The Australian healthcare system is one of the best healthcare systems in the world. It operates in a hybrid mode, i.e. it consists of both public and private systems. If you are an expat living in Australia, or if you are planning to move to Australia, then you might want to know what the Australian healthcare system has to offer.

In the following sections, this article will go over a brief overview on the entire Australian healthcare system, then moving on to more focused topics.

Overview of the Australian Healthcare System

In Australia, there are many providers of healthcare. They include:

• primary care services delivered by general practitioners (GPs)
• medical specialists
• allied health workers
• nurses.

The way the Australian healthcare system is designed, for any kind of ailment the first point of contact are the GPs. For more specific and serious health conditions patients are able to seek consultation from medical specialists, however, they first need a GP referral to get a booking.

As stated previously, there are both public and private sectors in the Australian healthcare industry. Through Medicare, Australia’s universal health care scheme, Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents and eligible expats in Australia are able to access the public hospital system either for free or at low-cost.

If one has private health insurance, they are able to choose private healthcare providers along with public healthcare providers. Generally, for private health care (including services both in and out of hospital) cost of the health care is borne by the individual.

What is Medicare?

Medicare has been there since 1984; it is the umbrella term for the government funded Australian healthcare system. Its three major parts are:

• medical services
• public hospitals
• medicines

Medicare covers a range of services:

• Seeing a doctor or specialist: Medicare will pay the whole cost. If the doctor does not bulk bill, you will have to pay for the consultation then claim part of the cost (called a rebate) back from Medicare.
• Going to hospital: If you are a public patient receiving care in a public hospital, Medicare will cover all your costs. If you go to the emergency department of a public hospital, Medicare will pay for everything.
• Prescribed Pharmaceuticals: Medicare covers a range of prescription pharmaceuticals subsidised under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
• Tests and scans: Medicare covers a range of tests including x-rays and pathology tests.
• Eye tests: Medicare pays for eye tests conducted by optometrists. If you are under 65 this can be claimed once every three years. Over 65 year-olds can claim it once a year.
• Mental health services: You can claim a Medicare rebate for up to 10 sessions (increased to 20 during the COVID-19 pandemic) each calendar year with a mental health professional. To do this, you need a mental health care plan and referral from your doctor.
• Other support: Medicare covers the costs for some long-term conditions, some allied health services such as physiotherapy, and some prescription medicines.

Medicare is funded by the Australian Government through taxation revenue, including a Medicare Levy and Medicare Levy Surcharge. The State, territory and local government also help fund, manage and administer these public hospitals. 

Expats eligible for Medicare in Australian Healthcare System
Due to the Reciprocal Health Care Agreement with Australia, expats from the following countries can apply for Medicare. To register and receive their Medicare (government-run healthcare system) card, they will need:

• a passport;
• travel documents;
• permanent visa.

Expats from these countries covered by Medicare in Australia.

TOEFL Internet Based Test (TOEFL iBT)
TOEFL is an Internet Based Test and has a number of test centers across the world. The duration of the test is 4.5 hours which is longer than IELTS and Pearson. The test results are available after 10 days of the exam date which is similar to the IELTS test.

Q) What score should I achieve and how many points do I receive?
English test results are divided into 5 main categories: Vocational, Functional, Competent, Proficient and Superior. Your minimum requirement differs according to the visa you are applying. However, for the “points test” following is the points allotment:

Private Health Insurance
It is important to note that some medical and allied health services are not subsidised through Medicare. For instance, Medicare does not usually cover costs for ambulance services, most dental services and optical aids (such as glasses and contact lenses). Typically for these services, private health insurance is a great option for managing these health care costs.

• hospital cover for some (or all) of the costs of hospital treatment as a private patient
• general treatment (‘ancillary’ or ‘extras’) cover for some non-medical health services not covered by Medicare — such as dental, physiotherapy and optical services.

Some people with private health insurance have either one of the other both. The Australian Government provides a means-tested rebate to help individuals with the cost of their private health insurance.

More information on Private Health Insurance Rebates can be found here.

Roles of each level of government in Australian Healthcare System
The different layers of government are jointly responsible for the provision and operation of the healthcare system in Australia. Below is a brief list of main roles of each level of government in Australia’s health system.

The Australian Government:

• develops national health policy
• funds medical services through Medicare and medicines through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
• provides funds to states and territories for public hospital services
• funds population-specific services, including community-controlled Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander primary health care, health services for veterans, and residential aged care
• funds health and medical research
• regulates medicines and medical devices
• supports access to and regulates private health insurance.

State and territory governments:

• fund and manage public hospitals
• regulate and license private hospitals and other health premises, and regulate products with health impacts such as alcohol and tobacco
• deliver community-based and preventive services (for example, cancer screening and immunisation), ambulance services, and services to address complaints against any of these.

Local governments in some jurisdictions can be involved in:

• delivery of community and home-based health and support services
• environmental health services (for example, waste disposal, water fluoridation)
• public health activities.

Costs of Healthcare in Australia
Medicare is mostly funded through taxes. Taxpayers contribute 2% of their taxable income to fund the system. It must be noted that sometimes not all healthcare costs are covered by Medicare. Regardless of you covered by Medicare, you might have to pay the out-of-pocket expenses.

If the doctor or specialist does not bulk bill, you need to pay for the consultation and claim part of the cost back from Medicare. The amount that you don’t get back from Medicare is known as the gap fee.

If you are wondering about the costs of Ambulance services in Australia, then know that there is a fee for ambulance services in Australia. Medicare does not cover the cost of an ambulance. If you have private health insurance, it may cover some or all of the cost.

Costs of Healthcare in Australia

Telehealth is currently the versatile way of availing healthcare services in Australia. It entails having a consultation with a healthcare provider by phone or video call.

Many GPs, specialists and other healthcare providers now offer a telehealth consultation when a physical examination isn’t necessary. It’s not intended to replace essential visits to the doctor, but rather be a convenient solution when you can’t see a doctor face to face.

If you have seen your regular doctor or medical centre in the last 12 months, they may be able to bulk-bill your telehealth consultation.

How to Find a doctor?

Before you can see your doctor, you would need to book an appointment first. To book an appointment, it is not necessary to be registered with a specific doctor in Australia. In fact, you can see any doctor either as a public or private patient.

The best way to go about it is for you to look up the Australian Doctors Directory. There you get to look up a doctor by their name, if it has been recommended to you by your friends, family or other medical professionals; or look for all the practitioning doctors in your suburb.

Once you have the necessary details, you can call the number to book a consultation. You can also install the HotDoc App and book your next healthcare appointment through the app, without having to call anyone.

If you are a private insurance holder, then you might want to check the healthcare providers affiliated with your insurance provider. That way, you might find the most cost-effective services.

Average Wait Time in Australian Healthcare System

According to the 2020-2021 data, the proportion of people waiting longer than they felt acceptable for a medical specialist appointment was 21.7%, compared to 16.6% of people waiting for a GP appointment.

People living in outer regional, remote or very remote areas were more likely to report  a longer wait time than they felt acceptable for an appointment than those living in major cities:

• medical specialist appointment (26.6% compared to 21.4% in 2019-20)
• GP appointment (22.9% compared to 15.2% in 2019-20).
• public health activities.

People with a long-term health condition were also more likely to report waiting longer than they felt acceptable for an appointment than those without a long-term health condition:

• medical specialist appointment (23.3% compared to 16.9% in 2019-20)
• GP appointment (18.7% compared to 13.5% in 2019-20).

Giving Birth in Australia

If you are considering having a baby in Australia, there are a few factors that you’d need to consider. If you are a non-residents from one of the above mentioned countries, you’ll be covered under the Reciprocal Health Care Agreement. This means you will be entitled to free or subsidized essential treatment.

If you plan on having a baby in Australia as a foreigner, it is recommended you take out private insurance. Otherwise, it can be quite expensive to cover the costs yourself.

While at the hospital ready to give birth, it is recommended that you bring the following documents with you.

• Antenatal card
• Copies of your birth plan
• Private health insurance details (if applicable)
• Medicare card (if applicable)
• Money for fees (if applicable)

Unlike a few countries, giving birth in Australia doesn’t automatically give the new born the Australian citizenship, unless one of the parents are Australian permanent resident or Australian citizen. For individuals on temporary visas, the newborn is given the same status as its parent(s).

How to get a Permanent Residency in Australia?

Australia offers a variety of visas that will allow you to secure permanent residency in Australia. To check which visa is the most suitable based on your circumstances, we recommend that you book a consultation to discuss that. During the consultation, our team of immigration lawyers will provide you with a feasible pathway to help secure a permanent residency in Australia.

Given the mammoth of experience the team brings in, we provide feasible and practical counselling on your successful pathway to Australia. The team is well adept with knowing what helps increase the chances of success for your application.

If you are unsure whether this visa category applies to you or not or if you are looking to be successfully nominated, then don’t hesitate to contact us or directly email us at hello@pathmigration.com.

The post Understanding the Australian Healthcare System first appeared on Path Migration and is written by bhavesh

English is the native language of Australia, hence it’s one the most important criterion when selecting an application for temporary or permanent migration. In fact, it is so important the the government has allocated extra points for higher English scores.

