Migrating to Australia

THE BASICS

Australia is a unique and diverse country in every way – in culture, population, climate, geography, and history.

Culture
Australian culture is as broad and varied as the country’s landscape. Australia is multicultural and multiracial and this is reflected in the country’s food, lifestyle and cultural practices and experience. Australia has an important heritage from its indigenous people, which plays a defining role in the cultural landscape. This diversity of influences creates a cultural environment in Australia that is lively, energized, innovative and outward looking.

Population
As of December 2014, Australia’s population is roughly 23.6 million people. The most populous states are New South Wales and Victoria, with their respective capitals, Sydney and Melbourne, the largest cities in Australia. Australia’s population is concentrated along the coastal region of Australia from Adelaide to Cairns, with a small concentration around Perth, Western Australia. The centre of Australia is sparsely populated.

Climate
The majority of Australia experiences temperate weather for most of the year. The northern states of Australia are typically warm all the time, with the southern states experiencing cool winters but rarely sub-zero temperatures.
Snow falls on the higher mountains during the winter months, enabling skiing in southern New South Wales and Victorian ski resorts, as well as the smaller resorts in Australia’s island state, Tasmania.

Geography
Australia is an island continent and the world’s sixth largest country (7,682,300 sq km).
Lying between the Indian and Pacific oceans, the country is approximately 4,000 km from east to west and 3,200 km from north to south, with a coastline 36,735 km long.
Canberra is Australia’s capital city. With a population of approximately 380,000 people and situated in the Australian Capital Territory, Canberra is roughly half way between the two largest cities Melbourne and Sydney.
Australia has 19 listed World Heritage properties. Australia is also famous for its landmark buildings including the Sydney Harbour Bridge; its ancient geology, as well as for its high country.

Legal system
Australia follows a Westminster system of government and law inherited from the British who originally colonised the country.
There are two main political parties and a number of minor parties, which make up the Commonwealth Parliament. Each state and territory also has its own government.

Migrating to Australia VIA the Australia SkillSelect Program

What is the Australia SkillSelect Programme?
As recent as 2012, Australia re-hauled its immigration method and introduced the Australia Skill Select.

SkillSelect is an online service that helps Australia manage its skilled migration programme.
• It helps to ensure that the skilled migration programme is based on Australia’s economic needs.
• It supports the government in managing who can apply for skilled migration, when they can apply and in what numbers. As a result, the time taken to process a visa application is significantly reduced.
• SkillSelect also helps address regional skill shortages.
• SkillSelect allows intending migrants to indicate if they are willing to live and work in regional Australia. This is of particular benefit to employers experiencing regional skill shortages and state and territory governments attempting to settle migrants in regional Australia.

How can you apply for the SkillSelect?
Skilled workers and business people interested in migrating to Australia can be considered for a skilled visa by submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect.

An EOI is an indication that you would like to be considered for a skilled visa. An EOI is not a visa application. You will be asked to provide a range of information in your EOI depending on the visa you want to be considered for, such as:

• basic personal information
• nominated occupation
• work experience
• study and education
• level of English skills
• details of a skills assessment, related to your nominated occupation
• business and investment experience.

These skilled workers and business people can then be found and nominated for skilled visas by Australian employers or state and territory governments, or they might be invited by the Australian Government to lodge a visa application.

All people interested in the points based skilled migration or business investment and innovation visa programmes will need to submit an EOI and receive an invitation in order to lodge a visa application.

For more detail on what questions and information you will need to supply in your EOI, you should refer to the web page of the visa you are interested in.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF AUSTRALIAN VISAS

Skilled Independent (Sub-Class 189) Visa

This visa is meant for the professionals and trades persons willing to apply under independent stream of skilled immigration to Australia. This visa is available only by invitation.

Skilled – Nominated (Sub-class 190) visa

This visa is for the aspirants sponsored by a state/province of Australia.

Skilled – Nominated or sponsored (Provisional) (Sub-class 489) visa

This visa is a temporary entry permission that is available on endorsement of your candidature either by a provincial/state authority or by a qualified relative defined and deemed as eligible for sponsorship. Proceedings for this visa are initiated by creation of a profile by way of expression Of Interest (EOI) on the skill select platform which will be online.

