Steps to Australia Skilled Migrant Visa 1, Take the English Language Test The most common and recommended test is IELTS. Find out more about IELTS at: bhttos://nww ielts.or You can book your IELTS withthe British Council. You can make the booking here: bhttosy//ielts.britishcouncil.org/Default.aspx The test will cost about $240 and results will come out after 13 days. For Australian PR visayouwill need to score at least a6” in each of the four modules (Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking). For immigration purposes you take the GENERAL test. 2._Nominate an Occupation For a skilled migrant youwill have to nominate an occupation that is in ine with your skills and/or experience. Your nominated occupation hes to be inthe“Skilled Occupations List (SOL)”. The government regularly publishesthe lst for Skilled Occupations. You can findtthe current list here: bhttos://Awww.border.gov.au/Trav/Work/Work/Sh occupations-lists/SOL -assessment-and-assessing-authorities/skillec- Take note of the exact name and code, as these will bereferenced throughout your application process. Get your qual ions and skills Assessed This is one of the major steps. You have to get your qualifications and skills assessed by the relevant professional body or assessing authority in Australia, Each occupation in the Skilled Occupations lis is listed with the relevant assessing authority in the link given above.The assessment usually takes about 2 to 3 months, but there may an option to fast-track the process at afee. In this case it will take about 2 weeks. The total coast for assessment will be about $800. Pricing informationis available on the assessing authority websites in the link given above. 4,_ Submit an Expression of Interest (EO!) Australian Skilled Migrant visas are by invitation. This means that you first ‘express an interest’ before you can apply for the visa. The process isa simple (10 minutes) and free online service. You can find ‘out more and submit an EOL here: bnttp://mww.border. gov au/Trav/Work/Skil Important: When you fill nyou work experience and qualifications for the EOI, make surethe specified periods (especially for employment) are as per assessment letter fron the assessing authority in Australia. Any other employment not assessed should be marked as “not relevant”. This is CRITICAL and perhaps the major pitfall youshould watch out for in your application. Get an invitation to apply for a visa Youwill get an invitation based on the information you entered in your EOI. Make sure this information is correct as youwill be requiredto prove it later. Any inconsistences may have adverse effects. The invitation is based on a point system. You score points based on a number of factors, which are well explained on their immigration site, but Iwill summarise the ones relevant to you below. You currently need at least 60 points to get an invite. a) Age ‘Age Group Points 0-18 Not elgibiefor visa (for primary applicant) 18-24 25 25-32 30 33:39 540-44 5 45-49 0 50+ Not eligible for Visa (for primary applicant) )_ English Language ability English Language Abiity Points Less than competent (maximum score less than 6 inany module) Not eligible for Visa Competent Englishiminimum score of6inany | 0 module) Proficient English (at least Tin any module) | 10. Superior English (at least 8 in any module) 20 Thave only done for IELTS here. The test score used is the minimum you get in any module, and not the overall IELTS band. For example, if u get: Reading(8), Writing(8), Listening/8), Speaking(7), the test score that will apply is the one for Speaking (7), even though your overall IELTS band will be 8. ©) Qualifications Qualification Level Points i} 20 Bachelor or Master Degree. 5. Trade Certificate (Diploma, etc) 10 Number of Years of Experience _| Points Bt 15 5+ (but less than 8) 10 3+ (but less than 5) 5 Less than 3 0 d) Non-Australia (Overseas) Work Experience Make sure the qualifications and work experiences you are claiming points for have been assessed! (Youcan get 10 extra points if you are nominated or sponsored to apply to live in a regional part of Australia, You also can get extra 5 points if your spouse has similar qualifications and skills with you, is under 50 years, has at least competent English ability as per table above AND gets her skills and qualifications assessed. Only do this if you REALY have to, otherwise if ugot enough points dortt, as it's more hustle and cost). Invitation rounds are carried out twice every month and the dates are published here:http border. gov.au/Trav/Work/Skil (Check “Invitation Rounds" TAB) 6._Accept Invitation and lodge an application for a visa Hooray! U got your invitation! This is the easiest step. When u get an invitation youwill be givena link to lodge your online application on the immigration website. Youwill be given 60 days to respond to the invitation. During this period, youwill not be able to change any information onyour EOL Youare deemed to have accepted the invitation after you have filled in all the fields in the online application form, submitted and paid the application fee. Find fee information here: 7._ Submit Relevant Documents ‘After you have paid, youwill only thenbe abletto attach documentary evidence to your application. Make sure you can prove everything you claimed in your EOL Youwill have about 2 to 4 weeks to upload colour scans of your docs before a case officer looks at your case. Submit as muchas you can tomeke your case easier. I recommend to upload everything except your medicals and police clearance documents. Only do these when asked as they have expiry dates and affect the first date by which youshould enter Australia to activate your visa. More on this later 8._Get the VISAI A case officer will review your application and after afew weeks youwill be smiling! Youwill have about a year from the date you didyour medicals or police check (whichever you did first) to make first entry to Australia,