Visas

Summary of Visa Categories

There are several visa categories. Why not let us help you to find the best one for you? Sometimes your first choice may not be the most suitable to fit both your current and future personal circumstances. We welcome enquiries from students about studying towards permanent residency. We welcome enquiries from skilled individuals regardless of age who wish to relocate to Australia.

General Skilled Migration

The general skilled migration program provides the majority of Australia’s migrant intake each year. With Employer Sponsored visas, the General Skilled visa category helps Australia in its conscious decision to accelerate its economy, boost business, bring new skills into the country and address the ageing population base. The General Skilled program consists of 9 different visa subclasses all based around the key criteria related to skills, qualifications, age and English language ability. Applicants will be expected to score points against a variety of other criteria that will determine which visa subclass they will be able to apply under.

The points system has become the primary assessment tool used by the Australian government for the General Skilled Stream. If you would like to know how you fair then complete our On-line Application and we will carry out a free of charge assessment.

If you do not succeed, we may be able to help to, because, if possible, we can arrange Employer Sponsored Migration.

Employer Sponsored Migration

Employers may nominate (or "sponsor") skilled and experienced people from overseas. This can be through the following categories:

• The Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS). This allows Australian employers to recruit, on a permanent basis, 'highly skilled'positions with non-Australian citizens, where they have been unable to fill a vacancy from the Australian labour market or through their own training programs.
• The Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS). This enables Australian employers in regional or low-growth areas to fill 'skilled' positions, on a permanent basis, with non-Australian citizens, where they have been unable to fill a vacancy from the Australian labour market or through their own training programs. The RSMS is one of several Government initiatives designed to help State and Territory Governments in their efforts boost development in regional Australia and less populated states/territories.
• A Standard Business sponsorship (subclass 457 visa) enables Australian employers to recruit a specified number of workers from overseas in response to identified or emerging labour market skill shortages. A Labour Agreement enables Australian employers to recruit a specified number of workers from overseas in response to identified or emerging labour market (or skill) shortages. This is a formal arrangement negotiated between the Commonwealth Government and the employer or industrial association.

Southern Cross Settlement Services offers a uniquely tailored package to help you achieve employer sponsorship. Just complete the On-line Application form.

Business Migration

Most applicants will need to be able to demonstrate that they have a strong and successful business background and that they genuinely intend to establish a new business or participate in an existing business in Australia. They will normally have to apply for sponsorship from an Australian state/territory government as the first stage in making their visa application. There are also opportunities for applicants who Senior Managers of significant businesses or applicants who are able to make significant financial investments in Australia and have a demonstrated history in successful business or investments to make applications for residence.

For a FREE assessment please contact us and we will send to you a form.

Retirement Visa

Applicants will need to demonstrate the ability to invest significant sums of money in Australia and that they have independent financial income from such sources as pensions, investments, property etc. There are concessions made in this visa category for persons willing to settle in regional areas of Australia.

For a FREE assessment please contact us and we will send to you a form.

Family Category Migration

The family migration program is designed to help reunite family members of Australian citizens and permanent residents. Applicants will be required to demonstrate strong family ties in Australia and meet the Department of Immigration and Citizenship's regulatory requirements based upon the particular visa subclass that is applied for. This type of visa normally relates to applications from partners, parents or children of Australian citizens or permanent residents. There are provisions for other special family category visas.

For a FREE assessment please contact us and we will send to you a form.