June 20th was World Refugee Day. And so, the government of Canada aptly chose the right day to make a really important announcement. There’s a new hotel pilot program in Canada for immigrants searching for an employment within the booming hotel industry of the country. While this project is still very new, and it covers only specific regions, it is still a huge step in what most would consider, the right direction.

A new employment program in the making…

This program, has aptly been named Employing Newcomers in Canadian Hotels. It is still in its pilot stage, and is being readied to start out in quite a many cities across the country. It was being seen that many immigrants were without a job, even though their skill set, education, and prior experience would dictate otherwise. On the other hand, many positions in the hotel industry were vacant, for the want of ideal candidates and the right skills. It was a match waiting to be made happen! And the Canadian government finally took it in its hands to do something concrete about it.

An important step on the right path!

One of the reasons to bring this program into being, has been the importance of the hotel industry in the overall scheme of economy of the country. A lot of revenue is generated from this industry, making it necessary for the government to take steps that are crucial to its further development. In addition, those who’d have come to say, study in Canada, and still not have found a decent job there, are still to become a part of the country’s economy. This was a problem that needed immediate attention. To make both problems go away in one go, the Canadian authorities come up with this excellent way.

This program has been carefully designed so as to help as many as 1300 new immigrants; it  not only provides them with an opportunity to gain work experience, but also give a push to their language skills.

This is not the only program, though!

As far as options go, this obviously is not the only one that the newcomers can depend on. The Canadian immigration system is full of programs that have meticulously drafted. The aim is to make the right match between one who’s looking for a job, and an employer who’s trying to find the right candidate.

The Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program, an employer driven program has set a brilliant example for the case. It has been helping potential immigrants get connected to employers who are looking for skilled personnel to fill in the positions. Once a job is secured, the next logical step that remains for the candidate is, applying for a PR.

Moreover, if you are planning to immigrate through one of the streams under the Express Entry system, then securing a job offer form a Canadian employer would help boost your score. Furthermore, your rank in the Express Entry pool would also be improved. Employers are even given the option to advertise openings to the Express Entry applicants, if they’re unable to find a good match from amongst the Canadian citizens and permanent residents. Not just the initial processing, but the whole process of immigration is made a lot easier for a candidate, if they already have a job offer, and are authorized to work in the country. This way, they do not even require a proof of funds, while applying through the Express Entry.

It’s a great news henceforth, that the Canadian government is willing to make it easier for those on Canada student visa, the newcomers, and the potential immigrants to find rightful employment. This is a step in making their settlement in the country faster and more seamless. If you too are looking to discover your own options to immigrate to Canada, then the team of professionals at Aussizz Group will be more than happy to be of assistance!

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!

With the reopening of the Parents and Grandparents Program this year, the permanent residents and citizens of Canada are in for a great news! Soon enough, they will be able to make an application to bring their parents and grandparents to Canada.

It was in 2017 that IRCC came up with the idea for people to sponsor their grandparents and parents, under a new process, that is both fair and transparent. The potential sponsors would only have to fill an ‘Interest to Sponsor’ form, submit it to the IRCC, and wait for its formal invitation to further apply to sponsor. This form is important, in order to filter out people who might not fit-in in the eligibility criteria set by the authorities. Only those who meet the sponsorship requirements, are supposed to fill this ‘Interest to Sponsor’ form. To make the process even more streamlined, a few questions have been added to the newest version of this form. This way, people are being encouraged to self-assess whether they hold the eligibility to sponsor, or not.

Applicants who aren’t able to meet the minimum financial requirements for sponsorship, can still take the path of Super Visa Canada. The parent or grandparent in this case, can only apply if their child or grandchild is a permanent resident or a citizen of Canada.

Another feature of this application, as per the immigration officers, is the ‘intention to return’ to Canada. This is what an officer is supposed to look at:

• the reason for your visit,
• the ties you have with your home country,
• How stable is your home country, politically as well as economically,
• your family as well as finances, and
• finally, an invite from a Canadian host.

You would also have to:

• submit a written affidavit/statement clearly stating that your child will provide you with financial support,
• provide proof that your child does meet the threshold for minimum income,
• get an immigration medical exam, and
• show that you have a valid medical insurance coverage for Canada, that would last at least a year.

Mr. Ahmed Hussen, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship stated in his earlier speech, that family reunification is the top priority for the government right now. In keeping with that statement, the government’s commitment towards keeping families together, can be clearly seen through this initiative.

Are you looking for any further information with regards to getting Canada visa for parents or grandparents? If yes, then you can have a consultation scheduled with one of the Canada migration agents and immigration agents, at Aussizz Group, 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.

Australian government recently announced decision to scrap much controversial order over steep fee hike of parent visa’s Assurance of Support (AoS). This decision comes into effect after it had earlier enforced stringent AoS restrictions on its citizens sponsoring their parents to come and settle in Australia.

In fact, citizens experienced sleepless nights over contentious issue of Assurance of Support denying their parents’ rights of a safe entry. But now, the contentious issue of AoS has been withdrawn thereby providing relief to citizens.

Taking us back to moot question – What Is AoS About?

The Assurance of Support is provided to parents entering Australia. A citizen who happens to be visa applicant on behalf of his/her parent is required to obtain an AoS prior to approval of visa application. Not only is it legally binding but also has unconditional commitment provisions wherein the applicant has to repay certain social security payments that were allotted to him during respective AoS period. The period can be of one year and based on visa subclass type, it can be of two years or 10 years. During the AoS period, he has to meet certain requirements wherein he assumes financial responsibility for supporting Australian government.

