Visiting the US? What to do?

If you are visiting the US to be a tourist, visiting some relatives or just curious on the life that the US can offer; you should first obtain the necessary documents that are required by the USCIS. What is USCIS? The USCIS is the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services department that takes care of all immigration affairs for America. You should also find out if you are required to have a Visa for the visit. Some nationals may not be required to have a US visa for a visit to the US.

Visiting the US means doing business with the USCIS. The USCIS will need the help of the US department of state to process the applications of individuals visiting the US. The USCIS will work with the State Department when applications are done outside of the US. You should direct applications to the consulates of the US in your home country.

You should be applying for a US Visitor Visa. This visa is made for the individuals who want to visit the US in short term basis. Visits are different to living in the US. Living in the US requires a more tedious process and requires more paper works. In order to be given a US visitor visa, you should show that you are not going to live or you are not planning to live in the US.

The US suffers from illegal migrants that have been awarded visitor visas, then decided not to get out of the US even after the expiration of the Visa. These illegal migrants have been causing trouble for the USCIS and other immigration related agencies in the US. This is the reason why your application to for the US visitor visa will not be as easy as you thought it would be. The USCIS follows strict guidelines for your application, thus needing “proof” of your attachment in your home country, giving reason enough for you to come back to your home country.

Proof of your reason to get out of the US before your visa expires may take many forms. They may be regular employment, a business running, having family in home country or having enough funds to buy a return ticket home. These are all needed to gain the trust of the USCIS so they can grant you a US visa for the visit.

Your visit to the US should not take on activities such as doing business, taking on studies, or doing work. There are relevant US visa categories for each of the activities. Each of the activities will follow different processes. The USCIS wants to have control of the Visas that they give out so the visits do not affect US citizens. Immigrants working in the US may affect the unemployment rate while students should be monitored so they do not take the slots that were previously meant for the US students.

The applications

The US Visa applications when done outside of the US need to be made through the US Department of States. These are Consular applications made from your home country. The applications can only be made on the official offices and should not be dealt with any third party that is not authorized. You may be able to work with agencies, immigration agents and immigration lawyers if you want, but they should be acknowledged and approved by the USCIS.

You should also gather all the required documents so your applications are not delayed. Incomplete requirements will not be processed by the USCIS. You also need to have the proper visa application forms and fill them up properly and then sign them. Incomplete visa application forms will not be processed and an unsigned one will hold the application null.

You also need to pay for your application. The USCIS will charge for every application made. The application will only proceed after all payments have been made. You will be notified by the USCIS if your visa is accepted. You may be called for an appointment for the interview is the immigration officer sees it fit to do so. The processing times may not be as fast as you need it. USCIS will hold your US visa applications for processing, they also have a great load of backlogs that they have to process so you may have to wait. US Visitor visas are not prioritized by the USCIS and the department of State.

When granted a US visa, you will be admitted to the US in the port of entry by the Department of Customs and Protection by giving you a stamped form, the Form I-194. This serves as a record for your arrival and departure to and from the US. 

Extending your stay

When you are already in the US but you don’t want to get out yet, or if you have a god reason to stay, you may be allowed to extend your stay. You need to make another application for the extension of your visit. The application will be submitted to the USCIS. You should be able to submit the form I-539 ad should be relative to your from I-194. The form I-539 will be made only for non-immigrant visa extensions.

If you do not have the form I-194, you need to apply for a replacement. Your visit to the US need to be documented so you can get an extension. You need to accomplish and submit form I-102 for the replacement applications.

Non-immigrant status

A US visitor visa is a non-immigrant visa. This means that you are not allowed to stay in the US over the covered periods. You should be disciplined enough to follow this regulations otherwise you may be put in a black list or you may be deported and this will be put in record. This has been a problem of the USCIS and the Department of Homeland Security since its inception and reason why it is very challenging to do visa applications to the US certainly from countries that have had very bad records.

How to Move To Australia

Finding a new home in a whole new country is a challenge. Although moving can present better opportunities for you and for your family, you will surely need a lot of preparations and adjustments to ensure that you will not encounter problems. Moving to Australia is no excuse. Although Australia is open to immigrants and has a very diverse culture, some of the natives are still territorial and you might experience a form of discrimination when you reach these areas.

Nevertheless, a move to Australia promises better life. If you want to move there, see to it that you have the essential documents. Here are some tips to help you.

