If you are just starting to look at the options available to you to convert to a PR visa after you finish your study, the vast variety of information available can be confusing and overwhelming. Australian Migrations and Visa Lawyers have a dedicated team that focuses on helping students move from temporary visas to permanent residency.
For Students we offer a free 15 minute consultation. This consultation will be with a Registered Migration Agent/Lawyer who leads our Student-focused Team at AMVL. The Registered Migration Agent will:
- Review your particular circumstances against the applicable migration legislation and other rules and regulations applicable to your occupation and skills.
- Provide - based on the information you provided - an assessment of your eligibility and possible pathway(s) to obtain a visa (s).
- Identify the steps that you would need to complete in order to be eligible for a visa.
Australian Migration Legislation is a very complex and constantly changing area of law. As Registered Migration Agents we have a legal obligation to ongoing education and to maintain our knowledge of the Migration Act and Migration Regulations as they are updated.
As a result we do not repeat the information available on the DIAC web site or provide an automatic (and potentially flawed) "self assessment" service. Our obligation is to provide the most current and relevant migration advice in a simple, easy to understand format and then, where applicable, lodge ‘decision ready’ applications with the Department of Immigration. In this way we manage the whole process thus ensuring that your application is processed as soon as possible with a minimum of stress.
Given the amount of Government Lodgement Fees, lodging incorrect or incomplete applications can be an expensive exercise and can also result (in certain instances) in invalid applications or substantial delays in processing. This may result in other consequences including an applicant’s status in Australia becoming unlawful.
It is also worth noting that the Department of Immigration’s fast-tracking service - The Decision Ready Checklist (DRC) – is only available to you (where it is applicable) if you engage the services of a Registered Migration Agent. AMVL offers the DRC as an integral part of our services to our clients (where it is applicable). The Department of Immigration has advised that if they receive a signed DRC from a Registered Migration Agent they are able to grant these visas within 6 weeks (subject to case load) from the date of receipt of the signed DRC.
Consultations with a Registered Migration Agent are managed by booking an appointment. Please contact us now or complete our Free Online Assessment.
The General Skilled Migration program is available for overseas students who wish to emigrate to Australia either as permanent or temporary residents. This option is for people who are not sponsored by an employer and who have skills in particular occupations required in Australia.
You (or your Partner) must meet the basic requirements, set by DIAC, in order to qualify for a visa in the General Skilled Migration Program. These requirements include:
| Age: | You must be over 18 and under 45 years of age at the time of application. |
| English Language: | You will need to show that you have a competent level of English language ability. See IELTS for further information. |
| Skill Assessment: | You will be required to get your skills assessed from the relevant Australian assessing authority to determine what occupation on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) you will nominate. |
| Australian Study: | You require a minimum of 2 years (CRICOS 92 weeks) of Australian Study. You will have a deadline of 6 months after completion of your course to submit an application. |
| Health Assessment: | You and your family members must meet the health criteria for a visa to Australia. All applicants must undertake a medical examination by a panel doctor for your health assessment. |
| Character Assessment: | You must be of good character and this is assessed as part of your application. More information on the requirements is available at Character Requirements. |
| The Points Test: | All applications (aside from the Graduate Temporary Visa) must meet the pass mark on the points test. |
The General Skilled Migration categories for students that have completed study in Australia are as follows:
Skilled Independent (subclass 885) - PR This is a permanent Australian visa suitable for overseas students who have completed their 2 year course of study in the last six months in Australia as well as the holders of certain temporary visas, such as the Skilled Graduate Subclass 485 visa; or a Skilled – Recognised Graduate (subclass 476) visa.
You must satisfy all basic requirements, have a nominated occupation on the SOL and reach a pass mark of 120 on the Skilled Migration Points Test
No sponsorship by state or family is required for this visa, and visa holders are able to live anywhere in Australia.
Click here for your free assessment to see if you qualify for this option.
Skilled Graduate (subclass 485) - TR
This is a temporary Australian visa suitable for overseas students who have satisfied all basic requirements, but do not meet the other criteria for a permanent visa, such as the pass mark, to remain in Australia. This visa is valid for 18 months and allows overseas students to gain skilled work experience or improve their English language skills.
There are no restrictions on work or study with this visa and you may apply for permanent residence once you are able to meet the pass mark on the General Skilled Migration points test.
We can help you get your 485 visa and then convert to either an 885 or 886 visa once you do meet the requirements.
Click here for your free assessment to see if you qualify for this option.
Skilled Sponsored (subclass 886) – PR
State Sponsored
This is also a permanent Australian visa suitable for overseas students, who have satisfied all basic requirements.
However with this visa the pass mark is lower (currently 100 points) and the applicant must be nominated by a participating State or Territory or by an eligible relative living in Australia.
Each State and Territory has a skills shortage list and to be considered for State Sponsorship your occupation will need to be on the list. Further requirements may need to be met and these vary from State to State. Contact us for further information on these requirements.
Click here for your free assessment to see if you qualify for this option.
Family Sponsored
Alternatively, you or your partner can be sponsored by an eligible relative living in Australia who is willing sponsor you.
Click here for your free assessment to see if you qualify for this option.
Skilled – Regional Sponsored (Provisional) visa (subclass 487) This is a three (3) year provisional (temporary) visa for overseas students and certain visa holders who are unable to meet the criteria for a permanent skilled visa. There are separate lists for each State and Territory for the SRS visa so this may be another pathway to obtain permanent residency.
Regional Areas are based on postcodes.
Once the applicant and family have lived in any regional area for at least 2 years and have been working in any regional area for one year, they can then apply for permanent residency.
The applicant must satisfy the basic requirements and reach a pass mark of 100 points.
Click here for your free assessment to see if you qualify for this option.
