Navigating the Australian visa application process can feel a bit like solving a complex puzzle.  ​With various visa options and strict requirements, it’s easy to make mistakes that could delay your plans—or worse, lead to a rejection. Let’s dive into some common pitfalls and how you can steer clear of them!

• What to Watch For:
  Many applicants overlook essential documents like financial statements, proof of health insurance, or character references. Each type of visa has specific requirements, and missing even one can slow down your application.
• Tip:
  Double-check everything before submission. As part of our Silver and Gold service, Great Australian Migration will create a personalised checklist of all the required documents based on your visa type. We will also ensure all your documents are in order and will only lodge your application when absolutely satisfied all aspects are met.  If you are wanting to do the application yourself to save of funds, we also offer the Bronze service.  We will review the application that you have completed to ensure all is met and then you will lodge the application directly with the Department.  A fresh pair of eyes can catch what you might miss!​

• What to Watch For:
  Simple things like typos in your name, incorrect dates, or wrong travel history can lead to big issues. Immigration authorities are sticklers for detail and will cross-reference your current application with previous ones.
• Tip:
  Great Australian Migration takes on only a small number of clients each month… why?  Because we understand that each application takes time to complete and filling out forms is just a part of this. We read, re-read, and then read the application again to make sure everything is spot on.  We also give you a copy to do the same - to spot any potential errors.

• What to Watch For:
  Each visa has its own set of eligibility requirements. Some applicants dive in without fully understanding these criteria, leading to wasted time and effort. This is especially the case for onshore versus offshore visa applications.  This is where a paid consultation is essential.  At Great Australian Migration we will go through all your options and guide you to the best fit.
• Tip:
  Pay to have a personalised consultation with a Registered Migration Agent.  If you don’t meet all the requirements, an agent will address the gaps or find you other options that might be worth considering.
  

• What to Watch For:
  Visa applications often come with strict deadlines, and missing these can derail your plans entirely.  Some visas will still allow for you to apply from within Australia and others will not.  Great Australian Migration will ensure your application is lodged on time.  You could also incur an exclusion period if you overstay your visa by too long.
• Tip:
  Contact us as soon as possible… the more time you have to make visa decisions the better.  What you think will take a few days may take longer and you don’t want to get caught out.  Also, visa requirements can change and so what you thought you qualified for, may no longer be the case. So make sure you mark your calendars and keep track of all important dates related to your visa and future application. Set reminders a few weeks to a few months in advance to ensure you stay on top of things.
  

• What to Watch For:
  Some visas require proof of English language proficiency, and many applicants underestimate how well they need to score on tests like IELTS or PTE.  Exams are not run all the time and can book out, so again, prepare well in advance.
• Tip:
  If you think your English might need some work, consider taking a preparation course with a paid provider. There are also plenty of resources online to help you improve, especially on YouTube.  Book your test well in advance and STUDY!!!

• What to Watch For:
  Some applicants try to navigate the process alone, thinking they can save money. However, this can lead to costly mistakes.
  
  Here’s an example…
  A partner visa lodged in or outside of Australia costs about $10,000 by the time you add medical checks and other expenses.  If you lodge in Australia whilst you do not hold a visa, you have extra criteria to meet.  Failure to meet this extra criteria and your visa will be refused and there is no refund!  Costly mistake!
  Yes, you could lodge an appeal, but that costs another $3,500 at the moment (maybe more by the time you actually receive your refusal notice) and even then it may take a few years until your case is heard.  If that fails too, you will need to leave Australia and start all over again - not good!  That's a lot of money (+$13,500) and years spent with no visa at the end (3-5 years!).  Instead, by having departed Australia and lodging from overseas, you can work and still support your partner until your visa is granted to return, which could be as soon as 1 year!
  ​
• Tip:
  ​If your situation is complex or if you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t hesitate to contact Great Australian Migration.  Emily, our principal registered migration agent has over 10 years experience as a Status Resolution Case Officer and Manager for the Department. She will steer you along the right path. Her expertise is invaluable – book a consult today

Applying for an Australian visa doesn’t have to be a stressful experience. By avoiding these common mistakes and being thorough in your preparation, you can significantly increase your chances of a successful application. Remember, patience is key, and every little detail counts!

