How can a Global Talent visa change your life? Everyone likes a story with a happy end. Especially if you are the person who helped make it happy. A few weeks ago, our client Mr B and his family members received their Australian Permanent Resident visa. While assessing Mr B's profile we discovered, he is skilled enough for a GSM visa but was also above the cutoff age of 45. At this point, we recommended Mr B to apply for a Global Talent visa (858 visa) based on his occupation as a Security Specialist. It all went smooth, and we've also managed to shorten his waiting time (while holding a temporary visa) from three years to 1.5 months. Mr B was thrilled to learn he and his family can stay in Australian indefinitely having all the social and health benefits. What do you need to know about the Global Talent Independent (GTI) program? This unique program offers a priority visa pathway for highly skilled individuals and their families to live and work permanently in Australia. It's designed to gather the world's best and brightest skilled migrants to grow Australian businesses of the future. Who can apply for a Global Talent visa? Candidates who are highly skilled and internationally recognised in one of the following target sectors: AgTech FinTech MedTech Cyber Security Quantum Information/Advanced Digital/Data Science and ICT Space and Advanced Manufacturing Energy and Mining Technology Additional eligibility criteria for Global Talent visa Candidates should be able to earn the Fair Work High Income Threshold (currently $148,700) Or have recently graduated with a PhD or Masters qualification in the target sectors. Candidates must have a recommendation from an Australian individual or organisation with a national reputation in the same field to attest to their skills. If you think you are eligible for a Global Talent visa, we are happy to support you with your application and start the process which would change your life. Contact us today

Covid 19 closed Australian borders and also kept the vast global talent pool out of reach for Australian employers who benefitted from them in the pre-Covid era via a temporary visa. As an employer, you might have a few employees on a work visa, but as time goes by, you must find a pathway to keep them in Australia. How did Covid affect your employees? Before Covid 19, many sponsored migrants relied on the General Skilled Migrant (GSM) pathway to pursue and secure their permanent residency in Australia. This means that after approximately 1-3 years on a temporary visa, they would have applied for the GSM visa and granted their permanent residency. Unfortunately, Covid 19 reshuffled the Department of Home Affairs priorities and GSM has dropped to the bottom of the list. Your employee cannot rely on the GSM visa anymore and must find other options to get his permanent residency to remain in Australia. A stress-less employee is an effective employee Keep in mind that if your employee leaves, you would need to source, recruit and train new staff, which will be more challenging due to the lack of new talent coming to Australia. This will cause a significant expense for the business. You want your employee to focus on his work and not on his visa status. It has been proven that supporting your employee will increase his loyalty, engagement and will reduce retention in the business overall. How can you keep your employees in Australia? Fortunately, the Department kept a few pathways for these employees via a temporary or permanent employer nomination visa. The most suitable pathway must be tailored to your employee based on his occupation, qualifications, skills, experience and his current visa. Over the years, LifeinAus helped many companies keep their talent in house. Book your consultation with Moran Shultz, CEO of LifeinAus – Migration Service, and find out how to keep your dearest employees close to you. Contact us today

The Australian Government is encouraging the 2.17 million temporary visa holders to go back to their home countries. This is aimed at skilled workers, international students, visitors and work and holidays visa holders who can't support themselves in the next six months. The main reason for the sudden change in policy is to allow the Government to focus on Australians and permanent residents. The Government already started shifting the focus to Australians in regards to employment and financial support. For example - International students have recently been allowed to work beyond the 40 hours per fortnight limit to help stocking shelves in major supermarkets. However, from May 1st they are back to 40 hours to allow Australians to be recruited into these roles. Similar to the above example, we foresee further Government policy changes to favour Australians over temporary visa holders. The only exception will be for key industries, such as health, aged and disability care, agriculture and food processing, where temporary visa holders benefit from more flexibility. What does it mean for employers? To fill the skills gap in the market, the Government frequently updates the occupation in demand lists for temporary visa holders. Learning from the above example, where the Department of Home Affairs back paddled on it's decision to extend students' working hours, we anticipate more and more professions to be removed from the occupation lists as unemployment surges to give priority to Australians and Permanent residents. Therefore, if you employ a temporary visa holder such as - International Student (500 visa), Temporary Post Graduate (485 visa), Work and Holiday (462 visa) or Working Holiday (417 visa) and would like to retain them, you should look into sponsoring them under the Temporary Skilled Shortage