GUIDE TO THE AUSTRALIAN

GENERAL SKILLED MIGRATION VISA

Imprint
Guide to the Australian general skilled migration visa: January 2011 Edition
© Copyright 2011 AUSFIS Organisation All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted, in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, AUSFIS Press.

Ausfis Inc. Level 27, 101 Collins Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia, +61-3-9001-5905
www.ausfis.org
 GUIDE TO THE AUSTRALIAN GENERAL SKILLED MIGRATION VISA

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Disclaimer 04

Introduction 05

What Is The AUSFIS Organisation? 06

Which Australian Skilled Workers Visa Is AUSFIS Dealing With? 06

Australian Skilled – Independent (Migrant) Visa (Subclass 175) 07

Australian Skilled – Sponsored (Migrant) Visa (Subclass 176) 07

Why Use AUSFIS Organisation? 07

Basic Requirements 08

AUSFIS Advantages 09

General Skilled Workers Visa Process 10

A Need For More Immigrants 11

 GUIDE TO THE AUSTRALIAN GENERAL SKILLED MIGRATION VISA

DISCLAIMER

Guide to the Australian general skilled migration visa is a blueprint for those who wish
to enhance their knowledge on how to live and work legally in Australia. While it does not
replace the expertise of immigration lawyers, it does provide the individual with the tools to
know exactly what is involved in the skilled worker visa.

The information contained in this guide should not be considered as legal advice.
Although the author and publisher believe the information in this book to be accurate on the
date of its publication, the reader should be aware that immigration laws, regulations and
procedures are constantly changing. It is up to the reader to make sure that the information
is accurate and up to date.

The author and publishers shall not be held liable for any damage suffered directly or indirectly
due to the use of this guide.

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 GUIDE TO THE AUSTRALIAN GENERAL SKILLED MIGRATION VISA

INTRODUCTION
Did you know that Australia is one of the most multicultural countries in the world? At least
25% of its population was born overseas and around 40% have one parent born from a foreign
country. What does this mean to you? Australia invests in people!

Regardless of race, ethnicity or religion, Australia is looking for people to make this country
great. It is offering the opportunity to individuals to come and work in their country legally
through a skilled workers visa or other types of employment visas.

Immigrants possess a drive like no other; it is a will to succeed at all costs. It is the mentality
that declares just give me a chance and I will make it happen. The determination and success
rate of what immigrants have contributed to Australia are immeasurable. Are you what
Australia is looking for?

Often, we have a preconceived notion that when a country accepts immigrants it is due to
poor refugees who have been dislocated from their homes because of war and civil unrest.
Fortunately, this is not the case anymore. Governments around the world are looking for
global citizens seeking careers and personal development. Employers understand that to
succeed in business, they need to attract skilled workers. Businesses cannot always find the
right person locally and therefore, they seek people from other countries. Through Australia’s
migration programs over 100,000 people last year came to its shores to build up the economy.

What is truly amazing about Australia is that through a global recession they pretty much
remained untouched by it all. In fact, the Australian dollar has gone up and has more buying
power than most currencies in the world.

You may think that Australia is looking for doctors or people within the high tech world, but
what are my chances as a professional plumber or electrician? The answer is that Australia
is looking for all types of skilled workers in a variety of fields; bricklayers, social workers,
mechanics, locksmiths, etc… The list goes on and on.

Experts have predicted that Australia will be facing a worker shortage of nearly 200,000 people
in the next year or two due to people retiring and there are not enough local Australians to fill
these positions. Every business sector is affected by this shortfall.

Australia is facing a skilled workers’ shortage and you may be the person to satisfy what this
great country’s needs! We all know that when a commodity is not readily available the price
rises. It is the basics of supply and demand. Australia needs skilled workers. You may just be
that hot commodity!

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 GUIDE TO THE AUSTRALIAN GENERAL SKILLED MIGRATION VISA

WHAT IS THE AUSFIS ORGANISATION?

