Skilled – Sponsored (Migrant) Visa (Subclass 176)

The Skilled- Sponsored (Migrant) visa (Subclass 176) is a permanent work visa for individuals who have the qualifications or skills that are needed by Australia and their occupation is listed in SOL(Skilled Occupation List), but cannot meet the pass mark required to obtain a Skilled Independent visa.

Skilled Sponsored visa applicants should score a minimum of 65 points on points assessment and must either obtain sponsorship from an eligible relative living in Australia or nomination from a participating State or Territory government.

Eligibility for 176

You are eligible for this visa if you:

• are under 50 years of age
• have the skills and qualifications that meet the Australian standard for an occupation on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL)

applicants must also pass a points test. Points can be claimed in areas related to age, English language ability, specific work experience, spouse skills and other bonus categories.

The current pass mark for the Skilled Sponsored visa is 65 points. If you score less tha 65 points your application will be refused.

Points can be claimed in areas related to age, English language ability, specific work experience, spouse skills and other bonus categories.

To be sponsored by a relative, an applicant's relative must live in Australia* and be either:

• an Australian citizen;
• an Australian permanent resident; or
• an eligible New Zealand citizen.

The applicant (or their spouse) must be related to their sponsor as either:

• a non-dependent child - including a natural, adoptive or step-child;
• a parent - including adoptive or step-parent;
• a brother or sister - including adoptive or step-siblings;
• a niece or nephew - including adoptive or step-niece or nephew; or
• an aunt or uncle - including adoptive or step-aunt or uncle.

* Some Extra requirements are there to be met if an applicant's relative lives in Sydney, Gosford, Newcastle or Wollongong.

To be nominated by a State or Territory government

State and territory governments can nominate visa applicants who have an occupation that is in shortage in their particular state or territory. This may include occupations from the Skilled Occupation List or from a broader occupations list known as state and territory Skilled Occupation List. It may be useful for you to check the websites of each state or territory government to see if your occupation is on their skills shortage list. If it is, then you could contact that state or territory government to determine if they want to nominate you. State and territory governments will also be able to provide you with information relating to employment, housing and schools in the region you may wish to live in.

NOTE :

Nomination from a state or territory government does not automatically result in the grant of a visa. Your application must also be assessed by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship against a number of visa-specific requirements. You will only be granted a visa if all requirements are met.

What can I do with this Visa?

This visa allows you and any secondary applicants included in your visa application to live as permanent residents in Australia.

This is a permanent residence visa. As a permanent resident you are permitted to remain in Australia indefinitely. This visa also allows you to travel to and enter Australia for five years from the date the visa is granted.

Permanent Residents in Australia can:

• live and work in Australia on a permanent basis
• study in Australia at school, Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector or university
• receive subsidised healthcare through Medicare.
• access certain social security benefits
• can be eligible for Australian citizenship
• and further sponsor people for permanent residence.

US STUDENT VISA (ACADEMIC AND VOCATIONAL)

If you would like to study as a full-time student in the United States, you will need a student visa. There are two nonimmigrant visa categories for persons wishing to study in the United States. These visas are commonly known as the F and M visas.

F-1 Student Visa

The F-1 Visa (Academic Student) allows you to enter the United States as a full-time student at an accredited college, university, seminary, conservatory, academic high school, elementary school, or other academic institution or in a language training program. You must be enrolled in a program or course of study that culminates in a degree, diploma, or certificate and your school must be authorized by the U.S. government to accept international students.

M-1 Student Visa

The M-1 visa (Vocational Student) category includes students in vocational or other nonacademic programs, other than language training.

ELIGIBILITY FOR F-1 AND M-1 VISAS

To be eligible for F-1 or M-1 visa category:

• You must be enrolled in an "academic" educational program, a language-training program, or a vocational program
• Your school must be approved by USCIS
• You must be enrolled as a full-time student at the institution (Once you are enrolled you will be issued a I-20 form from the institute which is needed for your visa application)
• You must be proficient in English or be enrolled in courses leading to English proficiency
• You must have sufficient funds available for self-support during the entire proposed course of study
• You must maintain a permanent residence abroad which you have no intention of giving up.

F-1 and M-1 visa applicants may also be required to meet certain health and character requirements.

WHAT CAN I DO WITH THIS VISA ?

F-1 students may not work off-campus during the first academic year, but may accept on-campus employment subject to certain conditions and restrictions, M-1 students may engage in practical training only after they have completed their studies.

For both F-1 and M-1 students any off-campus employment must be related to their area of study and must be authorized prior to starting any work by the Designated School Official.

