Students and professionals on study and work visas arrive to Australia described as a land of opportunities. Terming it as important destination, they find the country accommodative due to availability of different visas in manufacturing and industrial sectors.

Acclaimed as a progressive nation, it is Australia administration boasting in providing foreign students with excellent teaching methods, best faculty and state-of-the-art infrastructure facilities. In terms of enrolling in finest institutions, ample scope is provided to students so as to study building and construction in Australia.

Especially for students there are dozens of construction management courses in Australia – either they opt for vocational study or diploma course. Graduation and post-graduation courses are also offered prior to those students seeking employment in billion-dollar construction industry. In case a student prefers to work on a temporary basis or settle in the country, he or she can apply for a temporary visa or permanent visa respectively.

Every educational institute in Australia has an excellent faculty, advanced teaching facilities and is backed up with industry connections. Students are able to undergo extensive training for months together till completion of their courses.

Visa norms

International students who want to apply for a student visa in Australia have to get a good score in Pearson Test for English Academic (PTE Academic). The PTE test scores depend on different universities and type of programs—whether an individual is pursuing his graduation or master’s degree. The more a student scores in any of these tests, the better his chances are to get admission in finest schools in Melbourne, Sydney and other cities.

Along with tests, among other formalities that need to be furnished before the Australian authority include a valid passport explaining duration of the study, offer letter from a particular institution or university and access to sufficient funds.

Specialisation

Numerous construction professions await foreign students who are keen to take up construction management courses. Prior to enrolling in these courses, a student has multiple options in front of him – he can specialize as an architect, civil engineer, building surveyor, quantity surveyor, mechanical/electrical engineer or be appointed as a site engineer or as an individual qualified in a particular area of his interest onsite.

Types of construction employers

That’s right! On completion of his study in Australia, a student may take up a job in a designing firm, consultancy firm or can be hired as a contractor if s/he qualifies.

1. Designing firm
Both architects and structural/electrical engineers team up as one unit and start working on a particular project. They prepare different layouts meant for a particular project with majority of time spent in evaluating designs. If loopholes exist, these professionals ensure they are removed prior to nearing project completion.

2. Consultancy firm
A consultancy firm on behalf of a company oversees project operations with every guidance benefitting client to large extent. It provides planning and designing details concerning a particular project and explains procedures involved. Building surveyors and quantity surveyors are among different types of construction jobs an individual comes across in construction firms.

3. Contractors
Depending on construction project type and size, efficient staff are trained to ensure the project is executed on timely basis. The staff includes contractors who have a team of skilled workforce monitoring overall operations from start to finish.

Will construction career suit me?

Creativity and innovation are two sides of the same coin. The more students bring creativity in their designs, the more they are able to deliver incredible ones. Same constitutes whether these designs are meant in creating tall skyscrapers or infrastructure projects.
Consider few aspects that helps students build a career in construction.

• Paying attention to minute details is essential. All what is require is extensive planning and design so as to develop a building from scratch. If one portion goes missing within a particular design, the entire structure collapses.
• In case of a construction flaw within the design, fix the problem before it escalates further. Students are taught to identify problems on their own and solve them in advance.
• There are limitless possibilities for students – whether it is from designing buildings, bridges to tunnels.
• Communication skills, time management skills, teamwork and working under high pressure are among different challenges students adapt themselves from beginning.
• Different skills for different individuals come to play. As architects, individuals have to be creative and for civil engineers and structural/mechanical engineers, they have to possess technical knowledge.

Further Study Pathways

On basis of their study goals and academic achievements, students are able to respectively design different pathways. After completion of study in construction and building courses, they can launch their own careers through Temporary Graduate visa. The visa is designed to provide pathway–right from study to an industry relevant employment in Australia, further paving way towards Permanent Residency.

Job Opportunities

Graduates are at their best to explore numerous job opportunities in construction and building industry. They have an upper hand to seek employment in construction companies, small and medium scale companies, local as well as central governments and can be hired as skilled workforce by private companies.

With architecture and engineering courses in demand across Australia, make sure you proceed with utmost care so as to ensure admission in suitable course. Seek guidance from our immigration and education consultants/advisers providing you effective tips—from processing your visa application to the kind of study criteria required.

Yearning to meet your loved one in Australia? Then you should know a few things before applying for an Australian Partner Visa.

If you want to visit your Partner/Spouse in Australia, you need to lodge a Partner visa 309/100 application.  To acquire the Permanent Partner (Migrant) Visa (subclass 100), you first have to acquire a Temporary Partner (Provisional) Visa for Australia (subclass 309).

But before you apply, here are few things you might be unaware while applying. 

1. You don’t have to be married to visit your partner in Australia.
2. The necessity of a 12-month period of living together can be overlooked.
3. You can visit your partner during the processing time of the application.
4. You can add your child to the application after it is lodged.
5. You can apply for a de facto visa, even if you are still married (but separated) to someone else.
6. You can only attach 100 documents in your ImmiAccount.

1. You don’t have to be married to visit your partner in Australia.

If your partner is an Australian citizen or Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen, you don’t have to be legally married to your partner to lodge a Partner Visa for Australia. Then, this would generally require you to exhibit evidence of your living together for at least a period of 12 months before lodging.