The following blog entails detailed information about the same.

Q) Which tests are accepted?

There are several English tests that the Department of Immigration accepts for an applicant to demonstrate their English ability. They include the following:

• IELTS test
• Occupational English Test (OET)
• Pearson Academic Test of English (Pearson PTE)
• TOEFL Internet Based Test (TOEFL iBT)
• Cambridge Test of English

IELTS (International English Language Testing System)
IELTS is the most popular test that applicants undertake to demonstrate their English language ability. The Department of Immigration accepts both, General Training and Academic test for assessment purposes. However, it is important to note that some skills assessment authorities require the applicant to undertake the academic version only. The IELTS test results are available after 14 days of the exam date.

OET (Occupation English Test)
The OET accesses the English proficiency for individuals in themedical and health care industry. The test should not be undertaken by individuals who wish to apply for a visa in an occupation not related to the medical or health care industry.

PTE (Pearson Academic Test of English)
The Pearson test is similar to the IELTS test in terms of components: speaking, writing, listening and reading. Except it’sa Computer Based Test (which is generally a good thing). The key benefit for undertaking the PTE is that the results are issued within 5 days.

TOEFL Internet Based Test (TOEFL iBT)
TOEFL is an Internet Based Test and has a number of test centers across the world. The duration of the test is 4.5 hours which is longer than IELTS and Pearson. The test results are available after 10 days of the exam date which is similar to the IELTS test.

Q) What score should I achieve and how many points do I receive?
English test results are divided into 5 main categories: Vocational, Functional, Competent, Proficient and Superior. Your minimum requirement differs according to the visa you are applying. However, for the “points test” following is the points allotment:

*GSM- General Skilled Migration
ENS- Employer Nomination Scheme
RSMS- Regional Sponsorship.
It should be noted that if you hold a passport from Canada, New Zealand, United States, United Kingdom and Ireland you achieve a competent level of English without undertaking the English test.

Functional English
Functional English is the minimum level of English that a secondary applicant(s) have to demonstrate at the time of application. However, if they are unable to achieve the required score, it doesn’t risk the primary applicant’s application.

It only means that they will have to pay an “English Education Charge” of about $4080 (If they achieve the score, then secondary applicant charge is only is $1800- this reduces further for subsequent applicants).
Functional English can be proven in many ways (not just through English Exam):

1. Successful completion of- (Australian equivalent) diploma/ trade certificate, higher degree, high school where the medium of teaching was English. OR

2. Successful completion of a primary education degree and 3 years (or more) of secondary education where the medium of Teaching was English. OR

3. Successful completion of at least 5 years of secondary education in English medium OR

4. Completion of at least 1 year full time study in Australia or equivalent part-time study towards a vocational degree, higher degree or an English Course.

5. Achieving the desired score in an English Exam (mentioned below):

Vocational Level of English
This is the minimum score required to obtain ENS and RSMS visa through the Temporary Residence Transitional stream. The score required to achieve a vocational level of English for each test is tabled below.

Competent Level of English
If you demonstrate competent level of English, you will not receive any points but it will make you eligible to apply for a skilled visa.The score required to achieve a competent level of English for each test is tabled below.

Proficient Level of English
If you demonstrate proficient level of English, you get 10 extra points for the English Language component of the points test. The score required to achieve a proficient level of English for each test is tabled below.

Superior Level of English.
If you demonstrate superior level of English, you get 20 extra points for the English Language component of the points test. The score required to achieve a proficient level of English for each test is tabled below.

HAVE QUESTIONS?

Our MARA registered immigration agents understand how stressful the migration process can be. Unlike most other migration law firms, our lawyer actually explain every step of the process in a no-jargon manner. In addition to this, we provide constant on call support. Contact us on hello@pathmigration.com for a Free Assessment and advice on your options for migrating to Australia.
OR

Book a Consultation now!

We are always happy to help! ?

NOTE: The information provided in this blog can not be construed as “legal advice”. You should not act based on the information provided here without consulting a registered MARA agent. Migration law is complex and changes very frequently, while we ensure our content is accurate, we can not vouch for how concurrent it is. To clarify any of your doubts call us on +61 2 8815 8135

The post English Language Requirement for immigration first appeared on Path Migration and is written by bhavesh

BENEFITS OF BEING AN AUSTRALIAN PERMANENT RESIDENT

“Permanent resident” is the name given to an individual who holds a permanent visa to reside in Australia for an indefinite period of time. Their rights and duties are very similar to that of an Australian citizen- they can work, live and study in Australia without any restrictions. They are also eligible for the same government benefits and services as the citizens (minor exceptions).

FOLLOWING ARE THE BENEFITS OF GETTING AN AUSTRALIAN PERMANENT RESIDENCY:

1) Right to live in Australia permanently:

As the name suggests, a Permanent Residency Visa entitles you to live in Australia permanently. The PR visa is usually valid for 5 years but it can be renewed easily and/or citizenship can be applied for within these initial 5 years.) Hence making the Visa a permanent one.

2) Right to Work without any restrictions:

2) A highly important benefit of the Australian PR is being entitled to work rights with No Restrictions. Moreover the government provides various other supports in case you ever suffer from unemployment such as bi-weekly payment, child support, recruitment services etc. The only restriction is that a permanent resident cannot work in “Public services or armed forces”. Only Australian citizens can work in the aforementioned areas.

3) Right to Travel:

The Australian Permanent Residency allows you to travel in and out of Australia for the whole duration of your visa. Even when your visa expires you are entitled to live in Australia, however you will need a “Resident Return Visa” if you are traveling in to Australia after your Permanent visa is expired. In addition to this, you are also allowed to enter and exit New Zealand without restrictions.

4) Education Benefits:

Primary and Secondary education is absolutely Free- sponsored by the government. The government provides various loans like HECS to Australian Permanent residents/ citizens and citizens. This includes education for all applicants on the visa, including your children.

5) Australian Born Child:

If you are a permanent resident and your child is born in Australia, he/she will by birth be recognised as an Australian citizen. Needless to mention the children will be entitled to all rights and benefits of an Australian citizen.

6) Sponsorship Privileges:

Permanent residency gives you the privilege to sponsor your relatives as well.

7) Health Care:

Permanent residents are eligible for “MediCare” which is basically government funded health insurance. “Medicare” looks after the health and well-being of Australians. Various programs available through Medicare are:

8) Social Welfare:

Permanent residents and citizens can avail social security benefits provided by the Department of Human Services if they are eligible for it. The eligibility criteria revolves around your income level, the number of dependents you have, your age, purpose of seeking the benefit etc. More information about the eligibility for obtaining these services can be found here: https://www.humanservices.gov….

9) Australian Citizenship:

Australian Residency is valid for 5 years, and you can apply for citizenship during this time. This means you get your own Australian Passport.

NOTE: This update or any previous updates on our website do not constitute “legal advice”. It’s advisable to call our office on +61 28815 58135 to seek professional advice from our MARA registered lawyers before acting on any information provided on this page.

HAVE QUESTIONS?

Our MARA registered immigration agents understand how stressful the migration process can be. Unlike most other migration law firms, our lawyer actually explain every step of the process in a no-jargon manner. In addition to this, we provide constant on call support. Contact us on hello@pathmigration.com for a Free Assessment and advice on your options for migrating to Australia.
OR

Book a Consultation now!

We are always happy to help! ?

NOTE: The information provided in this blog can not be construed as “legal advice”. You should not act based on the information provided here without consulting a registered MARA agent. Migration law is complex and changes very frequently, while we ensure our content is accurate, we can not vouch for how concurrent it is. To clarify any of your doubts call us on +61 2 8815 8135

The post PERMANENT RESIDENCY IN AUSTRALIA 2022 first appeared on Path Migration and is written by bhavesh

Global talent Independent (GTI) Visa (Subclass 858) is a part of Australia’s Global talent program offered by the Department of Home Affairs. It is an attempt to attract some of “the brightest and the best” talents from around the world into coming to Australia, and living and working here. If you are currently on a temporary visa or if you are someone looking to migrate to Australia, you can consider the Global talent Independent Visa (Subclass 858).

For 2021-2002, there are a total of 15,000 places available for the right applicants under Subclass 858. To find out if you are the right applicant or not, you can continue reading further. To start off, we’ll first dive into what this program actually entails in detail in the next section.

What is the Global Talent Independent (GTI) Program?

The GTI program provides one with a streamlined visa pathway that offers the Subclass 858 visa to provide priority access to Australian permanent residency. The GTI program utilises the “profession” or “academic and research” aspects of this visa.

The Subclass 858 visa under this program is vastly different from other kinds of visas, since they are not points tested. In fact, there are no English language requirements or skills assessment requirements. Moreover, the Global Talent visas are being given priority over all other visas so their processing times are also quite short. In order to apply you’d need to be from one of the target sectors listed below.

