Individuals planning to migrate to Australia should be healthy, and they must possess skills needed by the country.  Enough money will also be necessary for processing migration documents and transfer fees.  Likewise, one will also need business contacts or family members who are already residents or immigrants of the country.  The ability to speak English is also an advantage.  People wanting to migrate to Australia are not chosen on the basis of their gender, culture or race. 

Visas

A person with several temporary visa classes in Australia can also apply for a permanent resident visa. A visitor who marries or begins to live with an Australian may apply to permanently remain in the country. An individual can also acquire a sponsorship from an employer to stay in Australia for two (2) years on a permanent stay or temporary stay depending on the circumstances of the particular case. An individual may also apply for a retirement visa while in Australia and change it into a visitor’s visa.

Australian immigration offers exciting opportunities and new challenges. The types of visas Australia offers include:

• skilled independent regional visa;
• employer nomination or skilled sponsored visa; and
• skilled independent visa.

One has to apply for an ETA or Electronic Travel Authority visa before going to Australia. It is necessary to apply for an Australian Working Holiday Visa (AWHV) if on a Working Holiday maker status.

Family visas are also provided to reunite permanent residents or Australian citizens with their dependents or partners. Family visa classes are not tested based on points.  One will need the sponsorship of an Australian citizen or a permanent resident. Family visas are also made accessible for adopted children or orphaned relatives and young dependents.  

The Australian partner visa is also provided to married spouses, de facto partners, common law spouses and fiancés of Australian citizens and eligible New Zealand citizens who work and live in Australia. Similar gender partners may also apply for an Independency visa.

Australian Permanent Visa

The Australian Common Skilled Immigration Visa is provided to applicants with skills beneficial to Australia. Once an individual has a skilled immigration visa, permanent residence in Australia will be granted. To apply for a skilled immigration visa, an individual needs to fulfill the following requirements:

English Language Proficiency.  Sufficient English speaking and  writing skills are necessary to work in Australia.

Age. An individual must not be younger than 45 years old at the time of the Australian visa application.

Occupation. One has to nominate a skilled occupation suitable for the qualifications and skills possessed. The nominated work or occupation should also be in the skilled occupation list.

Good Educational Background. An individual should have post-secondary like trade or university qualification and substantial relevant work occupation.

Recent work experience. Usually, one needs skilled work experience even for a short period of time.

Australian Immigration Law

The Citizenship Bill made it more difficult for one to become an Australian citizen. Immigrants have to stay in Australia longer (two to four years) before they qualify for citizenship.  The Citizenship Bill also requires that an applicant is tested to evaluate the immigrant’s knowledge of Australia and its values like democracy, the rule of law, and equality of women and men.

Australian Immigration Policy

The Australian Immigration Programs are based on 2 elements. These include humanitarian and immigration.   

The criteria for the immigration program are outlined by the migration regulation and Migration Act of 1958. An applicant’s ethnic origin, race, gender, nationality, religion or race plays no part in determining eligibility.

Immigrants under the Australian offshore humanitarian program are persons in exile who need humanitarian assistance. The relocation of these individuals in Australia is the most appropriate solution. Most of these refugees are recognized and referred to Australia by the United Nations High Commissioner for refugees. The other entrants under the humanitarian program includes people who had suffered discrimination amounting to gross violation of their human rights in their home countries and those who have close relations with Australians.  

The white Australian Policy is a term used to describe a collection of historical policies and legislation that deliberately restricted non-white immigration to Australia.

Australian Immigration Restriction Act of 1901

This is the law passed by the Australian Parliament that limited immigrants to Australia. This so-called act became the basis of the White Australian Policy. It also gives the right for illegal immigrants to be deported. It awarded immigration officers who carefully implemented this.

The Act banned various classes of people.  It also introduced the dictation test requiring a person looking for entry in Australia to write out a passage of 50 words dictated in a European language. The test permitted the immigration officer to estimate applicants on the basis of language skills.

Australian Immigration Work Permit

Australia is probably the best place in the world for businessmen, skilled workers, visitors and even holidaymakers. Australia has over 80,000 working holidaymakers per year. More than 60000 skilled workers are annually granted visas.

Once classified as a skilled worker and provided with the skilled worker visa in Australia, an individual is granted an “immediate permanent residence status”.  This is so when the individual has gathered skilled worker points needed to fulfill essential requirements.

Cost of Immigration to Australia

Visa costs vary depending on the specific class of visa. The cost may range from 2000 to as much as 70000 Australian dollars. The total cost of visa including all professional fees as well as government fees are about 5000 to 7000 Australian dollars.