Monthly Archives: November 2013
Working Visa to Australia
Working visa to Australia
The Temporary Work (Skilled) visa or subclass 457 visa allows skilled workers to live and work in Australia for a period of up to 4 years. Skilled foreign workers may be sponsored for this visa by accredited Australian employers for a that cannot be filled by an Australian citizen or certain jobs or roles permanent resident.
In its effort to deter misuse of this subclass, the Australian government recently introduced changes to the subclass 457 visa program to ensure that only genuine applicants (sponsors and applicants) benefit. One of the major changes is extending powers to the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) to monitor key aspects of employers’ compliance such as:
457 visa holders being paid at the market rates specified in their approved visa. The job being done by the visa holder matches the job title and description approved in their visa.
So, while this visa does offer a great opportunity for skilled workers looking to experience life Down Under, it does come with its share of pros and cons.
Pros
- The benefits of this visa include:
- You can work in Australia for up to four years.
- You can bring your family (partner, children and other dependent relatives) to work or study in Australia.
- You can travel in and out of Australia as often as you want during the validity of the visa.
- 457 visa holders are eligible to apply Australian permanent residency status if they work two years with the employer who has sponsored them and if the employer provides a full-time position in the nominated occupation.
- Approved sponsors are required to meet certain obligations that are designed to protect overseas workers from exploitation.
Cons
There are certain limitations applicants to this visa should be aware of:
- You cannot apply for this visa if you already hold another visa that has a ‘No further stay’ condition.
- Subclass 457 visa holders who cease employment with their sponsoring employer have 90 days to find a new sponsor or will need to leave Australia.
- Applicants nominated in a generalist occupation, such as program and project administrator and specialist manager not elsewhere classified, must undertake a formal skills assessment.
- The applicant is responsible for health costs incurred in Australia and must maintain adequate arrangements for health insurance for themselves and their family members during their stay in the country. However, the sponsor can pay for the insurance as a part of the employment contract.
You can read up on the details of the 457 visa here:
Looking for a job in Australia or wondering if you qualify for the 457 visa? Get a FREE VISA ASSESSMENT HERE
How to move to Australia from UK?
How to move to Australia from UK?
Australia has always been a popular destination for British expats for a number of reasons – its job opportunities, lifestyle, quality of life and low crime rate, multi-culturism and its rich biodiversity.
If you are thinking of shifting base, here are a few things you need to know:
Visa types
Australia offers a number of visas and visa sub-classes that are based on an applicant’s education, employment status and other circumstances. Given the number of sub-classes, it can get quite difficult to identify exactly which visa you need to apply for, based on your specific circumstances for migration.
Generally, you can apply for a short-term work permit, a longer visitor’s visa and permanent residency (which is on based of the length of your stay the country) and citizenship (British citizens can hold dual citizenship, which means that they are given the privileges and responsibilities of both countries, and hold passports of both).
Visa application process
A visitor visa is needed to travel to Australia. British citizens can get the following types of electronic visitor visas:
- eVisitor visa direct from the Department of Immigration & Citizenship. There is no visa application charge or service fee for this and is valid for a stay of 3 months;
- Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) via your travel agent or airline.
Alternately, depending on the type of visa you are eligible for, you can go through the traditional route of applying for a visa at the Australian immigration office in the UK.
Visa evidencing
A visa label in your passport is not required to travel to or stay in Australia. All records are stored on a central database. When a British citizen checks in to fly to Australia, the airline electronically confirms whether the person has a valid visa to board the plane.
There is an additional charge to have a visa label affixed to the passport, which also entails a separate application process.
Migrate Me experts can help you evaluate your application criteria and identify which sub-class you are best suited to.
Can I live in Canada as a British citizen?
If you’re a British citizen and plan to migrate to Canada to either work or study, one question you’ll have is whether you can retain your citizenship if you extend your stay or get permanent residency in the country.
Britishers do not need a visa to visit Canada and can stay in the country for a period of 6 months at a time. Most visitors though are quizzed on why they are visiting, how they plan to support themselves during their time in the country, and when they plan to return. If you intend to work during your stay, you will need to obtain the relevant work permit. If you wish to extend your stay, you can apply for an extension 4-5 months into your stay. The granting of the extension, however, is entirely upto immigration officials. Through all this, you retain your British citizenship.
If you wish to stay in Canada for a longer period, you may apply for permanent residency. This entitles you to live in the country, travel outside it and return through the validity of your PR card. Permanent Residency is specifically for individuals without Canadian citizenship, so you retain your British citizenship here as well.
If you decide to apply for Canadian citizenship, you can either choose to retain or give up your British citizenship. It is possible to hold dual citizenship (carry both British and Canadian passports). However, to become a Canadian citizen, you need to qualify in 6 areas:
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Age (at least 18 years old)
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Permanent resident status (must have PR status)
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Length of time spent in Canada (at least 3 years in the past 4 years)
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Language ability (proof that you can speak and understand English/French)
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Criminal history
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How well you know Canada
Migrate Me experts are on hand to help you find job opportunities and assist you with your paperwork. Simply fill up our short form and we’ll get back to you!
Can I live in Australia with a UK passport?
Can I live in Australia with a UK passport?
The number of British citizens migrating to Australia is on the rise and understandably so. Australia’s economy and culture have much to offer Britishers looking for a rich, fulfilling change of pace. If you’re a British citizen thinking of moving to Australia, you’re probably wondering how your citizenship will be affected. Here are some points you need to be aware of…
Do you need a visa?
Britishers looking to study or work in Australia do need to obtain the relevant visa and paperwork before they fly out. Working in Australia does require that the visa is specific to the type of work to be undertaken, the credentials of the employer and whether the applicant’s skills meet requirements. If you do get your visa, you can remain in the country as a British citizen through your stay.
What about permanent residency?
You can get permanent residency status in Australia visa one of two ways. The first is as a Partner/Spouse of an Australian citizen. The second is if you are granted a skilled immigration visa (permanent visa). Under either of these as well, you can retain your British citizenship.
So that leaves Australian citizenship…
Becoming an Australian citizen means that you will have all the privileges and responsibilities of a person born in the country. You may be conferred citizenship if you (as a British citizen) have migrated to Australia, meet the eligibility requirements and have lived in the country for a long time.
The good news is that both the UK and Australia do support dual/multiple citizenship and you can retain your British citizenship even after you are granted Australian citizenship. This means that you hold passports of both countries, can entry and exit both countries, and function as a full citizen of both.
Thinking of migrating to Australia? Migrate Me experts are standing by to guide you through the visa application process.
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