For more information on GTI please visit: Global Talent Independent (GTI) Program: The versatile migration pathway

Target Sectors of Global Talent Independent (GTI) Program

To support the innovation and growth in Australia, there are ten target sectors under which Australia is seeking “highly skilled” professionals.

Benefits of Global Talent Independent Program (GTI)

With this visa, you’ll be able to enjoy the following benefits.

• You’ll be able to live and work in Australia permanently
• You can also pursue education in any of the world-class educational institutions here.
• You are able to enroll in Medicare that puts you into Australia’s public health care scheme.
• You would also be able to sponsor your family members for permanent residence.
• In addition to the above, after the five years of holding this permanent visa, you can apply for Australian citizenship.

Stream under Global Talent Independent Program (GTI)

There are two streams that applicants can apply under.

• the Global Talent visa pathway – an opportunity for highly skilled people in the target sectors; and
• the Distinguished Talent pathway – a pathway for exceptional and outstanding individuals who do not fit into any Global Talent sector. Some examples are Olympic athletes and famous musicians.

It is important to note that the Distingu​ished Talent visa used to be known as Subclass 124, and was a  distinguished visa from the GTI visa category. However, from 27th February 2021, the Distingu​ished Talent visa became the Global Talent visa.

Am I Eligible?

This is quite a subjective assessment. Consider whether you have had significant academic or professional accomplishments that are not in the “ordinary” course, look at what we’ve described above as successful candidates who have received EOIs.

Feel free to reach out to us if you think you may be such a candidate, but are unsure as to whether you might qualify.

Following are the eligibility conditions set by the Department of Home Affairs.

• To apply, you need to be highly skilled in one of the target sectors, or you work in a senior role for a company that provides services in one of these sectors.You must meet a high standard and show an exceptional track record of professional achievement. If you fit that condition you may be eligible for the Global Talent visa under the Global Talent pathway. You can prove that through:
  • senior roles
  • patents
  • professional awards

• If you do not work in one of these sectors but you are a highly talented person, you may be eligible under the Distinguished Talent pathway. It’s important to keep in mind that the standard you must meet is significantly higher.
• PhD Candidates: If you have completed your PhD in the last 3 years or if you are currently in the final 6 months of your PhD, you can apply for this visa. However, you’d still need to prove exceptional talent and international recognition in one of the target sectors. You can prove that through:
  • professional awards
  • international publications
• High Income Threshold: You need to prove that you have the ability to attract the above high income threshold of AUD158,500 set by the Fair Work. As a proof, you can provide the following documents:
  • A record of your payslips or a contract that shows your current salary.
  • Any future job offers that states the potential remuneration.
  • Proof of being a recent PhD graduate in the target sector.

• Age requirements: There is no explicit age requirement for the Global Talent visa program. However, if you are under the age of 18 or over 55 years old, you need to demonstrate that you can offer exceptionally important  economic benefits to Australia.

• English Proficiency requirement: If you are over the age of 18, you need to show adequate proof of at least function english. If you are unable to provide that as a part of your application, then you would be charged a secondary visa applicant fee amounting to AUD 4,890 per applicant.
• Australian Nominator: You would need an Australian person or organisation that can nominate you for the program. The nominator must have a national reputation in the same field as you and they need to attest to your skills.

In hindsight, the eligibility requirements seem fairly simple and easy. However, the standards set are, in fact, quite high and would need to provide an excellent Expression of Interest (EOI), in order to be considered for Global talent Independent Visa (Subclass 858).

As a professional, you might also consider applying for a Skilled Independent visa (Subclass 189).  Although they might appear similar, Skilled Independent visa (Subclass 189) is quite different from Global talent Independent Visa (Subclass 858). The next section outlines the differences.

Global talent Independent Visa (Subclass 858) vs Skilled Independent visa (Subclass 189)

If you are uncertain which visa category applies for you then you should get a professional assessment on your application. At Path Migration, we offer consultation services to clients who are looking for a successful application.

For more information and consultation, feel free to contact us or send an email to hello@pathmigration.com.

To learn more about the skilled migration and the nomination process, check the following:

• October Invitation Round 2021: Subclass 189 and Subclass 491

• New South Wales Skilled Migration Program for 2021-2022

• South Australia’s Skilled Migration Program from 2021-2022

• Victoria’s Skilled Migration Program for 2021-2022

• Tasmania Skilled Migration 2021- 2022: 190 and 491 visa

• Queensland’s Skilled Migration Program- 190 visa and 491 visa

How do I apply?

To access one of the 15,000 positions under the GTI for priority processing, there are three steps:

1. The unique identifier and code: The unique identifier and code are issued by the Department of Home Affairs. To get this, you need to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI).
   1. The Global Talent Expression of Interest form can be found here.
   2. In your EOI you need to provide sufficient documents as a proof for your ability and standards.
   3. Although it is true that you need to prepare an exceptional EOI to  be considered for this visa, don’t make it so technical or dense that the EOI assessor fails to understand it. While working on your EOI you must understand that the person assessing it might not be a professional in your field. Thus, it’s recommended that you try to prepare it in a manner that a layman can understand it.
   4. During this step you also need to attach all the necessary documents from your nominator. So make use of all the important documents available, prior to your application.
   5. If you are successful with this first stage, you will be provided with a unique Global Talent identifier and invited to submit a visa application.
2. Apply for the visa: With a unique identifier and code, you can then proceed to lodge your visa application. The Department of Home Affairs has recently set the Immi Account system up so that these applications can now be lodged via your Immi Account if you have one.

How can Path Migration Help you?

Path Migration has a team of highly experienced migration lawyers. We are able to assist with all aspects of the application, and provide advice in relation to:

• Assess your eligibility for a Global Talent Visa, and also recommend other visas that might be applicable to you.
• Help prepare all the documents to demonstrate your skills and ability to attract a high salary. 
• If you are seeking to apply for the 

The team also handles visa cancellation and refusal applications. If you are looking to find out more about the Global Talent Employer Sponsored program, then we recommend that you book your personalized consultation by contacting us or email directly to hello@pathmigration.com.

For more information, visit:

• Australian Visa Cancellation: All You Need To Know
• Tips for a Successful Partner Visa
• Business Visa in QLD: 188 and 888 visa, 491 visa

The post Is Global Talent Independent (GTI) Visa (Subclass 858) an Option for me?  first appeared on Path Migration and is written by sonal

Australian Economy and its Opportunities in 2022

Australian Economy Outlook

After rebounding rapidly from last year’s COVID-19 recession, the Australian Economy has recently weakened due to the containment measures to combat new outbreaks of the virus. Therefore, as the Australian Economy is heading towards its reopening, the recovery will eventually resume. Therefore, the major focus is currently placed on the reform measures to revive productivity growth, lift living standards and strengthen the resilience of the Australian Economy. .

Although the sudden emergence of Omicron means a gradual reopening of the Australian Economy, lengthy lockdowns are quite unlikely. In fact, according to the latest forecast, the Australian Economy is expected to bounce back in 2022 for a number of reasons.

These include:

• the government’s substantial fiscal support
• the economy’s underlying momentum
• the financial support to households and businesses in areas affected by lockdowns
• the vaccination rollout’s progress

As Australia eventually enters a post-Covid phase, it is looking at immigration to boost population growth and to revitalise the economy. Australia’s government has signalled a boost to immigration, but details are still to be released.Therefore, more favourable immigration policies are currently being speculated, which inevitably means more opportunities for immigrants.

Strong trade link between Australian Economy and the Asian region

Australian economy is highly globalised. Trade accounts for over 40% of its nominal GDP. Twelve of Australian economy’s 15 largest trading partners are in the Asian region. These partners account for two-thirds of Australian economy’s total exports. This reflects Australia’s geographical good fortune and its free trade agreements with key Asian economies.

China remained Australia’s largest trading partner in 2020, accounting for around 31% of total two-way trade. Japan and Korea continue to be important trade partners, representing around 13% of total trade.

Many exporters have diversified their markets. For example, the ASEAN region now accounts for almost 13% of total trade. Australia also maintains strong trading links with traditional partners. The EU and the UK account for 13% of total trade. The US accounts for another 9%.

What does this mean in terms of immigration?

If you are an investor or a business personnel, then Australian economy offers you a great opportunity to make profitable investments. Especially, if you come from an Asian region with strong economic ties to Australia, you can leverage your local network to build a profitable business in Australia.

If you are an investor or would like to set up your business in Australia, you can look into the visa options in the following section.

Business and Investment visas to participate in Australian Economy

To be able to invest or operate your own business in Australian economy, you would need to apply for a visa under the Australian Business Innovation and Investment Programme (BIIP).

There are currently four BIIP streams. They are as follow:

• Business Innovation Visa Stream (Subclass 188A)– Applicant must establish and manage new or existing businesses in Australia
• Business Investor  Visa Stream (Subclass 188B)– Applicant must invest AUD 1.5 million in an Australian state government or local government bonds
• Significant Investor Visa Stream (Subclass 188C)– Applicant must invest AUD 5 million in an Australian state government or local government bonds
• Entrepreneur Visa Stream (Subclass 188E)– Applicant must commercialize an innovative business and obtain an investment agreement of AUD 200,000 and operate that commensurate business enterprise in Australia

To obtain Subclass 188 Visas, the applicant must secure nomination by the State government. This process begins with the submission of an expression of interest (EOI).Each state and territory government in Australia has their unique requirements on the type of skill set and kind of investments that they are after. Therefore prospective applicants need to understand what those requirements are before lodging their applications.