Spouses and unmarried children under 21 years of age may apply to join their spouse or parent in the US.

UK TIER 2 (GENERAL)-sponsorship visa

The Tier 2 (General) category is for foreign nationals who have been offered a skilled job by a UK employer to fill a gap in the workforce that cannot be filled by a UK settled worker.

ELIGIBILITY FOR TIER 2 (GENERAL)

To be eligible for Tier 2 (GENERAL) category visa you must have a job offer and a Certificate of Sponsorship from an organization that is a licensed sponsor in the United Kingdom. You can only have a job offer if you will not be displacing a suitable settled worker. This means that employers cannot offer a job to a non-settled worker if it means that a suitable settled worker will be turned down for the job or made redundant.

For your TIER 2 (General) application to be successful, you must score a total of 70 points and meet all the other requirements of the Immigration Rules.

Read below on how you can score points

ATTRIBUTES

You must score 50 points for having a Tier 2 (General) certificate of sponsorship, and for being paid an appropriate salary. These are known as your 'attributes'.

Points are available for your attributes as follows:

You can score 30 points if you have been assigned a certificate of sponsorship for one of the following:

• the job has an annual salary of £150,000 or more;
• the job is on the shortage occupation list;
• your sponsor has completed a resident labor market test;
• you are switching from a post-study category; or
• you want to extend your stay and continue working in the same job for the same employer

SALARY

You can score 20 points if you have a salary of more than GBP 20,000.

Your sponsor will confirm your salary details on your certificate of sponsorship. You do not need to send any other evidence of your salary.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE ABILITY

You score 10 points if you can speak English to the required standard.

MAINTAINANCE ABILITY

You must score 10 points by showing that you have enough money to support yourself while you are in the United Kingdom (amount to be shown for Tier 2 General is GBP 800 and should be at least 90 days old) and this will be the proof of your maintenance ability while you are in the UK.

Once you are sure you have enough points to apply under this category you must ensure to submit all the necessary documents with your application and may have to satisfy other immigration rules.

What Can I Do With This Visa ?

If the permission to enter the UK under Tier 2 (General) Visa category is granted, you can stay here for 3 years and 1 month. You may also get an extension of 2 years. Your family may apply to accompany you.

Once you have been in UK for 5 years, you may be able to apply permission to permanently settle there.

New Zealand Skilled Migrant Category(Skilled PR)

The New Zealand Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) is for foreign skilled workers who are under 50 years of age, healthy, of good character and who speak English. This is an opportunity for them to move to New Zealand to work and live permanently.

Eligibility for New Zealand Skilled Migrant Category

To fulfill the basic requirements to be eligible for residence under Skilled Migrant Category you must:

• be 55 or under
• be healthy
• be of good character
• speak English.

To qualify under the New Zealand Skilled Migrant Category a minimum of 100 points needs to be scored in a points based assessment. You score points for age, experience, employability and qualifications. Candidates for residence under the Skilled Migrant Category who have an offer of employment, work experience or qualifications in an area of absolute skill shortage identified on the LTSSL(Long Term Skill Shortage List), may gain bonus points towards their application for residence, which may also help them to qualify for Skilled Migrant Category.

Once you qualify, the first step towards skilled migration can be made by submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI) for Skilled migration to immigration New Zealand.

If you have claimed 100 points or more on your EOI, you can submit it into the Pool. 100 points will get your EOI into the ‘Pool’, but the more points you have, the more likely you are to be selected.

Once your EOI is drawn from the pool, after assessment the department sends an Invitation To Apply (ITA) and now you will have to show proof of the claims made on your EOI. This means medical and police certificates, proof of English language ability, and documentation regarding your skills, experience, and other factors.

After you submit application and the documents asked, department starts assessing you for residence. They will once again make sure that you meet all requirements, and that your points claimed are valid.

The department will also assess you on your ability to settle in New Zealand successfully. They may consider you able based on your application, or may wish to interview you.

There are three possible outcomes:

• The department grants you residence.
• The department thinks you have potential, but want to see how you settle, they will give you a job search visa, which you can use to help obtain an offer of skilled employment in New Zealand for up to nine months. If you obtain skilled employment in this time you will have shown your ability to settle and contribute, and your residence application will be approved.
• The department declines your application.

Important Note on Occupational registration: If your occupation needs occupational registration in New Zealand and you do not have it, you will not be able to work in your chosen occupation under the Skilled Migrant Category.

WHAT CAN I DO WITH THIS VISA?

The Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) offers you the opportunity to move to New Zealand to work and live permanently. Permanent residents can apply for citizenship once they live in New Zealand for a certain period of time.

Partner and dependent children are allowed to accompany the principal applicant under SMC and can study, work and live permanently in New Zealand.

FEDERAL SKILLED WORKER VISA

Canadian Immigration encourages skilled worker applications for Permanent Residence from people with skills, education and work experience that will contribute to the Canadian economy.

Applications for Permanent Residence under the Federal Skilled Worker Class can be submitted by foreign nationals who are skilled workers and professionals.

ELIGIBILITY FOR FSW CANADA

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has set specific basic requirements that all applicants must meet in order to apply for a Federal Skilled Worker visa.

To meet the basic visa requirements, applicants must pass a points-based assessment. Points can be claimed in areas related to an applicant's age, English or French language ability, work experience, qualifications and ability to adapt to life in Canada. The current pass mark for the Federal Skilled Worker visa is 67 points.

To qualify for a Federal Skilled Worker visa, applicants must meet at least one of the following requirements:

• Possess an offer of arranged employment in Canada; OR
• Have at least 1 year's work experience in a designated high-demand occupation. Applications based on a designated high-demand occupation will be restricted to 10,000 until June 30, 2012, with a limit of 500 applications per occupation, processed on first-come, first-served basis.

You must show that you have enough money to support yourself and your family members after you arrive in Canada. The money must be available to support the costs of living for yourself and your family. You cannot borrow this money.

The applicant is also required to satisfy certain health and character requirements to meet the FSW visa criteria.

WHAT CAN I DO WITH THIS VISA ?

If your application for Federal Skilled Worker Visa is successful, you and your family members will receive permanent resident visas. You will become permanent residents of Canada when you move to Canada.

As permanent residents, you and your family members will have the right to:

• live, study and work in Canada for as long as you remain permanent residents
• access most social benefits accorded to Canadian citizens.
• apply for Canadian citizenship, and if granted, apply for a Canadian passport once you have been a legal permanent resident for three of the four previous years.

Important Note: EFFECTIVE December 23, 2010: If you are submitting a language test with your application, the results are now valid for 2 years from the time you took the test, instead of 1 year.

Skilled – Independent (Migrant) Visa (Subclass 175)

A permanent visa for people with skills in demand in the Australian labour market. Applicants are not sponsored and this visa is granted through a Points Based System.

This visa allows you to migrate to Australia if you have good English language skills and have work experience as well as qualifications in an occupation in need in Australia.

This visa uses a points test to select visa applicants who are in a field of high demand in the Australian labour market.

Eligibility for Skilled Independent Visa Subclass 175

To get one of these Australia visas, the applicant must first meet the basic criteria and then meet the points test minimum pass mark(65 points) to qualify for skilled permanent residence.

General Skilled Migration to Australia offers applicants the opportunity to migrate to Australia on the basis of their skill assessment, work experience and/or educational background.

You qualify for this visa if you

• are under 50 years of age
• have the skills and qualifications that meet the Australian standard for an occupation on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL)

Also to qualify for a Skilled visa, applicants must be able to satisfy the basic visa requirements related to age, English language ability, occupation, skills, qualification, recent work experience, health and character.

In addition, applicants for a Skilled visa must also pass a points test. Points are scored on the basis of age, English language ability, specific work experience, spouse skills and other bonus categories.

You do not require sponsorship to apply for this visa.

What can I do with this Visa?

This visa allows you and any secondary applicants included in your visa application to live as permanent residents in Australia.

This is a permanent residence visa. As a permanent resident you are permitted to remain in Australia indefinitely. This visa also allows you to travel to and enter Australia for five years from the date the visa is granted.

Permanent Residents in Australia can:

• live and work in Australia on a permanent basis
• study in Australia at school, Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector or university
• receive subsidised healthcare through Medicare.
• access certain social security benefits
• can be eligible for Australian citizenship
• and further sponsor people for permanent residence.

Check whether you are eligible to apply for this visa by clicking on the following link:

http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/175/eligibility-applicant.htm

Skilled–Recognised Graduate visa(476) (For Engineers)

This visa allows recent Engineering graduates of selected overseas universities to gain up to 18 months of skilled work experience in occupations in demand in Australia.

An 18 month temporary visa for Engineering graduates of recognised overseas educational institutions who have skills in demand in Australia. There is no points test for this visa.

Eligibility for 476

You are eligible for this visa if you have completed an eligible degree qualification in Engineering, Within the period of two years from the lodgment of application.