visa - 482 work visa. This allows you to extend their stay for 2 or 4 years depending on their profession and secure their stay in Australia. Keeping in mind the Government doesn't want to rock the boat for businesses who currently employ longer term temporary visa holders. In other words, if you employ a talented employee, don't wait for their short term visa to expire, proactively seek to transition them to a 482 work visa now. Why should you act quickly? If you transition your employees into a 482 work visa now, you have a chance to secure your employee for additional 2 or 4 years before the occupation lists changes. In a case where your employee's profession is removed from the list before the 482 visa was granted - he will not have a pathway to continue working for you legally. What if your employee is already on a 482 work visa? In this case, you should probably want to discuss a transition to a Permanent Resident visa with him. This will allow him to secure his stay in Australia without being dependent on frequent changes in policies. Another huge benefit for your employee is the access to Medicare and Centrelink which will save him a lot of money down the track. There are many avenues to transition from temporary work visa 482 into a Permanent Resident visa including General Skilled Migration, Employer Nomination Scheme (either Direct Entry stream or Transitional stream), Global Talent and more. Each pathway has different requirements and success rate, this is where consultation with an experienced migration agent will go a long way. Keep in mine that entire process will take no less than a year so you better start sooner rather than later. "In other words, if you employ a talented employee, don't wait for their short term visa to expire, proactively seek to transition them to a 482 work visa now." Benefits to employers and temporary visa holders Those visa holders who have been stood down, but not laid off, will maintain their visa validity and businesses will have the opportunity to extend their visa as per standard arrangements. Businesses will also be able to reduce the visa holder working hours without the person breaching their visa condition. This is a win for both parties enabling employers to cut their expenses without impacting the employee's visa validity. Financial support for employed temporary visa holders At the moment, the Australian Government also wants to see the employed temporary visa holders keeping their jobs, so it allows them to get access to financial aids and in some cases shows flexibility in their visa conditions. For example: Students who have been in Australia longer than 12 months and suffering from financial hardship will be able to access their Australian superannuation. Visa holders who have been stood down, but not laid off will also be able to access up to $10,000 of their superannuation this financial year. Temporary graduate visa holders (Subclass 485) will also be able to access their Australian superannuation if needed. You are lucky If you work in these critical sectors: Health, aged and disability care, agriculture and food processing, and childcare - some limited flexibility will be provided for these temporary visa holders. For example: Working holiday visa holders who are working in these critical sectors will be exempt from the six-month work limitation with the one employer and eligible for a further visa to keep working in these crucial sectors if their current visa is due to expire in the next six months. International students working in aged care as nurses have had these hours extended. More to come on this topic in the following announcements. LifeinAus - Migration Services are the experts in work visas, business sponsorship and transitioning temporary employees into permanent residency. Moran Shultz, Founder of LifeinAus helped many companies retain their valuable talent in Australia in times when legislation changes rapidly and time is of an essence. "Contact us for a quick chat about your valuable talent's visa"

As we reestablished our businesses as a home office, we must not neglect the longevity of our talented employees. Despite the help package to Australian businesses, a valid Australian visa is still a firm requirement which isn't going away soon. There are a few changes to the migration & visa landscape which should be considered now to ensure you are covered for the medium and longer-term. Visa application processing time At this point, the Department Of Home Affairs ('The Department') will still process all visa applications, including sponsorship, nomination and work visa. We believe processing time will take longer than usual as government case officers might also be impacted by Covid-19 and its collateral effect. At this point, we strongly suggest securing enough time to allow your next visa to be processed and granted. Travelling outside Australia How does Covid-19 impact your travel plans? Conferences are mainly cancelled or moved online, but visiting a remote office or attending customer meetings might be a challenge. Currently, there are still options to fly out of Australia. Bear in mind that many countries around the world won't allow foreigners into the country. But if you are lucky to find your way in, you would mostly be required to stay in quarantine for at least 14 days. On top of that, an additional 14 days await when you are back in Australia. Visiting Australia Often we invite visitors, business visitors, customers or partners to Australia. People who wish to travel into Australia on a visitor visa can still apply for a visitor visa. However, due to the new policy which only permits Australian PR holders or Citizens to arrive into the country, foreigners