The reason why parent visa issue was subjected to lot of controversy can be established from the fact that many of the applicants felt that their parents can settle in the country, since majority of them are registered permanent residents and have been regularly paying taxes to the government. The AoS restrictions dashed their hopes and had a rippling effect on those applicants who could not afford to pay a sum almost double to the existing one.

Now, they are a relieved lot with plans underway to obtain temporary and permanent parent visas.

About parent visas –

Falling under category of family visa, the Australia Parent Visa accommodates elderly by providing them temporary and permanent visas. One of the visas is subclass 103 where under this provision, the applicant is allowed to sponsor his parents and bring them to Australia permanently. Parents, on the other hand, can be part of the larger family of siblings who are already permanent residents. All the more it is of interest to those applicants eligible to process their visa application on time.

The case works out to advantage of the applicant if he happens to be a citizen of Australia and has been residing in the country for at least a period of two years. Worth considering few points – 

• Application is processed on priority basis if the applicant as a sponsor submits proof of several of his family members who are permanent residents of the country.
• The rule of the thumb is the more number of applicant’s family members residing in Australia, the better the prospects are to sponsor.

Having said that, the visa for parents also provides relief to elderly on compassionate grounds. In case if the applicant is short of funds and has low sources of income, the community organisation he represents steps in. The organisation becomes a sponsor on behalf of the citizen. The moment any parent becomes permanent resident of Australia, he is entitled to avail social security and pension benefits. The Australian Medicare Plan is one of the medical covers received by the elderly who are permanent residents of the country.

Enlisted are different parent visa types. Let’s evaluate step by step –

1. Visas for elderly settled in Australia –

• Aged parent visas (subclass 804)
• Contributory aged (Residence) parent visa (subclass 864)
• Contributory aged (Temporary) parent visa (subclass 884)
• Contributory aged parent visa (Residence) (from subclass 884 to subclass 864)

2. For elderly settled outside Australia –

• Contributory parent (Migrant) visa (subclass 143)
• Contributory parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 173)
• Contributory parent (Migrant) visa (from subclass 173 to subclass 143)

Breaking into two halves, the visas for aged is termed as the most important visa for applicants. Parents who happen to be aged can stay back without any hindrance and they won’t have to leave for their respective home country. An applicant can sponsor their further stay as the visa is an onshore permit provided he submits details regarding his income, source of funds etc.

Whereas, contributory aged (Residence) costs more and is processed faster. It comes into effect after completion of two years only if the applicant had a valid temporary parent visa Australia in hand. On the higher side, several applicants apply to the contributory aged parent visa (Residence) after they were once contributory aged parent visa (Temporary) holders.

Such a pattern also works to the advantage of contributory parent (Migrant) visa holders. The latter take advantage of visa cover that is valid for period of five years. These visas are applicable to those of whom who had earlier contributory parent (Temporary) visa that was valid for two years.

In fact, the applicant furnishes every detail before the administration in both temporary and permanent categories. Once he does it, his visa is processed in stipulated time. It is worth mentioning that the visa details can be within his reach if he has sufficient funds to manage or if there is scarcity of funds, he can willingly take help of community organisation he represents.

Exciting are they and of your interest, aren’t they? Avail each of these visa benefits. You are in for lots of surprises if you haven’t had a lion’s share yet.

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.

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 Care, Medibank, Nib 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.

British Columbia is not just a breathtaking place in Canada, but also one of the largest provinces in the country, taking up around 10% of its total land surface. Home to lush green forests and enchanting mountain tops, British Columbia has national parks and other protected areas which attract millions of visitors every year.

On the economic front, the province’s stability relies majorly on its mining and forestry. British Columbia prides itself on being the second largest producer of natural gas in the country, while possessing Canada’s third largest hydroelectric power scheme.

Apart from tourism and these two industries, it is also the lifestyle and the fact that BC is a melting pot of many religions and ethnicities, that makes it attract such a multitude of people from various countries and all walks of life.

Now, there are various ways for one to relocate to the province of British Columbia; but one of the most straightforward, simple, and therefore, most favored way is through the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program.

The latest draw for the program, that was held on 21st March, issued as many as 146 invitations through its Entrepreneur, Express Entry, and Skills Immigration categories. The invitations were sent to graduates, entrepreneurs, and skilled workers, who are interested in getting a Canadian PR, so that they could apply for a provincial nomination.

For the categories, namely Skilled Worker, and International Graduate – both under the Express Entry BC – a successful nomination would mean a direct addition of 600 points under the CRS (Comprehensive Ranking System), as well as an ITA (Invitation to Apply) at the later held federal Express Entry draw.

If an applicant is invited through any of the categories under Skills Immigration, then their permanent residence application would have to be processed outside of the Express Entry system, as and when they’ve been successfully nominated.

This table shows the minimum scores for the draw, as they were for each category:

Source: https://www.canadavisa.com/news/bc-continues-to-invite-skilled-workers-graduates-and-entrepreneurs-to-immigrate-to-the-province.html

The important thing for people who look forward to migrating to Canada via the BC PNP, is to create themselves an online profile under the program, while filling every section of the registration form. This profile will then be assessed, after which, every applicant will receive a score based on various factors, such as their educational qualification, work experience, and so on.
Some important things to note, are:

• An applicant would do good to have a full-time job offer from an employer based out of British Columbia; this will increase their chance of getting eligibility for most of the BC PNP managed categories.
• An Invitation to Apply for the BC PNP is not at all same as the ITA issued at the federal level.

If you want to know more about the eligibility criteria and the whole process that goes into BC PNP, get in touch with us today.

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