An eligible degree qualification can be any of the following:

• A bachelor's degree
• A masters degree
• A doctoral degree
• A postgraduate diploma.

Your degree qualification must contain a major sequence of study or specialisation in an Engineering discipline. Engineering specialisations include but are not limited to:

• Civil Engineering
• Structural Engineering
• Chemical Engineering
• Environmental Engineering
• Electrical and Electronics Engineering
• Mechanical, Production and Plant Engineering
• Mining and Material Engineering.

Important: The qualification that you are relying on to meet this requirement must have been completed at a recognized overseas institution.

This visa does not have a points test but other requirements must be met.

You must be under 31 years of age on the day of making your application.

You must provide evidence that you meet the English language threshold at the time you apply which can only be IELTS Test Report Form (TRF) Number to show you have a band score of at least six on each of the four components – speaking, reading, listening and writing.

What can I do with this Visa?

This visa allows you and any secondary applicants included in your visa application to remain in Australia for up to 18 months with no restrictions on work or study.  During this period you may choose to:

• travel
• work
• undertake further professional studies
• study to improve your English skills.

If you are granted this visa you are able to live and work in any part of Australia and engage in any type of employment. You and any accompanying secondary applicants must however comply with Australian laws.

Once you hold this visa, you may apply for permanent residence at any time if you are able to meet the pass marks on the General Skilled Migration points test.

H-1 B WORK PERMIT

The H-1B non immigrant classification is for foreign internationals who wish to work there and are coming to the United States temporarily to perform within these services: 

• Specialty occupation
• Department of Defense worker
• Fashion model

H-1 B Visas have statutory numerical limitation of 65,000 per fiscal year.

Note for H-1 B1 visa aspirants: [The Chile & Singapore Free Trade Agreement requires the USCIS to exempt 6,800 H1B visas from the H1B visa cap (which is in total 65,000) and be reserved for eligible citizens of Chile and Singapore which is called the H-1 B1 specialty occupation visa.]

ELIGIBILITY FOR H-1 B VISA

	To be eligible for an H-1B visa, you must demonstrate that you have:
Evidence that the proposed employment qualifies as a specialty occupation Evidence that you have the required degree by submitting either: a. A copy of your U.S. baccalaureate or higher which is required by the specialty occupation b. A copy of your foreign degree and evidence it is equivalent to a U.S. degree c. Evidence of experience and education, which is equivalent to the U.S. baccalaureate degree A copy of any required licenses or other official permission to practice the occupation in the state of intended employment A copy of any written contract between you and your employer, and a summary of the terms of the oral agreement under which you will be employed

	Occupations Generally Considered
	Accountant, Acupuncturist, Chiropractor, Computer Programmer, Dietitian, Electronics Specialist, Fashion Designer, General Manager (where business is complex), Graphic Designer, Hotel Management, Industrial Designer (with B.A.), Interior Designer (commercial), Journalist, Librarian, Medical Records Librarian, Medical Technologist, Minister, Orthopedist, Pharmacist, Social Worker, Technical Publications Writer and Vocational Counselor.
You cannot apply for a H-1B visa as an individual. A United States employer has to sponsor your H-1B visa. To sponsor you, the employer must: File a Labor Condition Application (LCA) for you with the U.S. Department of Labor File a Petition for you as nonimmigrant worker and supporting documentation and the approved LCA with the USCIS

If you are overseas, you must take the H-1B approval notice to the American Consulate to obtain the H-1B visa. If you are already in the U.S., you can start working for your employer as soon as you receive the H-1B approval notice.

Applicants will need to meet certain health and character requirements for H-1 B visa.

WHAT CAN I DO WITH THIS VISA ?

You can be in H-1B status for a maximum period of six years at a time. After that time you must remain outside the U.S. for one year before another H-1B petition can be approved. However, foreign nationals working on defense department projects may remain in H-1B status for ten years, though you can take other steps toward lawful permanent resident status without affecting your H-1B status.

Spouses and unmarried children under 21 years of age may apply for the applicable derivative visa (H4 visa) to join their spouse or parent in the US. Accompanying spouses and children are entitled to study in the United States but are not entitled to undertake any employment without obtaining an appropriate work visa.

Newzealand Skilled Migrant Category Points and bonus points

Skilled Migrant Category

The Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) offers you the opportunity to move to New Zealand to work and live permanently.

Who can apply?

To be eligible for residence under SMC you must:

• be 55 or under
• be healthy
• be of good character
• speak English.

To decide if you can apply we use a points system. You get points for age, experience, employability and qualifications.