2. The necessity of a 12-month period of living together can be overlooked.

You might have heard the rule that it is necessary for a couple to have proof of living together for at least 12-months before lodging for a Partner visa. Well, not anymore! It is recognized that, for certain reasons, a couple may have to live separately. Therefore, the one-year relationship norm does not ask the couple for a proof of having physically lived together, rather be in a de facto relationship for that period of time.

There are also other exemptions from the one-year relationship prerequisite, like:

• Convincing and unordinary circumstances, for example, there is a child born out of that relationship.
• If your relationship is recorded as a kind of relationship which is set in the regulations specified under a law of the state or territory and stated in the Acts Interpretation (Registered Relationships) Regulations 2008.
• Your partner is an applicant for a permanent humanitarian visa
• Your partner is, or was the holder of a permanent humanitarian visa; prior to the humanitarian visa was permitted, the de facto relationship with your partner should’ve been declared to the Department at that time.

When submitting evidence of a de facto relationship, you may have to provide statements entailing the history of your relationship, financial statements encompassing details of financial commitments including bank statements, and any joint liabilities, social evidence proving that you and your partner are recognized as a couple in the society.

Also, this necessity of a 12-months living period can be overlooked if you’re married to an Australian citizen through a culturally arranged marriage, as the history and evidence shared by the couple will be little. In this case, you have to submit statements consisting of the initial arranged meetings, financial sharing, and social evidence.

3. You can visit your partner during the processing time of the application.

After lodging Temporary Partner Visa for Australia offshore, you can still visit your partner during the processing time. It doesn’t oblige you to stay in your country during that period. But, when your visa is ready and you’re still onshore, the Immigration Department will let you know and give you the notice to fly back before it’s granted, for, a Temporary Partner Visa (subclass 309) will not be granted unless you’re offshore.

4. You can add your child to the application after it is lodged.

During the processing time of the Partner visa application, if you decide to add your dependent child or stepchild to the application, the Australian Immigration law allows it. The child should first be granted a Dependent Child visa (subclass 445) after which he/she can visit or stay in Australia. Also, after the temporary Partner visa has been permitted to their parent, the child can be added to the permanent Partner visa application.

5. You can apply for a de facto visa, even if you are still married (but separated) to someone else.

If you’re married to someone else but have separated and are now in a relationship with someone new, you can still apply for a de facto Partner visa. 

If you are married to someone else then under Australian law, both of you are not allowed to marry each other. Nevertheless, Australian immigration law makes it possible for you to be in a de facto relationship with your partner and to have that relationship as evidence during application. So even if you or your partner are not divorced due to – disagreement on the financial settlement from the divorce or your previous husband/wife won’t agree to divorce or any other reasons, you (or your partner) might still be eligible to apply for a Partner Visa.

6. You can only attach 100 documents in your ImmiAccount.

If you are applying for your visa or citizenship for Australia, you can create an ImmiAccount which allows you to attach documents online, track your application’s process and access the ‘My Health Declarations’ service.

But while applying for a Partner/Spouse Visa, the documents you attach, to be presented as a proof of your relationship, are limited to only 100 documents. Another critical fact to remember is that you cannot remove an already attached document; therefore, you should always attach required documents first and then any recommended documents you want to provide.

If you are submitting numerous pages of the same document, then include all the pages in one file rather than loading each page as a separate file. And, if you are required to submit pictures as evidence of a relationship then consider printing and scanning multiple pictures into one. Also, if you have reached your limit and had more documents to attach, you will need to wait until your application has been allocated to a case officer. They will advise you of what additional information or documents you need to provide and how to do so.

If you have any queries or want to know more about Australia Partner Visa, we at Aussizz Group will always be available for any assistance. Come, visit us today!

It is your parents who want to stay with you as they are living thousands of miles away from you. One of your parents has taken voluntary retirement and it is his wish to take up a job in Australia. How will you make his dream come true? There are plenty of options in front of you as you happen to be an Australian resident.

One of the steps you can initiate is to sponsor them on contributory parent visa subclass 143. You can be their visa applicant and file every application on their behalf so that they become eligible visa holders of permanent residency if they apply in near future. You can ensure their applications are processed in time bound manner along with submitting crucial documents before visa authorities.

After your parents get the 143 visas, they will be allowed to travel to and fro the country for a period of five years. They will be allowed to reside, work and study. The 143 visa certainly works to advantage of every individual who might be a resident of Australia or New Zealand.

To avail benefits of contributory parent visas, it is time we shift focus on certain guidelines enumerated below –

• Age factor – Contributory parent visa Australia is applicable if your age is above 18 years. You can be Australian permanent resident or New Zealand citizen with help received from various quarters. If you are below 18, community associations step in and become sponsors on behalf of your parents.
• Assistance – Visa norms speed up after you produce documentary evidence of community organisation you represent. You require proof of representative of the organisation sponsoring one of your family members. The organisation has to be financially sound and operate from island nation for at least a period of one year.