can't enter at the moment. An exemption exists for immediate family members. If you are an employee who is currently holding a temporary work visa (457, TSS 482, 408 or 400) which is about to expire within the next two months, you should apply immediately for your next visa Future changes to professions in demand The Department continually reviews the occupations in demand and updates the work visa eligibility lists to fill market gaps. We estimate that the big wave of unemployment, due to Covid-19's impact on the economy, will have a strong effect on the occupation lists. As a result, many of them will be taken off these lists. If your occupation is in demand now, we strongly suggest you act quickly and apply for your next relevant work visa or permanent visa. What is relevant nowadays may no longer be relevant very soon. Employers seeking to sponsor overseas talent Due to the current situation, new overseas talent can't arrive in Australia. It is an excellent opportunity to check the local market for locals and skilled overseas employees who are already in Australia. Many of them are holding a Post Graduate/Working Holiday or Work and Holiday visas with full work rights! Employees on working visa If you are an employee who is currently holding a temporary work visa (457, TSS 482, 408 or 400) which is about to expire within the next two months, you should apply immediately for your next visa. If your visa expires while you are in Australia, you might become unlawful and suffer immediate serious consequences which will block your ability to return to Australia in the future. Student employees - can now work 40 hours If your employee is holding a student visa, he might be available to increase his working hours. If his academic institution decided to send him for his leave earlier than expected, he has full work rights until the next term begins. Strategies for staying in Australia permanently Permanent Resident - Skilled The Department is still looking for skilled migrants. If you are one and already located in Australia, you are lucky! The Department invites skilled applicants to apply for several Permanent Resident (PR) visas. The current General Skilled Migrant (GSM) pathway allows either an independent PR visa or a State Nomination PR visa (depending on the occupation you are holding). Partner visa If you are in a De Facto relationship with an Australian PR visa holder or an Australian citizen, you might be eligible to apply for an Onshore Partner visa. We believe the partner visa isn't going away anytime soon and is still one of the safest ways which will lead to staying in Australia permanently. We can help identify if you are eligible to apply and support your visa pathway. New students - high risk The Covid-19 caused the local education providers to change their conventional systems and offer online studies or bring forward their school break earlier than expected. At the moment, it is unclear whether new students can enrol for the next term or not. Exemptions to visa holders due to Covid-19 If you have restricting conditions on your current visa like 'No further stay' (includes 8503, 8534 and 8535), this means you can't apply for most other visas before you leave Australia. Or if you have condition 8558 (Non-resident cannot stay for more than 12 months in any 18 months period), you will need to apply for a new visa that suits your new needs. The Department will consider waiving some of these restrictions on a case by case. When dealing with The Department, an experienced migration agent will take you a long way. We can help you apply for a waiver and keep you lawful in Australia. LifeinAus are the experts in work visas and innovative legal pathways to staying in Australia permanently. Moran Shultz, Founder of LifeinAus helped many companies retain their valuable talent in Australia and helped many individuals find their permanent life in Aus.

You wish to apply for a GSM visa, but don't have enough points - we have good news: Your partner might be the key for achieving your Australian dream. As per recent legislation updates, the following changes will be implemented to the points test based General Skilled Migration (GSM) visas as from 19 November 2019. GSM applicants will now have the opportunity to gain more points based on their partner's profile (spouse or de facto partner). Which visas are included in this change? The relevant visas for this change are: Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) New Skilled Work Regional visa (Provisional) (Subclass 491) How can my partner help with my GSM Visa? Your be awarded with 5 points if your partner has a Competent English level. 10 points if your partner is an Australian Citizen or an Australian Permanent Resident. 10 points for applicants with a skilled partner who is under 45, has Competent English level, holds a suitable skills assessment and with an occupation which is on the same skilled occupation list as the GSM Applicant. This section currently award only 5 points. 10 points for Specialist Educational qualifications relevant to STEM qualifications (e.g. Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). Currently worth only 5 points. What if I don't have a partner? If you are in between relationships there is something for you too - Lack of partner will award you with 10 points towards your points test How will the new changes affect the way the Department invites candidates to apply? When the sum of all points except partner qualifications are equal, invitations will be ranked in the below order: First: Applicants with a skilled partner. Equal First: Applicants without a partner. Second: Applicants with a partner who demonstrates Competent English but who do not have the skills to obtain skilled partner points. Third: Applicants with a partner who is ineligible for either competent English or Skilled partner points. To maximise your partner's points, you'll need to start preparing the evidence now. Contact us and we can prepare a detailed plan for you and your partner, so your application can be submitted among the first ones in November 2019. The LifeinAus team

