Tips and Advice On Visas For Overseas Jobseekers In Australia

So you want to start a new life down under?

Moving to a new country can be daunting and coupled with starting a new job can seem like an overwhelming prospect. It doesn’t have to be. If you are organised and follow all of the Australian immigration procedures and visa application process correctly you could soon be on your way to starting a new chapter of your life in Australia.

Firstly visas. Without the correct visa you will not be able to apply for jobs in Australia. The Government has outlined strict immigration policies on their website www.immi.gov.au

To work legally in Australia you have to apply for a visa. A visa entitles you to working rights and protects you from under pay and unacceptable working conditions. Once your visa has been granted you can begin working in Australia. You will need to provide evidence that your visa application is underway before potential employers will think about hiring you.

There are a number of different visa options available in Australia for overseas workers depending on a number of factors. These factors include whether you are looking to immigrate to Australia permanently or on a temporary basis. Other factors include if you are a skilled worker sponsored by an employer or a skilled worker with skills currently listed on the skilled occupation list.

For skilled workers The General Skilled Migration Program (GSM) is one option available. The program is designed for workers who are not sponsored by an employer but who have skills that are needed in Australia. To find out whether your skills are currently listed on the skilled occupation list visit http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/whats-new.htmor download the pdf http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/_pdf/updated-sol.pdfThe skilled occupation list is an up-to-date list of all the skilled professions currently needed in Australia.

If you are applying for a visa under the General Skilled Migration Program there are a range of visa options available. You can apply as an independent skilled migrant; this basically means you are not sponsored by anybody. This is one of the preferred options under the program as it has the least number of restrictions. You will be assessed to see if you are eligible for this particular type of visa before going on to the next stage of the process. Another option is to be sponsored by an eligible relative living in Australia, there are a number of conditions that must be met by your sponsor for this type of permanent visa.

An alternative option of sponsorship is to be nominated by a participating state or employer. The skilled regional sponsored visa is a three year provisional visa and you must be sponsored either by a relative or nominated by a participating state. The specified regional visa dictates where you will work for two years, after living in that specified region for two years and working for at least one of those years you can apply for a permanent visa.

The majority of people are eligible for a number of different visas and you must read through all of the restrictions to see which type of visa would best suit your particular circumstances and needs.

Finding the right visa to suit your specific needs and requirements can be one of the most time consuming parts of relocating. Once your visa application has been approved you can apply for a tax file number (TFN). It is a legal requirement that all residents have a tax file number. To receive an income from an employer you must have a tax file number.