Category Archives: Australian Migration Visas

Western Australia Border – Open Date ‘Locked In’

The WA premier has said a date will be set to reopen its internal borders once the vaccination rate reaches 80%.

For overseas and international arrivals they must;

• Return a negative PCR test 72 hours prior to departure
• Undertake a COVID-19 test within 48 hours of entry

Also;

• Double vaccinated international travellers will not be required to quarantine
• International travellers who are not double vaccinated will be required to complete 14 days quarantine in a ‘designated facility’

WA’s Labour Market

• Western Australia’s labour market continues to strengthen. Total employment reached new record highs in September as the unemployment rate fell to 4.1% (which was the lowest rate since January 2013).

• The outlook for Western Australia’s labour market is positive. Internet vacancies have been steady at over 26,000 a month over the past 7 months and increased economic activity has also created strong competition for labour and skills.

Our advice is to start the process of migrating Down Under now, as demand for places is expected to be considerable.

ASC Migration are visa processing specialists and will guide you every step of the way as we have experts in the United Kingdom and Australia at your disposal.

To gauge your eligibility please complete a free assessment HERE.

OR contact our UK Office by telephone at 74 8753 8231 or by email to lesley@ascmigrationvisas.co.uk

OR contact our Australian Office by telephone 08 9301 5905 or by email to john@ascmigrationvisas.com.au

Skilled Migration Program – Queensland

Queensland is looking for skilled migrants to fill a range of critical skills, and their skilled program will remain open until the nomination quota is filled. The following visas are available under their skilled program:

1. Skilled Nominated (Permanent) visa
This is a points-tested visa for skilled workers who want to live and work in Queensland permanently. The graduate degree stream also offers streamlined conditions for Queensland PhD graduates.

2. Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa.
This is a 5-year, points-tested visa that leads to permanent residency and requires nominated skilled workers to live and be employed in regional Queensland (even the Gold Coast is regional). Visa holders in this category are eligible for Medicare.

If you want to migrate to Queensland on a skilled visa, please complete a General Enquiry and note that State-nominated visas allow you to live and work permanently in Queensland.

OR contact our UK Office by telephone at 74 8753 8231 or by email to lesley@ascmigrationvisas.co.uk

OR contact our Australian Office by telephone 08 9301 5905 or by email to john@ascmigrationvisas.com.au

Skilled Regional Work Visa

A visa in this category is for ‘Points-Tested’ applicants who are nominated by a State or Territory government or those who are sponsored by an eligible family member to live and work in Regional Australia .

‘Regional’ Australia is now regarded as every part of Australia (except the cities of Sydney, Melbourne & Brisbane). However, regional areas of NSW & Victoria are eligible in this
category such as the ‘Gold Coast’ in ‘Queensland’ or ‘Byron Bay’ in NSW.

Also note that the entire States of South & Western Australia (including the cities of Adelaide and Perth) are also regarded as Regional Australia for the purposes of this visa.

There are over 500 more additional occupations available to regional applicants to work in regional Australia than exist in the ‘Independent Skilled Migration’ category and visa
applications in this category get priority processing.

With this visa you can;

  • stay in Australia for 5 years
  • apply for permanent residence, if eligible, after 3 years.
  • live, work and study in any part of a designated region of Australia and
  • travel to and from Australia as many times as you want

The current pass-mark for Points-tested migrants in this category is 65, however, significant incentives to apply for Skilled Migration to Regional Australia exist (conditions apply), and now that Perth in WA and the Gold Coast in QLD is classed as regional, applying in this category has significant incentives such as;

  • The award of 10 additional points to your spouse or de facto partner if they are assessed as skilled.
  • The award of 5 additional points if they are not.
  • The award of 10 additional points to applicants without a spouse or de facto partner (i.e. they are single).
  • The award of 10 additional points to applicants with an Australian citizen or permanent resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen spouse or de facto partner;
  • The award of 10 additional points for certain Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics qualifications;
  • The award of 15 additional points to an applicant nominated by a State or Territory government agency or sponsored by a family member residing in regional Australia (for an applicant that will live and work in regional Australia)

The English language threshold has also been lowered which will greatly benefit non-English speaking immigrants.

To fully understand the factors that will affect your eligibility and to determine if you meet the basic requirements for a Regional Visa please complete a General Enquiry today. So that we can assess your immigration eligibility.

OR contact our UK Office by telephone at 74 8753 8231 or by email to lesley@ascmigrationvisas.co.uk

OR contact our Australian Office by telephone 08 9301 5905 or by email to john@ascmigrationvisas.com.au

State Nomination South Australia

As the Australian economy rebounds from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, from 2 November 2021, South Australia will open an additional 24 Engineering occupations for applicants currently residing outside Australia.