How to apply

There are two steps:

1. You complete an Expression of Interest, telling us about yourself, your family, your skills and your experience.
2. If you have enough points, we accept your Expression of Interest, and send you an Invitation to Apply. You complete it, and return it to us with your supporting documents.

Find out more

• Points indicator – Gives you an idea of how many points you could claim when you apply.
• Can I apply? – Gives you the basic requirements you have to meet, and more about the points system.
• How to apply – How you lodge your Expression of Interest, and what you’ll need to provide later with you application.
• After you’re approved – Some things you need to know about when your application has been accepted.

Points and bonus points

All of the available points are listed below. 100 points will get your EOI into the ‘Pool’, but the more points you have, the more likely you are to be selected.

Age

• 30 points: 20-29 years
• 25 points: 30-39 years
• 20 points: 40-44 years
• 10 points: 45-49 years
• 5 points: 50-55 years.

Close family

10 points for close family in New Zealand.

Skilled employment

• 50 points: job offer
• 50 points: working in a skilled job in New Zealand for less than 12 months
• 60 points: working in a skilled job in New Zealand for more than 12 months.

Bonus points

• 10 points: work in an identified future growth area
• 10 points: work in an area of absolute skills shortage
• 10 points: work in a region outside Auckland
• 20 points if partner has a skilled job or job offer.

Work experience in skilled employment

• 10 points: 2 years
• 15 points: 4 years
• 20 points: 6 years
• 25 points: 8 years
• 30 points: 10 years.

Bonus points for work experience in New Zealand:

• Five points: one year
• 10 points: two years
• 15 points: three or more years.

And if the work experience is in an identified future growth area:

• 10 points: 2 to 5 years experience
• 15 points: 6 or more years experience.

And if the work experience in an area of absolute skills shortage:

• 10 points: 2 to 5 years
• 15 points: 6 or more years.

Qualifications

• 40 points: recognised level 4-6 qualification (e.g. trade qualification, diploma)
• 50 points: recognised level 7 or 8 qualification (e.g. bachelor degree, bachelor degree with honours)
• 60 points: recognised level 9 or 10 post-graduate qualification (masters degree, doctorate)

Bonus points for qualifications:

• 10 points: two years full-time study in New Zealand completing a recognised bachelor degree New Zealand qualification 
• 10 points: One year of full-time study in New Zealand completing a recognised post-graduate New Zealand qualification
• 15 points: two years of full-time study in New Zealand completing a recognised post-graduate New Zealand qualification
• 10 points: qualification in an identified future growth area
• 10 points: qualification in an area of absolute skills shortage
• 10 points   if your partner holds a level 4-6 qualification
• 20 points: if your partner holds a level 7+ qualification.

Click the link for points calculator:  http://www.immigration.govt.nz/pointsindicator/

Australa's New Skilled Migration Selection Model for 2012

Australia will introduce a new Skilled Migrant Selection Model in July 2012 in one of the biggest changes to the Australian immigration system in years.

The new SkillSelect model will see Australia move to a system similar to that used by New Zealand, and based upon an Expression of Interest (EOI). People applying for a Skilled Migrant visa will first have to register their claims for skilled migration through an online Expression of Interest (EOI), and may then be invited to make an immigration application – a process that could take up to six months.

Under the current system, applicants for independent or state/territory sponsored migration can submit an immigration application immediately as long as they meet all requirements. Once the new model comes into effect on 1 July 2012, they will first require an invitation from Australian immigration to lodge a visa application.

Australian Immigration Minister Chris Bowen said: "It is critical that Australia's skilled migration program is driven by Australia's skills needs, rather than the desires of prospective migrants."

"That's why the government will introduce a new model for selecting skilled migrants to better target Australia's future skill needs."

Mr Bowen said the new system would be more equitable for migrants, and would deliver stronger outcomes for employers who weren’t able to fill their skilled positions locally.

The following Australian immigration visa categories will be affected by the new Skilled Migrant Selection Model:

Applicants living outside Australia:

• Subclass 475 Skilled Regional Sponsored
• Subclass 175 Skilled Independent
• Subclass 176 Skilled Sponsored

Applicants already living in Australia:

• Subclass 487 Skilled Regional Sponsored
• Subclass 885 Skilled Independent
• Subclass 886 Skilled Sponsored

The new system is expected to come into effect 1 July 2012.

Visa eligibility and approval depends on the applicant's individual circumstances.To find out if you're eligible for a General Skilled Migration visa, take Working In's free online eligibility assessment.