Saturday, June 11, 2011

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.

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