These visas are temporary visas that get granted for a period of four years. After the 4 years period, you do have the option to extend this visa for additional two years or apply for the permanent visa. You can apply for the Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) visa (subclass 888), if you meet the underlying requirements.

If you are a small business owner, then you can look into the Small Business Owner stream under the permanent visa, Subclass 190. More information on the different Australian states and territory’s requirements can be found here.

To learn more about  Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) visa, you can also visit:

• Business Visa in QLD: 188 and 888 visa, 491 visa
• Australian Business Innovation and invest Programme (BIIP)
• How to Set up a Company in Australia
• Investing in Australia: FAQ

Australian Economy and the Labour Market

Migration has been an important influence on Australian economy and the society. Making up for both the demand-side of the economy and its workforce. In fact, Australia’s immigration growth drives economic growth. Perpetuated by Covid-19, the border closure has cut-off the number of immigrants by a large percentage, therefore, leading to a strong projection of labour shortfalls.

What does this mean?

Given the status quo,  Australia’s migration program now includes a greater emphasis on skills, increased numbers of temporary immigrants, and more diversification in the country of origin. This means that moving forward you have a higher chance of securing permanent residency  if you have skills that are listed on the Skilled Occupations Lists. This allows you to apply for Skilled Migration visas in Australia.

Skilled Migration Visas in Australia

General Skilled Migration is the best way to migrate to Australia permanently as it provides a path for visa holders to apply for permanent residency. There is no requirement for linkage to only one employer in this case.

The Benefits of Skilled Migration Visas

There are various important and useful benefits that a skilled migration visa holder gets in Australia including:

• A skilled migration visa provides an opportunity for people to live, work, and study in Australia.
• It provides public healthcare services.
• It allows the visa holders to have their children attend a public school.
• It does not require an employer to sponsor the visa holders.
• Some of these visas are permanent (180 and 190).
• The 491 visa leads to permanent residence after three years.

Types of Skilled Migration Visas in Australia

• Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa [Subclass 491]: Skilled Work Regional Visa (Subclass 491) is a provisional visa, it is a great pathway for obtaining a permanent residency visa via the Skilled Regional visa (Subclass 191) or the Skilled Nominated Visa [Subclass 190].

• Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189): The Subclass 189 is a permanent visa that allows you to live and work in any area of Australia permanently. For this visa you’ll be invited to apply by the Federal Government.

• Skilled Nominated Visa [Subclass 190]: This is also a permanent visa category, which is based on point-test and allows skilled migrants to live and work in Australia permanently. However, unlike the previous visa, you’ll need a state nomination for this visa.

• Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa [Subclass 191]: Once you have fulfilled all the requirements after having secured the Subclass 491 visa, you should be able to apply for this visa. Subclass 191 which will finally allow you to live and work in any area of Australia permanently.

All these visas require an invitation before you are able to apply for these visas. The state, territory and the federal government invitations are determined through the Point Score Test.  Therefore, you’d be required to submit a crackling EOI, that allows you to secure the highest Point Score. Hence, get a state nomination.

To learn more about the nomination process, and how to apply for these visas you can check the following sources.

• October Invitation Round 2021: Subclass 189 and Subclass 491

• New South Wales Skilled Migration Program for 2021-2022

• South Australia’s Skilled Migration Program from 2021-2022

• Victoria’s Skilled Migration Program for 2021-2022

• Tasmania Skilled Migration 2021- 2022: 190 and 491 visa

• Queensland’s Skilled Migration Program- 190 visa and 491 visa

Australian Economy Cost of Living

Australian cities have become more internationally competitive for expatriates. The cities offer a lower cost of living compared to most major cities in the Asia–Oceania region according to Mercer’s 2021 Cost of Living Index.

This makes Australia a cost-competitive destination for:

• international companies that want to relocate employees and their families
• young workers who want to broaden their horizons.

Australia has one of the world’s strongest and most efficient regulatory environments. According to the IMD, Australia ranks highly in terms of labour regulations, equal opportunity legislation and access to credit.

In the World Economic Forum’s latest survey, Australia ranks:

• lowest in the world for debt dynamics (the change in the public debt-to-GDP ratio)
• second highest for social capital (which includes social cohesion and engagement)
• third highest for trade openness.

Therefore, you are planning to relocate, Australia indeed is the best relocation destination you can choose. Below we have listed out another visa category that should allow you more convenient choices to secure permanent residence.

Global Talent Independent (GTI) Program  [Subclass 858]

The Australian economy needs the brightest and best global talent to work in ten future-focused sectors. The aim is to support the economy by introducing innovative skills to high priority industries.

The target sectors are:

GTI program offers a flexible pathway for distinguished applicants in target sectors.As a requirement, you’d need to prove an annual income of $153,600 AUD and a nomination from an Australian citizen.

For more information on the Application process, you can check the following:

• Global Talent Independent (GTI) Program: The versatile migration pathway

Personal Consultation and Visa Assessment

At Path Migration, we have a team of immigration lawyers who are specialized in this field. Aside from having an in-house chartered accountant, we also partner with various industry stakeholders to provide you with a holistic service.

We have already helped set up businesses for clients from India, Hong Kong and Bangladesh, to just name a few of our clientele base. In addition to that, we have helped bring in foreign employees for different industries, such as IT sector, education sector, etc.

If you sound like someone who would benefit from our wide network of industry specialists and would like to put forward the best application for your business, then you can contact us or directly email to hello@pathmigration.com.

Additional Information:

• A Guide To Selecting The Right Course To Study In Australia
• Changes In 485 Visa That You Should Know
• Tips for a Successful Partner Visa
• Australian Visa Cancellation: All You Need To Know

The post Australian Economy and its Opportunities in 2022 first appeared on Path Migration and is written by sonal

Top 10 reasons to move to Australia in 2021-22

We recently conducted a survey with our clients and asked them the top 10 reasons what they decided to move to Australia.

1. A beautiful country

The country is naturally very beautiful. You have the option of swimming at the sandy beaches or go bush walking in one of the 500 national parks. You could even go skiing during the winter months. The cities are well planned and organized with infrastructure that will support Australia’s population growth.

2. Multicultural Society

Australia is a multicultural and multiracial and this is reflected in the country’s food, cultural practices and lifestyle. Approx 45% of Australians were born overseas or have a parent that was born overseas.

Contrary to the media hype, Australia is actually a very racially tolerant country.

The diversity of cultures creates an environment that is innovative, energized and outward looking.

3. Fresh Air

Australia’s air pollution is one of the lowest as rated by the World Health Organization. The health benefits of this are not to be undermined. A healthy and safe environment is the foundation of a good standard of living.

4. Climate

Australia’s climate would be considered mild. We do get our fair share of sunshine. Many of our European rate this is the main reason to live here. Australia experiences all weathers in moderation and doesn’t have any major extremities.

5. Job opportunities

Australia has very low unemployment (approx 6%). Most of our clients also say that the working environment is very chilled out compared to their home country. The skilled occupation list mentions all the industries which need workers to grow. It’s a clear indication of the booming job availability.

Read more on How to find a Job in Australia.

6. Great opportunities to study

Australia has a number of study options for international students. We have over 1,200 institutions and our institutions are rated among the best in the world. Generally the cost of studying in Australia is cheaper than the USA or US. Moreover the government gives an Education loan (HECS) to cover the full education of every resident/ citizen of Australia.

7. Health Care

Australia has basic health insurance covered by the government (Medicare); private health insurance options are also available. Needless to mention, Medicare is considered one of the most efficient health care systems in the world.

8. Quality of life

Australians are known for the laid back lifestyle. We are very friendly and do enjoy spending our spare time playing sports or relaxing. The work hours are lower compared to many countries and the quality of life is incomparable.

Australia has been ranked as the second-best country in the world for its quality of life by a UN report that assessed economic, education and life-expectancy data. (READ MORE).

9. Stable government and fair legal policies

Our government is very stable with elections held every 3 years. The legal system is fair as everyone is treated equally. Our crime rate is very low compared to majority of other developed countries.

10. Low population density

We have the lowest population density of any continent in the world with only 6.5 people per square mile. This simply means abundance of resources for everyone.
Now, ask yourself: Why would you not live in Australia?

GOT QUESTIONS? ASK US!

Our MARA registered immigration agents understand how stressful the migration process can be. Unlike most other migration law firms, our lawyer actually explain every step of the process in a no-jargon manner. In addition to this, we provide constant on call support. Contact us on hello@pathmigration.com for a Free Assessment and advice on your options for migrating to Australia.
OR

Book a Consultation now!

We are always happy to help! ?