Are you preparing to apply for a visa?  Do you have questions you are looking for answers to? Have you overstayed your visa and now feeling overwhelmed by it all? Contact us today, we are ready to help you!

​The Prospective Marriage Visa (subclass 300) allows you to enter Australia to marry your sponsoring Australian partner.  This is a great option for those of you who find it difficult to build the paper-trail background needed by the Department to directly lodge for a Partner visa.
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Yes, by going down this pathway it will take a little longer to achieve final permanent residency status and will also cost more… but this extra time and cost will lead to definite success.  And in the end, that’s what you want, right?

Related post: which partner visa is the best?

This is the visa that is one step before the Partner Visa.  It’s a temporary visa that gives you the opportunity to travel to Australia to marry your partner.  You will be able to live and work in Australia for up to nine months, as it is expected that once you are married you will lodge your Partner Visa onshore.  If for any reason you do not marry, your visa will expire and you will be expected to leave the country unless you are able to apply for a different visa to match the reason of your stay in Australia.

1. Temporary Stay: The visa allows you to stay in Australia for up to nine months. During this time, you must marry your partner.
2. Work Rights: Once granted the visa, you can work in Australia.
3. Travel: You can travel in and out of Australia while your visa is valid, but remember that the visa expires after the nine-month period.
4. Pathway to Permanent Residency: After your marriage, you apply for a Partner Visa (subclass 820/801) to remain in Australia permanently.  Once this is lodged, you will be issued a bridging visa to allow you to remain in Australia whilst it is processing and your Prospective Marriage visa has expired.

The great part about this visa is that the threshold to prove your relationship is far less.  This is because it is understood by the Department that you can’t as yet prove your relationship to the higher threshold of the Partner Visa.  Once you come to Australia and living your married life, this is when you will have the necessary documents to support your Partner Visa application.
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To qualify for the Prospective Marriage Visa, you will need to have documents in support of your relationship as it stands at that moment:

1. Relationship Status: You must be engaged to an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen. Your relationship must be genuine and ongoing.  You also have made arrangements through the relevant authorities to be married.
2. In Person meeting: Internet relationships are very common these days, however the Department does require that you have met your partner in person.  Generally this means that the Australian sponsor travels to the applicants home country where they will likely meet extended family and friends; it could also include travel to a third country where you both met to take a holiday together.
3. Age Requirement: You must be at least 18 years old at the time of application.
4. Health and Character Requirements: You’ll need to undergo health examinations and provide police clearances to ensure you meet Australia’s health and character standards.
5. Location: This application is only available to people lodging from outside of Australia, and will only be granted to you whilst you are outside of the country.  You can travel to Australia in the meantime with a standard tourist visa.

​Include as much evidence as possible to demonstrate the genuineness of your relationship.  This can include documents like: flight boarding passes, hotel booking receipts, engagement party invitations, photos, email correspondence, videocall logs, and joint financial commitments if funds have been transferred.

The Australian Prospective Marriage Visa is a fantastic opportunity for couples looking to start their journey together in Australia. By understanding the requirements and following the application process diligently, you can increase your chances of a successful application.
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Contact Great Australian Migration to put you on the best path to visa success and a new life in Australia!

In November 2022, the Joint Standing Committee on Migration accepted a request by the federal government to inquire into the role of permanent migration in building Australia to be a prosperous nation.  A review of the current migration system was judged as ‘neither fast nor efficient and is often perceived as unfair’. Further, it found the system unnecessarily complex and difficult to navigate. The committee completed the final report from the inquiry and over 70 recommendations were given to be investigated, worked on or implemented.

​To put it all into context, I have noted some of the recommendations and included an additional explanation as to how I believe these may affect you as a visa applicant.  It will be interesting to see when these things will be actioned.

Recommendation 8.   …explores simplifying the health requirements to a single Public Interest Criterion that incorporates an entitlement to apply for a waiver of the health requirements.

