Jan 12, 2023
Australia’s General Skilled Migration
Skills shortage is a major economic consideration for Australia. It is estimated that NSW will need over 300,000 trade or diploma qualified workers by the year 2015 to avoid economic crisis. Australia has been granting thousands of skilled visas to eligible applicants and judging from the recent forecasts, it doesn’t look like the trend will change anytime soon.
To qualify for skilled migration to Australia, visa applicants must earn enough points based on age, work experience, trade or occupation, education, English competency and other considerations including presence of close relatives in Australia and previous work or study in Australia. Additional points may be earned if you will be sponsored by a state that has need for the skills you possess.
Many visa subclasses fall under the General Skilled Migration Program (GSM). Understanding each of the subclasses takes considerable time and effort. We at Globe Migration Australia are here to make sense of it all for you. Our objective is to help you avoid the usual mistakes made by independent visa applicants that result to the lodging of incomplete applications or worse, denied applications.
Is Skilled Migration for You?
You will qualify under the General Skilled Migration Program (GSM) if you are a professional or a skilled worker who satisfies the following conditions:
1. You have particular skills for required occupations in Australia.
2. You do not have employer sponsorship.
If you meet the above qualification requirements, you must then decide if you will apply as either of the following:
* Skilled-Independent
* Skilled-Sponsored
Assessing your eligibility for a skilled visa to Australia is a long and complicated process. You can visit the Australian government’s immigration website to complete an Online Self-Assessment. It will help you understand better the kinds of information that will be required should you decide to proceed with your Australian visa application. If you need to discuss the results of your Online Self-Assessment pls. consult a migration in Australia lawyer. A licensed migration agent will be glad to assist you further.
Skilled Migration Visa Options
The requirements and obligations vary depending on the particular visa option. You may seem eligible for a number of them so it is best to read carefully through each of them and decide which Australian visa option best fits your personal circumstances.
Visa Options If You Are in Australia
1. Skilled-Independent Visa (Subclass 885) – to qualify for this visa you must be under 50 years old; competent in the English language; have skills for an occupation in the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) and be one of the following:
* Current or former overseas student
* holder of a subclass 485 visa or subclass 476 visa
* holder of a subclass 471 visa.
Under Visa subclass 885, you and any secondary applicants will be allowed to remain in Australia as permanent residents.
2. Skilled-Sponsored Visa (Subclass 886) – to qualify for this visa, you must be under 50 years old; competent in the English language; have skills for an occupation in the Skilled Occupation List (SOL); have an eligible relative in Australia who is willing to sponsor you OR nominated by a participating state or territory government agency; and be one of the following:
* Current or former overseas student
* holder of a subclass 485 visa or subclass 476 visa 升學顧問
* holder of a subclass 471 visa.
Under Visa subclass 886, you and any secondary applicants will be allowed to remain in Australia as permanent residents.
3. Skilled-Regional Visa (Subclass 887) – to qualify for this visa you must have lived in a Specified Regional Area for 24 months at least and worked full time in that same area for a minimum of 12 months; and you must be a holder of any of the following:
* Skilled – Designated Area – Sponsored visa (subclass 496)
* Skilled – Independent Regional visa (subclass 495)
* Skilled – Regional Sponsored visa (subclass 487)
* Skilled – Regional Sponsored visa (subclass 475)
Under this visa, you and any secondary applicants will be allowed to remain in Australia as permanent residents.
4. Skilled – Regional Sponsored Visa (Subclass 487) – to qualify for this visa you should either have a nomination from a participating state or territory government agency or be sponsored by an eligible relative living in a designated area of Australia; you must be under 50 years old; competent in the English language; have skills for an occupation in the Skilled Occupation List (SOL); and you should be any of the following:
* Current or former overseas student
* holder of a Skilled-Recognised Graduate visa (subclass 476) or a visa (subclass 485)
* holder of an Occupational Trainee visa (subclass 442).
* holder of a Trade Skills Training visa (subclass 471)
* holder of a Working Holiday visa (subclass 417)
Under this visa:
* You can live and work in a Specified Regional Area for up to 3 years
* Your secondary applicants are allowed to work and study, but only in the same Specified Regional Area
* You may be able to apply for permanent residency in Australia.
5. Skilled – Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) – to qualify for this visa you must be under 50 years old; have earned an eligible qualification in the last 6 months after at least 24 months of study in Australia and have skills for an occupation in the Skilled Occupation List (SOL). Under this visa you and secondary applicants included in your application can remain in Australia for up to 18 months with no restrictions on work or study.
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