Australia Bound Migrate 2 Oz Registered migration agents for innovative immigration solutions The South African Migrant s Handbook
Table of Contents >> Introduction >> Making the Decision to Move >> Getting Started >> Why Use a Migration Agent? >> Types of Visas >> The Visa Application Process >> Preparing for the Big Move >> About Migrate 2 Oz
Introduction Australia is the third most popular country for South Africans living abroad Australia offers many opportunities for South Africans looking to relocate for whatever reason. Apart from having a well-built economy, the country is famous around the world for its scenic beauty, and with the country pushing for more educated migrants than ever before, now has never been a better time to make the move down under. This handbook offers an introductory guide through the Australian migration process. Whether you are planning on working, studying or even joining family in Australia get to know the ins and outs of Australia s flexible immigration policy, visa applications and more before starting on the journey to your new life. Migrate 2 Oz
Making the Decision to Move I m not sure if now is the right time. I wouldn t even know where to begin. There s just so much to think about. I don t know if I ll even qualify for a visa. Sound familiar? Making the move to a new country can be life-changing, for the better it s the start of a new adventure that is full of promise. So what s holding you back? Migrating to Australia is a journey that starts with a decision. There s nothing more powerful than a made up mind only once you ve done this can you truly begin the process. What to consider Family Jobs Pets House Lifestyle Money As with everything else in your move, your decision will depend on your own circumstance, whether you ve been offered a job in Australia or just want to further your career there. Whether you re joining family or going over to study.
Getting Started So you ve made the courageous decision to move to Australia. Congratulations! Now what? After the decision, the next most important step in the migration process is to find out if you qualify for a visa, and which visa is most appropriate for your circumstances. Australia has a number of different visa options to choose from which we ll cover later on in this handbook. Whether you are eligible for a visa depends on a number of different factors, including your age, qualifications, health, English language ability, etc. Here is a quick guide to help you quickly assess whether or not you may qualify:
Why use a Migration Agent? Sure, you can apply for a visa without the help of a registered migration agent, however, doing so could result in a lot of frustration and not much success. Apart from the mountain of paperwork and processes required, even the slightest mistake on a form could doom your application to the waiting pile. In Australia, migration agents need to be registered with the Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA). This affords you more protection if something were to go wrong and gives you the peace of mind that you re dealing with skilled professionals. To the left are just some of the benefits of using a migration agent instead of going at it alone: Migrate 2 Oz
Types of Visas There are too many visas available for Australia to list them all here. Instead, we ll cover some of the most common visa categories for temporary and permanent migrants in this handbook. Skilled Migration The skilled migration scheme is pivotal to Australia s economic success and is expected to continue its upward trend until the skill shortage issues are resolved. Numerous studies have indicated that the skill shortages are due to continue until at least 2036. Visa options for skilled migration: Skilled Independent Visa (subclass 189) Skilled Sponsored or Nominated Visa (subclass 190) Skilled Regional Sponsored Visa (subclass 489) Employer Sponsorship Employer sponsored visas are for businesses in Australia who would like to sponsor foreign skilled workers. In order to be an eligible sponsor, a business must first be approved by the government. Individuals are free to approach businesses in Australia if they would like to be sponsored. If sponsorship cannot be attained, it s advised to lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI) under the new SkillSelect migration program. Visa options for employer sponsorship: Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) (subclass 187) Temporary Business (Long Stay) (subclass 457)
. Types of Visas Family Stream The family migration stream facilitates sponsorship of family members who meet the requirements to apply for a family visa. The family sponsorship visa applies to anyone who is a fiancé, spouse or de facto partner, including same-sex partner, of the Australian sponsor OR has a child/children in Australia who is an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen. Visa options for family sponsorship: Child Visa (subclasses 101 & 102) Parent Visa (subclass 103) Aged Parent Visa (subclass 804) Contributory Parent Visa (subclasses 173 & 143) Contributory Aged Parent Visa (subclasses 884 & 864) Student Visas The Student Visa Program assists students wishing to pursue internationally-recognised courses in a progressive, secure, and culturally diverse learning environment. Before being eligible to apply, students must have already chosen a study course that is accredited and registered by the Australian Government s Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS). Visa options for student migration: Undergraduate (Bachelor) & Postgraduate Degrees by coursework (subclass 573) Postgraduate Programmes by Research (subclass 574)
The Visa Application Process Once you ve decided on which visa option is right for you, it s time to kick off the application process. Step 1. Step 5. First, you ll need to take a points test. Based on your results, Migrate 2 Oz will recommend the best option or pathway for a successful application. After a while, you will receive a letter informing you that you have been allocated a case officer Step 2. Step 6. To support your application, you will need to collate evidence to back up your case. This will include things like educational certificates, legal documents, passports, etc. From there, you will be requested to submit your medicals and a police records check Step 3. Step 7. You will also need to consider things like: will you be taking the family pets with you and what else will you need to take with? The waiting continues while your application is finalised Step 4. Step 8. All that s left is to fill out the form and wait for a response When the wait is over, you will finally be notified that your visa has been granted
Preparing for the move Once your visa application is granted, you can pat yourself on the back and breathe a sigh of relief knowing that your dream of moving to Australia is now a speck of reality. The work isn t over yet, though. While you ll have up to five years to take up the option of living in Australia after your visa is granted, most people opt to make the move sooner rather than later. And that means planning lots of it. Here are just a few things you may need to do before booking your one-way ticket to Australia Sell Rent Sell your house in South Africa Organise for your furniture and belongings to be shipped Open up a bank account in Australia Find a home to rent in Australia Find out about a exporting your family pets Luckily, this part of your journey doesn t have to be as daunting as it sounds. When you choose Migrate 2 Oz as your migration agent, we will be able to assist you as you prepare to go to Australia providing expertise, access to strategic partnerships and sound advice every step of the way. But that s not all
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About Migrate 2 Oz Migrate 2 Oz aims to empower South Africans who are considering migrating to Australia but don t know how to start by providing the advice and guidance they need and the value-added resources they can use to successfully start their new life down under. Migrate 2 Oz is an established agency of Australian migration consultants providing professional migration advice and related services that make moving to Australia, for whatever reason, as smooth and uncomplicated as possible. We are permanently based in South Africa with offices in Johannesburg, offering clients the advantage of being close to their Australian immigration agents throughout the visa application process. We also have offices in Sydney to provide you with the support needed after your relocation as well as assistance in seeking employment if necessary. All of our Australian migration agents are registered with the Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA), the Migration Institute of Australia (MIA) and the Migration Alliance. This affords you the protection and peace of mind that we have passed the required character tests, comply with the MARA code of conduct and possess the necessary immigration law qualifications. Migrate 2 Oz Registered migration agents for innovative immigration solutions
Contact Us 0861 GO TO OZ (46 86 69) Johannesburg (Head Office) Tel: +27 11 453 1229 Fax: +27 11 453 6449 71 Linksfield Road, Dowerglen, Edenvale, Johannesburg, 1610 Sydney Tel: +61 2 9037 4201 Fax: +61 2 8323 4373 18 Grosvenor Street, Sydney NSW 2000 Brisbane Tel: +61 7 3177 7896 Level 1, 23 Middle Street, Cleveland QLD 4163, PO Box 3727, Victoria Point West, QLD 4165 www.migrate2oz.co.za