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Registered Agents are bound by a Code of Conduct to protect your rights as a client. Principal Migration Agent Emily Surina MARN 2318036 Consumer Guide & Code of Conduct: Consumer guide English (mara.gov.au) | Code of Conduct March 2022 (mara.gov.au) |
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Want to Work whilst you Visit Australia? How can this type of visa help me towards permanent migration? As a general rule, those who visit Australia are not permitted to work… but if you are looking to migrating to Australia, a working holiday visa can be a great starting point. This visa is granted for 1 year and will give you time to see different cities and towns to decide what might suit your work and lifestyle. You are also open to work in any occupation or job. This gives you the opportunity to show your worth to an employer who may be in a position to then sponsor you on to a proper full-time working visa. It is also one of the rare visas that still allows you to apply for a student visa whilst in Australia if you need to upgrade your skills. And at just $650 AUD its great value! working holiday visas – subclass 417 and subclass 462Common criteria: ~ starting age 18 years… maximum age 30 years or 35 years (depending on the country of your passport) ~ for your first visa, you must be outside of Australia to apply ~ if you are a dual citizen, you can only qualify for your first visa provided you have not previously held a 417 visa or 462 visa, so no swapping from one visa subclass to another using different passports. ~ have enough money to support yourself upon your initial arrival into Australia as it can take you some time to find employment. The expected amount to show is $5000 AUD plus the cost of a ticket to depart Australia ~ be in good health (you will be required to undergo an official medical check) ~ be of good character (you will need official police certificates to show this) ~ generally, you have not previously had a visa cancelled or refused, this could cause you to have an exclusion period applied to you. Which country passport qualifies for a subclass 417 – Working Holiday Visa:
Which country passport qualifies for a subclass 462 – Work and Holiday Visa:
Other requirements for subclass 462 eligible countries:~ Education: Many countries require that you have completed a tertiary education or at least 2 years of an undergraduate university degree. Acceptable tertiary qualifications: degrees, graduate certificates, diplomas. Higher level (certificate I to IV) and High School certificates are generally not accepted. ~ Functional level of English (not applicable to all countries, check with us): There are different ways you can prove your functional English level. The most common is you hold an approved passport (USA, UK, Canada or Ireland); have completed schooling delivered in English; or you pass an approved test – eg IELTS, PTE, Cambridge. OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER and know:How can you qualify for another visa to stay longer in Australia?
A great bonus of this visa is that by doing a few months of specified work in regional Australia will open the door for you to apply for a second, and possibly, a third visa! That’s 3+ years of building your work experience and possible sponsorship to staying more permanently in Australia. What is specified work in regional Australia? Australia is a BIG country and there is work in all the 4 corners of the land. The government wants to encourage you to explore and help the smaller cities and towns. It’s possible you may actually fall in love with the people, area and work – enticing you to stay longer or even to seek permanent residency. What areas of Australia are “regional”? Put simply – stay away from most capital cities – especially Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth. Amazingly some capital cities are still deemed regional – like Adelaide, Hobart, Darwin. How long do you need to work? To qualify for a 2nd visa – you will need to work at least 88 days (3 months) full-time or equivalent time to qualify. And to qualify for the 3rd visa – double this again, 179 days (6 months). What is “specified work”? There are a range of jobs that can meet this criteria. Examples of this are: - Tourism and Hospitality industry (in very remote areas) - Fruit and/or vegetable picking and packing - Taking care of animals being reared for consumption such as cattle herding - Fishing and Pearling directly related to commercial operations - Building construction - Work in bushfire effected areas to help with re-building/re-growth of the area As you can see, there is a variety of work and ways to meet criteria for a 2nd and 3rd visa. Great Australian Migration offers a "work, time and location check" service to those in Australia and to those that have gone back home and now want to try for their 2nd or 3rd year visa. We will check your documents such as reference letters, pay slips, contract and/or other proof in support of the work you have done, the location of where it was done and that you have enough hours/days to satisfy criteria. This is $300AUD. And if you are looking to obtain your first visa and need help with it all, we are here to help with that too – full service for $1250AUD. Contact us for more information, whether its this visa or another… we are here to help you 😊 The Alphabet of Bridging Visas
Basically speaking, there are 2 types of visas – substantive visas such as a visitor visa, partner visa, student visa, employer sponsored visa – the reason and purpose why you are in Australia … and then there are bridging visas which are the “in-between visas” to take you from one substantive visa to another. You may also hold this visa if you are seeking appeal of the visa decision, either at the AAT or through the Courts.