BENEFITS of 143 VISA

Listed below are some benefits for your parents staying in Australia – 

• Your parents will be allowed to reside, study and work as they are contributory parent 143 visa holders.
• Medicare health coverage is among privileges they can earn. They are required to fulfill visa norms before being eligible for Australian citizenship.
• Permanent residency for parents comes into effect if you are a sponsor
• From date visa, your parents are eligible to leave and revisit Australia for a period of five years. They can avail social security payments after waiting period passed by.

Some Frequently Asked Questions in case your parents are not 143 visa holders yet. These elderly individuals have to submit valid documents to Australian authorities and fulfil visa requirement with a concrete proof of having half of their children residing in Australia permanently.

Q. Where can I be as an applicant when applying for a 143 visa?

A. Apply for the visa from Australia or your respective home country. Wait till announcement of decision is made.

Q. Can I include my family members in the application?

A. You can do so and include your partner, child and step-child in your application. Once granted, your parents receive same rights and obligations as you.

Q. Is there provision for a bridging visa before being granted with a 143?

A. Yes. If your parents are in Australia and are holders of 173 visa. This visa helps them when their 143 applications are processed. They will not be allowed to stay in Australia on just a bridging visa alone.

Q. Can your parent re-apply 143 visa after cancelling it earlier?

A. The Australian Department will not grant your parent with 143 visa if he cancelled or refused it while he was residing in Australia.

The Q&A is a reality check to different visa procedures with no harsh provisions attached to them when applying to contributory parent visa subclass 143. Only handful of formalities are needed prior to its clearance.

To avail more information on contributory parent visa and its subclasses, feel free to post your queries on our Immigration & Education forum and get solutions right away.

From July 1 onwards, there is a marginal fee hike of 3% to get your contributory parent visa application processed as announced by the Department of Home Affairs Australia. Sponsor your parents by paying the hike in first installment alone while you are not bound to pay anything in the second installment.

Other categories of Australian visas witnessed an increase of 2% with an employer incurring more as part of transaction expenses to sponsor overseas workers.

Get to know specifics on different visas step by step:

• There is $15 fee increase on student visa with an applicant paying $575 instead of $560. An adult dependent applicant will now have to pay $430 compared to $420.
• An increase is also reported in applicant fees on regional sponsored, employer nominated visas and independent skilled visas. 

A primary applicant, on the other hand, will have to bear $3755 instead of $3670 for subclass 189 independent skilled visa.

• Fees for the additional adult applicant has been revised from $1835 to $1875.
• Additional child applicant pays $940 instead of $920.

There is also a substantial 2% increase in fees for applicants applying for state nominated visa subclass 190, employer nominated subclass 186, subclass 187 of regional employer nomination and subclass 485 which is a lot to do with skilled provisional temporary graduate visa.

Seek more details from immigration experts elaborating on different categories of Australia Visa.

• Tourist visa fees has been raised to $140 from $135
• Post study work rose to $1535 from $1500
• Partner visa seen a small rise of $7160 from $7000

For detailed and comprehensive analysis, log on to specifics of each visa by consulting our team of immigration experts.

Every year, Australian government makes changes to its immigration program to keep up with the economic needs of the country. And the year 2018 is no exception.

A lot of changes came into effect on 18 March 2018, with the major one being the replacement of 457 visa with Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) 482 visa, as we already discussed in our previous blog.

Another change that has been implemented on the same date is the availability of Regional Occupation List (ROL) for a number of skilled visa programs including:

• Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) (Subclass 186)
• Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (Subclass 187)
• Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 190)
• Training Visa (Subclass 407)
• Temporary Skill Shortage Visa (Subclass 482)
• Temporary Graduate visa (Subclass 485)
• Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (Subclass 489)

This list is carried out on the basis of labour market analysis by the Department of Jobs and Small Business and will be reviewed as part of the regular update in mid-2018. All the visa applicants who are nominated for the position from the ROL will be in a regional area.

Let’s discuss about the key changes it brings to other skilled visas:

Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) (Subclass 186): A new skilled occupation has been released with 208 eligible occupations included only on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) for this visa program. If you are looking to apply for this visa, you are required to be nominated in one of these occupations except in case separate arrangements are made under a labour agreement of Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream.

Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) (Subclass 187): All the 673 skilled occupations will continue to be eligible for this visa, however, they are included on both MLTSSL and ROL for employers in regional areas. These occupations apply to both Temporary Residency and Direct Entry streams.

Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189): New instrument has been evaluated and published and applicants of this visa will continue to access the MLTSSL list with 176 occupations eligible for this program.

Skilled-Nominated Visa (Subclass 190): New instrument has been published. Applicants looking to apply for this visa can both MLTSSL and STSOL (Short-term Skilled Occupation List). STSOL has less number of eligible skilled occupations that contributes mainly to Australia’s regional economy. 416 skilled occupations are eligible for this program.

Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) Visa (Subclass 482): The skilled occupation for 482 visa is available in a separate instrument with STSOL occupations being only eligible for the Short-term stream of the visa and MLTSSL and ROL occupations eligible for the Medium-term stream of the visa.

All the skilled occupations that were available for 457 visa are same in the instrument published for this visa and it also includes some new skilled occupations from the new ROL list.

In total, 509 skilled occupations are eligible for this visa program.