NOTE: The information provided in this blog can not be construed as “legal advice”. You should not act based on the information provided here without consulting a registered MARA agent. Migration law is complex and changes very frequently, while we ensure our content is accurate, we can not vouch for how concurrent it is. To clarify any of your doubts call us on +61 2 8815 8135

The post REASONS TO MOVE TO AUSTRALIA 2021-22 first appeared on Path Migration and is written by bhavesh

October Invitation Round 2021: Subclass 189 and Subclass 491

The second SkillSelect round for 2021, known as the October Invitation Round, was released on the 29th of October 2021. In this October Invitation Round, a total of 400 invitations have been issued by the Department of Home Affairs for the following visa categories.

• Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass189)
• Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491)- Family Sponsored.

The invitation rounds for Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass189) and Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491)- Family Sponsored are expected to run on a quarterly basis. The dates for each of the rounds are not set prior to the round and they tend to vary. In fact, the total number of invitations issued also varies depending on the number of applications the Department of Home Affairs processes.

However, it’s vital to know that the number of nominations from the State or Territory governments for Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491) is not affected by the departmental invitation rounds. The number of nominations approved by State and Territory Governments for the following skilled visas have also been released:

• Subclass 190 Skilled – Nominated visa; and

• Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) State Nominated visa.

The following sections discuss which category of occupations and visas received how many invitations for the October Invitation Round; including the minimum point thresholds for the October Invitation Round. Along with latest statistics and information on the number of nominations from the State or Territory governments.

October Invitation Round 2021: Breakdown

The table below outlines the total number of invitations issued for the October Invitation Round on 29th of October 2021 for each of the visa categories.

October Invitation Round 2021: Invitation Process

Typically, applicants with the highest point totals are invited to apply for the appropriate visa. For applications with identical points scores, the order of invitation is determined by the moment they reached their points score for that subclass (referred to as the date of effect). It’s important to remember that the Expressions of Interest (EOI) with earlier dates of effect are given precedence for an invitation relative to the EOI with later dates of effect.

The next section discusses this with the most recent statistics.

October Invitation Round 2021: Thresholds

This table illustrates the minimum points score and the latest date of effect month for the October Invitation Round 2021.

October Invitation Round 2021: Occupation List Subject to Pro-rata

Usually there is quite a significant number of applications from certain occupation types for Subclass 189 and Subclass 491. Therefore, to ensure a program-year-long availability of invitations, the pro-rata arrangements are made for these occupations. This arrangement ensures that the department is able to issue invitations through-out the program year.

Among all the applications received by the Department, the SkillSelect gives most priority to the applications for the Skilled Independent visa (Subclass 189). Once the allocation has been made for Subclass 189, the remaining places are given out to the applicants for Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (Subclass 491)- Family Sponsored. There will be no invites issued for subclass 491 visas in these occupations if all subclass 189 visas are filled.

The table below lists the occupations subject to pro-rata arrangements. The remainder of invitations have been issued for non-pro-rated occupations in the October 2021 round.

When invitations are issued under the independent, and skilled regional (provisional) visas, an “occupation ceiling” might be applied. Occupation ceiling refers to an upper limit imposed on the total number of EOIs that will receive invitations for skilled migration from a particular occupation group. This allows the skilled migration program to maintain balance and pursue attracting migrants that will fill out a variety of skilled occupations.

This occupation ceiling values are dependent on a percentage of stock employment figures for each occupation.  The Australian Bureau of Statistics provides the required employment numbers, that rightly depicts the total number of people employed in Australia in each occupation.

It is important to note that the occupation ceilings, however,  do not apply to State or Territory Nominated or Business Innovation and Investment visa subclasses.

Invitation Issued During 2021-2022 Program Year

This table lists the total number of invitations that have been issued for the 2021-2022 program year, so far. We can see that till now, 450 invitations have been issued for Subclass 189 and 700 invitations have been issued for Subclass 491.

It’s important to note here that the invitations issued by Australian States and Territories are not included here, more on that is discussed in the subsequent section.

October Invitation Round: State and Territory Government Nominations

The following table shows the total number of applicants who have received a nomination from the State and Territory government in October 2021.

Next SkillSelect Invitation Round

If you want to apply for and receive an Australian Skilled visa in the next SkillSelect Invitation round, you can check the occupations on the priority list to check if your nominated occupation falls in or not. There are currently 44 occupations on the priority migration occupation list.

If you are all set to apply for a skilled visa in Australia this year through the most relevant skilled visa category, you may get your eligibility status checked by a qualified migration lawyer in Australia.

Visa Application Assessment

If you are someone who is actively looking for permanent residency in Australia and would like professional consultation regarding your personal situation then do not hesitate to contact us. At Path Migration, we have a team of immigration lawyers who specialize in immigration law.

Given the mammoth of experience the team brings in, we provide feasible and practical counselling on your successful pathway to Australia. The team is well adept with knowing what helps increase the chances of success for your application. You can get your points checked by an expert, and accordingly, the immigration expert at Path Migration will suggest which program is suitable for you to apply for the visa.

If you are unsure whether this visa category applies to you or not or if you are looking to be successfully nominated, then don’t hesitate to contact us or directly email us at hello@pathmigration.com.

You may also be interest in:

• New South Wales Skilled Migration Program for 2021-2022

• South Australia’s Skilled Migration Program from 2021-2022

• Victoria’s Skilled Migration Program for 2021-2022

• Tasmania Skilled Migration 2021- 2022: 190 and 491 visa

• Return of International Students in Australia by 2021: Australian International Border Opening

The post October Invitation Round 2021: Subclass 189 and Subclass 491 first appeared on Path Migration and is written by sonal

The arrangement for the return of international students in Australia by 2021 is already underway as a part of the Australian international border opening plan. Initially, the international students will be returned on a staggered basis in this pilot program, and depending on the evaluation reports, further actions will be taken to scale the program or take any precautionary measures.

If you are an international student, currently studying or will be commencing study in an Australian educational institution, then the following updates are for you. The subsequent sections of this blog will inform you about the program itself; who is eligible to take part in it; and more updates from different states and territories of Australia.

Pilot program for the return of international students in Australia: First Batch

Receiving support from the Australian Government, NSW is going to be the first Australian state to trail the return of international students and skilled migrants stuck overseas due to restrictions ensued by COVID-19. In fact, the first chartered plane carrying 250 students from over 15 nations is scheduled to touch down in Sydney on 6th December. The second chartered plane will be bringing in students from India and other South Asian countries on 24th of December.

This definitely is a gripping moment that everyone has been patiently waiting for. It’s important to note that the exact number of students in a flight is likely to vary, since the pre–departure COVID-19 test will determine a seat on the flight. Please note the NSW International Student Arrivals Pilot Plan will allow a limited number of 250 international students studying with NSW education providers to return each fortnight.

Requirements to travel to Australia

1. Full Vaccination

• You need to be fully vaccinated before you can travel to Australia.
• To be considered as “fully vaccinated”, a minimum of 7-day period must pass since the final dose of your vaccine.
• For travel purposes to Australia, the following vaccines and dosages are being accepted.
  • 2-doses with at least 14-day interval period.
    • Comirnaty (Pfizer)
    • Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca)
    • Covishield (AstraZeneca)
    • Spikevax (Moderna)
    • Janssen-Cilag (Johnson & Johnson)
    • Coronavac (Sinovac)
    • BBIBP-CorV (Sinopharm) (for 18-60 years old)
    • Covaxin (Bharat Biotech)
  • 1-dose
    • Johnson & Johnson/ Janssen-Cilag COVID Vaccine
• Mixed doses count towards being fully vaccinated as long as all vaccines are approved or recognised by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).

2. Proof of Vaccination

• At the time of departure and at any point when you enter Australia,  you would need to provide a valid vaccination certificate.
• If you have been vaccinated in Australia, you would need to provide the International Covid-19 certificate (ICVC).
• If you have been vaccinated outside of Australia, you must show a valid foreign vaccination certificate.
• Your vaccination certificate must be legible, clear and in English. If it’s not in English, you’d need to get it translated. You may want to check the Department of Home Affairs Website for free translations services.
• Valid digital certificates are also accepted, as long as they meet other requirements set by TGA.

How to participate in this program?

• If you study at an Australian educational institution based in NSW, you might have already received an Expression of Interest Form (EOI Form) to complete. Therefore, it’s recommended that you check both your personal and university email for that.
• Once you receive the email with the EOI form you are recommended to fill that out as soon as possible to be considered for the program.
• If you are not certain that you’d like to come to Australia or not, it’s still recommended that you fill out the form. If considered for the program your educational institution will check in with you multiple times, therefore you will have the option further down the line to opt out to coming to Australia by a certain date.
• If you have not been offered a seat in a certain batch, you can also choose to be put on a standby list, and you can also select a minimum notification time. In that way, if any seat opens up you’ll be notified of that seat.
• If you haven’t received an EOI Form, then you are advised to contact your education provider as soon as possible. In addition to that you might also want to check the COVID-19 response page of your education provider.

How to know the outcome of my EOI From?

• If you have been selected for a certain batch to fly to Australia, your education institution will notify you at least 8 weeks before the departure date.