Have you ever dreamed of living and working in Sydney, Australia? Did you know that Australia’s IT has one of the best work-life balance? You can work on the bleeding edge of technology and spend time with your family on weekdays. Australian IT produced many unicorns like Canva, Tyro Payments, Campaign Monitor, Big Commerce and Atlassian to name a few. If you are a Developer, Software/Hardware Engineer or IT Architect, you have a good chance of getting a work visa and a great role. How can I get a work visa in Australia? To be eligible for a temporary skill shortage visa (subclass 482) you must tick these boxes: Occupation – Your occupation needs to be part of the occupation lists of the 482 visa. Work experience – You must hold at least two years of full-time work experience in your area or highly relevant experience post your qualification within the last five years. The work period does not need to be continuous. Qualification – You need to hold a suitable qualification for your occupation. Most IT occupations will usually require a Bachelor degree. If you don’t hold the relevant qualification, you might still be eligible to apply for this visa, by proving five years of relevant experience. English – You must meet the appropriate English language requirement. Sponsor – You must find an employer with the ability to sponsor foreign employees. Can you help me check my eligibility for a work visa? Our professional team at LifeinAus will be happy to assess your eligibility for a work visa once you’ve provided your most updated CV to info@LifeinAus.com and answer a short online questionnaire. Can you help me find an Australian employer? If you are eligible, your details will be provided to the IT specialists team in Mantech Careers. Their fantastic experienced team will do its best to find you a suitable Australian employer who will be able to offer you your dream role and sponsor you for a work visa. The 482 work visa can be granted for either two or four years depending on the list your occupation belongs to. The Short Term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL) can be granted for two years while the Medium and long term strategic list (MLTSSL) can be issued for four years. The 482 visa will enable you, your partner and your dependent children to work, study and live in Australia. Based on the specific occupation list, there are pathways for a second 482 work visa or a Permanent Resident visa which allows you to stay in Australia indefinitely. For an eligibility check, email us your updated CV to info@LifeinAus.com and we'll get back to you with your best options to live and work in Australia. The LifeinAus team

If you always dreamed of living in Australia, in a dynamic and progressive environment, yet has a relaxed and friendly pace. In the Northern Territory, you will find more than 100 nationalities who happily share their cultures besides being surrounded by wild nature with some of the best national parks in Australia. As from this January 2019, The Northern Territory Government has opened its doors to skilled migrants holding one of the 117 listed occupations and offers a pathway to permanent residency. (this program is called The Northern Territory (NT) DAMA II scheme). NT employers can now sponsor skilled and semi-skilled overseas workers for positions if they can’t find a local employee to fill it. This agreement is relevant for those who are willing to work and live in the region for at least three years. Between the 117 offers occupations, you can find professions like - General Accountants, Engineers, Electricians, Bar Attendants, Waiters, Cooks, Bakers, Baristas, Bus drivers, Café and Restaurant Managers, Chefs, Child Care Workers, Hairdressers, Hotel Managers, Motor Mechanics, Plumbers, Property Managers, Tour Guides, Truck Drivers, Wed Designer, Welfare Workers and many more. Here you can find the full list of occupations. Your level of qualifications and experience required varies according to your profession. However the minimum experience is one year post the completion of your qualification. You should also be aware that many occupations on the list are eligible for English language concession, which can increase your chances to apply for this visa. If you hold any of the occupations on the list, have the right qualification & experience and you are ready to find your next employer at the NT - we are here to help you with your Permanent Residence visa. Contact us at info@LifeinAus.com

