Benefits of an Australian Skilled Working Visa
The General Skilled Migration program is geared toward skilled workers who would like to work in Australia but do not have an employer to sponsor them. The Australian government developed this visa in order to attract more skilled workers to Australia, particularly in fields experiencing a shortage of skilled employees. This visa is a pathway to permanent residency in Australia; skilled workers are encouraged to remain in Australia and contribute to the workforce.
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The Facts
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There are no conditions on the Skilled Migrant visa. It allows the holder to live and work permanently in Australia. You are then entitled to apply for Australian citizenship, which is conditional upon meeting the residency eligibility criteria. As a skilled migrant, you have the option of studying in Australia, either at a school or university. If you have a spouse or children, you can then sponsor them to become permanent residents in Australia.
Requirements
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To qualify for an Independent Skilled Migrant Visa (Subclass 175), you must score 120 points. Applicants earn points on a number of criteria, including age, English language ability and type of skilled occupation. The Australian government has issued a Skilled Occupation List (SOL), which lists the skills that are in need and how many points they are worth. If your occupation is on the SOL, you stand a better chance of being granted a visa.
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Benefits
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As a Skilled Migrant visa holder, you are eligible for government-subsidized healthcare through Medicare, Australia's health care system. You can also access social security payments through the organization Centrelink. This ensures that you are protected by the Australian government in the event that you become injured, sick or encounter financial hardship.
Types
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Occupations on the SOL are divided into four categories. The first is Managers and Administrators, which includes professions such as Human Resource Manager and Sports Administrator. The second category is Professionals, including Biochemist and Psychologist. The third is Associate Professionals, like Dental Hygenist and Youth Worker. The final group, Tradespersons and Related Workers, includes job titles like Baker and Welder.
Solution
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To meet the skills shortage in Australia and make more people aware of the skilled migrant visa, the Australian government runs Australia Needs Skills Recruitment Expos. These occur in overseas locations, and skilled workers must register in advance if they wish to receive an invitation to the expo. Australian employers set up exhibits at these events with the intent of finding skilled overseas workers who are likely to qualify for the Skilled Migrant visa.
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