Quarantining Requirement for international students in Australia

• After landing in Sydney, international students are required to quarantine for 14-days.
• Your educational institution will be providing you with the necessary information about your quarantine arrangements.
• Students do not need to pay for the cost of quarantine accommodation.
  • Meals are included in these quarantine arrangements, therefore you do not need to pay for meals either.
  • You are able to order groceries, foods and other items, but you pay for that by yourself.
• If you are a fully vaccinated international student from Singapore, you are not required to quarantine in NSW.

Quarantine Arrangements

• Scape Redfern is partnering with the NSW government and the educational institutions to provide you with quarantine arrangements.
• They offer Purpose-Built Student Accommodation, that comes with fully functional bathrooms, furnished kitchen area, bedroom and study corners. For more information, visit here.
• You are not able to share a room with others. There’s a strict policy of one student per room.
• If you need to do laundry, you are able to use the laundry facility at Scape, however, you need to bear the cost of laundry by yourself.
• If you happen to fall sick while quarantined, either from covid or other ailments, you will be transferred to Special Health Accommodation (SHA). SHA will offer you 24    /7 medical care to help you recover.
  • As a student, you don’t have to pay any additional medical costs.

Post-Quarantine Arrangements

• If your educational institution is based outside of Sydney then you can contact FCM to arrange a flight for you to reach your final destination. Alternatively, you can also arrange your own travel arrangements.
• If your university is based in Sydney, you can contact your educational institution for guidance on your next steps.
• Although it’s not mandatory to confirm your post-quarantine address, it’s highly recommended. You also need to notify your education provider of any changes to your current address or contact details as a part of your international student visa condition.

Are family members or partners allowed to come with me?

• Given the program is in the pilot state, currently the travel quarantining arrangements are only made for the students. Therefore, you wouldn’t be able to bring a family member, your partner or any dependent you may have.
• However, family members/partners can travel to Australia if organised separately.

How much will it cost to participate in this Arrivals Program?

• You are required to bear the cost of plane tickets to Australia.
• You also need to pay for any additional items you require while quarantining that is not a part of the standard quarantine package offered by your educational institution.
• The table below outlines an approximate cost of flight to Australia. Once you are offered a seat, the exact quotation will be sent to you beforehand.

What do I do if the city I live in is not the city of departure?

• If you are currently living in a city that’s not in the departure venue, in that case, you would need to make your own travel arrangements to reach the departure venue prior to your flight.
• It’s recommended that you arrive at least 24 hours prior to your flight departure, to prevent any unforeseen delay.

What are the Cancellation Conditions?

• In the unfortunate event of a positive COVID-19 test result prior to your departure, or any unforeseen circumstances you are able to cancel your flight.
• For this cancellation you will be refunded, however, there will be a cancellation fee deducted from the refund amount. The cancellation fees are as follow:
  • FCM/AVMIN: $135 

• • China Southern fee: AU$50 (or nil with proof of positive COVID-19 test result) 

• • Cathay Pacific fee: US$70

• Refunds for other causes permitted up to 5 days before departure. Total cancellation fees, as below, will be deducted from the refund amount due to the cancelling student.

• • FCM/AVMIN: $135

• • China Southern fee: up to AU$600 

• • Cathay Pacific fee: nil

• You also need to notify the FCM and your educational institution about the cancellation no later than 48-hours prior to your flight.
• You cannot make a refund request any later than 48 hours prior to the flight departure
• Note, FCM booking fee is non-refundable.
• The standby students can take that seat up-to 12 hours before the scheduled flight departure time.

Border Updates from other States and Territories in Australia

Australian Capital Territory (ACT)

• ACT already made the announcement that fully vaccinated international students will be able to come in from the start of the 2022 academic year.
• The returning students will need to follow the required quarantining obligations and other rules that may apply.

Northern Territory 

• Northern Territory is currently seeking the approval of their reopening plan by the national government.
• Once an approval has been granted, chartered flights will be bringing in fully vaccinated returning students from January 2022.

Queensland

• Fully vaccinated international students will be able to come in from the start of the 2022 academic year.
• The returning students will need to follow the required quarantining obligations and other rules that may apply.
• The plan prioritises those studying medical, medical research, and allied health disciplines. The state anticipates a phased approach with eligibility criteria for education providers and students, and the number of places, expanding at each phase.

South Australia

• Once 90% of the South Australians (aged 12+) are fully vaccinated, fully international students will be able to come in with no quarantining requirement.
• South Australia is expected to achieve a 90% double vaccination target by late December 2021.

Tasmania

• According to Tasmania’s opening roadman, fully vaccinated international travellers are able to come in from 15th December.
• Although they wouldn’t need to quarantine, a negative COVID-19 test must be provided upon arrival.

Victoria

• Victoria’s safe student return pilot plan has also been approved.
• This means that international students are expected to come from December 2021, and following their arrival they would need to quarantine for 14 days.

Western Australia

• Western Australia is set to welcome fully vaccinated international students from February 2022, just in time for the beginning of the academic year.
• The official reopening date will be released once, Western Australia reaches the 80% double vaccination rate, which is estimated to  be in December 2021.

Do I need a visa?

• Before you are able to apply for a place in this pilot program and eventually come to Australia, you need a valid visa.
• Depending on what level and kind of course you are doing and other information, your visa requirement will vary.

At Path Migration we have assisted students, both onshore and offshore, get the best outcome from their visa application. If you are looking to eventually transition to permanent residence then it’s very important that you initially choose the most appropriate visa category to help you achieve permanent residence smoothly.

At Path Migration, we have a team of immigration lawyers who specialize in immigration law. The team will provide you with all the in-house resources that will help make your applicant a success. If you have already been refused a visa or have had your visa cancelled then you will also be benefitted from your own personalized consultation. If you are unsure whether this visa category applies to you or not, then don’t hesitate to contact us or directly email us at hello@pathmigration.com.

You may also be interest in: 

• A guide to selecting the Right Course to Study in Australia
• Changes In 485 visa that you should know
• Covid-19 408 Visa In Australia
• Skilled Migration Visas For Australia

The post Return of International Students in Australia by 2021: Australian International Border Opening first appeared on Path Migration and is written by sonal

Business Visa in QLD: 188 and 888 visa, 491 visa

Business Visa in QLD offers a great opportunity for migrant business owners to start and operate their own business or investment ventures.  There are a number of business visa options, and depending on your circumstances and qualities you should be able to apply for permanent business visas or a temporary visa that would allow you to legally operate your business in Queensland.

We understand an investment or setting up your own business can be quite difficult on its own let alone as a migrant. Therefore, at Path Migration, we have helped many clients from several countries set up their businesses in different states of Australia. We have had clients from Bangladesh, Hong Kong, India and Sri Lanka, to name only a few, who currently have very successful businesses running in Australia in different industries, including education, IT, etc. Therefore if you want to know more about how to get a successful application you can check out the rest of this write up, and for personalized professional consultation you can reach out to us any time.

Business Visa in QLD: Why Invest in Queensland?

Before we address the more complex questions, we believe that it’s very important that you should know why you’d want to invest in Queensland. Aside from being called the Sunshine state for it’s beautiful weather and having the most thriving tourism industry, it also has so much more to offer. It provides your business and investment venture to do greatly with the following qualities:

• A very stable and resilient economy.
• A government that actively engages and implements policies to help businesses and to bring in more investments.
• Although the world is still recovering from the growth lags ensued by Covid -19, Queensland has quite a strong forecast for a substantial growth.
• As someone with business acumen you must know the intense pressure for the businesses to cover the perpetual operating cost. Well, we are delighted to disclose that Queensland has relatively lower operating costs. Therefore, you would have the flexibility to use your revenue for more sustainable business activities, like investing in your brand or getting more assets.
• Surrounded by world-class universities and different industries, you would always have access to a highly trained, experienced and diverse workforce for your business.
• In fact, we are pleased to report that as an Asia Pacific location, Queensland makes quite a great strategic move on your part to attract investments for your business.

We hope the brief lists of reasoning have at least sparked a curiosity in you to look further into this and finally get the Business Visa in QLD to help you operate in your dream business.

Business Visa in QLD: State Nominated Visa Options

There are actually quite a few options available for Business Visa in QLD you to choose from. It is important to note here that before you can apply for a business visa in QLD, you would first need an invitation from the state. All the nominations form the Queensland Government are processed by Migration Queensland; more on this will be discussed in subsequent sections.

The Business Visa in QLD that allows you to legally enter operate your business or make an investment in Queensland are as follows:

• Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (Subclass 188)

• Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) visa (Subclass 888)

• Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (Subclass 491)

• Investor Retirement (Temporary) visa (Subclass 405) Renewal

Please be aware that from July 1st 2021, the Business Talent (Permanent) visa (Subclass 132) has been closed to all the new applicants. Therefore, the new applicants now need to apply for any one of the above Business Visa in QLD.

Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (Subclass 188) 

This is a state-nominated Business Visa in QLD that allows you to run your business or make an investment in Queensland for 5 years. Although it’s a provisional visa, it’s a good option to choose when you aren’t able to meet the demanding minimum requirements of the Subclass 888. Moreover, it helps create a pathway to transition to the permanent visa later on.

