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Easy Guide To Australia Migration From UK

Easy Guide To Australia Migration From UK

If you have long held a dream of moving to Australia from the UK, you are not alone. As of 2019, the largest group of overseas-born residents living in Australia were from England (986,000 people), representing 3.9% of Australia's overall population. Migrants are attracted to Australia for many reasons; high wages, safety and security, solid career prospects, the outdoor lifestyle, endless beaches, and of course the seemingly endless sunshine. If you plan to move to Australia in 2021 from the UK, perhaps due to Brexit, to be with family, or just for a new start, it is important to understand your immigration options. Australia has a strictly enforced and relatively complex immigration system, with several visa options available. In this article, we will outline your immigration options for moving from the UK to Australia in 2021.

‘Try Before You Buy’

If you are unsure if Australia is for you, or even if you have made your choice, it is highly recommended that you visit the country at least for a few weeks – a la ‘Wanted Down Under’. You might be surprised just how many people move to Australia or New Zealand without ever having visited. The truth is that even the most romantic and idealistic image of your dream country may not match up to reality. It may be that even though you love the weather and environment, the cost of living may be outside what you can afford. Likewise, you may find that the job opportunities are not available in your profession, or that the salaries are too low.

Some may decide they don’t like the culture or the weather. After all, what suits one person does not necessarily suit another. And if you have a family, Australia needs to work for all of you; it is no use some members being happy and others being thoroughly miserable. Another consideration is not having access to your family and friends. By taking a trip to Australia to sample each area of your potential new life, you and your family will get a much better idea of whether it is better for you. Ultimately, by trying before you buy, you can avoid the enormous impact of selling your home, taking your children out of school, and selling or moving all of your possessions if Australia is not suitable.

What Type Of Visa Should I Apply For?

The majority of migrants moving from the UK to Australia apply under a skilled work visa routes, including the skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) or the skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190). There are other options available for investors, business owners, those with ‘distinguished talent’, international students, and family visas. In this article, we will focus on the skilled work visa routes. If you are unsure which visa best fits your needs, speak to an immigration lawyer who will be able to advise you.

Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)

The skilled independent visa is points-based, with the amount you score being based on factors such as age, language ability, your occupation, your experience, and your qualifications. Applicants do not need to have a job offer in this category, but their occupation must be listed in the Skilled Occupation List (SOL). You will also need to have a skills assessment. If you are interested in this visa route, you will need to first express your interest by filling in an online questionnaire. The answers you provide will then be used to calculate your points, and if you score 65 points or more you will be added to a pool of prospective applicants. Each month, the Australian immigration authorities select people from the pool with a score at or above a set threshold (which can vary each month) to apply. If you are selected, you can then complete the full application process for yourself and your dependant family members.

Skilled nominated visa (subclass 190)

Like the 189 visa, you will first need to express your interest in applying for a skilled nominated visa (and score at least 65 points), however, what determines when you can apply is whether you are nominated by an Australian state or territory government agency. Your occupation must also be listed on the skilled occupation list. Each state and territory government agency has individual criteria for who they will nominate. Again, you will not need to have a job offer to apply under this route.

For both of the above visa routes, you will also need to have a relevant skills assessment; the guidance states, “for your application to be valid, you must declare that you have a suitable skills assessment at the time of invitation. You will need to provide a copy of this skills assessment with your application”. The eligibility rules also state you need to meet the health and character requirements, and that you have not had a visa cancelled or a previous application refused.

How Long Does It Take To Secure A Visa To Move To Australia?

The process of applying for a visa for Australia can take a considerable amount of time. The processing time for the 189 visa is 11 months (for 75% of applications). While this is a long time, this can be used to put all of the necessary arrangements in place for your move. To make sure your case is processed as quickly as possible, you need to ensure that every aspect of your application and evidence provided is correct. Delays typically occur if immigration officers assessing your application need to seek clarification or request additional documents. By taking your time and being thorough, you can ensure your application and those of your family members are processed faster.

Wrapping Up

Moving to Australia from the UK can be enormously exciting and stressful in equal measure. Given the amount you will have on your hands, including possibly selling your house, finding work, arranging your finances, selling your possessions, arranging schools, and transporting pets, where possible do consider asking an immigration solicitors to handle your visa application/s on your behalf. Knowing that this are in the best hands possible will allow you to focus your time and energy on other matters. We wish you all the very best with your move to Australia.

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Reiss Edwards Reviews

O.L

"Andy Tieu is absolutely amazing, as a lawyer myself I can categorically say tha...

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Kiran Sardar

"I found Joe very helpful and tremendous patience which is a must in this profes...

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Cheyam Shaked

"Anna Foley was the lawyer helping my partner obtain an EEA EFM visa. She was ou...

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Isaac .T

"Professional service. I was very impressed with the fact that my ILR applicatio...

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