Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Move to Australia Permanently: Your Eligibility

If you would like to live and work permanently in Australia, you can apply through the Skilled Migration Program which is points tested. Intending migrants need to submit an expression of interest (EOI) application via SkillSelect. The pass mark to be invited for skilled migration visa application is 60.

There are some basic requirements for you to meet before continuing with your application:

Age (maximum 25 points)
At the time of invitation, you must be 49 years old or under.

Language (maximum 20 points)
You must have at least competent English language ability when you lodge your EOI application. Evidence of competent English must be available before you apply.

Educational Qualifications (maximum 20 points)
You must have a post-secondary qualifications and your skills must be assessed by relevant assessing authority as suitable for your nominated occupation.

Australian Study Qualifications (maximum 5 points)
If you have completed an Australian study qualification at the time of invitation, you gain additional points.

Nominated Occupation
You must nominate an occupation that is suited for your skills and qualifications from the Skilled Occupations List (SOL) and/or the Consolidated Sponsored Occupations List (CSOL).

Skills Assessment
Before you apply, you must have your skills assessed by the Australian assessing authorities designated to evaluate your nominated occupation. There is a charge by the assessing body for the skills assessment.

Other Factors (maximum 5 points)
You will gain additional points from

  • Credentialled community language qualifications
  • Study in regional Australia or in a low population growth metropolitan area (excluding distance education)
  • Partner skills qualifications
  • Completion of professional year

Nomination/Sponsorship (maximum 5 points)
You can be nominated by State or Territory government (visa subclass 190 only) or sponsored by an eligible family member or for residing and working in a specified/designated area (visa subclass 489 only).

If you meet all of these requirements, then you can proceed with submitting your expression of interest (EOI) application through SkillSelect.

Monday, January 12, 2015

DIBP to Scrap the Skilled Recognised Graduate (Subclass 476)

This is the last chance for graduate engineers from around the globe to apply for a temporary visa to work in Australia as the department of immigration plans to drop the Skilled Recognized Graduate (Subclass 476) visa as early as next year. This was based on an internal proposal paper of the department, which was obtained by The Australian Financial Review.

The visa was introduced last 2007 allowing recent graduates from recognised overseas institutions to work in Australia for up to 18 months with the goal of easing engineering shortages. Applicants who are aged below 31 years old are qualified to apply, with competent English language ability and who have graduated within 2 years from the date of application.

The quantity of applicants for this visa almost doubled last year to 1100 but DIBP's paper states that it does not see "an adverse outcome arising" from the possible repeal of the visa.  "The cohort for the visa is very small, with approximately 600 visas granted in 2012-13 and 1100 visas granted in 2013-14," says the department's proposal paper."

Foreign engineering graduates will now need another migration pathways which generally require greater experience or sponsorship.

According to the The Australian Financial Review, the proposal is in response to calls from industry and employer groups for a simple, multiple-entry visa that would allow global companies to bring in expert staff for up to a year. This proposal is not yet government policy and is the subject of further consultation.

Sunday, January 11, 2015

Happy 2015

It's a brand new year for us... it's definitely gonna be a good one... new knowledge, learnings and opportunities to look forward to... let us welcome 2015 positively...