In order to apply for this visa, you’d need to apply under the following streams:

• Business innovation Stream: This is designed for individuals who want to own and operate a new business or an existing business in Queensland.
• Investor Stream: If you are someone looking for investment ventures and instruments, instead of running a business then this stream would be a good fit for you. For example investments under this stream would look like investments in Queensland Treasury Corporation (QTC) bonds. For those of you wondering what QTC- its Queensland’s corporate treasury service provider. For more information on Queensland Bond and how to invest in it, look here.
• Significant Investor Stream: This stream is designed for investors who are looking to invest at least AUD 5 million, in Complying Investment according to the Complying Investment Framework (CIF).
• Entrepreneur Stream: This stream targets start-ups and the entrepreneurs who are at their early stage. It’s important to note here, that even if this sounds like you, you would first need an endorsement to develop your concept to be able to apply under this stream.

Subclass 188 Eligibility Criteria

Depending on the stream, the eligibility criteria for Subclass 188 is going to vary. In order to secure this visa, you’d need to meet the minimum eligibility requirements set by both the Department of Home Affairs and the Migration Queensland.

The table below outlines the eligibility criteria for the 188 Subclass Business Visa in QLD:

Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) visa (Subclass 888) 

If you have already held the 188 visa, this is the subsequent Business Visa in QLD that you can apply for, which should allow you to continue your business and investment ventures in Qld on a permanent basis. Like the previous visa, this permanent subclass also comes with a choice of four streams.

In order to apply for this visa, you’d need to apply under the following streams:

• Business innovation Stream: If you have held the following visa categories, you can apply for this visa.
  • Subclass 188: Business Innovation Stream
  • Subclass 188: Business Innovation Extension Stream
  • Subclass 444: Special Category Visa
  • Subclass 457: Business (Long Stay) Visa
• Investor Stream: It’s for the investors to continue their investments.
• Significant Investor Stream: It’s for the investors to continue their investments.
• Entrepreneur Stream: If you have held the following visa categories, you can apply for this visa.
  • Subclass 888: Entrepreneur Stream
  • Subclass 188: Entrepreneur Stream

Subclass 888 Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible you usually need to be the holder of Subclass 188 and other categories of Business Visa in QLD mentioned in the prior section, along with meeting the following requirements set by the Department of Home Affairs and Migration Queensland.

Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (Subclass 491)

If you are a small business owner in regional Qld, you can apply for this visa under the Small business owners in regional Queensland stream. If approved for this Business Visa in QLD, you will be able to live and operate your business in regional Qld for 5 years. Like the previous visa categories, this visa is also based on point test score and requires state nominations. More information on eligibility conditions are available below.

Subclass 491 Eligibility Criteria

In order to apply for this provisional visa (Subclass 491) you need to meet the minimum eligibility requirement set by both the Department of Home Affairs and the Migration Queensland.

Subclass 491 also has other streams to apply under. To know more about the other streams under Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491) and Skilled Nominated Permanent Visa (Subclass 190), you look here.

Investor Retirement (Temporary) visa (Subclass 405) Renewal

If you have held a Retirement visa (Subclass 410) or Investment Retirement visa (Subclass 405), you can apply for a renewal by emailing (migration@qld.gov.au) the Migration Queensland . You would need to provide the following information:

• Your full name 
• You date of birth
• Your current visa expiry date

After you have sent your email, the Migration Queensland will get back to you with all the necessary documents to lodge your renewal application.

How to apply for Subclass 188, 888 and 491?

Step 1

Before you start with anything you need to vigorously check:

• The minimum eligibility requirement and visa conditions set by both the Department of Home Affairs and the Migration Queensland for the Business Visa in QLD.
• Get a good idea on the document checklist.
• Prepare all the necessary documents.
• Start with the preparation beforehand so that you don’t miss any important deadlines.

Step 2

You need to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) for the appropriate Business Visa in QLD , for Migration Queensland to evaluate whether you qualify for state nomination or not.

• You need to submit the EOI on SkillSelect.
• Include your work experience and all other relevant information, more is discussed in the subsequent step.
• Make sure to select “Queensland ”as your nominating state, as applications with specified states will be given priority over those with “Any”.

Step 3

If you’re applying for a Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (Subclass 491) under the Small business owners in regional Queensland stream, then you need to submit the following form:

• Submit the online 491- Small Business Owner Assessment form

Step 4

After your EOI for the appropriate Business Visa in QLD has been evaluated by Migration Queensland, if you qualify for the nomination you’ll be notified via an email invitation. The email invitation will ask you to lodge an application and provide the following documents. All the documents need to be uploaded digitally via the Document Portal link on your email invitation.

• Queensland State Nomination Application Form
• Business Proposal
• Home Affairs Form 1139A

Step 5

Once your application and provided documents have been assessed and approved you will receive an invitation from Migration Queensland. Following the invitation you will need to do the follow:

• Upload all the required documents
• After all the documents are successfully uploaded, you need to make payment of the non-refundable application fee to finalize your application.

Step 6

If the Queensland Migration approved your completed application, you should receive an invitation from the Department of Home Affairs to lodge your visa application for the requested Business Visa in QLD. You would need to complete your application within 60 days from the date of invitation.

It’s important to note that if you miss any of the lodgement dates, you would need to restart the whole application process for Business Visa in QLD and you need to wait for 6 months before you can apply again.

What we can do for you?

If you are worried where to start or achieve the right Business Visa in QLD or other states or territories then we can assure you that you are in the right place. At Path Migration, we have already helped new and seasoned investors and entrepreneurs to set up their business all over Australia. We have a team of immigration lawyers who are specialized in this field. Aside from having an in-house chartered accountant, we also partner with various industry stakeholders to provide you with a holistic service. We also handle visa refusals and visa cancellation cases. If that happened to you, you mustn’t waste any time and get in touch as soon as possible as these are very time-sensitive cases.

If you sound like someone who would benefit from our wide network of industry specialists and would like to put forward the best application for your Business Visa in QLD, then you can contact us or directly email to hello@pathmigration.com.

You may also be interested in:

• Queensland’s Skilled Migration Program- 190 visa and 491 visa

• Business and Investor visas in NSW

• How to Set Up a Company in Australia?

• Employer’s Guide For Foreign Workers Sponsorship Under the 482 Visa Stream

• Skilled Migration Visas For Australia

The post Business Visa in QLD: 188 and 888 visa, 491 visa first appeared on Path Migration and is written by sonal

Australian Visa Cancellation: All You Need To Know

Are you someone who got the blues because of those inevitable worries for Australian visa cancellation? If that sounds like you, then do know that you are not alone. After all, visas are a significant part of your life and future. However, there are ways that you can better deal with your worries.

You can always learn more about what Australian visa cancellations entails and what options you have, in case you are ever faced with one. Therefore, we have taken this opportunity to explore all the questions and concerns surrounding Australian visa cancellations. We hope this will help you with both avoiding any risks that may potentially lead to an Australian visa cancellation, as well as, make use of  all the opportunities that you have if your Australian visa gets cancelled.

What to do if my Australian visa gets cancelled?

• Firstly, you must consider making an application for appeal or another visa that may be applicable to you.
• Simultaneously, you should also apply for a bridging visa, which allows you to lawfully stay in Australia, as you await the outcome of our substantive visa application.
• Get in touch with the Department of Home Affairs or an Australian Migration lawyer to know more about your rights and obligations (that you might be subjected to).

How long can I remain in Australia after visa cancellation?

• After your visa has been cancelled, carefully check the Notice of Cancellation for an appeal option. If you are able to apply for an appeal then you can lawfully stay in Australia until a decision has been made on your appeal application. If your migration application is appealed to the Administrative Tribunal it could be at least 2 to 4 year before your case is assigned to a member. If your migration application is appealed to the Federal Court the current wait time can be at least 12 months before a hearing.
• In the situation where you do not hold any visa according to the Australian Migration Laws, you may be detained by the authorities if you fail to depart Australia by the specified date.
• If you aren’t sure what your options are after the cancellation of your current visa, then we would recommend that you seek professional consultation prior to departing Australia.

At Path Migration, we have a team of immigration lawyers who have dealt with many visa cancellation and refusal cases. Our team works closely with the clients and we have always been able to ensure lawful stay of our clients. We can help you apply for an appeal and get your visa cancellation revoked. In addition to that, the team can also help you apply for other visas that you may qualify for. For more information, or to discuss your case feel free to contact us, or just send us an email at hello@pathmigration.com.

What are the visa conditions after Australian visa cancellation?

• If your Australian visa has been cancelled, then you are no longer bound to any visa conditions, since you need a valid visa for those conditions to be effective.
• Your stay, however, will become unlawful in Australia, therefore, to avoid detention by Authorities, you must voluntarily depart Australia by the specified date or apply for another visa.

What happens during the interim period between receiving the Notice of cancellation and departing Australia or applying for an appeal? 