These new occupations are;

Engineering Manager
Chemical Engineer
Materials Engineer
Civil Engineer
Geotechnical Engineer
Quantity Surveyor
Structural Engineer
Transport Engineer
Electrical Engineer
Electronics Engineer
Industrial Engineer
Mechanical Engineer
Production or Plant Engineer
Mining Engineer (excluding Petroleum)
Agricultural Engineer
Biomedical Engineer
Environmental Engineer
Engineering Professionals nec
Civil Engineering Draftsperson
Civil Engineering Technician
Electrical Engineering Draftsperson
Electrical Engineering Technician
Mechanical Engineering Draftsperson
Mechanical Engineering Technician

To be assessed for any of these positions and to begin your journey down under please complete a free assessment HERE. We will assess your submission and define your immigration eligibility.

OR contact our UK Office by telephone at 74 8753 8231 or by email to lesley@ascmigrationvisas.co.uk

OR contact our Australian Office by telephone 08 9301 5905 or by email to john@ascmigrationvisas.com.au

Travel Exemptions For Parents

The Minister for Home Affairs has announced that from 1 November 2021, parents of Australian citizens and permanent residents are eligible to apply for travel exemption, for travel to Australia.

The definition of parents of Australian citizens and permanent residents includes:

Biological Parents
Legal (including adoptive) Parents and
Step-Parents

Before travelling to Australia as a visitor, a parent must apply for a travel exemption, then a visa if they do not hold one already (an approved travel exemption does not guarantee the grant of a visa).

Parents must also have a valid passport, have proof all the required vaccinations have been administered, and provide evidence of a parental relationship with an Australian citizen or a permanent resident.

All international travellers remain subject to state and territory quarantine arrangements.

For more information, please contact us HERE.

OR contact our UK Office by telephone at 74 8753 8231 or by email at lesley@ascmigrationvisas.co.uk

OR contact our Australian Office by telephone 08 9301 5905 or by email at john@ascmigrationvisas.com.au

State Nomination Western Australia

A new updated ranking system is now active in WA.

State nomination will be used for issuing invitations and gives preference to applicants currently residing in Western Australia.

The ranking system in the General Skilled stream will target applicants;
1. Currently residing in Western Australia
2. Currently residing in another Australian state or territory
3. With the highest EOI application points score and
4. With the oldest EOI application submission date.

The ranking system in the Graduate Skilled stream (Higher education graduates) will target applicants;
1. Currently residing in Western Australia
2. Currently residing in another Australian state or territory
3. Who completed a PHD or Masters qualification in Western Australia
4. Who completed an Honours degree or other higher degree in Western Australia
5. Who completed a Bachelor degree in Western Australia

The ranking system in the Graduate stream (VET graduates) will target applicants;
1. Currently residing in Western Australia
2. Currently residing in another Australian state or territory
3. Who completed a VET qualification at Advanced Diploma level in Western Australia
4. Who completed a VET qualification at Diploma level in Western Australia
5. Who completed a VET qualification at Certificate IV level in Western Australia.

To begin your journey down under please complete a free assessment HERE. We will assess your submission and define your immigration eligibility.

OR contact our UK Office by telephone at 74 8753 8231 or by email to lesley@ascmigrationvisas.co.uk

OR contact our Australian Office by telephone 08 9301 5905 or by email to john@ascmigrationvisas.com.au

Australian citizenship

When you apply for Australian citizenship, you (and everyone included in your application) must either be:

A permanent resident OR an eligible New Zealand citizen (conditions apply as you must have been in Australia on or before a specific date. Contact us for further information).

Each applicant must also meet the residence requirement (some exemptions apply),

Must be of good character (previous events must be addressed as a police clearance will be required),

Must have a basic knowledge of Australia,

Must have a basic knowledge of the English language and a close and continuing link to Australia.

Becoming an Australian citizen is now a complicated process, so please contact us HERE

OR for more information please contact our UK Office by telephone at 74 8753 8231 or by email to lesley@ascmigrationvisas.co.uk

OR contact our Australian Office by telephone 08 9301 5905 or by email to john@ascmigrationvisas.com.au

Critical skills and Travel exemptions

Numerous skilled occupations are eligible for travel exemptions in various categories such as;

1. providing critical or specialist medical services, including air ambulance, medical evacuations and delivering critical medical supplies, or

2. for people with critical skills required to maintain the supply of essential goods and services (such as in medical technology, critical infrastructure, telecommunications, engineering and mining, supply chain logistics, aged care, agriculture, primary industry, food production, and the maritime industry), or

3. delivering services in sectors critical to Australia’s economic recovery (such as financial technology, large scale manufacturing, film, media and television production, and emerging technology), where no Australian worker is available, or

4. for individuals who are sponsored to work in Australia in one of the following 44 Priority Migration Skilled Occupations.