Being an applicant of 482 visa, you are required to be nominated for one of these skilled occupations unless there are separate arrangements under a labour agreement. Besides, work experience caveats have been removed except for certain occupations included in the Regional Occupation List.

Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) (Graduate Stream): New Instrument has been published with a total of 176 eligible skilled occupations to nominate from the MLTSSL list.

Skilled Regional (Provisional) Visa: New Instrument has been published with a total of 176 eligible skilled occupations to nominate from the MLTSSL list.

Skilled Regional (Provisional) Visa: New Instrument has been published and 475 skilled occupations are made eligible for this program. If you have been nominated by a state or territory government for this visa, you must have their occupation on the ROL that allows them to live and work in regional area.

Please note that the list of skilled occupations will not be applicable to the Temporary Residence Stream who is living or have held 457 visa or 482 visa on 18 April 2017.

Both the lists of Eligible Skilled Occupations and the Combined List of Eligible Skilled Occupations have been updated with the above changes.

If you are looking for further assistance on any of the above mentioned skilled visas, feel free to get in touch with us today. You can also post your queries on our Immigration & Education forum and get solutions right away.

There has always been an endless flow of career opportunities for engineering professionals in Australia. This not only restricted to a particular discipline but all major engineering occupations.

As per the Hays, Recruiting Experts in Engineering, there will be a great demand of Structural Engineers, Civil Drafters, Intermediate Civil Engineers, 12D Designers, Civil Design Engineers, Electrical Engineers, Revit Drafters, Traffic Modellers, Water Engineers, Transport Planners, Fire Design Engineers, Hydraulic Drafters and Civil Design Engineers in the coming months of 2018.

Following the consistent demand, the government of Australia has taken several initiatives to fill the shortage of skilled and specialised professionals. One such initiative is introducing the Skilled Recognised Graduate Visa.

All the international engineering students who acquire degree or qualification from Australian universities will be considered eligible to work in Australia even without any experience, if they hold a Skilled Recognised Graduate 476 Visa.

If you are currently pursuing an engineering degree in Australia or have recently become graduate, chances are you would also like to choose this pathway to get better job prospects in Australia and enhance career growth.

Hence, to ensure you know all the criteria for 476 visa and to help you make an informed decision, we have compiled a list of frequently asked questions along with answers that are given below. Take a look!

Also Read: Education and Career Opportunities for Engineers in Australia

What is Skilled Recognised Graduate Visa?

Skilled Recognised Graduate is a temporary visa for recent international engineering graduates that allows them to get employment and gain skilled work experience in Australia. The visa is valid for up to 18 months.

Who is eligible for this visa?

You are only eligible for 476 visa if:

• You are 31 or younger in age
• You have either completed bachelors, masters, doctoral or postgraduate diploma in engineering
• Your qualification must include specialisation in either civil, chemical, environmental, structural, mechanical, production & plant, electrical & electronics, mining and material engineering
• You are applying for the visa within 24 months of completing an eligible engineering qualification from a recognised institution of Australia
• Have never hold skilled recognised graduate visa or temporary graduate 485 visa (unless you were a dependent on visa)
• You have the required English language skills
• Meet health and character requirements

What does it mean from “A Recognised Institute”?

A recognised institution offering an Engineering qualification in Australia is accredited under the Washington Accord. It is an international agreement between professional bodies of participating or signatory countries who are responsible for accrediting engineering degree programmes.

It assures that the degree programmes accredited by bodies of participating countries hold significant equivalency. International students graduating from recognised institutions, as a result are considered to work in Australia when applying to practice engineering.

How one can demonstrate English language skills for 476 visa?

There are number of tests available that help you provide evidence of your English language ability for lodging a visa. These include: IELTS Academic, PTE (Academic), OET, TOEFL, and Cambridge (CAE).

The minimum scores required for each test are:

IELTS – Overall score 6 with at least 5 in each band
PTE – overall score 50 with at least 36 in each band
OET – a score of at least B in each of the four components 
TOEFL – Total score 64 with 4 in listening and reading and at least 14 in writing and speaking
Cambridge – 169 overall with at least 154 in each band

What is the processing time and fees for an Australian 476 visa?

It usually takes 3 to 4 months to process an application for 476 visa while the processing fees is AUD 365.

Please Note: The processing time and fees may vary due to individual circumstances.

Can I include my family members as a dependant in visa application?

Yes, you can include your partner and your or your partner’s child/step child as a dependant in your visa application.

What are the chances of getting a job on skilled recognised graduate visa?

This usually depends on your skills and how well you perform at the interview.

How do I buy the best health insurance plan to meet health requirements for 476 visa?

There are various leading health insurance providers in Australia offering best of health insurance policies to help you meet your needs and visa requirements. This include Bupa, Allianz, Iman, Nib, Australian Unity and Ahm.

You can compare their plans on different parameters at www.getmypolicy.online and get the best quote instantly.

How character requirements are met?

You must provide a police clearance certificate from each country you’ve lived for more than 12 months in the past 10 years after you turned 16 years of age. These certificates must prove you with no criminal records.

Can I undertake any course of study or get admission in a university while living in Australia on 476 visa?