1. Get a visa. There are several types of Australian visas to choose from. You can apply for a working visa. Australia has a list of in demand skilled workers. Check the list and you might have what they need. While in Australia and a holder of a valid visa, you may apply for permanent residency, provided that you qualify. Pass all the requirements and you will be granted the privilege to be a permanent resident of the country. There are other ways to stay or extend your stay in the country. As long as it is lawful, then you will not get in trouble.

2. Once you have the necessary documents you need, make sure that you think of other essential items. For those who will move to Australia because of work, you probably have an employer sponsoring you. If this is the case, finding a stable job will not be a problem. However, if you are petitioned by a family member to join him or her in the country, then you will need to find a stable job for yourself. Make sure that you have a valid work permit though. Another important aspect that you should consider is your accommodation. Where are you going to live when in Australia? Your sponsoring employer should be able to help. If you are petitioned by a family member, then you are expected to stay with them.

3. Understand the cost of living in Australia. You might be overwhelmed by the wage presented to you by the employer if you convert it to your country’s currency. However, bear in mind that you will not be spending you salary in terms of your native country’s currency. This is why it is important that you check monthly expenses. Is your earnings enough? How much are you going to spend for rent, utility bills, transportation, food and other miscellaneous expenses? Is your earning sufficient? If you fail to consider the cost of living and assume that your earning is enough to support your needs, you might have difficulty adjusting in Australia.

Many foreign individuals find better career opportunities in Australia. After staying living and working in Australia for a while, they decide to apply for permanent residency so that they will be able to stay in the country indefinitely. Some even use this to petition their family so that they can migrate to Australia.

Being a permanent resident in Australia:

There are different benefits of being a permanent resident in Australia. First, everything will be so much easier as you can stay in Australia indefinitely since you will be granted a permanent visa. You can travel to and from Australia anytime you want. In addition to that, the resident can choose to pursue higher education and choose a college or university of his liking. He may take advantage of student loans as well. Moreover, he can also apply for a work he wants or change employers when he deem necessary. He does not have to worry about applying for a new work visa or permit.

If you have successfully acquired your permanent visa to stay in Australia and wish to bring your family here, you need to prepare them as well. Your family will need to pass the minimum requirement before being granted to join you. This is why they have to be ready. Here are some tips:

1. Make the necessary preparations ahead of time. If you intend to petition them, see to it that they start learning about the ways of life in Australia. Introduce them to the culture, norms and the ways of life in general. You can send them books or tell them stories when you speak to them on the phone.

2. Enhance their English skills. Since this is the language used in Australia, it is only essential that they are proficient in using the language as well. Besides, they will be tested in terms of how well they can speak and understand the language. If a family member has difficulty in this field, enroll him in a course that will focus on this. You can also provide study materials that will enhance their capacity.

3. Move to a more appropriate home and neighborhood. If you are living in a small one-bedroom apartment, you should consider finding a home with bigger space and better neighborhood. This is especially true if your spouse and children will be joining you. You will need to find a home in a better community, with proximities to good schools and other essential establishments.

4. Secure the essential documents and records of your family members. In order to be considered, your family should prove that they are of good health and of character. In addition to that, you will need different records. Make sure that you keep medical, school and other essential records. You should also keep important documents like birth certificates and marriage contracts.

5. Help your family start a new life in Australia. Your responsibility does not stop once your family is already in Australia. You still need to assist them in continuing their life. Help your spouse find a job that suits his or her qualifications. Make sure that your children continue their schooling by enrolling them in a good school. These are just few of the things that you can do to help them.

6. Take care of issues in your native country ahead of time. Decide whether you are going to sell your home and other personal items in your native country. If not, make sure that you have someone to look after them. Make sure that you take care of the details before the rest of your family members move to Australia.

You can move to Australia through migration. However, it is difficult to be eligible. Do not fret though as you can always find work in Australia and apply for permanent residency while you are here.

What You Need to Know Before Working in Australia

Australia is one of the countries with strongest economy and the trends for improvements are very well noticed today. This is why many foreign workers are looking at Australia for a possibility of starting a career in developed and improving country. Just like many countries, Australia also suffers from shortage of workers in certain industry. This is why it has opened its doors for qualified workers overseas. But having work in Australia, like in any other foreign country, is quite a challenge; and you should be able to have thorough understanding of the processes to improve your chances of finding work in Australia.

