Open World Immigration

09/12/2024

Updates for the Subclass 186 Visa!
Here's some great news for those eyeing permanent residency in Australia. The Subclass 186 Visa, which allows employers to nominate skilled overseas workers for permanent residency, has some new and improved features:
Pathway to Permanent Residency: All sponsored employment now counts towards work experience requirements for permanent residency.
Streams Available: The visa includes TRT, Direct Entry, and Labour Agreement streams.
Direct Entry Stream: Now uses the Core Skills Occupation List, reflecting current labour market conditions.
Expanded Access: SID visa holders across all streams can now access the TRT stream of the Subclass 186 visa.
Flexibility in Work Experience: Includes changes in occupation, such as promotions or working in related fields.
Salary Requirements: Linked to SID visa salary requirements to ensure consistency.
These changes make it easier and clearer for temporary skilled workers (Subclass 457, TSS, and SID visa holders) to transition to permanent residency.

Stay tuned for more updates and feel free to reach out with any questions!

08/12/2024

More Features of the New Skills in Demand (SID) Visa!

The new SID Visa, which replaced the TSS Visa on 7 December 2024, has some new features worth noting:

English Language Requirement: Similar to the TSS visa's medium-term stream, you'll need a score of level IELTS 5 overall, with a minimum of 5 in each component (or equivalent scores in another eligible test).

Work Experience Requirement: Now just one year of full-time work (or equivalent part-time/casual work) within the five years before applying.

Financial Capacity Requirements: Ensures employers don’t inflate salaries to gain access to the Specialist Skills stream, aiming to maintain fair and genuine salary standards.

Stay tuned for more updates and feel free to ask any questions!

07/12/2024

More Updates on the New Skills in Demand (SID) Visa!
Starting from today, 7 December 2024, the new Skills in Demand (SID) Visa is replacing the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) Visa. Here's a quick rundown of the three streams under the SID Visa:

Specialist Skills Stream: For applicants earning $135,000+ in certain high-demand occupations (excluding trades, machinery operators, and labourers). This new stream acknowledges the significant economic benefits of highly skilled migrants.

Core Skills Stream: For applicants earning over $73,150 in occupations identified as essential through labour market analysis.

Labour Agreement Stream: Continues from the TSS Visa, with further developments coming for the Essential Skills Stream.

This new visa structure aims to better meet Australia's skills needs and provide clear pathways to permanent residency. Exciting times ahead for anyone looking to work and live in Australia!

Stay tuned for more updates!

06/12/2024

Massive Changes for Work Visas in Australia!
Big news for those interested in working in Australia: the Temporary Skill Shortage (subclass 482) Visa will be replaced by the new Skills in Demand Visa (SID) starting from tomorrow, 7 December 2024. This new visa aims to better address Australia's skills needs and provides skilled migrant workers with more mobility and a clearer path to permanent residency.

Key highlights:
Launch Date: 7 December 2024
New Occupation List: A fresh list of eligible occupations is now available for the new visa. Find it here -https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/Documents/core-sol.pdf
If your occupation is not on this list, you may still be eligible for the Specialist Skills stream, subject to meeting income requirements, or the Labour Agreement stream of the SID visa.
Easier Transition to Permanent Residency: Applicants can count all periods of sponsored employment towards permanent residency.
Reduced Work Experience Requirement: Now only 1 year of full-time work experience needed (down from 2 years).

Stay tuned for more updates and feel free to ask any questions. Exciting times ahead for anyone looking to work Down Under! 🌏🦘

29/11/2024

*Victoria Nomination*
For the remainder of the 2024-25 Victorian skilled visa nomination program, the following construction trade occupations are being prioritised under the Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) and Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) visas:

28/11/2024

🌏 **Understanding Bridging Visas in Australia** 🌏

Ever wondered what bridging visas are all about? Here’s a quick rundown to help you out!

❌Not a Substantive Visa: A bridging visa is not considered a substantive visa. So, if you hear terms like "not the holder of a substantive visa," that includes bridging visa holders.

⏳Temporary by Nature: Bridging visas are temporary. Even if they seem to offer an indefinite stay, they don’t provide permanent residency.

7️⃣Different Types: There are seven classes of bridging visas:
- BVA: For those in Australia who have applied for a substantive visa and still hold a substantive visa.
- BVB: For BVA or BVB holders who need to travel outside Australia.
- BVC: Similar to BVA but for those without a substantive visa at the time of application.
- BVD: For those who are unlawful and either unable or unwilling to apply for a substantive visa.
- BVE: For those who are unlawful or hold a BVE and have various ongoing processes.
- BVF: For suspected victims of slavery or human trafficking needing to stay in Australia during investigations.
- BVR: For those in detention awaiting removal when immediate removal isn't practical.

✔️When They Take Effect: Bridging visas come into effect either when granted, on a specified date, or when an event happens, like the cessation of a substantive visa.

🔛Which One Applies?: If you hold more than one bridging visa, the most beneficial one will be in effect. Different regulations determine which one applies based on your circumstances.

🔚When They Cease: Bridging visas cease under various conditions, such as being granted a substantive visa, reaching a certain date, leaving Australia, or after a visa refusal and subsequent review processes.

