[kiku007]

Originally Posted by download2live

Elections will be concluded soon in Australia. And no matter which party come to power, it is expected that migration floodgates will be opened to prop up the economy and soften the blow of oncoming recession.

If anyone is planning to file a PR the it might be a good time to keep an eye on the incoming changes in rules.

+100. With the 2032 Olympics there's a lot more demand in the pipeline.

Here's some information that may help. Please take them with a pinch of salt and do your own due diligence since the information may change over a period of time.

High level information:

1. Skilled permanent visas:
   • Pick one of the Visas (186, 187, 189 or 190) based on your situation.
   • Understand the pros and cons before deciding. A nominated visa may give additional points but the Visa holder may need to work in a certain State/region for a certain duration to meet the eligibility criteria. People have moved elsewhere if they were able to sufficiently prove that they couldn’t find suitable employment in that state and got employment offers elsewhere.
2. A minimum of 65 points is required to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI).
   • Higher the points, sooner the Invitation to apply and Visa grant are received. It’s better to have >80 points.
   • COVID-19 lockdowns have created huge backlogs and invitations are issued for >90 points for some occupations.
   • Check Occupation ceilings for the relevant Skill code. They are revised every Australian FY (July to June).
3. ACS
   • Information and communication technology (ICT) professionals need to submit their education and work related documents to Australian Computer Society (ACS) and mention the Skill Code for which it needs to be assessed for. ACS will analyse and provide a report. It costs about AUD 500.
   • The experience letter should be at a Roles and Responsibilities level that matches the ANZSCO description for that particular skill code.
   • If the employer cannot give the experience letter, then get a peer or supervisor to give a sworn statement (on stamp paper) detailing the R&Rs. Such declarations need to be supported by HR Service letter and Pay slips.
   • ACS deducts years from work experience.
     • Oversees education/work: Minus 2 years.
     • Higher education that is not directly related to the Skill code. Example. B.E in ECE for Software Engineer: Minus 2 years.
     • Considering both of the above, people will lose 4 years even if they had worked for 10 years. Points will be accorded only for 6 years.
   • Request for prior learning (RPL) document is only requested when education is NOT related to applied skill code. Example: B.Sc. Chemical and applied for Software engineer.
4. English Test: Choose IELTS or PTE.
5. Submit an EOI (Expression of interest) after receiving a positive ACS assessment report, sufficient IELTS/PTE Score and determining that the minimum points criteria are met.
   • Invitation rounds are held several times a year. Please check the official website for the cadence.
6. Visa needs to be lodged and paid up in 60 days after receiving invitation.
7. After payment, HAPID is generated. Use it to undergo medical test. All applicants in the application need to complete medical test. Kids may not usually need a blood test.
8. Check relevant documents checklists for required documents and apply for Visa.
   • Visa grant times are increasing YOY.
   • Required documents are also increasing.
9. If all documents are uploaded correctly, then Visa is granted by the Case Officer (CO) without making any contact with the application. It’s called Direct Grant.
10. If there are any queries, then the CO will contact the applicant via e-mail.
11. ACS or Border Control can also contact the employer or declaration provider to verify employment details.
12. Visa grant is accompanied by Initial Entry Date (IED). All applicants MUST make an entry to Australia within the IED. PCC issued date + 12 Months = Initial Entry Date.
13. The Visa entitles PR holders to,
    • live in Australia indefinitely (without exiting Australia).
    • enter and leave Australia multiple times for 4 or 5 years. After four years, apply for a resident permit or citizenship. These rules may change.
14. Approximate cost for Visa,
    • SI189 Skilled Independent Points-tested - Primary applicant: Rs. 2,39,200
    • Additional Applicant Charge 18+: Rs.1,19,500
    • Additional Applicant Charge Under18: Rs.59,900
15. Processing times for SI189 Skilled Independent Points-tested visa.
    • 25% of applications: 23 months
    • 50% of applications: 25 months
    • 75% of applications: 36 months
    • 90% of applications: 39 months
16. Rules and procedures may vary dependent on the Passport issuing country. Above information is for Indian passport holders.
17. The Australian job market is different from the USA. Holding a Visa doesn't guarantee a job. It requires a lot of effort and connections to land the first job. The COVID-19 lockdowns have caused a huge supply constraint and it may be easier to land a job now but there are delays in getting a PR which may be addressed in the next couple of years.
    • https://www.seek.com.au is the leading job portal.
    • https://www.itnews.com.au is a good site for new on the Information Technology space in Australia.
18. Looking for info on, “How’s the market?”: There’s no straight answer for this. Talk to people in your specific skill area.
    • Recommended blogs:
      • https://www.expatforum.com/expats/li...t-process.html
      • https://www.seek.com.au/career-advic...earch-on-track
19. Cost of living is higher here when compared to the USA or UK.
    • Check https://www.realestate.com.au/buy and https://www.domain.com.au for details on real estate.
    • Day care for a child at reputed centres costs approx. $120 /day without Child Care Subsidy. Please don’t under estimate child care costs.
    • Outside school hours care for > 5 years old kids are cheaper at approximately $24/session/day.
    • School education is free at public schools. That doesn’t mean you pay $0. You don’t pay tuition fees but you will pay for things like school supplies, iPads (if there’s BYOD), extra-curricular activities, sports and private lessons etc.
    • Subsidised loans are provided for University education.
    • One can consider Healthcare to be free or not based on the family income. There’s a Medicare Levy to be paid and then there’s Medicare Levy Surcharge so at some point people have to take Private Health Cover instead of paying the surcharge. Healthcare is subsidised will be a fair statement.
    • Government provides rebates for Citizens and PR holders. More details are available here: https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au...d-care-subsidy
    • Income tax rates: https://www.ato.gov.au/Rates/Individ...ome-tax-rates/
    • Cost of car ownership:
      • https://www.commbank.com.au/articles...wning-car.html
      • https://www.savings.com.au/car-loans/ongoing-car-costs
20. What can you watch to understand the locals?
    • The Dish: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0205873/?ref_=ttls_li_tt
    • Kenny: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0822389/?ref_=ttls_li_tt
    • The Castle: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118826...tt_sims_tt_i_1
    • Crackerjack: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0291832...tt_sims_tt_i_2
    • Utopia: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3163562/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_6
    • They’re a weird mob: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061087/
    • Sea change: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0138785/
    • The Dry: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5144174/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
    • Critical views on the government (Language warning): Search for "Honest Government Ad | 2022 Election (Season 2 finale)" in Youtube and check out their videos.
21. What can you read to understand Australia?
    • Social media: https://www.reddit.com/r/australia/
    • News:
      • https://www.abc.net.au
      • https://www.theguardian.com/au
    • Books (Fiction):
      • https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/...86-sweet-jimmy
      • https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/...immering-skies
      • https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/...llows-universe
      • https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48891752-shirl
    • Books (Non-fiction):
      • https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/...-and-namatjira
      • https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57121857-radicals
      • https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/...n_Jump_Puddles
    • Finance:
      • https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/...efoot-investor
      • https://moneysmart.gov.au