Recommendation 9.   …removes specialised education services from the description of ‘community service costs’ in the policy settings for the Australian visa Significant Cost Threshold...
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Recommendation 10. …increases the Significant Cost Threshold to an amount that will enable Australia to remain competitive with comparable countries…
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At this time, different visas have different health requirements to be met – some as an individual and some as a whole family… and sometimes even includes members of the family who are not migrating!  At times, the Department allows for an exemption to be applied for on some visas, and for others it does not.  This can make for planning of visa pathways difficult and confusing.  This should hopefully make it easier for ultimate visa pathway planning.

Also, if a persons’ medical diagnosis requires special schooling measures to assist (usually for a child), this is deemed a cost on the community and generally pushes the families allowable limit to be exceeded. By removing this it may mean that families will be able to meet the health threshold and migrate to Australia permanently, in support of their child – not as a burden. 
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Increasing the threshold altogether will also assist families in having their visa granted, rather than refused and at times seeking review of the decision through the Tribunal and ultimately pleading with the Minister to intervene.

Recommendation 11. …undertakes a digital English language testing pilot in the higher education sector, to examine the robustness of a digital system to withstand or detect fraud…

Recommendation 12. …empowers jobs and skills in Australia to review the English language requirements for a range of occupational roles to ensure that they align with the work and safety requirements of the position. 

Recommendation 13. …removes the requirement to retest the English language proficiency of visa applicants already in Australia, where the level of proficiency required is the same or lower than the English language requirement that the applicant had previously satisfied.

These recommendations all relate back to an overhaul of how the level and testing of English is done.  For many, the English test is costly.  The test is expensive and sometimes requires the person to travel to undertake the test.  Also, many times people do not pass on the first go. There needs to be flexibility on being able to access the testing sites more easily; allow for the tests to be taken more than once at a reduced cost; and looking to establish better security measures for online processes.  The level of English required should also reflect the level of schooling or work that will be undertaken.

Recommendation 15. …amends the Migration Act 1958, and any other relevant subordinate legislation, to enable recognition of the skills, and qualifications of secondary applicants when considering the primary applicant’s visa suitability.

Recommendation 45. …amend the Migration Act 1958, to better account for the skills and experience of secondary applicants in the points test for skilled migration visa applicants.
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Rather than just being a family member, in particular a primary applicants significant other, they too can add value to the community in their capacity to work, pay taxes etc and therefore should be better reflected in the application of a visa.  Society has changed and so too should our visa system.

Recommendation 18. …provides greater transparency to applicants, agents, and sponsors regarding the progress of visa applications.

Recommendation 19. …requires external agencies contracted to perform assessment services for visa applications to abide by a best practice service level agreement for processing times.

Recommendation 23. …commitment to ‘modernise the visa system experience for migrant and employers’ includes automation of low-risk processes, and a real time tracker for applicants to chart the progress of their application.
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Recommendation 24. …conducts a feasibility study into the creation of a secure digital portal for visa application documentation and investigate legislative changes that would enable sharing of this information with trusted partners.
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It’s easy to say that current visa application methods, document collection, and processing times are outrageous and trying to obtain clarity on where you are in the visa processing stage is impossible.  The same can be said for some skills assessing authorities, however in my opinion they are doing much better.  Any changes that can be implemented to making these processes easier is very much welcomed.

Recommendation 25. …recognising that the current permanent parent visas fail to offer realistic completion time frames, considers whether to cease to offer permanent parent visas to new applicants, and expedite the development of appropriate visa settings for the family migration stream.
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If a client asks me “What can I do to bring my parents out to Australia to live with me permanently?” I usually reply, “Unless you planned and saved for this from the moment you considered migrating to Australia, now it’s too late.”

Standard Parent visa waiting times are in excess of 25 years; or to have it processed in half the time will cost a fortune.  I too wonder why offer such a visa?  For many the cost is not affordable ($50K+ for one parent).  For others, once the time comes to grant the visa their parent is refused due to their ill health, having waited so long already!

​And then in some other cases the visa is never granted due to their unfortunate passing. What a waste of time, money and emotion… I say to these people, have your parents stay home where they are comfortable and happy within their society.  Have them travel to visit and enjoy their time here.  Take the money saved for you to also have a break and return home to visit them.  Life is too short waiting and paying for a visa of this kind!

