Many people believe or have heard from study abroad agencies that studying in Australia can lead to obtaining immigration status. It is important to emphasize that there is no study abroad immigration in Australia! In other words, studying in Australia does not guarantee immigration to Australia. So how do international students immigrate to Australia? There are mainly two methods: skilled migration and employer-sponsored migration, and neither of these methods requires prior study in Australia to qualify for application; individuals who meet the criteria in their home country can also apply directly.
Misconceptions and Challenges for International Students Immigrating to Australia through Skilled Migration
Australia's skilled migration program is an immigration policy introduced by the Australian Department of Home Affairs to attract overseas talent, mainly divided into the Independent Skilled Visa (subclass 189), State Nominated Skilled Visa (subclass 190), and Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (subclass 489). Among these, the Independent Skilled Visa (subclass 189) does not require state nomination, allows the holder to choose their place of residence freely after approval, and has no additional restrictions, making it the most popular choice among international students.
Misconception: Choosing a Migration-Related Major Guarantees Skilled Migration to Australia?
Many students initially come to study in Australia with a misunderstanding: "If I study in Australia and choose a migration-related major, then I have the basic qualifications to apply for immigration to Australia, and I just need to meet the points requirement for skilled migration." However, in reality, many students may obtain a diploma in a migration-related field but do not even meet the basic qualifications for a skills assessment in their field, let alone score points for immigration. Thus, it is clear that choosing a migration-related major does not mean having the key to unlock immigration to Australia. To truly immigrate to Australia through skilled migration, one must pay attention to seven key factors: age, education, English proficiency, skills assessment, points, health, and criminal record.
Challenge: Skills Assessment
The skilled migration process in Australia consists of two steps: the first step is the skills assessment, and the second step is submitting the visa application. The skills assessment is the most difficult and crucial step in skilled migration, requiring a specialized agency to evaluate whether the applicant's occupation matches the occupations on the migration list, thus controlling the first hurdle of immigration. Skills assessment agencies are industry associations in Australia qualified to assess occupations; they establish different occupational standards and criteria for various industries to evaluate and recognize different occupations. Only those occupations that pass the assessment can be recognized by the Department of Home Affairs for subsequent applications.
According to WorldWay Immigration, the skills assessment agencies in Australia can be categorized into many types based on the industry, each with different requirements. Commonly used skills assessment agencies include: AACA (Australian Institute of Architects), ACS (Australian Computer Society), AIM (Australian Institute of Management), CPAA (CPA Australia), EA (Engineers Australia), IPA (Institute of Public Accountants), TRA (Trades Recognition Australia), VETASSESS (Vocational Education and Training Assessment Services), etc.