Why are there so many Bridging Visas and what does each one mean?
There is a basic but important rule to note about Bridging Visas (BVs) – the lower down the rank you go, the more restrictive it is. And no, a BVA is not better than a BVB – go figure!
Here are the most commonly granted Bridging Visas and the order that is most beneficial to you as the visa holder! 1. Bridging Visa B (BVB)
This visa can only be obtained by paying an application fee. It is for the purpose of obtaining permission to travel. This visa can only be granted if you are holding an active BVA, so don’t jump the gun by applying for a BVB simply because your BVA has been granted and is waiting in the background. You should make your application for a BVB as far in advance to travel as possible, ensuring you have documents in support of your plans. Also look to include as many trips you think you will take in your application so the Department can look to granting you a visa with a multiple travel facility. This may avoid you needing to lodge again for a future trip. But don’t be surprised if the visa isn’t granted straight away – it could be granted only a few days prior to your planned travel! Most importantly – DO NOT LEAVE AUSTRALIA without this visa first being granted and especially do not let the travel facility expire whilst you are overseas. It CAN’T be granted to you from overseas and you may be stuck there! Should the travel component expire whilst you are back in Australia, you do not need to apply again unless you plan on travelling again. The BVB stays active for you to remain in Australia until a decision is made.
2. Bridging Visa A (BVA)
This BV will be granted to you when you are doing everything right. What does that mean? The normal scenario is that are holding a substantive visa in Australia, and you apply for another substantive visa. The Department grant you this BVA to keep you lawful in Australia should your first substantive visa expire and the 2nd visa application hasn’t had a decision yet. The BVA will only become active once the 1st visa is expired. If not, it will stay in the background, inactive. For this basic scenario, you do not normally need to apply for this visa separately. If you are undertaking other immigration matters or if you are unsure, please speak to a Registered Migration Agent who can look into this for you further. Work rights on this visa are generally determined by the visa you had previously, so for example if you had a visitor visa with no work rights, then the BV will have that too.
3. Bridging Visa C (BVC)
This is when things are starting to go a little amiss. Now what does that mean? Generally, this BV is granted in 2 scenarios – you are applying for another substantive visa whilst on a BVA or BVB; or you are applying for another visa from an unlawful state, meaning you are not holding another visa at all. This visa can’t be granted to you if you have ever held a BVE. A BVC will allow you to stay in Australia whilst your application is processing but does not allow you to travel, nor can you apply to travel. Generally, you will have no work rights either.
4. Bridging Visa E (BVE)
Now we are at the end of the line for bridging visas. It is called a Status Resolution Visa. This visa is normally granted to those who have gotten themselves into a sticky situation. You may have had a visa cancelled and are seeking review of the decision; you have overstayed your visa and are looking into options; you have made the decision to go home; or you may be asking the Minister to intervene in your case. You understand and don’t want to be in Australia without a valid visa – this can lead you to potential detention and removal from the country; which can then affect other visa applications, even for other countries! So do the right thing and take action asap. Before applying directly to the Department for this visa, I highly recommend you book yourself a consultation and speak with a Registered Migration Agent about your case. You may still have options open to you. Remember as noted above, a BVC might be open to you still… but not if you have a BVE granted to you first.
Great Australian Migration’s principal agent – Emily Surina (MARN 2318036) left the Department as a Status Resolution Team Leader and Trainer to open this agency, so she understands exactly the process and is sure to guide you in the right manner – with honesty and integrity. For BVE packages, see our specials! How can I change the conditions on my Bridging Visa?
There are normally 3 conditions people want to change on their Bridging Visas…
If you are in a position where you find your immigration pathway is not going as smoothly as you thought, don’t delay! Contact and pay for a consultation with a Registered Migration Agent – they really are worth every cent to provide you with reassurance and a plan to straighten your way. Yes, it might mean that you are given advice that isn’t what you want to hear and you may need to leave and start again, but it's better to do that than to have your visa cancelled or to face exclusion periods to apply for another visa all because you didn’t want to pay for a consultation. At Great Australian Migration we want to help you as best we can – with honesty, hard truths and integrity. Your Australian visa has been refused or cancelled?
