Migrating to Australia can be daunting because of the lengthy process and exhaustive requirements. However, you don't have to carry the weight all alone. We have been helping people achieve positive visa outcomes for years. Throughout the past few years, we have handled thousands of cases – from the basic ones including skilled migration, employer sponsorship or business visas, partner visas, and parent visas to the more intricate ones such as appeals for denied visas.
While our company mainly provides professional services to Chinese, Malaysian, Taiwanese, and Hong Kong clients, we are eager to welcome everyone from across the globe. All our previous clients can attest to our dedication.
We made sure that all our team members have migrated to Australia because we believe that their firsthand experiences will allow them to better assist you. We treat each case as our own. We don't mind working long hours even on weekends just to ensure that the application we'll lodge for you gives you the best chance of success. Don't be surprised if you receive emails from us even in the most ungodly hours of the day because that's just the way we work.
We aspire to foster an honest and supportive working relationship with you. Regardless of our commitment to go above and beyond our duties, we are also realistic and ethical. We don't take cases that have no fighting chance. It may be heartbreaking to find out that there are no other options for you, but we'd rather have you hear the truth and use your time and money instead to pursue other dreams.
Our fees are reasonable considering the high level of effort that we dedicate to each case. Nonetheless, we still assess each case and give a fair quote depending on the required level of work. We also have payment plans to better assist clients in their migration journey.
Types of Visas: Which One Suits You?
For non-citizens, Australia requires a visa before you're able to enter the country. Fortunately, there is a diverse array of visas to choose from depending on your purpose.
Tourist Visa
The Visitor Visa (subclass 600) is ideal for those who are aspiring for short-term stays. If in the future you want to invite your parents to Australia, you will be required to pay a certain contribution. If you're unable to afford the payment, you may likewise consider this type of visa to give your parents the opportunity to see the country's wonders.
The country grants multiple entry visas allowing a maximum stay of 12 months. The visas' maximum validity period may reach up to:
five years for those who applied outside Australia and are in the Parent Visa (subclass 103) queue;
three years for those outside Australia and have had a previous Australian visa, haven't applied for a Parent Visa yet or have applied but aren't included in the queue yet.
18 months for parents who have no prior travels to Australia, haven't applied for a Parent Visa yet or have applied but aren't included in the queue yet.
Partner Visa
Through Partner Visas (subclass 820 and 309), Australian Citizens and Permanent Residents are able to extend a permanent visa to their respective partners. To qualify for this type, there are three possible ways:
Be legally married (currently available for opposite-sex couples)
Have successfully registered your relationship (may be done by both opposite-sex couples and same-sex couples although not all states in Australia permit the latter)
Have lived together for at least 12 months
Please take note that prior to granting a visa, several factors will still be assessed including but not limited to: how long you've been together and how the people around you particularly family members perceive the relationship.
If you are already in Australia, you have the option of applying for a temporary Partner Visa (subclass 820). The benefit is that this visa gives you full work rights and you gain access to Medicare. Upon application, you'll wait for about 12-18 months to get the Temporary Visa. After 24 months from the date of application, the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) will contact you to check if you and your partner are still together. We will then submit further documentation to confirm it. Once successful, you'll finally have the Permanent Partner Visa (subclass 801) and at this point, it won't matter to the DIBP anymore if you and your partner remain a couple.
It is also feasible to apply for Partner Visa outside of Australia. However, apart from not getting a bridging visa with work rights, you also have to wait offshore while waiting for the results. Some opt to apply for a Tourist or Student Visa to be with their partners during the waiting period.
For those who don't meet the Partner Visa requirements, another option is the Prospective Marriage Visa (subclass 300). This visa is designed for couples who plan to get married immediately. You can invite your partner to Australia, get married, and then lodge an application for Partner Visa.
While the wedding doesn't have to be grandiose, it's important to ensure that the wedding celebrant or civil marriage celebrant is legitimate. It's always ideal to do prior research about the marriage celebrant you're eyeing. Apart from asking recommendations from trusted friends or family members, don't hesitate to ask the celebrant for his or her documentation. After all, you wouldn't want to end up getting someone with a dodgy background.
Employer Sponsorship
We are unable to find employers who can provide sponsorships, but we can help you prepare your supporting documents and make sure that they adhere to the evolving migration policies. There are three types of employer sponsorships used in Australia:
Temporary Work (Skilled) Visa (subclass 457)
Following the policy changes rolled out on July 1, 2017, the 457 pathway has two types now:
– Those whose occupations are on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) are eligible for a 4-year visa. After 3 years, they may apply for PR with their employers' assistance using the 186 visa pathway.