Employer nomination scheme (Sub-class 186)

This visa is for overseas workers and for migrant workers already residing in Australia on temporary visa. This is part of permanent employer nomination scheme.

Business innovation and investment (Provisional) (Sub-class 188) visa

This visa is part of Australian Business innovation and investment program aimed at boosting the business scenario in various parts of the country thereby generating economic benefits for the domestic economy.

Business innovation and investment (Residence) (Sub-class 888) visa

This Visa is a second stage visa of business innovation and investment program. This visa is granted on fulfilling preconditions of temporary visa under subclass 188.

Australia Sub-class 457 visa

Australia Subclass 457 visa is temporary entry permission for the migrants who have been sponsored by an Australian employer to work in a trade endorsed by authorities. An employer can nominate an overseas worker for trades where they are unable to source requisite expertise from local market.

Business Talent (Migrant) (Sub-class 132) visa

This visa is available by invitation only. The proceedings to obtain this visa are initiated by creating a profile through an Expression of interest – EOI on Skill select platform. While filing an EOI choice of sponsoring state can be indicated.

AUSTRALIAN VISAS EXPLAINED

Skilled Independent (Sub-Class 189) Visa

This visa is meant for the professionals and trades persons willing to apply under independent stream of skilled immigration to Australia. This visa is available only by invitation.

STEP 1: Expression of Interest
The process for this visa section starts with submission of expression of interest – EOI in skill select platform.

To be eligible for applying under this subclass of visa you must be
• Working in occupation indicated in SOL
• Score a minimum of 60 points in the point based assessment
• Been invited to file for visa
• Less than 50 years
• Having accredited and evaluated credentials from the designated evaluation authority
• Having certified English proficiency (IELTS)
• Meeting minimum health standards as per Australian definitions
• Having a clean background

Salient features of this visa classification include
• No requirement of arranged employment under the ENS or nomination by an province of Australia
• You will be able to live and work anywhere in Australia and permanently
• Facilitation for inclusion of certain family members in visa application
• You will have an unrestricted freedom to study in country
• It will be possible for you to avail some categories social security grants (waiting periods applicable)
• You will be able to register for Medicare facilities
• Eligibility for citizenship after fulfilling the permanent residence condition

Skilled – Nominated (Sub-class 190) visa

This visa is for the aspirants sponsored by a state/province of Australia.

The first step to avail such a visa is to create a profile on skill select platform through expression of interest – EOI. The EOI will be created in accordance with the availability of the trade in skilled occupation list – SOL. This category relies on nomination by an Australian state for a particular trade. You can file EOI application with valid and positive skills assessment and required IELTS score.

There are certain prerequisites that you must meet before filing for visa under this classification. You must

• Be sponsored by a state for an occupation in SOL
• Have a certified minimum level of English linguistic skills (IELTS)
• Be working in an occupation indicated in SOL
• Have skills evaluated from a designated evaluation agency in premise of your profession
• Be under 50 years
• Attain a minimum score of 60 points in point based assessment
• Satisfy minimum health requirements as per Australian standards
• Have a clean background

Moreover it will be obligatory for you to
• Live and work in state sponsoring your visa for a minimum term of 24 months
• Furnish you updated address and residence details to state authorities
• Participate in surveys and furnish required inputs from time to time
• Submit an EOI

Salient features of this classification include
• Be able to live and work permanently in Australia
• Have an unrestricted access to educational facilities
• Have permission to register for Medicare facilities and some social securities grants (waiting period applicable)
• Be able to nominate certain family members in application for visa
• Be able to sponsor relatives for permanent residence
• Apply for citizenship after fulfilling the requisites or permanent residence as permanent resident and be a citizen at a later stage

Skilled – Nominated or sponsored (Provisional) (Sub-class 489) visa

This visa is a temporary entry permission that is available on endorsement of your candidature either by a provincial/state authority or by a qualified relative defined and deemed as eligible for sponsorship. Proceedings for this visa are initiated by creation of a profile by way of expression Of Interest (EOI) on the skill select platform which will be online.

EOI can be created for an occupation indicated in skilled occupation list – SOL. EOI must also indicate you preference of state you wish to be nominated by or details of relative you wish to be sponsored by. In case you do not choose any specific state your details will be
available for access to all provincial authorities.