You have lodged a visa application and it’s been refused… or worse, you were granted a visa and now it’s been cancelled. What options do you have available to you?
Firstly, for any refusal or cancellation decision taken by the Department, they will give you a written notification of the reasons. It is based on this letter that appropriate decisions and steps can be taken. The Department will likely outline a few of these steps, but not all. Nor will they tell you what the best choice for your circumstances is. There are many aspects that need to be considered and not all are available to you. It is highly recommended that for any visa refusal or cancellation, look to a registered migration agent or immigration lawyer to help you navigate this best. 1. Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT)
You will be given a period of time to seek review of the merits of your case through the AAT. The AAT are an independent body from the Department of Home Affairs that take a fresh look at your application again, as if they were a case officer, to see if they too would have come to the same decision or if they would have made a different decision. This is your opportunity to put forward your case personally, rather than just on paper as a visa application or cancellation is so often decided. A win at the AAT does not mean that you will be granted your visa. What it does mean is that your case will be returned to the Department for further consideration based on the AAT outcome for a new decision.
2. Judicial Review
This is usually sought after you have had your decision reviewed by the AAT. With this option you are taking the Department of Home Affairs to court. This decision should not be taken lightly. It is highly recommended that you hire an immigration lawyer to review your case and to represent you in court. Failure to do so will most likely lead to your case failing at court, as the Department will definitely have lawyers representing them. It is best to note that the Court system cannot grant you a visa, it can only make judgement on the legality of the decision made by the Department. If there has been no miscarriage of the law, you will fail. And should this be your case, you will incur court fees and have a debt to the Commonwealth. This debt will need to be paid, or at least show payments toward the debt, before any future visa can be considered for grant.
3. Ministerial Intervention
This is your last attempt to have the Department grant your visa – by a personal decision taken by the Minister themselves. As you can imagine, this is very difficult to accomplish and should not be relied upon. You can only seek this process after you have sought review at the AAT. It is imperative that the AAT have made a decision on your case as this is the power that then grants you access to the Minister. Without it, the Minister can’t make a decision on your case even if they wanted to. It is also very important to note that unlike the AAT and Court where you must be given a hearing and receive an outcome, the Minister is not mandated to intervene in your case. The Minister has therefore provided a guideline to describe the types of cases that they are willing to consider, anything not on that list will not be referred to the attention of the Minister.
4. Lodge another visa application
Seems simple enough – just apply again. This, however, also has its restrictions. Whether you can apply again from within Australia or if you will need to depart Australia and lodge overseas will be subject to the type of visa you had refused and when it was refused. If you are holding a substantive visa or a bridging visa at the time of refusal. If your visa was cancelled, subject to why it was cancelled and if you were the primary or secondary visa holder will also determine if you can apply for a visa whilst in Australia or not.
5. Depart Australia
The decision to depart Australia shouldn’t be taken lightly. There may be consequences to departing - for example, you must be in Australia to undertake AAT process, so if you leave and do not have a visa to return, you may not be able to undertake the process and therefore close future access to the Minister also. A person who has had their visa cancelled or refused may be subject to exclusion periods and the type of visa you depart on (or failure to hold a visa on departure) could also affect your time period to apply for another visa. It is best to discuss this prior to departure to ensure you understand if and when you can apply for another visa to return to Australia.
As you have read, the most appropriate route is not always straight-forward and engaging with a Registered Migration Agent is a great start. At Great Australian Migration we can review your situation, give opinion upon the likely success of your case by the AAT or whether you should seek counsel from an immigration lawyer. We can also guide you about any exclusion periods you may be facing plus any additional application processes that may need to be taken if you are able to lodge for another visa, be it in Australia or overseas. Book a consultation with our trustworthy and honest Registered Migration Agents today! Visitor Visa for Australia
The Department of Home Affairs receives thousands of Visitor Visa applications per year and they are under pressure to make decisions on these in good time – after all, you want to travel to Australia as soon as possible and they need to ensure these visas are decided with thought towards the safety and integrity of the country and the visa program. Currently visa application processing times for a Visitor Visa 600 is taking between 8 and 24 days.
the different kinds of Visitor Visas available...
The Visitor Visas that you are best to use a registered migration agent are:
Other Visitor Visas that are easily applied for by yourself are:
how to lodge an application that will be successful in the shortest amount of time...
