Visas & Advice Detail
Short or skills? Get sponsored
If you don’t qualify for a Skilled Independent or Skilled Sponsored visa do not despair – there are several Employer-Sponsored Visas available.
John Adams looks at three options for those who have skills that cannot be assessed or, in some instances, are over the age of 45
Employer-Sponsored Temporary (457 visa)
This is a four-year temporary visa which can be converted to permanent after a period (typically two years) provided there is a further sponsorship for permanent residency offered by the employer.
Employers do not have to finance this sponsorship but they do have to provide guarantees for return flights and medical expenses.
What is often not pointed out to the migrant is that this visa is tied to the sponsorship. If the job falls through then, unless you can find a new sponsor within 28 days, you will have to leave Australia.
ENS – Employer Nominated Scheme
This scheme enables Australian employers to recruit highly skilled people for permanent positions where the employer has been unable to find suitable people in Australia or through their own training efforts.
The visa requires the employer to be compliant with certain Department of Immigration and Citizenship requirements and can result in a permanent visa application.
Minimum salary levels apply and skills need to be on a list of required occupations.
The age criteria can be waived in exceptional circumstances.
RSMS – Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme
The RSMS enables Australian employers in regional or low population growth areas to fill skilled permanent vacancies if they cannot recruit suitably qualified workers in Australia in the local labour market.
To encourage migrants to settle in regional areas and to assist in developing those areas, concessions have been offered to prospective migrants and a permanent resident visa could result.
Skills need not necessarily be assessed and the age criteria can be waived in exceptional circumstances.
A two-year contract of employment is required and the position needs to be approved by a Regional Certification Board.
Look, see and decide
If you are offered a job sponsorship it would be a sensible to make a trip to Australia to meet the employer, check out the region to see if you and your family will be happy to settle there.
This could avoid a huge amount of heartache if you landed in a job you didn't like or the family can't settle in the area.
Migration law and regulations are complex and need to be fully researched before assuming that you can or cannot validly apply for an Australian visa.
John Adams is a registered migration agent for Immigration2oz. For more information, tel: 0797 434 9937; email: john@immigration2oz.com; or visit: www.immigration2oz.com
Related articles:
Business Visa Category
Skilled independent visas