If you applied or held a 457 visa before 18 April 2017 which was subsequently granted, and you’ve worked for your employer for a minimum of two years in the last three years - you are lucky! You are eligible to apply for a permanent resident visa. We strongly recommend applying for your permanent resident visa ASAP and before the legislation changes once again. Keep in mind that if you lose your job or let your 457 visa expire, you will miss this golden opportunity for an Australian permanent residency. Can ICT Project Manager living overseas still apply for a permanent visa? As of March 2018 the legislation has changed, the occupation of an ICT project Manager was removed from the Employer Nomination Scheme 186 Direct Entry visa occupation list which means that if you had plans to arrive on a permanent resident visa, and work anywhere you like for an Australian employer, your options are now limited to rural areas only. (This excludes the opportunity to live and work in metropolises like Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane) Currently, you can still apply for a Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme visa (subclass 187). It is a permanent resident visa allowing you to living and working in a rural area for a minimum of 2 years before you could move on. Here you can find the locations which are considered rural in Australia What are your options if you prefer the big city life? Currently, an ICT project Manager with a minimum of two years’ experience has an option to arrive in Australia on a Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482). This temporary visa will allow you to work and live in Australia for a maximum of two years. Since this occupation is included in the short-term stream, you could apply for another 482 visa before the expiry of the first visa, however, you won’t be able to move to a permanent resident visa while holding an ICT Project Manager 482 visa. If neither of the above applies to you, we can advise for alternative pathways to staying in Australia. LifeinAus, specialises in helping ICT Project Managers holding 475 visa apply for their Permanent Resident visa under the Employer Nomination Scheme 186 and finding successful pathways to those are on a different visa but wish to stay permanently in Autralia. Get in touch today to claim your Australian Permanent Residency. info@LifeinAus.com

Australia maintains strict health and safety policies to protect the Australian population. As part of the public interest criteria, you might be required to take a medical examination when applying for certain visa types to Australia. All applicants for permanent visa including the primary applicant, spouse and any members of the family unit applying for the visa must be assessed against the health requirement. Also, under certain circumstances, family members who are not applying for the visa (these are called non-migrating family members) sometimes will also be assessed against the health requirement, for example, Carer visa, Remaining Relative visas or dependent children. Are my family members required to take medical examinations? Members of the family unit applying with the primary applicant are required to meet the health requirement. For some visas, the health requirement is a "one fails, all fail" rule which means that if any member of the applicant's family unit (either applying for that visa or not) fails to meet the health requirement and no health waiver is available, no other family member applying for that visa will be able to be granted a visa including the primary applicant. Which health examinations are required when applying for a Permanent Resident visa? The applicant is under 2 years of age- a medical examination is required. The applicant is 2 years old or elder and under 11 years old- a medical examination is required. If the applicant is from a high-risk country for Tuberculosis (TB) or applying for a refugee or humanitarian type visa - TB Screening test will be required as well. The applicant is 11 years old and under 15 years old – a medical examination and chest x-ray are required. The applicant is 15 old and up – a medical examination, chest x-ray and HIV test are required. What does a medical examination contain? Urine test Blood test Check your blood pressure Eyesight – read letters from a chart Weight – to define BMI Height – to determine your BMI Check your heart Reflexes Check – check on your legs Ears and throat Lumps underarms and belly Which health examinations are required when applying for a Temporary visa? If you are applying for a temporary visa to Australia, the health examination you will be required to undergo will depend on some factors including: · The type of visa you are applying for and the country you are applying from. · The length of your intended stay in Australia · The level of tuberculosis risk in your country · Your planned activities in Australia, for example, an applicant from the age of 15 years or older who intends to work as, or study to be, a doctor, dentist, nurse or ambulance paramedic will be required to take specific medical examinations. · Any exceptional circumstances which might be applicable · Any significant medical conditions. Which countries do not require immigration health examinations for a temporary visa? The countries below, which are at lower risk in terms of TB, Do not generally need to complete immigration health examinations for a temporary visa unless particular significance applies: Albania; American Samoa; Andorra; Antigua and Barbuda; Argentina; Aruba; Australia; Austria; Bahamas; Bahrain; Barbados; Belgium; Belize; Bermuda; Bonaire; Bouvet Island; Bulgaria; Canada; Cayman Islands; Chile; Christmas Island; Cocos (Keeling) Islands; Cook Islands; Costa Rica; Croatia; Cuba; Curacao; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Denmark; Dominica; Egypt; Estonia; Falkland Islands; Faroe Islands; Finland; France; French Polynesia; FYR Macedonia (Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia); Germany; Gibraltar; Greece; Grenada; Guadeloupe; Heard and McDonald Islands; Hungary; Iceland; Iran; Ireland; Israel; Italy; Jamaica; Japan; Jordan; Kosovo; Kuwait; Lebanon; Lichtenstein; Luxembourg; Malta; Mauritius; Mexico; Monaco; Montenegro; Montserrat; Netherlands; Netherlands Antilles; New Caledonia; New Zealand; Niue; Norfolk Island; Norway; Oman; Palestinian Authority; Pitcairn Island; Poland; Portugal; Puerto Rico; Reunion Island; Saint Eustatius & Saba; Saint Helena (Ascension and Tristan da