Recommendation 27. …undertakes modelling to identify a new age limit for Employer Nominated Scheme visas, between 50 and 60, that considers tax, fiscal, pension, and relevant ageing population factors.

Finally someone sees sense!  The cut off age of 45 years is far too low.  Many people are entering their 2nd, 3rd or even 4th wave of career change and halting the migration program at this age cuts off the opportunities to well-educated and skilled people.  Considering our aging population, more people are working well beyond 65 years as their superannuation is not high enough, they do not want to be on a government pension and in general, still want to work! 

If you want to take a further look into the recommendations and general information found by the committee – this is the link to follow: Migration, Pathway to Nation Building – Parliament of Australia (aph.gov.au)
 
As always, I will be keeping you up to date with any migration policy, visa or citizenship changes and I will ensure that my knowledge bank is in tip top shape!  

As you are reading this, then your answer is a resounding yes and that is FANTASTIC!!! 

Many of the Australian state governments, and even the Federal Government are prioritizing skilled visa invitations and visa processing for experienced teachers. So now is the time to take full advantage of your qualifications and work experience to make the great migration to Australia!

The Skilled Migration program is a points-based invitation only visa available to everyone around the world.  If you are the holder of a certain passport you might also be open to a working holiday visa, so you could even be able to start the process from within Australia.  Also, if you are in contact with a school who wants to employ you, then the Employer Sponsored Work visas may also be open to you.

There are a number of items that need to be taken in order to meet the Skilled Migration Visa program requirements. 
 
Your Age –
You must be within the age range that the Australian Government has open to granting permanent resident visas. This age cut off is 45 years.  Considering the time it takes to fulfill the other criteria as noted below, it is recommended you are not over the age of 40 years when you start this process.  This is to equate for the time it takes to put your application together and then to be eligible for the Skilled Migration visa or Employer Sponsor visa. The younger you are, the better.  

Education Qualifications –
You must have a University level teaching qualification that took at least 4 years of full time study to complete.   The equivalent in part-time study is also accepted.
Depending on the level of teaching you do eg secondary school teacher, you will need to demonstrate at least 1 year of study was dedicated to that level of teaching within your qualification.
If you have other studies that contributed to your teaching qualifications, these must be at a minimum Advanced Diploma level. No short courses or certificates.
You must also complete at least 45 days of supervised teaching whilst you were completing your studies at your prescribed level of teaching that formed part of obtaining your qualification. You will need a letter from your course provider to support your claim.

Command of English –
You must demonstrate that you have a command of the English language at a level that would then be suitable to transfer into the classroom.  If you attained your 4 year teaching qualification from the below listed countries, then you are deemed to meet requirements: Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Ireland, the USA, and Canada. 
If you did not obtain your qualification from one of these countries, you will need to sit a specific English Test – Academic IELTS.  You will need to attain a score of at least 7 in Reading and Writing. Whilst a higher score of at least 8 is needed in Speaking and Listening.

Skills Assessment –
You must present a positive skills assessment issued by the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL). This document will give a future employer the assurance that you are meeting Australian teaching standards and is also a mandatory requirement for permanent migration visas. Great Australian Migration can assist with doing a preliminary review of your qualifications and other documents to ensure that before lodging your assessment you will have everything in place for success.

Work experience –
To prove you have suitable work experience, you will need to provide letters from your employing school. This work can only be included provided it was completed after your qualification was awarded and was for paid work of at least 20 hours per week.  Great Australian Migration can assist you with this by providing you guidance on the letter structure and other supporting documents.

Teacher Registration –
After you have attained your visa and you want to start teaching in Australia, you must register yourself with the State or Territory Government where you will work.  Each state or territory will have their own requirements to meet.  Many items that are needed to register will have been accomplished through obtaining your skills assessment, such as proof of studies and work experience.

Great Australian Migration is ready and happy to provide free general review of your qualifications to check if you will meet criteria.  We can also organize a personalized consultation with you over a VideoCall for a small consultation fee of $300.  We will meet and discuss all your visa options and also review your qualifications and work experience.  This is essential to ensure you move forward to success.