The Australia General Skilled Worker Visas are determined by a points system. The mission
of AUSFIS Organisation is to assess your eligibility for these visas, a task which is long &
complicated, with more than one visa option, dealing with 6 Australian States & 2 Territories
as well as over 40 assessing authorities! It is a process that is time consuming! It also can be
potentially very expensive if not done correctly and detrimental if done wrong. All our clients
receive a thorough personal review of their case by our Australia Immigration Visa Experts
who determine how many points a person has before they move forward in the process. If
our Client is not successful for one visa type, they look at other visa options to which may be
applicable to them.

WHICH AUSTRALIAN SKILLED WORKERS VISA IS

AUSFIS DEALING WITH IT?

Australian Skilled – Independent (Migrant) Visa (Subclass 175)

If a person possesses proficient English language skills, is under age 45, and has skills and
qualifications that meet the Australian standard for an occupation on the Skilled Occupation
List (SOL), then such individual can apply for a Subclass 175 visa. Employment skills are based
upon the Skilled Occupation List (SOL), a list of skilled occupations that are in need in Australia.
These skilled occupations are constantly updated and each occupation listed on the SOL is
allocated a points value for use in the visa assessment process.

This visa allows you and any secondary applicants included in your visa application to live as
permanent residents in Australia and receive the following benefits:

• Live and work in Australia on a permanent basis

• Study in Australia at school, Vocational Education and Training (VET)
sector or university
• Receive subsidized healthcare through Medicare and the Pharmaceutical
Benefits Scheme (PBS)
• Access certain social security payments (subject to waiting periods)
• Be eligible for Australian citizenship (subject to the residency eligibility criteria)
• Sponsor people for permanent residence.

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 GUIDE TO THE AUSTRALIAN GENERAL SKILLED MIGRATION VISA

Australian Skilled – Sponsored (Migrant) Visa (Subclass 176)

An individual can apply for a Subclass 176 visa via an eligible relative living in Australia who
is willing and able to sponsor you OR a nomination from a participating State or Territory
government agency. However, you must possess the following:

1. Proficient English language skills,

2. Under age of 45
3. Skills and qualifications that meet the Australian standard for an occupation on
the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) relevant to that visa and the corresponding lists
from each individual State and Territory

These skilled occupations are constantly updated and each occupation listed on the SOL is
allocated a points value for use in the visa assessment process.
This visa (subclass 176) allows you and any secondary applicants included in your visa
application to live as permanent residents in Australia and receive the following benefits:

• Live and work in Australia on a permanent basis

• Study in Australia at school, Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector or
university
• Receive subsidized healthcare through Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits
Scheme (PBS)
• Access certain social security payments (subject to waiting periods)
• Be eligible for Australian citizenship (subject to the residency eligibility criteria)
• Sponsor people for permanent residence.

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 GUIDE TO THE AUSTRALIAN GENERAL SKILLED MIGRATION VISA

WHY USE OUR SERVICE?

While over 100,000 people receive an Australian General Skilled Worker Visa, many failed
to even get approved due to not understanding what is needed in this process. The most
common errors people make in disqualifying their application from the start are:

• Not being aware of pass/fail criteria.

• Nominating the wrong skill or not knowing the criteria for the nominated skill.
• Not providing the sufficient or correct documentation needed to receive a
positive skills assessment.
• Not understanding what the assessing authorities and Department of
Immigration and Citizenship are looking for.
• Not giving the required information.
• Ineligibility because of improper education or work experience.
• Not taking into consideration critical criteria such as birthdays, work experience,
studies, and expirations of certificates.

The AUSFIS Organisation understands that reading about the various skilled workers visa
available for an immigrant along with 44 pages of instructions can be time demanding and
tedious. We have gathered a team of experts qualified in immigration & relocation law with
years of experience in all Australian Visas to develop an evaluation system that will assess a
person’s eligibility.

