academic years)
• Must meet English language requirements

English Requirement:
IELTS: Overall 6.0 (minimum 5.5 each band)
PTE Academic: Overall 55 (Listening – 40, Reading – 42, Writing – 41, Speaking – 39)
Other Acceptable Language Tests are:

CELPIP General, LANGUAGECERT Academic, MET, OET, TOEFL iBT

Visa Application Charge:
From AUD 4,600
(Additional charges applies for dependants)

Important:
485 visa rules and eligibility criteria can change frequently. Planning your studies and future migration pathway early is very important.

If you have any further queries regarding Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) Visa , please feel free to contact us and book a free consultation with our registered migration agent. 

The post Temporary Graduate VISA appeared first on Noble Career Gurus.

Australia has gained immense popularity as one of the best study destinations in the world. The steady rise in the number of international students since 2013 is evident that Australia is indeed a hotspot for international education.  This surge of international students in Australia is not surprising given the quality of education, secure lifestyle, career opportunities, and a welcoming multicultural environment that the country provides. Here we provide you with other essential facts you must know about student visas in Australia. 

Student VISA subclass 500

On 1 July 2016, Australia introduced a simplified student visa framework (SSVF)  assigning all student visas under subclass 500 as opposed to the previous framework where student visas had multiple subclasses depending on the sector of course undertaken. An international student in Australia can study in any education sectors such as English Language Intensive Course for Overseas Students (ELICOS), School Education Programs,Vocational Education and Training Program (VET), Higher Education, Postgraduate Research, non-award sector or any full time course sponsored by the Department of Foreign Affairs or Defence.

Nevertheless, regardless of the sector of intended study, all students must apply for Student Visa subclass 500.

What you can do with a Student Visa in Australia?

• Stay up to 5 years participating in an eligible course of study
• Bring family members to Australia to accompany you
• Work for 40 hours per fortnight
• Travel in and out of the country

Eligibility to apply for a Student Visa to Australia

• Must be 6 years or older
• Hold a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) for an eligible course of study
• Hold Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) to cover you for the intended stay in Australia unless you are eligible for exemption
• Prove that you have a welfare arrangement if you are under 18: One can get welfare arrangement in Australia or have a guardian accompany them on a student guardian visa subclass 590.
• Meet English language requirements: English language requirements must be met for course enrolment as well as visa application by taking a recognised English language test. These requirements vary according to the course and education provider.
• Have evidence of financial support for your proposed study and stay: Generally, the student is required to provide evidence of financial capacity to cover themselves for the intended stay in Australia.
• Meet health & character requirements: All visa applicants must pass health examinations prior to visa grant.
• Be a genuine temporary entrant(GTE):  GTE requirement is an integrity measure to ensure that the student visa programme is used for the intended purpose and not used as a way for international students to maintain ongoing residency in Australia. All student visa applicants must submit a personal statement showing they are coming to Australia temporarily to gain a quality education. 

Visa application Cost: AUD 620 for the main applicant, unless they are exempt.There is additional charge for each family member who applies for the visa, and you will also need to consider other costs such as police certificates, health examination, biometrics, etc.

Processing Time: Visa processing times vary according to the type of study undertaken. Filling an application incorrectly or not including all the required documents can delay processing time.

No Visa Label: Australian Visas are digitally linked to corresponding passports. Hence, no physical visa label is required on your passport. Your type of course and its duration determines the length of validity of your visa.

After the Student Visa

You must leave the country when your student visa expires, unless you apply for a new visa before the expiry date. Completing of some courses may lead you to a pathway for Temporary Graduate visa subclass 485 which could extend your stay for another 2 to 4 years. It is important to be aware of your visa expiry and research options beforehand, if you intend to stay longer in Australia.

The motive of this blogpost is to provide a basic overview of the Student Visa (subclass 500). Please visit https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au for the latest information on student visa and seek professional advice from a registered migration agent. 

We are a team of Qualified Education Agent Counsellors(QEAC) and Migration Specialists ready to guide you towards your dream of studying and migrating to Australia. Please feel free to contact us if you need any further details regarding any Australian visas or need assistance with studying in Australia. 

All our education services are FREE of charge.

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Do I need a Migration Agent? What type of assistance and guidance can I expect from a migration agent? Many questions might come to your mind when it comes to deciding if you should get the help of a migration agent for your visa processing. To answer those questions, it is imperative to understand the following.

Who are Registered Migration Agents?

Registered Migration Agents(RMA) are the only professional agents that are legally allowed to provide migration advice. A qualified Migration Agent must hold a current legal practising certificate issued by the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority(OMARA). 

In Australia, it is illegal for anyone else other than a Registered Migration Agent to provide migration advice.

It is mandatory for migration agents to abide by a Code of Conduct regulated by the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA) and stay up-to-date with all migration provisions, and procedures. They must also renew their registration annually.

With detailed knowledge of Australian migration law and procedure, registered migration agents are expected to provide you with an honest assessment of your circumstances and advise you the most suitable visa options. However, it is also important to note that an agent can only do this if you give them all the information they need. It is for your best interest that you must be honest with your agent and provide them with your full details and a clear picture of your circumstances.  