Contact us today for all your immigration and citizenship needs 😊

Many people when thinking of immigrating to Australia tend to seek out the 3 major cities of the east coast - Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane… but by doing this, they are limiting their possibilities for PR success...  Why?  Because these cities are already highly populated – with locals as well as all the other migrants all fighting for the same thing…. employment and rental properties that are scarce and expensive since they are in such high demand.

Did you know that the major cities of Perth, Adelaide, Canberra and Hobart are all considered regional?!  Living, working and studying in a regional area of Australia can come with great benefits.
These are:

• Employment opportunities – casual, part-time, full-time.  Look up any employment search site and you’ll see the endless lists of job openings.
• Cost of living – chances are you won’t fight as hard to find that perfect rental property, and more likely cheaper.  A 2 bedroom property in Sydney can rent for $1000 p/week whilst a similar place in regional NSW can be as little as $350 p/week!
• Education – Australia offers excellent schools all over the country. You can attain the same qualification in a regional city or town as you would in a big city - such as a Bachelor of Education or Nursing or Information Technology or Civil Engineering... so many possibilities.
• Lifestyle – you will be far more relaxed, life is just that little bit easier going and laid back…by the beach, in the bush, near wineries, rivers, lakes … endless space and clean air!

Whilst the dream for many people is to obtain their Permanent Residency visa straight away, sometimes it’s best to open your mind and your options by attaining a regional temporary visa first.  Then once you have completed your time there, you move onto applying for your permanent residency visa.  Afterall the end goal is Permanent Residency, so once that is achieved you can move to anywhere you want in Australia.  You might even find that you have made a wonderful life for yourself and decide to stay settled in your perfect pocket of Australia.
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Starting your migration journey as a Working Holiday Maker or Student in a regional area has great advantages too…

Studying in a regional location opens you up to these benefits:

1. A 2nd Post-Higher Education Work visa.  For most student visa holders, you only qualify to be granted 1 x 485 visa after you have completed your studies. But by living and studying in a regional area gives you the option to apply for another 485 visa which is especially handy if you are not ready or able to move forward with a Skilled Migration or Employer Sponsored Visa!​
   
2. You get bonus points for Skilled Migration! By studying in Australia you will attain the points related to attaining an Australian qualification, but by doing this in a regional area you will also attain bonus points. Definitely an advantage and an easy 5 points to attain over a person who is doing the same thing but in the city instead!

To obtain further Working Holiday Maker visas you must complete specific work in a regional area.  By doing this you are getting a taste of what it is like to live and work in a regional area, and by being even more open-minded to a life in regional Australia, perhaps you click with an employer who is willing to sponsor you.

Apart from the independent Skilled Migration program that offers the state sponsored regional 491 visa (a bonus 15 points); there is also the Employer Sponsored Regional 494 Visa. Permanent Residency is then through the 191 Visa – a 2 step process to achieve your final outcome. 

Both of these visas open wider the list of occupations to choose from as they cover more fields of work that would otherwise not be available.

The 494 Sponsored Regional Employer Visa is an excellent choice for employers and visa holders to consider as it is a visa that sits nicely in between the TSS 482 visa and the Employer sponsored 186 Visa.  How can that be? 

1. Your Age
   A TSS 482 visa does not have an age limit per se, however if you are over 45 years of age you will not be eligible to move onto the Permanent Residency 186 transitional visa.  Provided that you apply for the 494 visa prior to turning 45 years, even if you have then turned 45 years and once you have completed the necessary residency and working time period in a regional area, you are still eligible to apply for Permanent Residency.
   
   
2. The list of occupations available to those willing to go to a Regional location ​is far greater.  Some examples of occupations that are only open to a regional area are: Hair or Beauty Salon Manager, Importer or Exporter, Real Estate Agent.
   
   
3. Unlike the 186 visa which gives PR status directly and no real security to the employer that you will remain with them after investing in the visa process (it is only expected that you will commit to working for them); the Regional Employer Sponsor 494 visa gives them far more security as it is a condition of your visa for you to continue working with your sponsoring employer.

So as you can see, studying and living in regional Australia really does offers bonuses and possibilities you probably never really thought about before and is a fantastic opportunity to experience and embrace all the unique areas of Australia.

Contact Great Australian Migration for an assessment of your visa options, we are here ready to make your next move the best it can be!