Useful links:

1. Australian Home Affairs:https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/
2. Visa finder: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visa...a-finder/work#
3. Skilled independent visa (subclass 189):
   • This visa is for invited workers, eligible New Zealand citizens and eligible Hong Kong or British National (Overseas) passport holders with skills we need, to live and work permanently anywhere in Australia.
   • https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visa...ndependent-189
4. Skilled Nominated visa (Subclass 190):
   • This visa lets nominated skilled workers live and work in Australia as permanent residents.
   • https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visa...-nominated-190
5. Employer Nomination Scheme visa (Subclass 186)
   • This visa lets skilled workers, who are nominated by their employer, live and work in Australia permanently.
   • https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visa...ion-scheme-186
6. Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme visa (Subclass 187)
   • This visa allows skilled workers, who are nominated by their employer in regional Australia, live and work in Australia permanently.
   • https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visa...ion-scheme-187
7. Skilled occupation list: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visa...ccupation-list
8. Skillselect: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visa...ia/skillselect
9. Points table for Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189): https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visa...9/points-table
10. Points calculator (Official): https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help...nts-calculator
11. Visa cost estimator: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visa...cing-estimator
12. Invitation rounds: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visa...itation-rounds
13. ACS: https://www.acs.org.au/home.html
14. Migration skills assessment for ICT professionals: https://www.acs.org.au/msa/informati...pplicants.html
15. Expat forum – Australia: http://www.expatforum.com/expats/aus...ing-australia/
    • Must read sticky thread: http://www.expatforum.com/expats/aus...ead-first.html
    • 2020 189 Visa Tracker: https://www.expatforum.com/expats/au...nt-2020-a.html
16. Visa application form filing process YouTube DIY videos:
    • Step by step guide to submit Skillselect EOI for Australian immigration