WHAT ARE THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS TO EVEN

CONSIDER APPLYING FOR THIS VISA?
• Proficient English skills
• In at least 12 of the 24 months immediately before lodging your visa application,
you must have worked in your chosen occupation on the Skilled Occupation List
(SOL) or a closely related field (subject to relevant assessing authority guidelines)
**Exception – Kindly note that if the applicant has studied in a relevant SOL
profession or trade in Australia, and he completed his studies within 6-months
prior to submitting his application to the Department of Immigration & Citizenship,
then he is likely to be exempt from the work requirement mentioned above.**
• Have the skills and qualifications that meet the Australian standard for an
occupation on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL)
• Aged between 18 – 45

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 GUIDE TO THE AUSTRALIAN GENERAL SKILLED MIGRATION VISA

AUSFIS ADVANTAGES – SAVING YOU TIME & MONEY

• They are 2000 pages of information about the different types of Australian skilled workers
visas, along with a 44 page instruction manual to fill out the subclass 175 and 176 applications.
In addition, each assessing authority has its own specific instructions; not to mention that
each state and territory has their own list of criteria to grant a visa. Don’t you have something
better to do than to read all this? Allow our experts to save you the time and give a proper
assessment.

• Since the eligibility of receiving a skilled workers visa is based upon a point system, all
assessments are given personal attention; ensuring that maximum points are applied to our
clients. Remember, it takes a minimum of 100 points to qualify for a state-sponsored migrant
visa and 120 points for an independent migrant visa – so every point counts.

• We ask our clients to provide a CV (resume) in English to ensure all working experience is
reviewed properly and maximum points are given.

• In case a person is not currently reaching the minimum point mark, we advise you why that
is the case and what can you do to improve your point results.

• If English is not your primary language, it is advisable to work with an English speaking firm
with expertise in this field to properly guide you through the process.

• In just a matter of days, a client will know their results and have a proper course of action.

• We work with the best Australian Migration Consultants in the business with years
of experience.

• Not only do we assess for the General Skilled – Independent (Migrant) Visa (Subclass 175)
Skilled – Sponsored (Migrant) Visa (Subclass 176) but also other types of business visas.

• By also doing a spousal assessment, we assess them together so to make use of possible
extra points they can get through spouse.

• It pays to spend $250 now, then to waste your time reading through pages & pages of legal
jargon, not knowing which assessing authority to apply for or indeed which occupation your
occupation could fall under. In essence, you lose nothing and gain time that can be spent
working or being with your family.

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 GUIDE TO THE AUSTRALIAN GENERAL SKILLED MIGRATION VISA

A NEED FOR MORE IMMIGRANTS

Did you know that the Australian economy has avoided a recession for the last 19 years?
While other nations have experienced severe financial setbacks since the global meltdown
in 2008, Australia has managed to survive and thrive. This year Australia’s Gross Domestic
Product (GDP) expanded by 1.2%, a three year high. However, if the government does not
find new ways in attracting skilled foreign workers the excitement about the news reports on
the economy might turn.

According to a recent article in the Sydney Morning Herald, Australia’s economy will struggle if
the federal government does not increase its temporary skilled migrant intake. By 2015, more
Australians will retire than will join the workforce, having a significant impact on economic
growth and the government treasury as older Australians move to retirement and the labor
participation rates drop.

Alan Chanesman, Chief Executive of Immigration Strategy for Lipman James Firm, who recently
addressed the World Computer Congress in Brisbane, said the IT industry was vulnerable
due to a lack of skilled temporary workers. “Immigration is an essential ingredient in the
population growth and one lever the commonwealth can use to moderate or accelerate
overall numbers,” remarked Chanesman.

According to the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship over 6.9 million
people have immigrated Australia since 1945, contributing to the prosperity, culture and the
shaping of the country. In 2008–09, more than 171,000 migrants were granted visas under
the Skill and Family Streams of Australia’s Migration Program and nearly 670,000 people
received temporary entry visas to Australia to undertake specific work or business, entertain,
play sport, have a working holiday or study. In addition, 13,507 humanitarian entrants were
granted visas to enable them to live in Australia to rebuild their lives, having fled persecution
or suffering.

The potential for skilled workers to find employment in Australia is tremendous. To learn
more about the immigration process from a leader in this field, please visit www.ausfis.com

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