Salient features of this visa subsection include
• Able to live in Australia temporarily
• Study in parts of the country travel in and out of the country within the validity period of
• visa
• Include some family members in application for visa
• Ability to file for permanent residence of Australia via Skilled Regional (Residence) visa (subclass 887) after fulfilling required parameters
• Validity of the visa is for 4 years

There are certain prerequisites that you must satisfy before filing for visa under this section. You must
• Be under 50 years of age
• Have minimum certified English linguistic skills (through IELTS or at par exam)
• Be sponsored by a state or a territory or a qualified relative residing in specified region of Australia
• Have submitted an EOI to be sponsored by relevant authority or relative
• Be working in SOL listed occupation
• Have your credentials evaluated from designated evaluation authority in premise of your trade
• Be able to score a minimum of 60 points in points based assessment

Moreover it will be obligatory for you to
• Reside and work in the region sponsoring your visa or specified area for a minimum of 2 years
• Keep authorities updated of any changes in your residential details
• Participate in surveys and furnish required information from time to time
Employer nomination scheme (Sub-class 186)

This visa is for overseas workers and for migrant workers already residing in Australia on temporary visa. This is part of permanent employer nomination scheme.

There are 3 alternative options under this subclass. Salient features of this visa:-
• If you are in Australia on visa subclass 457 and employed for last 2 years and employer
wants to employ you permanently this visa acts Temporary transitional pathway.
• If you have little or no work experience in Australia, this acts as Direct entry pathway.
• If you have been nominated by an Australian based employer under labor or regional
migration agreement, this subsection acts as agreement pathway.
• This section offers relaxations and relief in terms of age, skill and English proficiency on basis of nominated trade, remuneration, and employment profile.
• In case there is an absence of employer sponsorship you can file an Expression Of Interest on skill select platform to be identified by prospective employers, provincial authorities for nomination.

This visa allows you to
• Reside and seek employment on permanent basis in Australia
• Include family members in visa application
• Unrestricted access to education
• Register in Medicare and avail social security grants
• File for Australian citizenship after fulfilling permanent residence stipulations
• Sponsor other people for permanent residency
• Travel in and out of country for 5 years

There are certain prerequisites that you must meet to be eligible for this subclass of visa
You must
• Be sponsored by a qualified Australian employer
• Be under 50 years of age
• Satisfy stipulations regarding qualifications, skill and language.

Business innovation and investment (Provisional) (Sub-class 188) visa

This visa is part of Australian Business innovation and investment program aimed at boosting the business scenario in various parts of the country thereby generating economic benefits for the domestic economy.

NOTE:
• This visa is available on invitation only.
• The proceedings for this visa are initiated by creating a profile through Expression of Interest –EOI on Skill Select platform under business innovator or Investor categories. You can indicate the states you want to choose or leave the option open to be picked up by any province as per their requirements.

This visa is available under 2 categories
1. Business Innovation is for the migrants willing to establish and manage their business actively by way of establishing a new concern or investing into an ongoing enterprise.
2. Investor category is meant to facilitate migrants aspiring to put their funds into qualified and specified investment venues in an Australian region and wish to sustain investment after completion of original investment goals.

With this visa you would be able to
• Include your family in the visa application
• Travel in and out of Aussie shores for 5 years
• File for permanent residence under subsection 888.

There are certain necessary prerequisites, which you must fulfill before being invited to file for visa.
• Create an EOI
• Be sponsored by a province
• You need a certain level of experience defined as satisfying for both the categories
• In business category you must have a strong track record duly evidenced
• In investor category you need to evidence you direct involvement in investment
management in qualified venues in at least of one of previous 5 fiscal terms before being
invited for filing for visa
• Be under 55 years of age
• Have a successful business and/or investment track record
• Be able to score a minimum of 65 marks in point based assessment
• Have a minimum required personal and business net worth (that can be your and your partner’s)
• In business innovation category your total financial credentials must include Gross asset value of AUD 800000, which can be remitted to Australia within 2 years of grants of visa. You must also have registered a turnover of AUD 500000 in preceding 2 years (of previous 4 fiscal terms) of applying for this visa.
• In investor category your financial credentials include a gross asset value of AUD 2.5million. You must also make investment into qualified investment venue before grant of visa.
• Able to evidence to your intention of continuing venture in your category after completion
of initial goals.