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tp2wYZ64ch8

    • Step by step guide to submit Visa 189 Application for Australian immigration

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBWrg9ksAmo

17. Points calculator (Unofficial) https://www.seekvisa.com.au/australi...-test-instant/
18. IELTS Made Easy book https://www.amazon.in/Writing-Easy-T...s=books&sr=1-7
19. Indicative list of documents that may be required,
    1. Birth Certificate
    2. Secondary School Certificate
    3. Police clearance certificate (PCC).
    4. Medical test
    5. Evidence of IELTS or PTE
    6. Letter from college for spouse to get exemption for IELTS.
    7. Qualifications - Australian and overseas.
       1. Degree certificate
       2. Consolidated mark sheet.
       3. Education history (From birth).
    8. ACS letter (For ICT professionals).
    9. Passport (Current and all prior).
    10. National ID Card.
    11. Work Experience - Australian.
    12. Work Experience - Overseas.
        1. Employment history (From first employment).
        2. Letter from HR with R&R or, an Employee reference letter on stamp paper with,
           1. First & last Pay slips
           2. Service letter
           3. Tax return statements
           4. PF statements
    13. Marriage certificate.
    14. Custody evidence for children if applicable.
    15. Address history for the past 10 years.
    16. International travel movements for the past 10 years.
    17. Contacts and addresses in Australia.
    18. Partner details - DoB, Place of birth
    19. Parents details - DoB, Place of birth
    20. Sibling details - DoB, Place of birth.

P.S:

1. Please let me know if there's any errors.
2. If this was useful to you then, please pay it forward by helping others.
3. If you do migrate to Australia then, please try to assimilate and integrate into the diverse Australian society rather than getting into siloed community groups. Celebrate the diversity.

[Dieseltuned]

Originally Posted by kiku007

+100. With the 2032 Olympics there's a lot more demand in the pipeline.

Here's some information that may help. Please take them with a pinch of salt and do your own due diligence since the information may change over a period of time.

Hello Sir,

A humble query. Lets say hypothetically I apply for the PR for Australia and by some invisible guiding hands grace this is granted, then do I have to move to Australia immediately or can I can continue staying in India and just keep my PR active by visiting Aussie land frequently ?

Regards
Dieseltuned

[fache89]

Originally Posted by Dieseltuned

can I can continue staying in India and just keep my PR active by visiting Aussie land frequently ?

Once you are granted the visa, there is an arrive by date on your document to activate the visa. You can ask the Visa officer to be liberal with the arrive by date if you have a rational reason.

Once you arrive it is activated, you can shuttle as many times from any country for 5 years. If you stay for 720 days in this 5 year period, you are entitled to renew your PR easily.

[kiku007]

Originally Posted by Dieseltuned

Lets say hypothetically I apply for the PR for Australia and by some invisible guiding hands grace this is granted, then do I have to move to Australia immediately or can I can continue staying in India and just keep my PR active by visiting Aussie land frequently ?

Regards
Dieseltuned

Originally Posted by kiku007

1. Visa grant is accompanied by Initial Entry Date (IED). All applicants MUST make an entry to Australia within the IED. PCC issued date + 12 Months = Initial Entry Date.
2. The Visa entitles PR holders to,
   • live in Australia indefinitely (without exiting Australia).
   • enter and leave Australia multiple times for 4 or 5 years. After four years, apply for a resident permit or citizenship. These rules may change.

Originally Posted by fache89

Once you are granted the visa, there is an arrive by date on your document to activate the visa. You can ask the Visa officer to be liberal with the arrive by date if you have a rational reason.

Once you arrive it is activated, you can shuttle as many times from any country for 5 years. If you stay for 720 days in this 5 year period, you are entitled to renew your PR easily.

+1.

Also, check out this UNOFFICIAL reply,
https://www.acacia-au.com/maintainin...-australia.php

By delaying your entry and stay you are delaying your pathway to citizenship if that's a consideration for you.

Good luck.

[GTO]

Thanks for sharing, kiku007! Moving your super helpful post out to a new thread. A new thread means 100X the views & 100X the visibility in search engines, including Google. Will add to homepage later this week .

@ BHPians, if you should spot any good post in an existing thread that deserves its own new thread, please report the post and we'll move it out for greater visibility.