We highly recommend the following steps:
Why are Visitor Visas so easily refused?
These common mistakes are made and should be avoided:
When you are ready to visit – we are ready to help you! Contact Great Australian Migration with your travel plans and we will provide a free basic eligibility assessment and service quote. TSS 482 Visa
IT LOOKS LIKE THE 482 TSS VISA WILL BE CHANGING...
WHAT WILL IT BE CALLED? "SKILLS IN DEMAND" WHAT WILL THE NEW SUBCLASS NUMBER BE? NO IDEA... So what do we know?
When the Labor Government came into power they immediately started to work on “fixing” the migration numbers post COVID lockdowns and re-evaluating the visa program. This was to identify how to correctly manage the desperate need for skilled persons to return to Australia and/or remain in Australia permanently, ensuring visa holders would not be taken advantage of during desperate times and into the future.
Some of those changes took place quickly and continue today:
The biggest change? The 482 Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa will be replaced and the new program will be called the “Skills in Demand” visa. What do we know about the new "Skills in Demand" Visa
It is expected to be similar to the current TSS visa, in that there are streams and will be granted for 4 years. The streams though seem to be based around the salary one would earn and for the majority, have a skill or occupation that is deemed “in demand” per a skill list - as the name suggests.
The 3 streams are:
Other changes and benefits:
At this time, all this information has been taken from the Department of Home Affairs: Migration Strategy – released in December 2023. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/programs-subsite/migration-strategy/Documents/migration-strategy.pdf Nothing has been formally advised and so we will continue to monitor and bring updates as they occur throughout the remained of the year. For now, the TSS 482 Visa is still the process to undertake and processes to be followed. If you require visa or employer sponsorship advice, please look to Great Australian Migration… We are here to help you! What’s in store for Australian Migration in 2024-2025?With the change of the financial year soon approaching, the Department looks forward towards its migration plan. This mainly relates to how many visas to allocate to different areas of the migration program and how some visas can be changed or removed altogether to better service Australia’s needs. The Department has released their planning levels and overall, there has not been a great adjustment in migration numbers. A reduction of only 5000. Where we have seen a significant change is to the Skilled Migration program for those looking to migrate independently. The financial year 2023-2024 saw 30,375 visa allocations; now it is reduced to 16,900. This is most likely due to the TSS 482 Visa short-term stream now open to permanent residency, so they needed to balance up those visa numbers. This year there were only 36,825 places whereas next year, that increases to 44,000. At the moment there is consultation in regards to how the Skilled points system can be modified to better suit the program; how partner should be better considered in the points system; education levels and of course, the skilled occupation list. However at this stage, all remains the same and when changes are announced we will be there to let you know all the details. In the meantime…. Is independent skilled migration still possible? Of course it is!!
Although the Department has reduced independent Skilled Migration numbers, they have actually increased Government sponsored skilled visas – for both major cities and regionally. This year State/Territory allocated visas was 30,400… next year sees that increase to 33,000. What will be interesting to see is what number of visa placements will be given to each state and territory; and in turn how will those State and Territory governments balance their allocation.
The Skilled program for Government sponsorship has somewhat closed for this year, in that each state has either closed their programs or exhausted their allocation. So now is the perfect time to continue getting your documents ready for when the new program opens in the coming months.
- date of birth and marital status - tertiary education and qualifications: name of studies and timeframe of study - work experience: title and task responsibilities; date frame of employment - English level: if you have taken a formal test, please advise the result. If not, you can use this guide to provide an approximate level: https://ielts.org/organisations/ielts-for-organisations/compare-ielts The services offered by a registered migration agent are worth the investment. At Great Australian Migration we promise to give you a fair and honest assessment! Australia's Student Visa: What's changed?Let's jump right into it.... What do you need to know about the recent Student Visa changes? Financial capacity:
The Department has always wanted you to show that you can financially support yourself and your family whilst you are in Australia studying, so this is not new. What is new is the amount of funds you need to demonstrate. This has increased to align with inflation and indexation. Living costs now sits at $29,710AUD for the student alone and funds will need to be evidenced for additional family members – whether they come to Australia with you or not.
