| Many international students studying in Australia dream | | | | call or site visit for verification |
| of one day becoming permanent residents and staying | | | | 5. Further Study: if you are completing a bachelor |
| on in Australia for good. The most common pathway | | | | degree in Australia, you can get 10 extra points if you |
| for students is to apply for General Skilled Migration on | | | | do an honours year or masters |
| completion of their studies. Whilst there is a lot of | | | | 6. Professional Year: professional years are available |
| information on immigration on the internet, sometimes | | | | for IT, Accounting and Engineering. Aside from extra |
| it’s difficult to figure out in practice what your | | | | points, your application may be processed more |
| chances are and what you need to do next. | | | | quickly if you complete a professional year. |
| You could ask a friend who has applied before, but the | | | | 7. State Nomination: states publish lists of occupations |
| rules change so quickly that this can be dangerous. As | | | | in demand and for which they will consider nominating |
| the processing time for General Skilled Migration gets | | | | people for temporary or permanent skilled visas. |
| longer, chances are you won’t find out that | | | | These days it is difficult to get a state nomination, but if |
| you’ve made an error in your application for a year | | | | you do have one, it means that you don’t need as |
| or more after lodgement. | | | | many points to qualify for migration and your |
| This guide is intended to provide an easy to follow | | | | application is processed at the highest level of priority. |
| outline of the main things international students need to | | | | 8. English Testing: most students will need to do the |
| be aware of in applying for General Skilled Migration. | | | | IELTS test of English language ability ( Unless you get |
| We begin with the top 10 tips for international students | | | | at least 6 in all 4 components of the IELTS, it will be |
| thinking of applying for General Skilled Migration: | | | | very difficult to apply even for the skilled graduate visa. |
| 1. Graduate Skilled Visa: the 18-month Graduate Skilled | | | | You need to think ahead as you may need to wait 3-4 |
| visa (subclass 485 and also commonly called | | | | months for a test date – the test is valid for 2 |
| “TR”) is a very useful way of helping you get | | | | years so you can do it well before you are ready to |
| enough points to apply for your permanent residence. | | | | apply. |
| 2. Critical Skills List (CSL): If you are thinking about | | | | 9. Bridging Visas: if you lodge an onshore application |
| choosing a course, think about doing a course which | | | | you will receive a Bridging A visa which gives full work |
| would allow you to pass skills assessment in a CSL | | | | rights in Australia. However, the Bridging A visa ceases |
| occupation (see | | | | if you leave Australia. If you want to travel, you’ll |
| 3. Watch out for Exemptions: if you have exemptions | | | | need a Bridging B visa – this costs $90 and you will |
| or academic credits for overseas studies, these can | | | | need to show evidence of the reason you need to |
| affect whether you have enough study to apply. | | | | travel. |
| Avoid academic credits if at all possible | | | | 10. Keep up to Date: the rules change constantly, and |
| 4. Work Experience: work experience can give you | | | | the Department of Immigration is currently looking at |
| extra points – however, it has to meet certain | | | | revising the whole General Skilled Program. You can |
| requirements in terms of skill level, salary paid, hours | | | | keep up to date by registering for updates on our |
| per week etc. The Department of Immigration looks | | | | website |
| very carefully at work experience claimed by | | | | In the next instalment of this guide, we will discuss |
| international students, so your employer can expect a | | | | getting your skills assessed for migration purposes. |