Australian Employer Sponsored visas
Highly skilled individuals, who have the expertise and the qualifications to match, are in high demand in Australia.
- Published in Immigration to Australia, Working in Australia
FAQS: Australia Visitor Visa
If you are planning on travelling to Australia, you may or may not require an Australia visitor visa. It all depends on various factors and where in the world you are situated.
It is always highly recommended that if you are considering immigrating to Australia that you go and visit the country first.
Today we wanted to share need-to-know information on the Australia visitor visa.
What visa do I need to visit Australia?
The visa you need depends on what your visit is for, and how long you plan to stay.
There are five visas for visiting Australia:
- Visitor visa (subclass 600).
- Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601).
- eVisitor (subclass 651).
- Medical Treatment visa (subclass 602).
- Special Category visa (subclass 444) – New Zealand Citizens.
What should I know about the visitor visa (subclass 600)?
The Australia visitor visa under this category allow you to visit Australia and remain in the country for a period of up to three months. You are allowed to engage in business activities, provided that:
- You do not sell goods to the public; and
- You don’t work for or provide services to a business or organisation in Australia.
This is the most common visa used for people who reside outside of Australia and who would like to visit family and friends for up to three months at a time.
What should I know about the Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601) visa?
This visa subclass lets you enter Australia as many times as you want, for up to three months at a time, for up to 12 months after the visa has been granted. This is suited for tourists or if you are travelling for business visitor purposes.
What should I know about the eVisitor (subclass 651) visa?
eVisitor is for people who hold passports from certain countries and who want to visit Australia for recreational or business purposes. You will be allowed to enter Australia as many times as you need to, for up to three months at a time, for up to 12 months after the visa is granted.
What should I know about the Medical Treatment visa (subclass 602)?
This visa subclass is reserved for people who have certain medical procedures or appointments in Australia.
What should I know about the Special Category visa (subclass 444) – New Zealand Citizens?
This category visa is only for New Zealand citizens who hold a valid New Zealand passport. It is geared towards a person who wants to visit Australia for working, studying or tourism purposes.
I want to visit Australia
If you want to visit Australia, have questions about visiting Australia or need help with emigrating to Australia, then please do not hesitate to contact us. Simply call us on +27 (0) 21 202 8200 or email us here.
- Published in Immigration to Australia, Short-term Visas
Australia Facts
Each country in the world is unique in its own way; Australia is no exception to this rule. In fact, you may be very surprised to learn that Australia is actually a very interesting country. There are many interesting Australia facts that are unknown to even some of the people who have lived in the country for years.
- Published in Immigration to Australia, Life in Australia
Child visa (subclass 802): The basics
The subclass 802 is a very important visa subclass to know about. If you have children and would like to learn more about the Child Visa (subclass 802) then you have come to the right place. Today we will be sharing with you all the information which you will need to know about this particular visa subclass category for Australia.
- Published in Immigration to Australia, Your family and Australia
Moving to Australia with children
Moving to Australia with children can be an extremely daunting experience. Children need time and special attention during the transition from one country to another. Many families across the world face the prospect of moving abroad, however it is crucial to try to make the process less stressful for your children.
- Published in Immigration to Australia, Tips for your move
How to prepare for the move to Australia
Planning your big move to Australia ahead of time is going to benefit you and your family in many ways. For one it will definitely help you to feel more in control and at ease.
Moving to another country with your family is such a big step, that it is easy to become scatterbrained. It is therefore important to stay ahead of your plans and to not get side tracked.
Here are some tips on how to prepare for the move to Australia
- Create that much needed checklist.
- Ensure all your documents are up to date.
- Leave nothing up to chance.
- Prepare months in advance.
- Make sure you have your international driver’s license.
- Don’t forget documents for the whole family.
- Keep all your paperwork in a very safe place.
- Remember that all your documents need to be originals and not copies.
Divide up your checklists
When it comes to knowing how to prepare for the move to Australia, the best way to do this is by creating multiple checklists.
Many people find it much easier to create a series of checklists and to work through them as opposed to only have one and having to cram unrelated things onto it. Remember these checklists can be as big or small as you need them to be.