🪄Reactivation: Even if a bridging visa ceases, it can come back into effect if no other visa is held and it's the most beneficial one.

📝Automatic or Separate Application: Applying for a bridging visa can be automatic when you apply for a substantive visa, or you might need to apply separately in some cases, like seeking work rights or a BVB.

Hope this clears up some of the mystery around bridging visas! If you have any questions or need further information, feel free to reach out. 💬✨

20/11/2024

Finally, the statistics for the latest invitation round for visa 189 are out. 15,000 invitations were issued. Will you be next?

Find out about Australian visas, immigration and citizenship.

08/11/2024

🌏 Attention International Nursing Graduates! 🌏

If you've completed your nursing studies in Australia and are aiming for permanent residency, ANMAC just made it easier to get started on your skilled migration journey!

Introducing ANMAC’s GradReady! This new, streamlined process allows overseas-born graduates to apply for their Modified Skills Assessment right after completing their course requirements — no need to wait for Ahpra registration first!

Here’s how GradReady benefits you: 1️⃣ Get Ahead Early
Apply for your Modified Skills Assessment as soon as you finish your course, giving you an advantage in starting your PR journey sooner.

2️⃣ Less Stress, More Focus
Lodging your application early means you can focus on career planning and your next steps with greater peace of mind.

3️⃣ Smooth Transition to Residency
GradReady is specifically designed for recent international graduates, making it easier to navigate the skilled migration process and achieve permanent residency.

Get in touch to find out how this new skills assessment pathway can help you secure your future in Australia faster.

30/10/2024

📢 Important Update for those affected by the Hamas-Israel conflict

The Australian Government is providing support to individuals from the Palestinian Territories and Israel who have been significantly impacted by the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel.

🇦🇺 Temporary Humanitarian Stay Pathway

The Australian government has recently introduced a temporary humanitarian stay pathway for eligible Palestinians and Israelis currently in Australia on temporary visas. This pathway allows individuals to remain in Australia for up to three years.

Key points to note:
☑The pathway is by invitation only from the Minister for Home Affairs. You cannot apply directly for this visa.
☑It is a two-step process: starting with a subclass 449 Humanitarian Stay (Temporary) visa, followed by a subclass 786 Temporary (Humanitarian Concern) visa.
☑Eligibility includes meeting all health, character, and security criteria.

📌 Who Is Eligible for Consideration?

☑Palestinian or Israeli nationals
☑Currently in Australia on a temporary visa
☑Unable to return to your place of residence

📌 Benefits of the Temporary Humanitarian Stay:

☑Special Benefit payments
☑Work and study rights
☑Access to support programs like HSP, SETS, and AMEP
☑Medicare access (for subclass 786 visa holders)

💡 Important Information:
Travel is possible with a subclass 449 visa, but the subclass 786 visa ceases if you leave Australia. Holding these visas may also affect your eligibility for other visas.

If you are eligible and interested, register your interest using the webform provided by the Australian Government. It is highly recommended that you consult a registered migration agent or legal practitioner before taking any action.

For more details, visit the official government website or seek professional advice.

29/10/2024

🌟 Exciting New Opportunities for Skilled Workers in NSW! 🌟

The NSW Government has just announced that applications are now open for the Skilled Work Regional Visa (Subclass 491) under Pathway 1 and Pathway 3 for the 2024-25 program year. If you are already working in regional NSW, this is your chance!

Key Updates:

🔹 Pathway 1 – If you're currently working in your nominated (or closely related) occupation in regional NSW for the past six months, you may be eligible! Some highlights include:
☑No requirement to live in NSW, offering flexibility for those living in border towns.
☑You must earn at least the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold, currently $73,150/year.

🔹 Pathway 3 – Graduates with a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regional NSW institution may qualify. Key requirements:
☑Study must be related to your nominated occupation.
☑Completed within the last two years in a designated regional area of NSW.
☑Be currently residing in NSW and have continuously resided in NSW for a minimum period of three months; or offshore and have continuously resided offshore for a minimum period of three months.

Eligible occupations include roles in healthcare, IT, engineering, education, trades, and more. For the full list of occupations, visit the NSW Government website or contact us.

⚠️ Limited Places Available
There are a limited number of visas available for Pathways 1 and 3, so apply as soon as possible! Applications will be assessed at the discretion of Investment NSW.

Don’t miss this chance to secure your future in Australia. For more information on eligibility and how to apply, do not hesitate to contact us.

24/09/2024

📝 Common Mistakes in Visa Applications 📝

Applying for an Australian visa? Avoid common mistakes like incorrect names due to autocorrect, wrong date formats, and missing documents.
You can actually be refused a visa because you did not submit a necessary document!
Ensure all your paperwork is in order and translated if necessary. A little (or sometimes a lot) extra attention can save your visa, or just a lot of time and hassle!