– Those whose occupations are on Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL) are only eligible for a 2-year visa which may only be extended once. They have no PR pathway through the employer. For those in this category, we may either use the 186 or 187 visa pathway to apply for PR.
For an employer to become an eligible sponsor, they apparently need to have legal operations in the country and must allocate at least 1% of payroll to training Australians. The positions that they will sponsor should either be on the MLTSSL or STSOL and meet the required minimum salary of $53,900 + Super.
The applicant for the 457 visa should likewise have strong relevant work qualifications and must prove their English proficiency (e.g. through IELTS). The approval time typically takes 2-4 months. Once approved, the employee has to stay with the sponsor company through the nomination. In case of resignation or termination, the employee has to find a new sponsor that will nominate him or her in the same position.
When dealing with 457 visa applications, we thoroughly assess the cases. First, we check the company's eligibility and then move on to looking at the nominated position – if the position is indeed worthwhile, if the salary requirement is met, and if the company can't recruit someone in the country. The final step is assessing the employee's qualifications, work experience, and English proficiency.
Some companies or employers have tried to get approvals on their own only to end up with refusals or a far longer processing time. Even if the process is straightforward, enlisting the help of a professional migration agent who has dealt with thousands of similar cases lessens the probability of applications getting denied.
Employer Nomination Scheme Visa
Temporary Residence Transition Stream
The Employer Nomination Scheme Visa (subclass 186) is apt for employees who want to apply for Permanent Residence and have been in the same position with the same company for at least 2 years. However, this is only feasible if the employer approves the application.
The calculation of the years does not take into consideration periods of unpaid leave. We can't further stress the importance of staying with the same employer for 2 years. If you worked for your original sponsor for 1 year and moved on to a new employer, the counting will start anew.
Employees are attracted to 457 visas as it can lead to permanent residence. Employers, on the other hand, would want to offer PR to an employee after 2 years because they no longer have to meet the prescribed training or salary requirements.
Direct Entry Stream
Unlike the Temporary Residence Transition Stream, this pathway does not mandate an employee to stay with the same employer for 2 years. This is why employers aren't that eager to take this path. Apart from requiring applicants to have at least 3 years of professional experience, they also need to undergo a formal skills assessment.
Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme Visa
As its name suggests, the RSMS Visa allows aspiring workers to get sponsored in regional areas where there is a shortage of certain types of workers. The good thing about RSMS is that the applicants may already be granted PR upon entry. Certain areas have a list of occupations that they are lacking and some of these occupations may not be mentioned on MLTSSL or STSOL.
It's important to remember that the occupations list changes from time to time, that's why the assistance of a professional is crucial prior to lodging an application.
Parent Visas
Tourist Visa is designed for short-term stays, but if you yearn to have your parents stay in Australia permanently, two main options are available: Contributory Parent Visa and Long Stay Tourist Visa (as previously discussed). If your parents are under 50 years old, they may be eligible for Skilled Migration as well.
Keep in mind that before applying for a Parent Visa, the “balance of family test” must be met. This means that half of the children, including stepchildren, must be permanent residents or citizens already by the time of application. Your parents should be in good health as well. Having certain medical conditions may be detrimental to the application's results.
For the Contributory Parent Visa, be prepared to pay around $43,000 for each parent. If there are primary and secondary applicants, a bond of $10,000 and $4,000 must be paid as well and these will be returned after 10 years. The contribution seems hefty but this will grant your parents both permanent residence status and access to the country's healthcare. Since the government is continuously evaluating the cost of the visa, it's recommended to file an application soon.
There is a non-contributory visa option, but its processing time may take up to 35 years! Since most individuals have parents whose age is above 50, this visa doesn't really serve its purpose.
Post Study Visas
You may similarly qualify for the Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485) if you have taken courses in Australia for 2 years. The two main streams available for the Post Study Visas are:
Graduate Work – This may be obtained by international students who currently hold eligible skills and qualifications that may be relevant to the occupations found on the MLTSSL.
Post-Study Work – International students may apply for this stream if they hold a higher education degree from an Australian education institution. Please note that this pathway may only be taken by students who have obtained their first Australian student visa on or after November 5, 2011.
The options might be overwhelming, but there's no reason to be disheartened because we will be with you every step of the way. When you call us, you don't have to make a decision right away. We are more than willing to provide a commitment-free consultation to people from all walks of life. With diligent research and prompt assistance from a credible firm, you can determine the best and most rewarding pathway for you and your family.