Yes, you can study or get admission in a university while living in Australia on 476 visa. However, you must have all the evidences on hand required by the immigration department like letter of admission, availability of funds, etc.

Am I eligible for permanent residency on 476 visa?

476 visa is only valid for 18 months and cannot be extended. There are other pathways that can help you extend your stay and get permanent residency in the country. These include:

Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186) (If you are nominated by an approved Australian employer to fill a skilled position, you can apply for this visa)

Skilled Independent Visa (subclass 189) (It is a point-tested visa that allows you to work and live in Australia as a permanent resident if you score at least 60 points or more in the test)

Skilled Nominated Visa (subclass 190) (If you are nominated by an Australian state or territory, you can apply for the visa)

Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489) (If you are already living in regional area of Australia on 476 visa or considering to make a move to work there, this visa is appropriate for you)

If you need assistance for any of the above visas, we have the most experienced immigration experts to help you at every step of pre and post visa application process. All you need to do is to get in touch with us at info@aussizz.com.

Why my visa application is getting delayed?

A lot of reasons are responsible behind the delay in visa application. This can be due to high number of applications for immigration department to review, improper paperwork, missing crucial documents, non-payment, etc. To know the appropriate reason, it is highly advisable to seek assistance from the experts.

Prepping to lodge a visa application? Didn’t get your questions covered? We have a registered team of immigration consultants who work meticulously to turn any obstacle into an opportunity for you. From gathering documentation, confirming your eligibility to dealing with immigration authorities and visa approval, you can always count on us for the accurate process and best support.

So, why not get started now? Drop all your queries or concerns at our immigration and education forum.

Are you contemplating to migrate to Australia under General Skilled Migration Visa?

If yes, ensure that you calculate your total points well in advance to assure your eligibility.

Australia has got the most organized and structured point-based system for Skilled Migration visas. These visas include:

• Skilled Independent Visa (subclass 189)
• Skilled Nominated Visa (subclass 190)
• Skilled Regional (Provisional) Visa (subclass 489)

To be eligible to lodge an Australia PR Visa application for any of the above visas, you require at least 60 points in the Points Test.

If you are planning to apply but are unaware of the importance of these points, here is a brief overview.

The point-based visas for Australia Immigration requires an applicant to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) via SkillSelect and get invited by Department of Home Affairs (DHA) to apply for this visa.

The minimum points you require to receive an invitation is 60. The more the points, higher are the chances of receiving an invitation.

Here’s a look on the criteria and the points awarded to you for the Points Test.

1. Age

2. English Language Ability

3. Skilled Employment

4. Educational Qualifications

5. Australian Study Requirements

5 points are granted for at least one or more degrees, diplomas, or trade qualifications awarded by Australian educational institution and meet Australian study requirement.

6. Study in Regional Australia

You can achieve 5 points if you meet Australian Study Requirement to have lived and studied in regional Australia or a low population growth metropolitan area at the time you are invited to apply.

7. Partner Skill Qualifications

You get 5 points if your partner meets the following requirements:

• Age
• English Language Ability
• Suitable skills assessment in a nominated occupation on the same Skilled Occupation List as used for your application

You cannot gain these points if your partner is–

• Not included on your visa application
• An Australian citizen
• An Australian Permanent Resident

8. Nomination

If you are nominated by a State or Territory Government for visa subclass 190 only, you can get 5 points.

** The above listed points for different criteria are referred from www.homeaffairs.gov.au

But, do you still lack five points to apply for your Australia PR Visa application?

Here’s a good news then!

You can gain these five bonus points for your point-based skilled migration visa just by getting NAATI accreditation in community language or by completing a Professional Year Program.Now that you know there is a way that helps you in getting 5 points, let’s understand what exactly is getting accreditation in community language.

NAATI CCL Test

If you are looking for benefits in your Australia Permanent Residency goals, you are eligible to claim 5 points under Credentialed Community Language (CCL) points at the Paraprofessional level or above, upon successful accreditation from NAATI.

National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters – NAATI recently introduced a Credentialed Community Language (CCL) Test that gives 5 points to international students for their point-based GSM Visa.

CCL Exam determines an applicant’s ability to interpret the conversation between two speakers speaking different languages.

In this test, you are required to interpret two dialogues that are conveyed to you via a recorded material. These dialogues include alternating segments of a conversation between an English speaker and a speaker speaking Language Other Than English (LOTE). You are required to infer the segments from English to LOTE and vice versa.

You need an overall score of 63 marks or more in the CCL Assessment Test with a minimum of 29 out of 45 marks in each dialogue in order to achieve 5 points.One more way of earning 5 extra points towards your Australia PR is completing a Professional Year Program.

Professional Year Program

A Professional Year Program is a well-organized professional development program that provides an applicant to develop communicative skills, gain practical experience and knowledge regarding an Australian workplace. This program runs for 44 weeks out of which 12 weeks are of internship.

The candidates who successfully completes this program not only gains the experience of working in an Australian culture but also gets eligible of achieving 5 points towards their PR visa application. One can be eligible to gain those extra points if he/she undertakes a course under PY Program that is in his/her Nominated Skilled Occupation List or an occupation closely related to it. Also, the course must have lasted for at least 12 months.