Thank you!

[ninjatalli]

Originally Posted by kiku007

[*]English Test: Choose IELTS or PTE.

Just a minor suggestion basis my own past experiences - between the two PTE is relatively the easier exam to opt for. Also I would recommend taking up the computer-delivered option over the paper-written test.

The obvious downside is IELTS is applicable for multiple countries while PTE is only for Australia. Cost-wise both are in similar range.

[dragonfire]

Any possibility of age relaxation? I overran the age criteria a couple of years ago.

[benbsb29]

Originally Posted by ninjatalli

Just a minor suggestion basis my own past experiences - between the two PTE is relatively the easier exam to opt for. Also I would recommend taking up the computer-delivered option over the paper-written test.

IELTS for skilled migration is the General category, which is really easy for folks who communicate in English on a daily basis. The Academic category is harder.

[fache89]

Originally Posted by dragonfire

Any possibility of age relaxation? I overran the age criteria a couple of years ago.

Nope! Once you cross the threshold, then there is no way to make points on Age. No immigration agency in the world gives you points for wisdom.

But, where there is a will, there is a way.

You can get additional 5 points if you can pass the NAATI CCL exam where you are evaluated on your interpreting skills. The exam is essentially 35 mins dialogue between two people. One of them speaking in English and other in any of the listed language (Malyalam, Hindi etc). This is an online exam monitored by a third party agency.

The exam is expensive priced at A$800, thus take sample tests before applying.

[MaxTorque]

Originally Posted by dragonfire

Any possibility of age relaxation? I overran the age criteria a couple of years ago.

Check if your spouse is eligible for immigration. Also if you both are working in similar field, you can contribute 5 points as partner points. Check with a migration consultant as well.

[arjithin]

Originally Posted by kiku007

[*]Processing times for SI189 Skilled Independent Points-tested visa.

• 25% of applications: 23 months
• 50% of applications: 25 months
• 75% of applications: 36 months
• 90% of applications: 39 months

To check the recent invite numbers and point cut offs, you can visit this link.

https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visa...itation-rounds

Note: invitations during Covid times are very very low

[LaRoca]

Informative and comprehensive. However, I'd like to clarify that only visas 189 and 190 are in existence at the moment, if you are an independent PR applicant. Older visas like 187 etc have been revoked.

Weird Fact! Australia is perhaps the only country that don't give any points if you have your sibling as an Australian citizen. Canada and UK grant extra points for this.

Even though my brother is a citizen there, I couldn't claim any extra points for my visa application. Hope things turn around in the future.

Also on a serious note, never take IELTS exam. Always go for the PTE. There are several advantages for this exam and the scoring is different from IELTS, which is harder to crack if you need superior English. Getting 79 in PTE is relatively easier in my experience than getting individual 8 for IELTS.

Good luck.

[auditya]

Does anyone know any trustworthy agency in India which helps in this process?

[kiku007]

Originally Posted by LaRoca

Informative and comprehensive. However, I'd like to clarify that only visas 189 and 190 are in existence at the moment, if you are an independent PR applicant. Older visas like 187 etc have been revoked.

Thanks for that.

With the introduction of the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494), due to commence on 16 November 2019, the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) visa (subclass 187) direct entry (DE) stream will close to new applications from 16 November 2019.
Applicants intending to lodge an RSMS DE nomination and visa application, are reminded to not leave lodging online to the last minute due to possible system maintenance. Check the system maintenance page prior to lodging.
Employers/migration agents are strongly encouraged to submit a request for assessment by a relevant Regional Certifying Body (RCB) regarding local labour market conditions before 16 November 2019, if they intend to lodge an RSMS DE nomination and visa application with the Department by 16 November 2019.

Link: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/what...recent-changes

Subclass 494 - Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa:

• This visa enables regional employers to address identified labour shortages within their region by sponsoring skilled workers where employers can't source an appropriately skilled Australian worker
• ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​You can live, work and study only in designated regional areas of Australia
• You can apply for permanent residence after 3 years from the time your visa is granted
• https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visa...d-regional-494

A team mate of mine was sponsored for 186 visa by our company. They live/work in Australia already and I don't know if that matters. Is 186 closed for overseas applicants?

[kiku007]

This is great watch for people who are considering migrating to Australia. A slickly presented view of Australia's history, geography, demography and economy,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnB_8Zm9lPk