Index: Visas, Citizenship & Passports

Australian Visas, Citizenship and Passports

Need a Visa for Australia ?

Not sure which visa to apply for ?

The Australian Government immigration website now has the FIND A VISA WIZARD at:
http://www.immi.gov.au/visawizard/

Answer the questions and the wizard will point you in the right direction...

Critical Skills List

The Australian Government Department of Immigration and Citizenship produces a list of Critical Skills that are in demand in Australia.

The list can be seen at:

http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/pdf/critical-skills-list.pdf

The list applies to people who are seeking to migrate under the skilled migration program.

Migration Occupations in Demand

The Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL) is a compilation of occupations identified by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations that are in short supply in Australia, at the time the list is drawn up.

This list is currently reviewed every SIX months.

The list can be seen at:

http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/skilled-occupations/occupations-in-demand.htm

The English Language Test

Sometimes an English language test is required for entry into Australia. This test is commonly referred to as the IELTS test, and is run by the IELTS Organisation which is jointly managed by British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and the University of Cambridge.
There are two forms of IELTS tests

Academic � Institutions of Higher and Further Education
The Academic format is, broadly speaking, for those who want to study or train in an English-speaking university or Institutions of Higher and Further Education. Admission to undergraduate and postgraduate courses is based on the results of the Academic test.
General Training � for school, work or migration
The General Training format focuses on basic survival skills in broad social and workplace contexts. It is typically for those who are going to English-speaking countries to do secondary education, work experience or training programs. People migrating to Australia, Canada and New Zealand must sit the General Training test.

It should be noted that certain professions require an Academic test result for registration and migration purposes.

The Points Test

People applying for a general skilled migration visa must pass a points test. There is no fixed Points that need to be obtained, as changes for the required pass mark according to current Australian labour market conditions. This means that a higher pass mark may be required when their are no local labour shortages in Australia.

The Points test can be viewed at:

http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/175/eligibility-applicant.htm

The current Pass marks can be viewed at:

http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/points-test.htm

Notices of Immigration Legislation Changes

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship issues notices of any legislation changes whenever applicable, and they can be viewed on their website, www.immi.gov.au.

Recent changes (27th March 2010) are:

Amendments to the definitions of 'Australian Child Order' and 'Step-Child' and to reduce the relationship period for some applicants to qualify for a Partner (Migrant) (Class BC) Visa or a Partner (Residence) (Class BS) Visa.
Amendments relating to Child (Residence) (Class BT) visa applications.
Technical amendments to Migration Regulations 1994 following implementation of the worker protection reforms.
Amendments to various Parent Category Visas.
Amendments to the nomination criteria and visa criteria for the Occupational Trainee (Subclass 442) visa.
Amendment to specify where applicants need to be located to lodge a valid Cultural/Social (Temporary) (Class TE) visa application.
Amendments to Subclass 801 � Partner and Subclass 820 � Partner visas
Protection of Children � amendments to the Migration Regulations 1994 providing for character requirements for sponsors.
Amendments to Student visa assessment level requirements and insertion of new Student visa cancellation provisions.

Visas and Migration at the Australian High Commission

The website of the Migration Branch of the Australian High Commission in London is at:

http://www.australia.org.uk/lhlh/Visas_and_Migration.html

That webpage will provide you with Contact Information and links for all the current Visa information.

Basically, if you wish to Migrate to Australia, as a skilled migrant, you will normally need to have qualifications and experience in one of the listed occupations that Australia has a shortage of workers for.
This list can found at: