Which visa?

PERMANENT MIGRATION VISAS

 

Not everyone who wants to live in Australia is able to do so. The Australian Government has very strict legislation in place to determine who can be granted a visa and what criteria they must meet.

Many people think that having a relative in Australia makes them eligible for a visa, which is not necessarily the case. Having a spouse, partner, fiancé or child who is permanently resident in Australia may make you eligible for a Family Migration visa but not for a Skilled Migration visa.

 

Skilled Migration

For General Skilled Migration there are other determining factors, such as skill, age, English language ability, employment experience, qualifications. If you do have a close relative in Australia who is willing to sponsor you, it may increase your total points score but it will not make you eligible for a visa if you cannot meet the other criteria. The age band for this visa category is 18 to 44 years. Once you turn 45 you cannot apply for General Skilled Migration regardless of whether you have relatives in Australia or are able to meet any of the other criteria.

It is also necessary to reach a specific points total to have any realistic chance of succeeding with a visa application. Points are awarded for some of the determining factors mentioned above but there are also other ways to add points to your total, such as Spouse Skills, English Language Testing, having an occupation in demand or job offer. In some instances it is possible to be sponsored by a particular State or Territory, instead of a close relative, but this would generally be linked to specific skill shortages in that State or Territory.

 

Spouse/Partner/Fiance Visas

You could apply for a Spouse/Partner/Fiancé visa if you are married to, engaged to or living in a defacto relationship with an Australian Citizen or permanent resident partner. You would have to prove that your relationship is genuine and on-going, be sponsored by your partner and meet the health and character requirements.

A defacto relationship means having lived together as a couple for at least 12 months prior to lodging the visa application.

 

Parent Visas 

If you have a child who has lived permanently in Australia for at 18 months – 2 years, you could apply for a Parent visa. If you and your spouse/partner have more than one child then you must meet the Balance of Family test. This test means that at least half your children must be permanently resident in Australia OR you must have more children permanently in Australia than in any other single country.

You must be sponsored by your son or daughter in Australia, meet the health and character requirements, have a financial assurer and pay both a bond and a health charge.

 

WORKING HOLIDAY VISAS

 

If you are aged 18 to 30 and like the idea of travelling around Australia for up to a year, with the opportunity to work to supplement your travel funds, you can apply for a Working Holiday visa.

To be eligible, you must meet all of the following: -

·     be aged 18 to 30 inclusive

·     hold a passport from the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland.

·     have no dependent children

·     have sufficient funds for a return ticket and for the initial stage of your stay (at least A$5000)

You are allowed to do any kind of work in Australia for up to 6 months maximum with any one employer. You are allowed to study or train for up to a total of 4 months.

The visa costs £110/€150 per person and will take on average 48 hours to obtain.

 

FAQ’S
Q. How long can I stay in Australia on a working holiday visa?
A. The visa is valid for a stay of 12 months maximum from the date you first enter Australia
Q. Do I need to prove how much money I plan to take?
A. Not usually. However in some cases, you may be asked to provide a bank statement as evidence of funds.
Q. When is the best time to apply for my working holiday visa?
A. The visa is valid for travel for 12 months from the date it is granted. This means you can apply for your visa up to 12 months before you plan to travel.
Q. I also plan to visit other countries during my trip. Can I leave and return to Australia on my working holiday visa?
A. Yes, the working holiday visa is for multiple entries, which means you can leave and re-enter Australia as many times as you like within the 12 months stay. However, any time spent outside Australia is lost from your 12 months.

The visa issued to you will be an electronic Working Holiday visa, which means you will not get a visa label in your passport. The visa is recorded electronically in Australia’s visa system and is linked directly to each individual passport number. Before you proceed to apply for this visa, please ensure you have in front of you a current passport for each person travelling (valid for the period of your intended stay) and a credit card.

 

We used a really good reputable visa company called Visa Connection who can be contacted at www.visaconnection.co.uk