Cunha); Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Lucia; Saint Martin (Dutch); Samoa; San Marino; Saudi Arabia; Serbia; Seychelles; Slovakia; Slovenia; South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands; Spain; Svalbard & Jan Mayen; Sweden; Switzerland; Tokelau; Tonga; Trinidad and Tobago; Tunisia; Turkey; Turks and Caicos Islands; United Arab Emirates; United Kingdom (British citizen); United States of America; Uruguay; Vatican City; Virgin Islands (British); Virgin Islands (US); Wallis and Futuna Islands. Any Country which is not listed above is considered a higher risk regarding TB and therefore require a health examination to be completed where indicated. When applying for a temporary visa, if you are planning to stay in Australia for less than 6 months you are usually not required to take a medical examination unless a particular significance applies. If you are planning to stay for longer than 6 months and you are not from the countries mentioned above, you will be required to take a medical examination and a chest x-ray What is considered an unusual or significance situation? · If you are from a higher TB-risk country and likely to enter a healthcare or hospital environment – you need to have a chest x-ray examination and a medical examination · If you are pregnant and intend to deliver your baby in Australia - you need to have a Hepatitis B test · If you plan to work as or study to become a Doctor, Dentist, Nurse or Paramedic – you need to have a chest x-ray, medical examinations, HIV and hepatitis B and C blood tests · If you plan to have your training at a child care centre in Australia - you need to have a chest x-ray examination and a medical examination · If you are 75 years old and above and plan to arrive in Australia on a visitor visa - you will be required to take a medical examination How to book an appointment for the medical examination? If you already applied for a visa while being in Australia, you will need to take the following steps - 1. The Department of Home Affairs will determine which health examinations you require to undertake and will provide you with a HAP ID (health identifier) to undergo these health examinations. 2. You will need to complete an eMedical online application and download your referral letter. 3. You will need to book an appointment through Bupa online services and provide your HAP ID: http://www.bupamvs.com.au/appointments. 4. You will need to attend the appointment (don’t forget to bring your referral letter and passport). 5. A panel of physician and/or radiologist will grade and submit your results to the Department directly. If you are applying for a visa from outside Australia You must book your health examinations with a panel physician. A panel physician is a doctor and/or a radiologist who has been appointed by the Department of Home Affairs to perform your health examinations while being outside Australia. To locate the closest panel physician in your country/area, check the list of panel physicians here. https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/busi/Pane/Pane-1 The panel physician can process your health examinations online using the eMedical system in more than 100 countries. You are required to complete the eMedical Client process online before attending your appointment if you already submitted your online application. When booking an appointment with an eMedical enabled clinic, you must provide your HAP ID. You must provide your referral letter and passport when arriving at the medical examination. Get in touch today to claim your Permanent Residency. Moran@LifeinAus.com +61404690227

As from 12 August 2018, any employer who wishes to nominate overseas skilled workers for any of the following visas: • TSS - Temporary Skill Shortage (subclass 482) • ENS - Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) • RSMR - Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (subclass 187) Must pay the SAF levy with every nomination application. How much does the employer require to pay for the SAF levy? Small business (annual turnover of less than $10 million) would be required to pay for each nomination application: AUD 1,200 per year for a Temporary visa (TSS) or AUD 3,000 as a one-off payment for a Permanent visa (ENS/RSMS). Large business with (annual turnover of more than $10 million) would be required to pay for each nomination application: AUD 1,800 per year for a Temporary visa (TSS) or AUD 5,000 as a one-off payment for a Permanent visa (ENS/RSMS). SAF Payment schedule: The SAF must be paid in full when submitting the nomination application. The amount depends on the size of the sponsoring business and the proposed period of stay of the overseas worker in Australia. It is also worth mentioning that the SAF levy payment is tax deductible for the business. Further Essential information you must know about the SAF levy The employer can choose how many years to nominate an applicant – from one to four years. The SAF levy figure will be calculated according to the time selected. The SAF levy must be paid by the EMPLOYER only - the overseas skilled workers should not pay this cost. There are no exemptions for the SAF levy, except for nominating religious workers under the Labour Agreement streams of the TSS or ENS visas. For all other nominations, who are party to a Labour Agreement, the SAF levy must be paid. The SAF levy can be refunded in limited circumstances only. Does the employer still needs to pay the training benchmark? From 12 August 2018, the training benchmarks will no longer apply for ENS and RSMS visa nomination. It will only apply to nominations lodged before 12 August 2018. For TSS visas, the sponsorship obligation regarding the training benchmarks will only apply for the 12 months period ending on or before 12 August 2018. Should you have any questions about the new SAF levy, we'll be happy to advise. Moran@LifeinAus.com

