Visa Applications Immigration
As far as visa applications go Australia has a non-discriminatory global immigration policy, however the number of people wanting to migrate here on a permanent basis each year, far exceeds Australia''s ability or preparedness to absorb them.
Therefore, unfortunately each year the Department of Immigration rejects a substantial number of visa applications that are not prepared properly and according to strict guidelines and procedures. 
In order to ensure the highest chance of success, Australian visa applications should be undertaken in conjunction with professional guidance and assistance usually many months prior to departure, as intending migrants need to document and evidence a wide range of language, character, and skill requirements set down by the Australian Department of Immigration.
Applicants under the Business Skills Category have a preferred status providing they can demonstrate that in addition to meeting the skills, character and health requirements of migrants generally, they have sufficient capital and business acumen to generate business, exports and employment in this country. Various kinds of temporary residency permits and visas are also provided to enable visits of either a short or longer term, visas generally being available (providing the various criteria are met) for the purposes of travel, working holidays, study or business.
An Australian or overseas company wishing to bring a senior or skilled employee to work in Australia can sponsor employees to work in Australia on temporary and permanent visas. Temporary visas are generally issued for a period of four years and extensions can be made following application and relevant supporting information. People admitted to Australia on holiday visas are excluded from paid employment of any kind.
The Australian immigration system for skilled migrants (under the age of 45) is a rigorous one based on points. It is essential that information is meticulously presented to maximise the points score for an individual visa application. This is where the expertise of Overseas Emigration Visas' visa consultants and immigration lawyers comes to the fore. Processing times for Australia are typically anywhere between 2 to 12 months.
Australia visa types include:
General Skilled Visa
Family Visas
Business Visas
Retirement and Parent Contributory Visas
Temporary one year working holiday visa
4 year Sponorship Visas
Overseas Emigration Visas has expert Australian emigration consultants to advise you on all aspects of migration to Australia. Fill out our free Immigration Assessment and one of our Registered Migration Agents will advise you of your options.
Australian Landscape & Climate
It’s no wonder that Australia is a favourite destination for tourists and for people wanting to start a new life abroad. Australia is similar in size to the USA, yet has a population of under 20 million. Or, to put it another way, it’s 32 times larger that the UK, with less than half the number of inhabitants.
Australia is amazingly varied, from the liveliness and energy of cities like Sydney, Perth and Melbourne to the vivid blue skies and red earth of the Outback. The Northern Territory alone has 20 national parks, and then there are World Heritage sites like the Great Barrier Reef and remarkable landscapes like the Border Ranges, comprised of extinct and eroded volcanoes stretching across the borders of Queensland and New South Wales. Most people think of Australia as dry and arid but there are also lush river valleys, rainforests and mountains, not to mention 7,000 unspoilt beaches.
Australians have a deserved reputation for being friendly, gregarious, unpretentious and outspoken. Thanks to shows like Neighbours and Home and Away many of us are now familiar with expressions like g’day, amber nectar and crook, but Strine still takes some getting used to. However, chances are both you and your anklebiters (children) will pick it up in no time!
Aussie Lifestyle & Culture
The Australian lifestyle is based on a laidback, informal approach to life. Good food, wine and companionship matter a great deal. Eating outdoors (particularly if there’s a barbie involved) is an important part of the Aussie way of life.
The same carefree outdoors style is found even in bustling cities like Sydney , famous for its Bondi beach, its cosmopolitan energy and vibrant cultural life. The Sydney Opera House, together with Uluru (Ayers Rock), is one of the most iconic images of Australia . Each city has something different to offer; from the culture and art of Melbourne to the scenic beauty of Perth .
On the world stage Australia has made a huge contribution to culture and sport. The country seems to effortlessly churn out film stars like Nicole Kidman, Mel Gibson, Cate Blanchett, Naomi Watts, Geoffrey Rush, Heath Ledger and Hugh Jackman, most of whom got their first break in local theatre and films. Indigenous music and dance, ballet, theatre, opera and rock 'n'roll are also thriving. Australians are sports-crazy and worshipping their sporting superstars like swimmer Ian Thorpe, cricketer Shane Warne, tennis player Leyton Hewitt and rugby star George Gregan.
Visa Applications
Just when is the right, or best time to apply for a visa?
There is a simple answer:- Right now. There is never a better time than right now.