• After you receive the notice of cancellation you should ensure that you maintain your legal status in Australia by ensuring your bridging visa is still valid and if it is not, then you must apply for a bridging visa.
• While your case is waiting for a decision you should still maintain the conditions of the visa that was cancelled. For example, if your student visa was cancelled; then you should ensure you continue studying as this will be important evidence that will assist the visa Appeal.
• If you receive a notice of cancellation it is important to contact an Immigration lawyer as there are time limitations on applying for appeals and another visa.

What to do if my sponsored employer cancels my sponsored employee visa?

• As a sponsored employee your visa can be been cancelled due a number of reasons including:

1. You have been made redundant or you are asked to leave the company for breaching the employment contract.
2. Your sponsor has breached the conditions of Sponsorship and cannot sponsor employees.
3. Your sponsor has decided to sell the business and the new owners may not wish to continue to sponsor or change the ABN details of the new entity.

The above are some examples of why a change in the Sponsor’s situation may impact on your 482 visa. The next steps that you can undertake will be dependent on your particular situation. A couple of different options are explained below:

• If your a holder of Temporary Work (Skilled) visa (subclass 482), and your employment with your sponsored employer has ended prior to the expected date then you need to undertake one of the following actions:
  • You’d need to find another employer, who’d sponsor you.
  • Apply for another visa that you may qualify for; this could include Student Visa, partner visa or a training visa.
  • Prepare to depart Australia.
• If you believe that you have been let go unfairly, or you expect your employer might be letting you go soon, then we’d recommend that you seek legal advice beforehand so that you are prepared for the unexpected.

Can my employer cancel my 482 visa?

• The 482 visa can only be cancelled by the Department of Home Affairs. Actions taken by your employer can result in your 482 visa being cancelled. If there’s any change in your employment arrangement that may affect your visa, they are legally bound to notify the Department of Home Affair of those changes.

What happens to my Superannuation fund?

• If your visa has been cancelled or it expired, and you are departing Australia permanently, in that case you can access your super for free with the ATO’s DASP online system.
• Before you can access your superannuation you will need to provide a copy of your cancelled visa to the Superannuation fund.

Path Migration has helped many businesses sponsor new employees, therefore, the team can provide advice regarding the rights and responsibilities, and options for both sponsored employees and sponsor employers. Our team has wide experience in Skilled Migration visas, Business Skills migration visas, Employer Sponsored Work visas, as well as the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) Review, Judicial review and Ministerial Intervention. For more information, do not hesitate to contact us.

Can I cancel my visa?

• If your circumstances have changed and you’d like to have your current visa cancelled then you’d need to do that by writing to the Department for Home Affairs. It is important to note here that this process takes some time to process.

How to cancel my visa application?

• If you have recently lodged an application for a visa that you haven’t received an outcome for yet and now would like to withdraw your application, then follow these steps.
  • Log in to your ImmiAccount.
  • Click on ‘view’ to open your application.
  • Then select ‘Update details’
  • Finally click on ‘withdrawal of a visa application’ to permanently withdraw your application.
• Prior to withdrawing, do note if your current visa is a bridging visa or not. As the bridging visa might also cease if you withdraw the application based on which that bridging visa has been granted.

Can I cancel my appointment with the Department of Home Affairs?

• If you fail to show up on your scheduled appointment without any prior notification regarding the change, in that case the Department of Home Affairs will proceed with their decision on your visa application or your case as they deem the best.
• However, if you are able to provide a reasonable explanation for the failure to show up, you would need to provide your reasoning in writing to the case officer as soon as possible.

Why was my visa cancelled?

• You were non-compliant with your visa conditions. This can include:
  • If you are a student visa holder, and you are no longer enrolled in a registered course.
  • If you fail to fulfill the obligations to answer questions about goods on your incoming passenger card; or you fail to follow the directions given by a bio-security officer.
• You did not meet the character requirements
  • You have been sentenced to 12 months or more imprisonment.
• You have provided false information on your visa application
• You have been charged with paying for a visa sponsorship.
• To know specifically why your visa has been cancelled you need to check your Notice of Cancellation.

Will the visa application fee be refunded if the visa has been cancelled or visa application rejected?

• No, the visa application fee and the visa cancellation appeal fee are both non-refundable. Therefore, regardless of the outcome, the fee will not be refunded.

Can my Permanent Resident visa be cancelled?

• For those with a permanent visa, the risk of visa cancellations are still there like any other visa if you fail to comply with your visa condition.
• However, do note that unlike temporary visas, the permanent visas are slightly harder to cancel.
• These permanent visas can be cancelled regardless of whether you are located on-shore or off-shore.
  • In case you happen to be off-shore at the time of cancellation, the chances of you applying for an appeal becomes very difficult.
• Therefore, if you are anticipating that your visa might be cancelled, it would be recommended that you remain in Australia until you have received a final decision. This will allow you to utilize the option of filing an appeal.

Is it possible for a cancelled visa to be reinstated?

• After having applied for an appeal for a cancelled visa, if the Administrative Appeal Tribunal (AAT) determines that the prior cancellation decision has been incorrect, in that case your visa is no longer cancelled. Unfortunately, due to terminology, it’s not said that your visa got reinstated, rather, after the AAT’s decision, it’s treated as if the prior incorrect decision of visa cancellation never happened.

Do Permanent visa holders get deported?

• If your permanent visa has been cancelled and the AAT decides that the prior decision of visa cancellation sustains, in that case either you depart Australia voluntarily or you get deported from Australia by the immigraton authority.

Can the Permanent Residence visa be revoked?

• If the immigration authorities determine that your circumstances have changed so drastically that according to the laws and requirements on which you have been granted that permanent residence visa can no longer fit you, in that case your visa gets cancelled. Again, it’s a matter of terminology, that we say your visa is getting “cancelled” rather than “revoked”.
• One of the common examples of why your visa might be cancelled is if it has been discovered that you provided false information in your application.

Can a permanent visa expire?

• Usually permanent residence visas have a time limit, for example a 5 year validity.
• This time validity works slightly differently from other visas with similar validity.
• If the time limit expires, that means you’re still able to remain in Australia, however, your option of travelling overseas with an expired visa is curtailed. Unfortunately, if you depart Australia, you won’t be able to re-enter after that 5-year time validity period has expired.

What can lead to the cancellation of 186 visa?

• If it has been unearthed that either you or your sponsor employer has provided false or misleading information. This can be in relation to your skills for occupation based on which you are being nominated.
• Also if it has been found that the relationship between primary and secondary applicants is fake.

How to apply for an appeal against a visa cancellation?

• You need to check your Notice of Cancellation to see if you have the option of appeal or not.
• If you have the option to file for an appeal, then you must submit the application with the AAT by the given deadline on your notification letter.
• The application is made online.
• At the time of application, you also need to pay an application fee for your application to be reviewed.
• So that your stay in Australia does not become unlawful due to not having a valid visa, after filing for an appeal you can apply for a bridging visa.
• Another thing one must note is that generally the deadline for applying for an appeal for a visa cancellation is substantially shorter than that of visa refusal. Therefore, in case of visa cancellation one must act fast if they are to utilize all the opportunities present to them.

Visa cancellations under Section 501 or 501CA of the Migration Act 1958

• Unfortunately if you have been convicted for criminal activities for more than 12 months, a mandatory cancellation will apply to you.
• In fact, this Section 501 gives the Minister the power to cancel your visa if your criminal convictions equals or exceeds 12 months.
• If you receive a Section 501 cancellation it is very important that you make submissions within 28 days to the Department of Home Affairs. If you fail to respond to the cancellation your appeal grounds can be limited.
• Factors to consider that you may want to consider including in your submission to the Department of Home Affairs relating to the Section 501 is

• Disclose all your family members in Australia
• Discuss the nature of the offence and the reason it was committed
• Focus on the steps you have taken to not commit further offences; this could include training courses or rehabilitation.
• Outline the people that would be impacted if you are deported; for example children or elderly family members

What to do if your visa has been cancelled under Section 501?

• You would need to submit an appeal. You need to make sure that your application is very well presented with all the right documents and reasonings. As explained above it is very important to make submissions relating to the Section 501 cancellation as soon as possible. You must respond to the Department of Home affairs within 28 days.
• In case you are late meeting the deadline, you may still have a chance to lodge an application. We would recommend that you contact an immigration lawyer to help you with this.

At Path Migration, we have dealt with many visa cancellation and refusal applications. We have been successful in reinstated permanent residency for clients that have had their visa cancelled due to criminal activities relating to fraud and drug offences. The S501 submissions are very complex and it is highly recommended that you consult an immigration lawyer to assist with these types of applications.

At Path Migration, we have a wonderful team of immigration lawyers who are highly experienced and specializes in migration law. To book your personalised consultation please contact us or email directly to hello@pathmigration.com.

You may also be interest in: 

• Australian Border opening Advice
• Australia’s Travel Exemption
• Australian Migration: July Invitation Round 2021
• Tasmania Skilled Migration 2021- 2022: 190 and 491 visa
• Employer’s Guide For Foreign Workers Sponsorship under the 482 Visa Stream

The post Australian Visa Cancellation: All You Need To Know first appeared on Path Migration and is written by sonal