Tips for the Australian Visa Categories and the Work Permit

You should apply for an Australian visa to have legal permission to work in Australia. But before that, here are some essential things you need to prepare so you have better chances of approval:

1. Understand the point based system for General Skilled Migrants. It is important to understand this because you can use your work qualification to acquire a permanent resident visa in Australia. The point-based system is used to rate your application according o your qualifications, employability, work experience and language proficiency. The said type of visa normally applies to foreign individuals without a job offer but have the skills needed by the country.

2. You need to acquire an essential Australian working visa. Bear in mind that you will not be allowed to work in Australia without the right working permit. To be granted the said visa, you need to prove that you are of good health and of good character. These can be proven by supplying supporting documents to you applications. It is also essential that you qualify for the job. Most importantly, the Australian government should recognize your employer so that the employment and visa application process runs smoothly.

3. As mentioned above, you need to find an employer. Although you can seek out employment after moving to Australia, it would be best if you were employed before you get here. This way, your employer can sponsor you. He will in part, process your visa application through endorsements as a sponsor and will even help you adjust to the new environment. This is the ideal means of Immigration to Australia.

The above items are some of the things you need to prepare before working in Australia. Once you have found a job, you need to think of other things to ensure you will not encounter problems once you are already here.

 

Tips for your Move to Australia

There are a lot of processes involved when moving to Australia and there too many options for finding work. With the items below, we will be tackling some tips and possible benefits once you have acquired work in Australia.

Your place to stay in Australia 

Where are you going to live? This will depend on where your work is going to be. In most cases, employers will aid there foreign employees in finding a place to stay. God employers will provide financial assistance for accommodations during the first few months, but this is scarce. If you are to look for a house, consider its proximity to your work place. You do not want to spend significant amount on transportation. If you have to commute, see to it that you will have easy access to public transportation. Make sure that you are just a ride away from your work place; this is for your own convenience.

Compensation

 Working in Australia should give you good compensation. Working in Australia is such an attraction because of the money involved in rates. Having good compensation should be focused as it would be useless to have work in Australia without having good pay.

When you acquire work in Australia, you should have almost the same compensation as citizens even if you are a foreigner. There have been cases of discrimination on pay for foreigners especially those who come from third world countries. This should be reported to the department of labor as this is not allowed. 

You should research on the trending of the rates before applying for any work In Australia. There are sites giving out this information. With the assessment of the pay, you should be able to have a clear guide for your employment rates.

 

Cost of living

Learn about the cost of living in Australia. Compare how much your monthly salary will be with the monthly expenses you are going to incur. Allocate amount for your rent, food, transportation, bills and the like. Bear in mind that the cost of living in your native country is unlike the cost of living in Australia. If you fail to anticipate this, you will surely have problems managing your finances, which is crucial if you are living in a foreign country. 

Apply for Permanent Residency

Consider an application for permanent residency, and know for a fact that the cost of living vary from one region to another.  Once you have adjusted to the life in Australia, consider applying for permanent residency.

 Permanent residents enjoy several benefits like being able to stay in the country indefinitely. With permanent residency, you can live and enter the country anytime you please. In this way, as long as the trips don’t affect your work, you can enjoy travels.

You can also study at any educational institution which is very good as education is cheaper when you have permanent residency. Foreigners have pay more for the education as compared to residents but having work will eliminate this.

You will also have the freedom to choose an employer once you are granted permanent residency; you will not need to apply for a new work permit once you quit your job. Moreover, you can also sponsor your family members so that you can reunite with them in Australia.

            Family reunion in Australia

Think of bringing your family in Australia. As mentioned above, you can bring your dependents in Australia once you are a permanent resident. However, you should be able to prove that you will be able to support them. Your finances will matter for the petitions of your family members.

Note that family members joining you in Australia will not have the same permanent residency status but will have an easier access to approval. Your dependents should pass the minimum requirements for English proficiency. They should also be in good health and should have good character. They will be asked to present police and medical certificates for the application.

Before you get too excited about working in Australia, see to it that you have collected all valuable information about it. What are the culture and norms? What is the educational system? Learning about such essential aspects will help you adjust better. You should also consider applying for permanent residency to make it easier to bring your family in Australia. Prepare the necessary documents and make sure that they pass the minimum requirements so that your dependents can join you here.

How to Apply For Australian Visa

Australia is a popular destination not only for tourists but also for foreign workers who wish to find better opportunities. There diverse culture also offers a good environment for different nationalities. Before you can visit, live, work or even study in Australia, you need to acquire the right visa that serves the purpose of your visit. Australian visas have specialized categories that can define the purpose of your stay.   