Chief Executive or Managing Director
Construction Project Manager
Accountant (General)
Management Accountant
Taxation Accountant
External Auditor
Internal Auditor
Surveyor
Cartographer
Other Spatial Scientist
Civil Engineer
Geotechnical Engineer
Structural Engineer
Transport Engineer
Electrical Engineer
Mechanical Engineer
Mining Engineer (excluding Petroleum)
Petroleum Engineer
Medical Laboratory Scientist
Veterinarian
Hospital Pharmacist
Industrial Pharmacist
Retail Pharmacist
Orthotist or Prosthetist
General Practitioner
Resident Medical Officer
Psychiatrist
Medical Practitioners nec
Midwife
Registered Nurse (Aged Care)
Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency)
Registered Nurse (Medical)
Registered Nurse (Mental Health)
Registered Nurse (Perioperative)
Registered Nurses nec
Multimedia Specialist
Analyst Programmer
Developer Programmer
Software Engineer
Software and Applications Programmers nec
ICT Security Specialist
Social Worker
Maintenance Planner
Chef

Begin your journey down under by completing a free assessment HERE. We will assess your submission and define your immigration eligibility.

For more information please contact our UK office by telephone at 74 8753 8231 or by email lesley@ascmigrationvisas.co.uk or contact our Australian office by telephone 08 9301 5905 or by email john@ascmigrationvisas.com.au

NEXT STEPS TO REOPEN TO THE WORLD

Australia is ready to take steps to safely reopen to the world, with changes coming to the international border in setting out the framework for how international travel will look in the coming months gathers pace.

Plans are that Australian families can be reunited, Australian workers can travel in and out of the country, and Australia can work towards welcoming tourists back.

Within weeks, large parts of the country will be moving to safely reopen Australia and to stay safely open (international travel is on track to reopen safely to fully vaccinated Australian travellers).

Many countries around the world have now safely reopened to international travel and it will shortly be time for Australia to take the next step.

To enable fully vaccinated Australians to travel, the Australian government is finalising new arrangements following the completion of home quarantine pilots in New South Wales and South Australia.

The Government’s intention is that once changes are made in November, the current overseas travel restrictions related to COVID‐19 will be removed and Australians will be able to travel subject to any other travel advice and limits, as long as they are fully vaccinated and those countries’ border settings allow.

Testing is expected to continue to be a requirement of international travel, but subject to further medical advice, Rapid Antigen Tests may be used.

ASC Migration are visa processing specialists who will guide you every step of the way and we have experts in the United Kingdom and Australia at your disposal.

Begin your journey down under by completing a free assessment HERE. We will assess your submission and define your immigration eligibility.

For more information please contact our UK office by telephone at 74 8753 8231 or by email lesley@ascmigrationvisas.co.uk or contact our Australian office by telephone 08 9301 5905 or by email john@ascmigrationvisas.com.au

Returning Or Migrating to Australia

Australian citizens and permanent residents who are fully vaccinated with an Australian Government recognised vaccine, may be eligible for reduced quarantine arrangements when they return to Australia (conditions apply and they will need to demonstrate their vaccination status)
OR
if you are a non-citizen you may be eligible for a travel exemption if your visa application is in a critical sector, and you possess those required critical skills (see below).

The Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List has 44 occupations which are:

Chief Executive or Managing Director (111111)

Construction Project Manager (133111)

Accountant (General) (221111)

Management Accountant (221112)

Taxation Accountant (221113)

External Auditor (221213)

Internal Auditor (221214)

Surveyor (232212)

Cartographer (232213)

Other Spatial Scientist (232214)

Civil Engineer (233211)

Geotechnical Engineer (233212)

Structural Engineer (233214)

Transport Engineer (233215)

Electrical Engineer (233311)

Mechanical Engineer (233512)

Mining Engineer (excluding Petroleum) (233611)

Petroleum Engineer (233612)

Medical Laboratory Scientist (234611)

Veterinarian (234711)

Hospital Pharmacist (251511)*

Industrial Pharmacist (251512)*

Retail Pharmacist (251513)*

Orthotist or Prosthetist (251912)

General Practitioner (253111)

Resident Medical Officer (253112)

Psychiatrist (253411)

Medical Practitioners nec (253999)

Midwife (254111)

Registered Nurse (Aged Care) (254412)

Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency) (254415)

Registered Nurse (Medical) (254418)

Registered Nurse (Mental Health) (254422)

Registered Nurse (Perioperative) (254423)

Registered Nurses nec (254499)

Multimedia Specialist (261211)

Analyst Programmer (261311)

Developer Programmer (261312)

Software Engineer (261313)

Software and Applications Programmers nec (261399)

ICT Security Specialist (262112)

Social Worker (272511)

Maintenance Planner (312911)

Chef (351311)

* Indicates occupation recently added (and this list is growing all the time as the Australian economy recovers and gathers pace).

ASC Migration are visa processing specialists who will guide you every step of the way and we have experts in the United Kingdom and Australia at your disposal.

Begin your journey down under by completing a free assessment HERE. We will assess your submission and define your immigration eligibility.

For more information please contact our UK office by telephone at 74 8753 8231 or by email lesley@ascmigrationvisas.co.uk or contact our Australian office by telephone 08 9301 5905 or by email john@ascmigrationvisas.com.au