Suggested checklists to create:
- Documentation
- Personal items
- Valuables
- Medical records
- Work documents
- Children’s items
- Financials
Get support from friends and family
The move to Australia is a big one and not something you should take lightly. It is highly recommended that you get as much support and help as you can from the people who know you best.
It may also be a good idea to get advice and tips from family and friends who have moved abroad. They will be able to share with you some helpful first hand tips and tricks to make things a bit easier.
Stick to your schedule
Moving to Australia with children can be stressful for the whole family. By sticking to your schedule you will be not only be helping your children but also yourself. Maintain your old routines, such as eating meals together at the same time, keep bed time the same and maintain consistency in Australia. This will help your children to feel safe and secure.
Communicate with your family
When it comes time to prepare for the move to Australia, it is very common to experience a mixture of emotions. Remember that everyone processes and deals with things differently. Your partner may deal with the move in a different way to you. Your children may also deal with the move differently. It is very important to communicate openly with your whole family and to discuss your feelings together.
- Published in Immigration to Australia, Tips for your move
Moving abroad with your partner to Australia and the effect on your relationship
Moving abroad with your partner to Australia is an excellent decision to make. Australia is a fantastic country filled with all sorts of possibilities and opportunities. However it needs to be acknowledged that moving abroad with your partner to Australia can have an impact and an effect on your relationship.
Even though you may feel the stress and strain of moving abroad with your partner to Australia, this does not mean that your relationship has to suffer. In fact if your follow our helpful tips, your relationship can actually grow positively. Ultimately it all depends on the way you and your partner handle the big move to Australia.
Dealing with the stress of moving abroad with your partner
It is natural in relationships to take out your frustrations on the person closest to you. In this case when you have moved abroad with your partner they will be the person closest to you. In general no two people deal with the stress in the same manner. Both of you may be dealing with the stress and changes in completely different ways. This can cause all sorts of arguments, frustrations and bickering.
The positive aspects about moving abroad with your partner
Some of the most positive aspects about moving abroad with your partner to Australia are that your relationship has the potential to grow tremendously. Going through the trials and tribulations which you will face through the Australia emigration process, can bring you closer together.
Facing a new set of challenges together as a couple can help your relationship become stronger. Working through everything together and building a new life can be exciting and powerful.
Useful tips to deal with the move to Australia as a couple
Here are some helpful tips to help you deal with the strain and pressure and to overcome it stronger than ever.
- Do not tell your partner what to do.
- Listen and be empathic.
- Encourage your partner to Skype or call friends and family at home.
- Encourage them like a team mate not like a parent or boss.
- Take some time out and do relaxing things together.
- Understand that you are both different people and may deal with the move differently, embrace your differences.
- Rather acknowledge your own mistakes than blame your partner.
- Remember to apologise and stay humble.
- Try to keep the connection alive.
- Focus on the romance and all the beautiful things you can do in Australia.
- Being good companions to each other can help when missing home.
- If you are both struggling consider seeing a counsellor.
- Complement each other.
- Give your partner credit when they do something well.
- Try to make room for your partner’s views even if you disagree.
- Try to remain rational and calm.
- Understand that your feelings of anxiety are your own; do not blame your partner.
I want to live in Australia
If you think that Australia will be a good fit for you and your family and you would like to start your journey to Australia, then feel free to contact us.
- Published in Immigration to Australia, Tips for your move
Applying for Australian residency
Are you looking at applying for Australian residency? Seeking to make Australia your new home?
Intergate Emigration is one of only a handful of companies here in South Africa that is owned and managed by a licensed Australian Migration Agent – we can help you with your ambition of applying for Australian residency.
Your first step in applying for Australian residency
Applying for Australian residency means you are competing with other likely emigrants from all over the planet. What you need to take away from this simple fact is that not everyone will qualify to make an application for Australian residency.
Australia has in place a robust emigration process and qualifying criteria. It is designed to ensure that only needed emigrants will qualify for residency. By needed, we mean for example, suitably skilled migrants that have experience and qualifications that are in short supply in Australia.