You will also need to have your international school fees covered for at least the first 12 months of study, and also for any dependent children who will study in Australia. You will also show you have enough funds to purchase a ticket to return home. Yes, you are given work rights; however these are generally limited in hours and are not to be used to fund your stay in the country. Rather they are to supplement… that is to say, if you are not able to work for any reason, you would still manage whilst continuing your studies, which after all, is the main reason you came to Australia. Genuine Student Requirement:
This has replaced the Genuine Temporary Entrant statement. So why did the Department change this? Simply, it was to better understand why someone is choosing to come to Australia to study rather than to determine what their long-term migration plan is. Makes sense right? So what does this mean for your application?
You will need to answer some questions and provide supporting documents. Answers need to be concise as you only have a maximum of 150 words per question. The questions relate to:
English Language:
As all schools and subjects in Australia are taught in English, it is essential that you have a suitable level of reading, writing, comprehension and spoken English to be able to communicate with your peers, teachers and others whilst in Australia. This also prepares you for whatever the future holds should you continue on your migration journey, especially within the Australian workforce.
If you find that you are not successful in attaining the required English entry score – be it for the visa or for the course itself – you can look to package your studies to include an English course to be taken prior to commencing your qualification. So what level of English do you need and how do you demonstrate this?
Things to note:
As you can see, there are many things to consider and understand. This is where a registered migration agent is so important and worth every additional cent to pay for their knowledge, expertise and efficiency in lodging and obtaining a Student Visa. Don’t get caught out, contact Great Australian Migration to make your migration plans a reality! Important 485 Visa Changes
As this Labor Government strive to reform the migration program and visas to better suit Australia’s needs; much focus has been on those visas surrounding skills and employers. Making sure people are skilled through better skills assessments; ensuring students are studying in areas and with education providers that will provide quality graduates; and that those graduates have the opportunity to put those learnt skills into paying practice, fulfilling the skills shortage Australia suffered due to the COVID pandemic.
So what changes have been made to the Post-Study Graduate Work 485 Visa and when do they come into action? These changes will come into effect on 01 JULY 2024. In my humble opinion, this is not ideal as many students may not have received their formal examination results in order to confirm their completion of study, but as usual, we need to roll with the punches and get everything in order regardless.
Other important things to rememberThis is key … the 485 visa does not offer a “grace” period if you happen to overstay your visa, as is applicable to the Student visa. If you overstay your visa, you will not meet criteria to apply for the 485 visa directly. You will need to find another pathway.
You will need your formal completion letter and academic transcript to demonstrate that you have a course that relates to an occupation on the list and also that you meet the minimum study period required. You do not need to have received your certificate nor attended your graduation.
Have your English test completed. Do not wait until your studies are coming to an end and your visa is due for expiry. Tests can book out closer to those months where studies and visas are ending, and you may not get a spot and results in time. Tests must be taken no more than 1 year prior to application so I recommend you sit the test at least 4-6 months prior to when you think you will be making your 485 application. You must have, at the very least, applied for your provisional 485 skills assessment to include this with your application. Understanding that if your skills assessment is not successful you may be best to withdraw your application as it could lead to a refusal. Getting prepared for the 485 Visa application should be as high on your list as it is to pass your studies… wishing you the best of luck! Contact Great Australian Migration for all your study and post study visa enquiries! Partner Visa - which option is the best?
There are a number of Partner Visas to choose from and selecting the right one can be tricky. Things you need to consider….
Having a registered migration agent to review your relationship is vital to ensure the best application is put forward to the Department. Remember this visa doesn’t come cheap, so getting it right the first time is very important! What will the Department be looking for in my application?
“I’m married… Isn’t that enough? “I’m in a committed relationship, we love each other… ”
What more do I need?” The case officer is reviewing your relationship in the manner that will satisfy the relationship is legit. To do this they are guided by these principles:
Factor 1 - Financial
You will need documents to show you share financial responsibilities. This could be:
Factor 2 - Nature of Your Household
You will need documents to show how you share your living arrangements. This could be:
Factor 3 - Social Aspects
You will need documents to show how you are known to others. This could be:
Factor 4 - Your commitment to each other
You will need documents to show how committed you are to each other. This could be:
What costs do I need to consider?
What can an agent do for me?
Great question!!!
A good agent will:
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AuthorAs the principal Registered Migration Agent for Great Australian Migration, Emily Surina (MARN 2318036) wants to empower people to make their own migration journey's easier. Hopefully reading this blog will help you feel more in control and with the right support, make your Great Australian Migration a reality! ArchivesCategories |