The Professional Year courses are currently available to graduates in the fields of Computer Science, Accounting and Engineering. Applicants can thus score 5 points if they have started and completed an approved Professional Year course in Australia within the last four years of being invited.

Only the fact that you have studied in Australia does not guarantee an approval for the GSM visa. These are few pathways that can help you boost your score for the Points Test and increase your chances of applying for the Australia PR Visa.

If you are considering taking CCL Test to claim the 5 bonus points and require detailed understanding for the same, you can sign up on CCL Tutorials and even undergo online preparation for your test here.

One of the most controversial and anticipated update

The Department of Home Affairs announced the upcoming changes to the employer sponsored 457 Visa back in 2017. The day finally arrived where the changes came into effect on 18th March 2018, Sunday. The 20-year-old Employer-Sponsored 457 Visa has been subject to many changes in the past but now has been finally terminated and the new visa named Temporary Skilled Shortage Visa Subclass 482 has been officially launched.

What is TSS Visa?

Almost a year ago the detailed requirements along with the common eligibility requirement were also put out where the TSS Visa has 2 main streams, Short Term Stream and Medium Term Stream including a Labour Agreement Stream which is for exceptional cases. The applicant of this visa can be inside or outside Australia.

Below is the snapshot of Short-Term Stream & Medium-Term Stream of the Temporary Skilled Shortage Visa (Subclass 482)

Labour Agreement Stream

The employer can sponsor an applicant as an overseas skilled worker under Labour Agreement Stream if it has a labour agreement with the Australian government by establishing a need that cannot be fulfilled in the Australian labour market and unavailability of standard temporary or permanent visa programs.

As you can notice the visa fees is significantly high and the employer is also required to pay a compulsory annual training levy for foreign worker. If the company decides to hire the employ through permanent schemes like employer nomination or regional sponsored migration visa, then they are subject to pay the training levy of 3000 AUD for business with turnover less than 10 million AUD and 5000 AUD for business with turnover more than 10 million AUD. However, it is not yet clarified when the SAF will come into official effect, so, until then the training benchmarks evidence will not be necessary.

1. What are the Work Experience Requirements for TSS Visa?
2. What about the Standard Business Sponsorship?
3. How is the Australia Market Salary Rate assessed?
4. What are the Key obligations of a sponsor for TSS Nomination?
5. What is the Genuine Temporary Entrant criteria (GTE requirement)?
6. What is Condition 8607? How it affects a TSS Visa applicant?
7. Effects of TSS Visa introduction. Who is Affected?
8. How does it affect the applicants?
9. How does it affect the Employers?
10. What is TSS Visa Processing Time?
11. Transition from 457 to TSS

What are the Work Experience Requirements for TSS Visa?

A proof of full time work experience of at least 2 years in the nominated occupations or in the related field is mandatory. This is expected to be undertaken in a period of last 5 years and need not be continuous.

The flexibility is given for some industries in cases where the work experience is a part of/ gained through

• Research for Master and /or PhD in medical and research based occupations
• Clinical Placements and internships (for example, for the medical practitioners having final year practical training)
• Professional Year Program

Part time work might be considered for highly relevant skills.

What about the Standard Business Sponsorship?

If you got the Standard Business Sponsorship (SBS), you can use it to apply for TSS nominations and Visa application. If the SBS is granted after 18th March 2018 then it will be valid for 5 years in majority cases.

How is the Australia Market Salary Rate Assessed?

There are changes to requirements of the market rate salary as compared to the 457 visa. For the TSS Visa, the Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR) (excluding the non-monetary benefits) must be equal to or more than the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) for the applied occupation, unless the Minister waives them off. At present, the TSMIT is $53,900.

What are the Key obligations of a sponsor for TSS Nomination?

The location of the occupation and period must be specified in the nomination. A sponsor must pay the nomination fees and must officially state the legal employment contract abiding by all the commonwealth, state or territory including any national law (if applicable).

What is the Genuine Temporary Entrant criteria (GTE requirement)?

GTE will be applicable

• for the STSOL occupations
• in certain cases, where, the applicant has been living in Australia on temporary visas for at the least 4 years
• while the applicant wants to renew the short-term TSS Visa i.e applying for this visa for the second time.

Further, for every applicant who is granted the TSS Visa, following conditions will be applicable:

Condition 8607, Condition 8501 (A mandatory Health Insurance), and Condition 8303

What is Condition 8607? How it affects a TSS Visa applicant?

An applicant must

• start work within 90 days. For onshore applicant the 90-day period starts from the day of visa grant date and for offshore applicant the count starts after his/her arrival in Australia post visa grant.
• work with approved sponsor for a minimum of 60 days consecutively.
• get a mandatory licence, registration or membership

If the applicant wants to change the occupation then she/he will have to lodge a new nomination and subsequently, a new application.

If the applicant is changing the sponsor/ employer, then he/she is required to be sponsored by a new employer and then lodge only a new nomination, not new visa. However, this is in no manner extends the length of your visa or allows you to work in a new occupation.

Effects of TSS Visa introduction. Who is Affected?