Moreover it will be obligatory for you to
• Actively participate in venture or investment initiated by you.
• Apply for an extension of visa for 2 years in case your specifications are yet not fulfilled.
• Update authorities of change in your personal details such as change of address and addition to family for e.g. new arrivals

Business innovation and investment (Residence) (Sub-class 888) visa
This Visa is a second stage visa of business innovation and investment program. This visa is granted on fulfilling preconditions of temporary visa under subclass 188

There are 2 categories in this visa
1. Business owners for those who own and run their visa in Australia
2. Investors who have sustained investment in the qualified venues and specified region of Australia and have strong intent to maintain their investment in the country after the maturity of original program goals.

With this visa you can…
• Own and run business or investment permanently in the country
• Live and work permanently
• Include family members

Prerequisites for this visa
• Must be holder of temporary business innovation and investment visa
• Have been sponsored by Aussie province or region
• Have fulfilled all pre conditions of original temporary arrangement
• Have fulfilled category specific requirements like business innovation
• Created at-least 2 full time jobs for Aussie citizens or Permanent residents or NZ passport
holders
• Played an active role in management of main business (or 2 main stay) established for a
minimum of 2 years preceding to application
• Have complied with all statutory and regulatory requirements for each of establishments.
• In a year preceding to application achieved:-
1. A turnover of a minimum of AUD 300000
2. A net business asset value of AUD 200000 of main (or 2 mainstay) business and
net business
3. and asset value of AUD 600000
• Owned share of the establishments in specified ratio pattern
For Investor
• Maintained qualified investment for a minimum of 4 years
• Complied with all statutory and regulatory requirements in relation to your investment
• Intend to continue with investment

Australia Sub-class 457 visa
Australia Subclass 457 visa is temporary entry permission for the migrants who have been sponsored by an Australian employer to work in a trade endorsed by authorities. An employer can nominate an overseas worker for trades where they are unable to source requisite expertise from local market.

This visa is a 3 stage process which includes
Employer applying to be a sponsoring party through
1. Standard business sponsorship
2. Labor agreement. The qualified employer can go on to nominate a skilled labor for the position that cannot be domestically recruited. The nomination is valid for one year.
3. Hired and nominated worker files for visa with a validity of 4 years

Benefits of this visa
• Enter live and work in Australia for a period of 4 years
• Include your family in the visa application
• Unrestricted permission to travel in and out of country
• The remuneration paid is at par with the prevalent market rate for the similar position along with all other perks and grants

Prerequisites for applying for subclass 457 visa
You must
• Be nominated by an employer to be employed on a listed skilled trade
• Have necessary qualifications, training, experience and track record to suffice for the
position
• Have minimum requisite English ability
• Be qualified for any endorsements or registrations needed for listed trade
• Have required health cover
Business Talent (Migrant) (Sub-class 132) visa
This visa is available by invitation only. The proceedings to obtain this visa are initiated by creating a profile through an Expression of interest – EOI on Skill select platform. While filing an EOI choice of sponsoring state can be indicated.

This visa is available under 2 categories
• Significant business history class for the affluent business owner with substantial financial
credential and with an intent to establish and run their newly established corporate or take
over an existing concern
• Venture capital entrepreneur for migrants who have been able to source funds in tune of minimum of AUD 1 million from an Aussie venture capital organization.

This visa permits you to
• Reside and work permanently in Australia
• Travel in out of borders for 5 years
• Include family in the application for visa
• Set-up a new or acquire an ongoing business in Australia

General Requisites
• You must be under 55 years
• Be nominated by a provincial authority

Specific requisites
• You should have a significant business history
• Minimum net assets of AUD 400000 in a qualifying business with a annual turnover of AUD 3 million (in one or main businesses) in at-least 2 years of previous 4 years preceding to filing for visa
• Have a personal net worth in tune of AUD 1.5million which are Transfer ready funds within 2 years of grant of visa
• A proven business track record and performance
• Venture capital
• You must secure funds in tune of AUD 1.5 million from an Australian risk capital funding
organization to convert, set-up and improvise on an exceptional business innovation into
commercially viable and successful product