24/09/2024

Important Update for 482 TSS (subclass 482) and SESR (subclass 494) Visa Holders

Have you considered what happens if you stop working for your current sponsor due to reasons such as business closure, redundancy, a breakdown in the employment relationship, or to chase a better job opportunity? Some important changes were introduced in July.
What does it mean for you?
If you're a primary holder of a Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa (condition 8607) or Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (SESR) visa (condition 8608), and you stop working for your current sponsor, you may now be able to work for up to 180 consecutive days, and up to 365 cumulative days across your visa grant period, while seeking a new employer nomination.
Importantly, this includes being able to work for a new sponsor before your TSS (subclass 482) or SESR (subclass 494) nomination is approved.

However, when applying for a Subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme – Temporary Residence Transition stream), please note that only the time worked after your new nomination is approved will count towards meeting the employment requirements.

Stay informed of these changes and make sure you're compliant!

19/09/2024

Are you working in the construction industry?
Australia is ramping up its efforts to attract skilled immigrants, particularly in the construction industry, as part of addressing the country's housing and infrastructure demands. Several states, including New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia and South Australia, have identified construction as a priority sector under their skilled migration programs. This means more opportunities for tradespeople and construction professionals to apply for visas in these states.

One key development is that Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) has started fast-tracking skills assessments for construction occupations, making it easier and quicker for skilled migrants to get assessed. The government has committed to prioritising around 2,600 assessments in the next two years. Additionally, a streamlined process allows workers from certain countries to bypass the Offshore Skills Assessment Program (OSAP), simplifying the process even more.

This initiative will help fill critical gaps in the construction workforce, offering migrants a clearer, faster path to work in Australia’s booming construction sector.

If you're a construction professional, now is a great time to consider your visa options, as both the federal and state governments are focused on welcoming skilled workers to tackle the growing demand.
Shoot us an email today!

16/09/2024

Don’t give up on your dream of Australian permanent residency!

Yes, the recent changes to visa rules may make it seem more challenging, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. Australia still needs skilled workers, and while the process may look different, there are plenty of opportunities for those who meet the updated requirements.

The key is to stay informed, understand the new rules, and explore alternative pathways. With persistence and the right approach, you can still achieve your goal. Don’t let the changes stop you—your Australian residency dream is still within reach!

13/09/2024

Exciting changes are coming to the NSW Skilled Migration Program for 2024-25!

NSW has updated its skilled migration pathways, with more opportunities for those in priority occupations. Key changes include:
☑️3,000 spots for the Skilled Nominated Visa (subclass 190)
☑️2,000 spots for the Skilled Work Regional Visa (subclass 491)
☑️New NSW Skills Lists (not published yet) - let's hope your occupation is deemed critical to NSW's economic growth!
☑️Direct application pathways for regional graduates
☑️TSMIT concessions for eligible occupations in regional NSW

Stay informed and be ready for the program's launch in October!

11/09/2024

Big news for those interested in applying for a 482 visa!

Recent changes to the 482 visa policy have made it easier for more people to qualify. Previously, applicants were expected to have gained work experience within the last five years, but this requirement has now been removed.

Additionally, casual employment, which was once not counted towards the required work experience, can now be included. And while full-time work is still preferred and beneficial, it is no longer required for you to meet the work experience conditions. Your work experience doesn't even need to be continuous!

This means more flexibility and opportunity for those considering a 482 visa. Remember - you must have an employer sponsor for this visa!

09/09/2024

Do you hold visa 462 / 417 and want to work for the same employer for more than just 6 months? Are you worried that 6 months are not enough to convince an employer to sponsor you?
This post is for you! Did you know that you don’t always need to ask for permission to work with the same employer for more than 6 months?!
Here are the situations where you can continue working beyond the 6-month limit:
* If you’re working at different locations and each one is less than 6 months
* If your work involves plant and animal cultivation anywhere in Australia
* Critical sectors like agriculture, food processing, health, aged and disability care, childcare, tourism, and hospitality across Australia
* Industries such as fishing, pearling, tree farming, felling, construction, and mining—but only in Northern Australia
* Natural disaster recovery work across the country

Make sure your work fits within one of these categories if you want to stay with the same employer beyond the 6-month rule under your WHM visa.
When it comes to future employer sponsored visas, or any other visa, make sure you meet the eligibility criteria.
Talk to us if you need, we are here to help.

21/06/2024

Good news for Temporary Work (Skilled) (Sc 457), Temporary Skill Shortage (Sc 482), and Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (provisional) (Sc 494)
*************************************************************************
Visa holders who stop working with their sponsoring employer now have more time to find a new sponsor, apply for a different visa, or arrange to leave Australia.

These visa holders will have:

# Up to 180 days at a time
# A total maximum of 365 days across the entire visa period

During this period, visa holders can work for other employers, even in occupations not listed in their most recent sponsorship nomination. This allows them to support themselves while searching for a new sponsor.

Unless exempt, visa holders cannot work for another employer until they have stopped working with their sponsoring employer. They must stay in their nominated occupation while employed by their current sponsor.

Sponsors must notify the department within 28 days of any changes, such as ending sponsorship or if a visa holder resigns.

Visa holders must comply with any licence or registration requirements for their nominated occupation, including all conditions and requirements.

These changes apply to both existing visa holders and those granted a visa on or after 1 July 2024. Any time a visa holder was not working for their sponsor before 1 July 2024 will not count towards the new time periods.