There are a number of skilled work visa options available under the Australian visa program. The employer nominated/sponsored options are outlined in separate sections of our website and include:
Employer sponsored visas make up a significant percentage of annual visas approved, however some individuals may be better placed to pursue a more general and other skilled migration options including:
– Sponsored by an eligible relative: for family sponsored the family member must be an Australian Citizen or permanent resident, a close family member and be living in a postcode designated regional area. In addition family sponsored applicants must have an occupation on a Skilled Occupation List.
– Sponsored/nominated by an Australian State or Territory Government agency.
For Small Business Owners in Queensland, a new Small Business Owners (SBO) pathway was open to applications on 11 December 2019. Please note that the SBO pathway is currently only available to applicants who will be located in designated regional Queensland.
The 491 visa does not grant immediate permanent residency, however a 491 visa holder may be eligible to apply for the new Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) Visa (subclass 191) (open to applications from 16 November 2022).
The above skilled work visa options operate under an Expression of Interest (EOI) process where individuals submit an expression to apply for the relevant visa. Twice a month the Department of Home Affairs provide invitations to apply. Noting this process, we outline the following important considerations if you are considering pursuit of general skilled work visa:
1. Documents to support the claims should be attained and available before submitting the EOI for example:
– Applicants claiming points for English ability must have results from a relevant prescribed test to support these points. This includes applicants from English speaking countries.
– Positive skills assessment in the nominated occupation must be attained.
– Documents to support the previous employment history should be available.
2. An EOI is not a visa application. If you are inside Australia lodging an EOI and your visa is due to expire you are not entitled to a Bridging Visa to remain in Australia while awaiting an invitation to apply.
3. There is no set time frame in which you will receive an invitation to apply nor are you guaranteed to receive an invitation. EOI’s are valid for 2 years and if application for the relevant visa is not made before the EOI expires, a new EOI will need to be re-lodged.
4. You should be confident of supporting the points being claimed in the EOI. The pass mark is 65 points however if 80 points are claimed and on assessment of supporting documents concludes that you can only attain 70 points, the application is likely to be refused. This can occur if claims are made for English ability or employment history and the supporting documents do not support the claims.
5. Skills assessment, English Language and other elements of the criteria are at time of invitation requirements. Even if the skills assessment is positive, if it is attained after the date of invitation the application can be refused.
If you believe you qualify for one of the above visas and want some further information and assistance, please contact us via our online enquiry form.