There are some obvious precluding factors that should be your first step in seeing whether you can proceed with applying for Australian residency. These include you age, English language ability, health and criminal history.
You can see if you meet this criteria by emailing us here or telephoning us on 021 202 8200 or 011 234 4275.
Your second step in applying for Australian residency
Once you have met the basic criteria you need to then look at your occupation. Beware – this sounds straight forward enough but it is an area that is very commonly got wrong.
Many people go online to do this and are pleased to see they appear on either the skilled occupation list or consolidated sponsored occupation list. In seeing this they believe they have the right occupation for making an application for Australian residency.
There is however far more to it then simply matching a job title. Can you prove, and do you meet the required qualifications, experience and skills for you to be accepted as this occupation in Australia.
As an example we can take a plumber with 5 years experience. In this case does the plumber have the required qualifications and experience to be able to pass the skills assessment which is needed when applying for Australian residency?
If this step is not done correctly it can result in you spending considerable sums of money on an application for residency that will not be successful.
Get more information by emailing us here or telephoning us on 021 202 8200 or 011 234 4275.
Your third step in applying for Australian residency
Australia operates a skilled migrant program which is points based. It requires you to score a certain amount of points in order to make an application for Australian residency.
- If your occupation is on the skilled occupation list this point score needs to be 65 points plus.
- If your occupation is on the consolidated skilled occupation list it needs to be a minimum of 65 points but higher may be needed depending on the individual states requirements.
Calculating your points score may again seem deceptively easy. You can read more here about online Australian emigration assessments, but let us sum it up by saying most people get it wrong.
Common errors include:
- Nomination of the wrong occupation.
- Awarding of too many points for experience.
- Awarding of points for qualifications that do not count.
- Doubling up on the points score for some areas where you can only score once.
The points score should be done in conjunction with a formal assessment, by a licensed migration agent. The formal assessment should look at all the qualifying criteria that you would need to meet when applying for Australian residency as well as your points score and occupation.
The formal assessment is the foundation of you applying for Australian residency and mistakes made at this stage are simply compounded up throughout the process of your application. Once again meaning you may waste money, time and worse still not qualify.
Find out more about being assessed for making an application for Australian residency by emailing us here or telephoning us on 021 202 8200 or 011 234 4275.
Your fourth step in applying for Australian residency
As we referred to above, nominating an occupation is not enough – you need to prove you can indeed carry out that occupation to Australian standards. This moves us on to the skills assessment part of applying for Australian residency.
In most cases a skills assessment needs to be carried out in order for you to be able to proceed with applying for Australian residency. Depending upon your occupation Australia has a number of skills assessment authorities and it is to one of these the application must be made.
A positive skills assessment is vital in proceeding to the next step of your application and without it you will not be able to apply for Australian residency.
It is also highly likely during this step of the migration process you will need to prove your English language ability by the taking of a suitable test such as IELTS.
Find out more about skills assessments and English language requirements by emailing us here or telephoning us on 021 202 8200 or 011 234 4275.
Your fifth step in applying for Australian residency
Now you have been formally assessed, received a positive skills assessment and met the English language criteria you can proceed with compiling and submitting an Expression of Interest application into what is known as SkillSelect.
The Expression of Interest is formally stating your interest in applying for Australian residency. It records the details from your formal assessment, English language test and skills assessment – amongst other information.
It is vital this information is correct. The information provided is taken at face value and you will be selected for an invitation to apply for residency based on what you have submitted.
The subsequent application, responding to the invitation to apply, needs to be an exact match or you risk your application for Australian residency being unsuccessful.
Your sixth step in applying for Australian residency
The Invitation to Apply, which derives from your Expression of Interest being selected by SkillSelect. Once you have received this you have 60 days in which to respond with your full application.
As above, and we cannot stress this enough, the application needs to be 100% correct and inline with your expression of interest. Government application fees are expensive and there are no refunds.
Summary
The devil as they say, is always in the detail. Our licensed migration agents are trained and qualified to guide you through each and every step of you applying for Australian residency.
Get started today by emailing us here or telephoning us on 021 202 8200 or 011 234 4275.
- Published in Immigration Advice, Immigration to Australia