The older you get, the harder it becomes. Not only in terms of visa regulations - it is common knowledge that the system favours younger migrants who can contribute their skills to the Australian community for a longer period. The longer you wait, the more established you become in your current circumstances, and the more stressful the move to Australia will be. Exceptions to this are people coming over to Australia on a retirement visa.
With frequent and unnotified changes to the migration regulations and criteria, it can become increasingly difficult to migrate dependant upon your circumstances - not to mention more costly. With an Australian visa is a passport which gives the holder a number of options and choices and the option to relocate at a time and date of your choice and should you wish to do so. Without a visa, you have no choices or options and should you wish to apply at a future date and the criteria has changed, effectively, you have no options.
Eligibility Assessment
A Migration Company - and a number of companies provide this service on-line - will assess you on the points system and provide information as to how it would be best for you (and your family if applicable) to apply for migration.
Information particularly about work skills and your nominated occupation if applying for a Skilled Migration visa will be required. The company will also look at your Skills (Qualifications) Assessment, as you cannot proceed with a Skilled Migration visa application without a positive assessment of your skills by the relevant authority in Australia.
Eligibility for Spouse Visas, Child Migration Visas, and Independent Executive Visas are also made by migration agents. If it looks like you may be low on points, or there are any other issues, alternative suggestions for gaining more points or other visa options can be suggested.
The sort of documentation that will be required is listed below:
Qualifications Assessment application forms for Skilled Migration Program Visas. This application goes in first to the relevant assessing authority.
Your application forms go to the Australian Government.
Sponsorship and Assurance of Support Forms, if you need them.
Health forms, and a list of 'panel' doctors who are authorised for Australian Migration Assessments in your local area.
Character forms for your Police Clearances.
A List of all documents and certificates are required for the Visa application.
Visa Application
Family Migration Visas do not require skills assessment. But they have sponsorship and Assurance of Support Forms to arrange and submit.
Document preparation and QA can take 4 - 5 months before everything is ready to send off to the Australian immigration office.
About Registered Migration Agents
An Australian Migration Agent helps and advises people who want to come to Australia, or who want to remain here. If you are not a citizen of this country, then you are required to have a special permit to stay here: this is called a visa. Visas fall into roughly three categories.
There are the Holiday, Visitors and Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) Visas. These are all short term and do not allow the holder to work here. Secondly, there are the temporary long stay visas. The best known of these is the Temporary Business Visa, Subclass 457, that allows an overseas worker to work and live in Australia for up to 4 years. Other temporary visas are the Retirement Visas, Student Visas and the less common Entertainment Visas - for example a singer on tour or a religious worker visa.
Lastly there are migration visas for permanent residency. Family and Spouse Visas form one section, where an Australian can sponsor their foreign partner to live here permanently. Fiancé Visas are another family visa.
Then there are the Skilled Migration Visas which are at the heart of Australian migration policy. The Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (DIMA) carefully screens applications to make sure people arriving here from other countries can speak English, be of a young age, have a qualified skill and some work experience. The Skilled Migration Visas are points tested to allow some flexibility.
Migrants can also apply if they have an employer to sponsor them - these visas are called the Employer Sponsored Migration visas. For this type of visa, the employer applies in Australia for government permission to bring an overseas worker over here, and the local labour market must be thoroughly checked out first to be sure there is no one here who is suitable for the job vacancy.
Business Skills Migration visas are also in the skilled migration section as applicants have to prove they not only have finance to start a new business to benefit Australia, but they also have the expertise and a good track record of past business success. A new start up business can be in anything, as long as the applicants will offer employment to Australians and be of 'benefit to Australia'.
Do Migration Agents help with refugees?
Yes - some Agents are employed by the Catholic Migrant Centre or other community services to assist refugees gain a Protection Visa to remain in Australia, or to come here from war zones or where civil law has broken down. However, this is a specialist area, and not all Migration Agents are set up to handle these cases.
Migration (or immigration) Agents are registered with the Australian government through the Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA) to be qualified in Australian Migration Law. But although Agents are government registered, they charge a fee as they are commercial organisations. For a migration visa the Agent will provide an estimate of costs in advance and provide a contract;consultation on small issues is usually charged by the hour.
In Australia it is illegal, with fines and prison sentencing, to practice as a Migration Agent without registration. There is also a complaints procedure in place, through the Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA), as stated in the Code of Conduct.
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