Think about the next scenario… You enjoy living and working in Australia for almost four years now. You love your long sunny days, spending time on the beach and enjoying the great nightlife. Soon enough your 457 temporary visa will expire, and unless you take some action, you will find yourself on a plane back home to ‘enjoy’ the UK’s great weather. So, what are your options? If you applied or held a 457 visa before 18 April 2017 which was subsequently granted, and you’ve worked for your employer for a minimum of two years at the last three years - you are lucky! We strongly recommend applying for your permanent resident visa by the Employer Nomination Scheme 186 via the transitional stream ASAP and before the legislation changes once again. Keep in mind that if you lose your job or let your 457 visa expire, you will miss this golden opportunity for an Australian permanent residency. If you are a Recruitment Consultant living overseas, can you still apply for a permanent visa? As of March 2018 the legislation has changed, the occupation of a Recruiter Consultant was removed from the Employer Nomination Scheme 186 Direct Entry visa occupation list which means that if you had plans to arrive on a permanent resident visa, and work anywhere you like for an Australian employer, your options are now limited to rural areas only. (This excludes the opportunity to live and work in metropolises like Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane) At the moment you can still apply for a Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme visa (subclass 187). It is a permanent resident visa which limits you to living and working in a rural area for a minimum of 2 years before you could move on. Here you can find the locations which are considered rural in Australia What are your options if you prefer the big city life? Currently, a Consultant Recruiter with a minimum of two years’ experience has an option to arrive in Australia on a Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482). This temporary visa will allow you to work and live in Australia for a maximum of two years. Since this occupation is included in the short-term stream, you could apply for another 482 visa before the expiry of the first visa, however, you won’t be able to move to a permanent resident visa while holding a Consultant Recruiter 482 visa. If neither of the above applies to you, we can advise for alternative pathways to fulfil your Aussie dream. Here in LifeinAus, we specialise in helping Recruiters holding 475 visa to apply for their Permanent Resident visa under the Employer Nomination Scheme 186 and finding successful pathways to those who haven’t won the lottery. Get in touch today to claim your Permanent Residency. Moran@LifeinAus.com 0404690227

If you are on the path to a Skilled Migration, you should read this! The Department of Home Affairs is undertaking a review of the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL), the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) and the Regional Occupation List (ROL) regularly. These occupation lists are used for various skilled migration visa types including TSS (482 visa), ENS (186 visa) and RSMS (187 visa) Categories. Please review the following occupations who have been flagged for removal or changes as from 1 July 2018. Short Term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL) occupations for possible removal Medium Long Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) Occupations for possible movement to STSOL STSOL occupations for possible move to MLTSSL Occupations for possible movement from STSOL to Regional Occupations List (ROL) If your Skilled Occupation has changed and you have any questions or concerns, please contact us. The LifeinAus Team

So, its been eight months or so since you’ve moved to Australia, you are having the best time of your life and you are happy. But a quick look at your visa expiry date tells you that it might all be over soon. Now you are not happy, however you still have a few options up your sleeve before you’ll taste mum’s cooking once again. Second year of Working Holiday visa Specific nationalities can apply for the second year of a 462 & 417 working holiday visa and once you have provided evidence for completing three months of specified work (see notes below) you can apply for another year. Around 35,000 visa holders did this last year. (You’ll need specified work in regional Australia in these specific industries – Construction, Mining, Tree Farming and Felling, Fishing and Pearling, Plant and Animal Cultivation while holding the first visa 417. Or you’ll need to work in Northern Territory or Western Australia in these specific industries – Tourism, Hospitality, Agriculture, Forestry or Fishing while holding the first visa 462). Remember, you’ll need: specified work, in specified regional Australia and in specified industries. Make sure you tick all those boxes. Return to school As an international student, you can learn English, or gain a tertiary education in Australia. Remember there are course fees attached to all tertiary courses in Australia. However, you are eligible to work 20 hours a week and once you have finished your studies, you could apply for a post-graduate visa (485) which will allow you to continue studying or work for between between 1.5 to 4 years. TSS – Temporary Skill Shortage visa TSS visa (482) is relevant for a skilled worker with two years’ experience. If your occupation is listed on one of three lists, you might be eligible to stay between two to four years. Occupations from two of the lists will have an option to continue and apply for a Permanent Resident visa after working for three years for the same employer. Find the love of your life If you are in a spousal (marriage) or de facto relationship with your Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen partner you might be eligible to apply for a partner visas. If you want to further explore your options, feel free to contact us. The LifeinAus Team

