Australian Visa Information

Successful applicants under the new australian visa classes can now be granted permanent resident status in Australia. New visa classes known as Skilled - Independent Overseas Student (Residence) or Skilled - Australian-sponsored Overseas Student (Residence) took effect
on 1 July 2001 to enable overseas students in Australia who qualify, to apply fo permanent residence in Australia under the general skilled migration visas.

Before 1 July 2001, overseas students in Australia who wished to remain permanently at the end of their studies were required to file their permanent resident visa application outside Australia if they were seeking a visa on the basis of their qualifications and skills.

Although students were able to send their applications at any Australian Embassy while they remained in Australia, they were required to be outside Australia at the time their visa was approved.

The criteria for the new classes are similar to the criteria for existing Skilled - Independent, Skilled - Australian-sponsored and Skilled - Regional-sponsored Visas.

To avail of the new visa class the visa applicant must be:

•less than 45 years old and meet the health and character criteria

•and have, in the previous 6 months prior to lodgment of the visa application, completed a diploma (AQF level 3), degree or trade certificate for award by an Australian educational institution after at least 1 year of full time study in the English language medium at that institution in Australia; and

•be the holder of a student visa, or have held a student visa, within six months of completing their course (also applies to any dependants included in the application); and be in Australia and hold a substantive visa (also applies to any dependants included in the application); and

•must have had a satisfactory skills assessment by a relevant assessing authority for a nominated skilled occupation:

** Skilled - Independent Overseas Student visa applicants; must have a nominated skilled occupation assigned at least 60 points on the Skilled Occupations List (SOL), or 50 points if they are a successful PhD student; or
** Skilled - Australian-sponsored Overseas Student visa applicants; must have a nominated skilled occupation assigned at least 50 points on the SOL; and must have a sponsor and an assurer and must not have become unlawful in the six months prior to lodging the application (also applies to any dependants included in the application); or
** Skilled – Designated Area-Sponsored Overseas Student visa applicants; must have a nominated skilled occupation assigned at least 40 points on the SOL; must have a sponsor and an assurer and the sponsor must live in a specified area and must not have become
unlawful in the six months prior to lodging the application (also applies to any dependants included in the application);
(Designated areas include are entire areas of the ACT, Northern Territory, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia except Perth Metropolitan Region and certain areas of New South Wales).

The relevant application form is Form 47SK - Application for General Skilled Migration to Australia; and must be posted to the DIMA Adelaide Skilled Processing Centre with the prescribed application charge. Applications may not be lodged at any Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (DIMA) office or by any other means.

Student visa holders with “no further stay” condition attached to their visa, and applicants (or any dependants included in the application) who hold or held student visas granted on the basis of non-award courses such as ELICOS, AusAID, government sponsored (Australian or foreign) and Defence Sector students are not qualified to apply.

National Visas - Australian Visa application and processing. Offers cost effective and simplified Australian Immigration Services.

Skilled Visas
* Skilled Visas Free Online Assestment
* Skilled visa requirements
* Points test
* Visa Entitlements
* Visa Application Costs
* Visa Processing Time
* Eligible Skilled Occupations (SOL)
* Bonus Point Occupations (MODL)

Partner Visas
* Partner Free Online Assessment
* Visa Requirements - Spouse / De facto
* Visa Requirements - Interdependent
* Visa Requirements - Prospective Spouse (fiancé)
* Visa Entitlements
* Visa Application Costs
* Visa Processing Time

Business Visas
* Business Free Online Assessment
* Visa Requirements - Business Owner
* Visa Requirements - Senior Executive
* Visa Requirements - Investor
* Visa Requirements - Established Business Owner
* Visa Entitlements
* Visa Application Costs
* Visa Processing Time

Employer Sponsored Visas
* Employer Sponsored Free Online Assessment
* Visa Requirements - 457
* Visa Requirements - ENS
* Visa Entitlements
* Visa Application costs
* Visa Processing Time
* eligible 457 visa occupations

Student Visas
* Student Free Online Assessment
* Visa Requirements
* Assessment Levels
* Visa Entitlements
* Visa Application Costs
* Visa Processing Time

Parent Visas
* Parent Free Online Assessment
* Visa Requirements - Working Aged Parent
* Visa Requirements - Aged Parent
* Visa Requirements - Contributory Parent
* Visa Requirements - Remaining Relative
* Visa Entitlements
* Visa Application Costs
* Visa Processing Time

Retirement Visas
* Retirement Free Online Assessment
* Visa Requirements
* Visa Entitlements
* Visa Application Costs
* Visa Processing Time

Working Holiday Visas
* Working Holiday Free Online Assessment
* Visa Requirements
* Visa Entitlements
* Visa Application Costs
* Visa Processing Time

Visitor Visas
* Visitor Free Online Assessment
* Visa Requirements
* Visa Entitlements
* Visa Application Costs
* Visa Processing Time

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The points test

All applicants must meet Australian Visa standards for an occupation nominated from the Skilled Occupations List (SOL). The listing includes most occupations which require degree, diploma or trade level qualifications in Australia.
The core criteria of skill, age and English language ability must be satisfied in addition to the requirements under the points test.

New Procedure

The procedure for applications under the General Skilled Migration Category, (that is the new points test) which was introduced on 1 July 1999, requires two steps in an application for permanent residence.
First, the applicant must obtain a skills assessment from the assessing body in Australia which is authorised by DIMA specifically for the nominated occupation of the applicant.
The australian visa application will be invalid if there is no skills assessment attached to it.
The fees for the skills assessment vary depending on the assessing authority. It ranges from $250.00 to over $1,500.00 depending on the nominated occupation. Except for accountants and computer engineers generally, there is only one assessing body for each profession worldwide.
Second, the applicant must lodge the formal visa application with the skills assessment results. As stated above, from 1 November 2001, lodgment must be made at the DIMA Processing Center in Adelaide, Australia.

Points are allocated for skill qualification, age, and English ability, employment
experience. The pass mark for both Skilled Independent and Skilled Sponsored (those with sponsoring relatives) is 110 points.
Normally a licensed professional (such as an accountant, teacher or nurse) or qualified
tradesperson who is below 30 years of age is able to meet the pass mark of 110 even without a sponsoring relative. However, there may be some difficulty in obtaining a satisfactory skills assessment, which must state that the applicant's skill is suitable for migration purposes.

Additional points for employment experience, spouse skills, Australian visa qualifications, skills targeting, sponsoring relative and certain bonus points to obtain the passmark should also be considered by any potential applicant.