As an effect of this visa, the number of employer sponsored permanent residency visa grants will drop significantly.

Both the employer and the applicants are going to be affected. Especially the international students who are left with slim chances for permanent residency if they opt for this visa.

How does it affect the applicants?

Most of the international graduates will become non-eligible to apply for the visa due to the obligatory 2 years’ relevant full-time work experience requirement and the need for positive skill assessment. It further implies there will be less onshore applicants than the overseas ones.

So, onshore international students are unlikely to have much advantage than their counterparts i.e the overseas applicants.

On the brighter side, the offshore applicants will have a better chance at visa grant provided they have relevant work experience and get a positive skill assessment.

From a slight different perspective, the changes might affect the Australia Tertiary Education sector. When international students will have tough requirements to be met and limited PR pathway, the likeliness of them opting for tertiary education reduces.

How does it affect the Employers?

Tapping the best talents in the world is one of the biggest challenges for the start-ups. They are the ones who are at a major loss here. When funds are tight and you need to excel in the competitive market, the choice for budding talents working for start-ups is very little or almost grim. To add to the existing budget for a company, there is an imposed annual training levy.

Thus, hiring the talent with high level of skills will be a costly affair and a tough call to make for many businesses especially in the tech and management sector. Needless to say it will considerably affect their business growth.

Moreover, the limited pathways to PR for the applicants will cause decrease in the interest among them to apply for the open positions falling under STSOL.

Many caveats also apply to the employers like a minimum of five full-time employees, an annual turnover of at least $1 million, the requisite to pay a higher minimum salary according to the Australian Market Salary Rate to the applicant.

What is TSS Visa Processing Time?

The processing time for this visa is expected to be similar to the 457 visa. However, it will depend on various factors like the number of visas to be processed by the department, the status of the sponsor of the applicant, applicant’s occupation, location of the applicant’s sponsor, processing time for sponsorship and nomination.

It also depends on the number of applications the department has on hand to be processed.

In case of missing documents, the case officer will demand the necessary evidences which might take additional months of time, might be 6 months or more.

Transition from 457 to TSS

The TSS Visa has impacted the other 2 crucial visas Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) (Subclass 186) Visa and Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) (Subclass 187) Visa. You can check out the effects in the below link.

Must Read: Australia Immigration Changes that affect 457, ENS and RSMS visas

Thus, the introduction of TSS Visa & its structure has varied impact both big and small not just on the applicants but also on the Australia market.

To gain a better understanding of the TSS Visa as per your condition and to explore the possibility of a successful application, you can contact our Immigration Counsellor team. Our registered migration agents are also there to provide critical migration advice. The years of experience has put us in the right position to assess, advice and process any type of Australia Immigration Visa. It will only be wise of you to reach a decision by seeking expert advice. That way you will ensure the best for your future & career.

Book a Consultation with our Immigration Experts

Engineering is a profession that has extensive and plenty of specialised roles. And the world has a plethora of opportunities for Engineers to exhibit their knowledge and flourish creativity. If you are passionate to learn and gain expertise in any Engineering domain, there are many courses you can pursue and make a career in Engineering field of your interest.

Australia, in particular, has some top universities/ institutes to study Engineering; ones that offer a chance at industry-focused practical learning.

What is Engineering?

Engineering is a branch of Science & Technology which concerns with design, analysis, creation, working of structures or systems and its application using scientific and mathematical solutions.

Who are Engineers?

Engineers are competent and skilled people responsible for design, analysis and creation of structures to devise a technological solution taking into consideration its practical use, safety, public costing to make it usable, sellable and marketable.

Australia When compared internationally leads ahead at the third position in terms of quality education and graduate opportunities for international students.

Top Engineering Courses to Pursue in Australia

There is wide range of Engineering disciplines and Australia particularly has amazing and plenty of opportunities to develop skills in diverse disciplines. Some of the most popular ones are:

Computer Engineering

The field of computer is fast booming. The industry is so wide that there is need for specialised professionals. You can pursue your career in studying computer engineering, information technology engineering, computer science, computer and network engineering, computer information system, mobile application development, and so on all of which are related to the field of computers.

Civil Engineering

A civil engineering field, similar to the computer field has many options for specialised courses. It is a broad field and you can take up courses like civil and structural engineering, civil and environmental engineering, architecture and building, building surveying, urban and regional planning, advanced engineering- civil engineering (transport), construction project management, and so on.

Mechanical Engineering

When there is a new product in the market, its efficient solution is also a result of work of mechanical engineering team. They are in demand for their agile skills and critical thinking. Some of the courses include engineering (manufacturing), international automotive engineering, engineering practice- mechanical engineering, robotics and mechatronics engineering, mechatronic engineering, automation and manufacturing systems, and so on.

Electrical Engineer

Electrical Engineering is not just a fascinating field but a highly important one. Imagine your life without the smooth availability of electricity. As technology evolves the need of electrical engineers will be there. There are many interesting courses you can pursue in this field of study like engineering in phonetics, electrical power engineering, professional engineering- electrical, engineering in renewable energy, engineering (electrical and electronic)- entrepreneurship and innovation and such.