Benefits of a using a Migration Agent 

• Access to Up to date information: A registered migration agent must be up to date with the current legislation, types of visas and migration provisions. Correctly interpreting a myriad of migration provisions is not an easy task especially if you are not familiar with the Australian immigration system. The provisions are also regularly amended and it is difficult for a layman to be up to date with all the recent changes. 

• Assessment & Genuine advice: Migration is a complex process and trying to figure out what’s the best visa pathway for you can be a daunting experience without access to up to date information and correct guidance. A migration agent has the knowledge and experience of working with different types of visas that enable them to provide you with a true assessment of your circumstances and provide you with genuine advice on the visa options as well as help you choose the best pathway.

• Answer to all your migration queries: A migration agent answers all your visa related questions identifying your issues and possible solutions, clearly explaining the pathways, options and alternatives based on your situation. 

• Save time and stress: Based on your current situation a migration agent will assess, research and identify pathways using available information and relevant knowledge of the legislation in preparing your visa application and liaise with the Department of Home Affairs on your behalf saving you a lot of time and stress.

• Prevent mistakes that may end up costing you a fortune: Using a migration agent can prevent you from making mistakes in your visa assessment and application that may end up costing you thousands of dollars otherwise. There have been many cases where DIY applicants misinterpreted the instructions and ended up ruining their visa outcome. A registered migration agent is expected to be competent and up to date with the legislative requirements of the visa procedure which implies that using a migration agent leaves no room for error. 

• Higher success rate: Even though a migration agent cannot guarantee you the successful outcome of visa applications, it is a fact that registered migration agents have high success rates given their experience and expertise in the field.

Using a migration agent has many benefits, however, neither can a migration agent fast-track your visa application nor can they guarantee you any particular visa outcome.

RISKS of not using a registered migration agent: 

• Incorrect interpretation of eligibility: While trying to interpret the information available on the Department of Home Affairs website, there is a high tendency of incorrect interpretation that leads to individuals making mistakes that lead to visas being refused. The most common error is people not understanding the eligibility criteria properly that leads to them having the misconception that they are eligible for a visa when in reality they are not. 

• Lack of understanding of the process: Another huge risk is not having a complete understanding of the entire visa process and other key factors such as migration skill assessment. Fulfilling the visa requirements set by the Department of Home Affairs becomes complex when you do not understand the process clearly. From uploading wrong documents, not knowing the correct format to prepare official documents, or not providing substantial evidence; there are many potential risks that you are vulnerable to without a migration agent; that can lead to visa refusals. Many people tend to take this lightly to save money that would have been spent on agent fee, however, a mistake ends up being way costlier in the long run and a visa refusal leaves a negative immigration record that will impact your future visa application to any country.

• Lack of accountability: While one may get information about visas from people, it is crucial to understand that any other individual than your nominated registered migration agent cannot be held accountable for the information or advice they provide you. If a registered migration agent misguides you or does not provide the services that he must, you can hold them accountable and report them to the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA).

How to choose a migration agent?

With the increasing number of migration agents, it has become crucial to be able to filter out the rest and choose the best one for your visa processing. We hear about cases of registered migration agents misleading clients for their own benefits making the clients suffer more in the long term, which has created some sort of negative image of migration agents. Lodging a visa application based on incorrect advice by providing false hope to clients is one of the most common mistakes that careless migration agents commit. Dishonest agents take advantage of the fact that clients are eager for a positive outcome of visas with little to no information about migration. 

Following are some crucial factors that you should consider while selecting your migration agent.

Knowledge and experience: The more experience a migration agent has, the better understanding they have of the migration scenarios and the better advice they can offer. Make sure that the agent you are choosing has ample knowledge and experience in dealing with cases similar to yours. Nevertheless, one must keep in mind that more experienced agents charge higher fees for their service.

Professionalism & Ethics: Professionalism and ethics are the foundation of migration advice. A good migration agent is professional in his dealing with clients and provides ethical guidance that is best in the interests of the client. One can assess this on their first consultation with the agent.

Honesty: A good migration agent is honest. They understand the fact that no migration agent can promise a positive outcome of a visa and alert their clients about any potential risks involved. Make sure you do some research on your own, so you can cross-question your agent. 

Accessibility: As a migration agent, one must be easily accessible when clients need their service. How long does the agent take to respond to your queries? Do they call you back when they say they will? How good are they at managing time for their clients? All of these play a strong role in a quality migration service experience.

Cost: If you have decided to look for a migration agent, cost should be the least powerful factor in determining who you select. However, you must consider the cost so it aligns with your budget. The cost of using a registered migration agent will vary depending on the number of factors for e.g., their level of service, their expertise and specialization, etc. However, the industry-standard service fees and charges are regulated by OMARA that means you cannot be ripped off in the service fees by any migration agent. 

Last but not the least, the  most important steps you must take while choosing a migration agent is:

Check the registration of your migration agent: All registered migration agents are listed on the  Register of Migration Agents. You can go to  https://www.mara.gov.au/ to check if the migration agent you are considering is registered or not.

Check reviews and referrals: Do not forget to check reviews of the migration agent that you are considering. Getting opinions from people who may have taken their service before is one of the best ways to assess a migration agent.

The above-mentioned information is general guidelines to help you decide if you need a registered migration agent and how to select a good one if you do. 

If you have any migration-related queries or need a consultation with a registered migration agent, please contact us to schedule a free appointment. We are here for you!

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