A great way to start or develop your career is to study in a world-recognized, reputable institute while enjoying the best country in the world. Hurry up and get your Australian Student visa today! Here is what you must know before applying. 1. Where can I study with an Australian Student visa? An Australian Student visa will enable you to study in a CRICOS (Commonwealth Register of Institutions and courses for Overseas for Overseas Students) registered course on a full-time basis in a registered institution. 2. How long can I hold an Australian Student visa? Australian Student visa allows you to stay in Australia for the duration of your studies, and generally up to five years but will be determined by the length and type of course. 3. Who can be included in the Student visa application? Family members can join the Student visa application (combined application) or apply to join a Student visa provided the applicant has declared about them in the application, or they became a family member after the grant of the Student visa (newborn baby for example). 4. Course packaging You can apply for two or more courses on your visa application if there is a clear progression from one course to the other. The final course will be your main (or principal) course of study which will determine the financial and English language evidentiary requirements. 5. Visa’s condition The visa holder must abide by his visa conditions or the visa could be cancelled. An example for default condition 8105 on a Student visa is that you cannot work more than 40 hours per fortnight when your course is in session. 6. Confirmation of Enrolment If applying from outside Australia, you must include Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) for each intended course of study. If applying from within Australia, you can submit your application with Letter/s of Offer, but for your visa to be granted, you must provide the CoE. 7. Genuine Temporary Entrant You must provide a Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) statement to show your actual intention to study temporarily in Australia. This requirement is an integrity measure to ensure you won’t maintain ongoing residency in Australia. 8. Financial evidence For some of the Student visa streams, you are required to provide financial evidence to cover for your course fees, travel and living costs for yourself and each of your accompanying family members while you are in Australia. 9. You can apply for an Australian Student visa from in or outside Australia. 10. It is essential to submit a complete application at least six weeks before the course commencement. We specialize in Australian Student visa and Temporary Graduate visa and can help you choose the right education path for you tailored to your requirements. Don’t stay in the dark, Contact us today. The LifeinAus Team

In March 2018, the 457 visa was abolished and replaced by Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) 482 visa. Here is what you need to know about TSS visa. The Temporary Work (Skilled) visa (Subclass 457) program was designed to enable employers to address labour shortages by employing genuinely skilled workers where they cannot find any relevant locals skilled workers. In March 2018, the 457 visa will be abolished and replaced by Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) Visa (Subclass 482). What do you need to know about TSS visa? TSS visa will support businesses in addressing genuine skill shortages. Compared to 457, TSS will contain a number of safeguards which prioritise Australian workers over the global talent pool. 216 occupations have been removed from the list, leaving 435 eligible occupations, many of which have new limitations and caveats. Under the new TSS visa, there are three streams: Medium-term stream – In case your occupation is on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) - you will be granted a visa for four years, with eligibility to apply for permanent residence after three years. Short-term stream - In case your occupation is on the on the MLTSSL Short-term Skilled Occupations List (STSOL) - you will be granted a visa for two years. (in some cases, up to four years can be granted) Labour Agreement stream – In case of a demonstrated need that cannot be met in the Australian labour market and standard visa programs are not available, with the capacity to negotiate a permanent residence option. In comparison to 457, some of the requirements for TSS have been raised: Minimum of two years of relevant work experience is required. Applicants must demonstrate higher proficiency of English language. Under TSS there are no English language exemptions for applicants earning a salary higher than $96,400. Police clearances are mandatory for countries you spent 12 months or more during the last decade. Labour market testing in now mandatory. (an exemption may be applied in some cases) Employers must pay the Australian market salary rate with a minimum of $53,900 $1200 to $1800 contribution to the Skilling Australians Fund must be paid by the employer per visa holder. If you are unsure how these changes might affect you, please give us a call. There are frequent changes to the TSS visa, find out about these changes in our Blog. The LifeinAus Team