Electronics Engineer

Just like the electrical engineers, the electronics engineers are crucial. Both the field of electrical and electronics go hand in hand. This field also requires specific skills for high-end tasks. And thus, there are courses like electronic and computer engineering, nanotechnology, engineering science (network systems and telecommunication), electromaterials, electronic and energy engineering, electronic and sports engineering, electronics and embedded technology, which you can opt.

Best Engineering Institutes Across Australia

Engineering institutes delivering finest education and offering best resources are many in Australia. From Melbourne to Perth, Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane, Darwin, Hobart, you can find best universities and institutes spread across all of Australia. The scope for Engineers is bright and wide in the land down under.

According to the ranking awarded in 2018 by Times Higher Education’s World University Ranking, there are 35 top universities in Australia and 6 out of them rank in the top 100. Needless to have any more reason or explanation of Australia’s quality of education and its impact on your career. 

These are also ranked in different top positions by QS Top Universities Ranking. The courses they offer are accredited by Engineers Australia.

These institutes will prepare you for the professional roles and impart you with the industry efficient knowledge. Whether you want to work with an international team and manage a project or take up a specialised role or indulge into research work, Australian educational institutes have all the essential resources to offer while allowing you to be as creative and innovative as you would aim.

Source: https://www.timeshighereducation.com/student/best-universities/best-universities-australia

Benefits of Studying Engineering from Australia

1. Academic Excellence: You will get all the resources and knowledge to enhance your engineering skills

2. Industry Oriented Learning: There is a lot of focus on practical exposure and industry relevant learning.

3. Flexible Learning: The Australian Education system is structured in such a way that it does not burden the students and elevate their talents.

4. Diverse Options: A range of specialisations is available from which you can select your interested field of study. There are undergraduate and postgraduate degree courses that will help you learn at various levels.

5. Specialised courses: For students aiming to pursue career in concentrated studies, there are specialised courses available.

6. Lucrative Employment Prospects: You want to work with tech giants or manifest your own idea, Australia will give you many opportunities to grow, both financially and intellectually.

7. International Student Support: The international students are provided plenty of support right from getting acquainted with the culture and academics to assist with accommodation, internships and so on.

8. Multicultural Environment: Your growth is exponentially boosted by regular interactions with folks coming from different backgrounds and countries. There will be plenty of networking opportunities with chances to land international job.

9. Vocational Courses: The Vocational Education training programs will train you to become qualified Engineering associates and successfully land the job of Engineering Technologist.

10. Migration opportunity: Australia has a high demand for skilled engineers and gives chance to international students who are qualified engineers to get the permanent residency visa.

11. Research Opportunities: Most of the top educational institutes in Australia offer the students plenty of focus for research.

How can you apply for TAFE/ Bachelor / Master or PhD?

You can choose to study courses in particular discipline at different levels, from Technical and Further Education (TAFE) i.e Certificate I-IV, Diploma, Advanced Diploma, to Bachelor, Master, PhD.

You can apply for the relevant degree and select course of your interest. A little bit of research about the various universities and colleges should help. Do check out their syllabus content; what the course has to offer. You can certainly seek assistance from professional education counsellors at Aussizz Group who will help you narrow down the best choices according to your interest, requirements, feasibility and future prospects. An English language proficiency proof is must for the non-native English speakers to enrol in any course and also the basic academic requirements depending on the level of course.

You can opt courses like Master of Engineering Science, Master of Engineering Management if you have inclination towards a more managerial role in the industry. In fact, Australia is home to some of the top universities to pursue master in Engineering. Note, you can even land a scholarship.

Excellent Job Prospectus in Australian job market for Engineers

The requirements for Engineers in Australia have consistently gone up. Engineers Australia has also published the analysis of Engineers Vacancy in different states of Australia. Over the years, the ratio of female engineers has also increased and many universities have encouraged the trend by means of scholarship and other educational support.  

A good number of positions are open for the engineering graduates to take up employment at different levels in an organisation and that too with handsome average annual salary, at least a minimum of $60,000.

Basic Statistics of Average Annual Salary for different Professions:

Source: www.payscale.com

With growing years of Experience, you not only get an international exposure but these annual salaries can go up to more than AU$ 100,000.

Australia Immigration Prospects

Applying for Australia Permanent Residency is a next favourable step to consider after completing education in Australia. For engineers, there are good chances as Australian economy is in need of skilled engineers. Amongst the many ways, applying through SkillSelect Skilled Migration Program is one. If you look at skill select rounds 2018 then you will come to know that occupations like electronics engineers, Industrial, Mechanical and Production Engineers, ICT Business and System Analysts, Software and Applications Programmers, Computer Network Professionals received an invitation to apply for general skilled migration visa subclass 189 and 190. 

Graduates can also gain sponsorship with Australian employers and apply for PR through Employer Nomination Scheme or Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme.

Apply for Engineer Professional Year Program & Get 5 Points towards Australian Permanent Residency!

Skill Select Invitation Round for the month of February:

Australia is not by chance a favourite destination for international students to opt higher study. There are pretty rewarding reasons for it. So, if you are still contemplating about international education or studying abroad then consider expert consultation for Australia Education.

Want admission in the best college of Australia? Get in touch with our Education Experts today!