To know what type of visa to apply to, you need to be familiar with the different types of visa to choose from. Here are some of the common types of Australianvisa that foreign individuals apply to:

Business visa

This is granted to foreign individuals who have acquired or started a business in Australia. In addition to that, they have to actively participate in the running or the managing of the business.

The Australian business visa is also provided for individuals having business trips for short visits. These short visits should be focused in the business aspect but of course side trips are allowed for the duration of your stay. The type of business should be properly defined so the application process can be approved in the fastest possible time.

The Business visas can also be awarded for the purpose acquiring a business, and has been a very attractive type of visa for investors.

Family visa

Those who have acquired permanent residency status are given the privilege to sponsor their other family members to join them in Australia. However, the petitioned members of the family should be able to meet the minimum requirements to be granted the same status as their petitioner. In most cases, family members that are invited to Australia are given another type of visa a category before being issued the same visa type as the inviting party.

Skilled visa

This is for highly skilled individuals who wish to find work in Australia. The country welcomes such applicants who can immediately contribute to the economy of the country.

There have been a lot of applications for the Skilled Migrants Category and have been the primary focal point of promoting and attracting skilled individuals that have continued to seek out additional workforce for the in demand jobs.

You have to be able to support your claims of expertise on the Skilled Migrants visa, as being at the top of the list in the visa categories most applied for, you will have plenty of competitors.

Spouse

This is a privilege grated to partners or spouses of citizens or permanent residents of Australia. Certain conditions have to be met before the said visa is given to the applicant. One of the said conditions is that the sponsor spouse should be able to support the cost of living of his partner for a period of two years.

Because spouse visas have been abused in the past, there is a strong checklist before the Spouse visa is issued. Investigations and queries may be done by the Department of immigration and citizenship.

Travel visa

This is for individuals who are going to Australia for a short visit. Australia is a favorite destination of many tourists every year because of its beautiful landscape. The travel visa is made to cater for these trips.

As an alternative to the travel Visa, The Australian government has made a way to hasten the process. The Australian government has initiated the Electronic travel Authority (ETA). The ETA is allows for visits less than 3 months upon being issued an ETA. The ETA is a development of the Australian immigration and citizenship department for a faster processing of the tourist travel documents.

Working holiday

This is a type of visa given to qualified individual who wish to travel to Australia and do casual work during his or her stay. The said visa is only valid for 2 years. This is only applicable to foreign nationals who are from countries that have working holiday agreements with Australia.

The Working holiday for Australia has been one of the choices for individuals seeking permanent tours for the duration of their stay.  Working holiday visas are only given once with some destination taken as exempts to this rule.

The working holiday visa allows travelers to have extra income for the duration of their stay allowing for prolonged vacations over the country. Originating countries enjoy responsibilities too on the application processes of the individuals given this privilege. 

The above examples are the common types of visa categories that foreign individuals apply to. Now that you are familiar with them, you should be able to choose the type of visa category that suits you best. Before you apply, make sure that you are eligible. In order to be eligible, you need to have good health and good character. You should be able to speak and understand the English language. Before you are granted the visa you applied for, your application will be assessed by an immigration officer.

The Points Based System for Australian Immigration

A point-based system will be used for your assessment. How does this work? Well, points will be awarded to you based on different categories. The required points may vary depending on the type of visa you are applying for. Normally, this is used for the skilled migrant who wish to work in Australia. Applicants are given points based on age, employability, job offer, qualification, work experience and more.

The point-based system is used if the applicant qualifies for the general skilled migration program. As mentioned, some sectors in Australia have manpower shortage. This is why they are employing workers from overseas to fill out the said vacancies.

Understanding the processes

You need to understand that the processes for applying for the different types of visas are different. This is why you need to be specific with the type of visa you are going to apply to. You can apply for certain types of visa online. The ETA tourist visa is an example. Just make sure that you provide the necessary requirements. Bear in mind that this is only available to certain countries.

If you are eligible for the working holiday visa, then you may also apply online. Again, this type of visa allows you to travel Australia and permits you to take on casual work. This allows you to earn while staying here. The said visa has a life span of 2 years and may only be awarded once.  

The family sponsorship category will not require a point-based system assessment. However, it is crucial that the family member has a permanent visa or a citizen of Australia. See to it that you and your sponsored dependent are able to meet the requirements before applying.

Pursue your dream in Australia. With a strong economy, you can be certain to have a bright future here. Just make sure that you apply for the right type of visa for you and your dependents.