Australian Visas Tips for Teachers, Nurses and Tradespeople

John McQuaid, Director of Arrive Australia, talks through that tricky old visa system, and just what will get you enough points to stay in Australia. Originally from Northern Ireland, McQuaid has been in Australia since the early 90s and now lives in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs, so he knows a thing or two about the old migrations business…

Australia continues to have huge skill shortages and a buoyant economy with low unemployment, an almost perfect storm for anyone looking to work and perhaps settle in Australia. The government’s 2013-2014 migration program allows for 190,000 permanent visas to be issued this year. 128,550 of these visas will be for skilled workers.

This number does not include the tens of thousands of temporary employer sponsored four year visas granted every year. To access these skilled visas, you will need to have qualifications or work experience in an occupation that appears on the governments Consolidated Skilled Occupations List or CSOL. You can check the list at www.immi.gov.au/skilled/generalskilled-migration/pdf/csol.pdf. The CSOL includes Nursing, Teaching and almost all the general trades; let’s have a look at some visa options and how to prepare for them…

Anyone coming to Australia on a one-year working holiday visa has some advantages – it’s the easiest and cheapest visa to come out and see Australia and find work with. It’s quite common to see working holiday visa holders with skills being offered sponsorship by employers or applying for permanent residence visas. If you are thinking of looking for long-term work and visas, some forward planning will go a long way.

Nurses and Teachers need to get registered in whichever Australian state they wish to work in. You can do this before you come to Australia by applying to the state registration boards in advance. For example, teachers in NSW need to register with the NSW Dept of Education and Communities; for more information visit www.dec.nsw.gov.au/about-us/careerscentre/school-careers/teaching/your-teaching-career/trained-teachers/apply-toteach. The process of getting registered or licenced can take two or three months so plan accordingly.

Trades People do not need to be state registered to work for construction businesses. Plumbing and Electrical are licenced trades and in most states you can work under the licence of the employer but getting local licensing will help with finding better-paid work and can assist with some of the skilled visa applications.

Gather up all your qualifications and any work references you have. Get your CV or resume drawn up. Either bring these to Australia with you or colour scans of all the paperwork and email it to yourself. Then you can easily send it on to prospective employers and have a head start on documents for your visa applications.

So if you’re here in Oz and you’ve found that dream job and want to stay, ask the employer if they will sponsor you. This is often the fastest way to get a work visa for 4 years; these visas can be approved in as little as a few weeks. There will then usually be options to move to a permanent visa at a later stage. If you are a registered nurse or teacher, you will most likely meet the criteria to be sponsored. Trades people will need either a trade qualifications; UK NVQ level 3, the Irish FETAC level 6-7, or have at least three years full time experience in the trade. You will need very good evidence of your paid, on the job, work experience.

If you can’t find or don’t want an employer sponsor, then look at the options to apply through the points tested “Skill Select” System including the 189; 190 or 489 visas. The process to get these visas is going to take 6-12 months so good planning is a must. If you are in Australia; think about getting your second working holiday visa set up so you have more time, and start saving. Permanent visa application fees will be $3520 upwards, and more for skills assessment etc.

Start off by getting your points assessed. You need 60 points to be eligible to make an Expression of Interest (EOI) for these visas. Points are awarded for age, qualifications, English ability and work experience. If you’re aged between 25 and 32 you get 30 points for age. A trade qualification gets ten points and degree; 15 points. Sitting the IELTS English test and getting a good score of seven or eight will get ten or 20 points respectively. You get five points for three years overseas work experience or one year in OZ in your occupation.

It’s really important to be accurate with your points’ assessment; for more information visit www.immi.gov.au/skills/skillselect/index/visas/subclass-190/. And if you get stuck, consider consulting a registered migration agent for help with this. Help is available at mia.org.au/.

If you have 60 points or more, the process will be to:
1. Get your migration skills assessment (allow three months)
2. Make your Expression of Interest Application
3. Apply to a State Government for Nomination (if needed)
4. Wait to be invited to apply for your visa
5. When invited, apply for the visa and wait about three months for processing.

If you are in Australia when you apply for your visa, you will get a bridging visa to allow you to stay here while you wait for the new visa processing. Each occupation type has a different assessing body for Migration Skills Assessments – costs range from $300 to more than $2,000 depending on the occupation.

Tradespeople should check TRA: HERE

Nurses go to ANMAC: HERE

Teachers should look at AITSL: www.aitsl.edu.au/

Allow $300 to take IELTS English tests, and around $400 for medical and police checks near the end of the process.

For more information or help with your visa visit: www.arriveaustralia.com.au/

By John McQuaid, Director Arrive Australia

MARN #0532545