Many people believe or have heard from study abroad agencies that studying in Australia can lead to obtaining immigration status. In fact, it is important to emphasize that there is no study abroad immigration in Australia! This means that studying in Australia does not guarantee immigration to Australia. So how do international students in Australia immigrate? There are mainly two methods: one is skilled immigration, and the other is employer-sponsored immigration. Both methods do not require prior study in Australia to qualify for application; individuals who meet the criteria in their home country can also apply directly.
1. Misconceptions and Challenges for International Students Immigrating to Australia through Skilled Immigration
Australia's skilled immigration is a policy introduced by the Australian Department of Home Affairs aimed at attracting overseas talent. It is mainly divided into the Independent Skilled Visa (subclass 189), State Nominated Skilled Visa (subclass 190), and Regional Sponsored Skilled Visa (subclass 489). Among these, the subclass 189 does not require state nomination, allows for free choice of residence after approval, and has no additional restrictions, making it the most popular choice among international students.
Misconception: Choosing a migration-related field of study guarantees eligibility for skilled immigration?
Many students initially come to study in Australia with a misunderstanding: "If I study in Australia and choose a migration-related field, then I have the basic qualifications to apply for immigration to Australia, and I just need to meet the points requirement for skilled immigration." However, in reality, many students, although they have obtained diplomas in migration-related fields, do not even meet the basic qualifications for a skills assessment in their field, let alone score points for immigration applications. Therefore, it is clear that choosing a migration-related field does not mean having the key to unlock immigration to Australia. To truly immigrate to Australia through skilled immigration, one must pay attention to seven key factors: age, education, English proficiency, skills assessment, points, health, and criminal record.
Challenge: Skills Assessment
Skilled immigration in Australia involves 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 immigration, requiring a specialized agency to evaluate whether the applicant's occupation matches the occupations on the immigration 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 to evaluate and recognize various occupations. Only those occupations that pass the assessment can be recognized by the Department of Home Affairs for subsequent applications.
According to WorldWay Immigration, there are many categories of skills assessment agencies in Australia 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.
2. Challenges for International Students Immigrating to Australia through Employer-Sponsored Immigration
Employer-sponsored immigration in Australia is a policy by the Australian Department of Home Affairs aimed at balancing the local labor market by introducing overseas labor. It is mainly divided into the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186), Regional Employer Sponsored Migration Scheme (subclass 187), and Temporary Skill Shortage Visa (subclass 482). Among these, the subclass 186 allows for free choice of residence after approval and has no additional restrictions, making it the primary choice for international students.
Challenge: Employer Qualifications
Employer-sponsored immigration in Australia does not require going through complicated scoring criteria, has a fast approval time, and has lower English requirements for applicants, with a minimum IELTS score of 6 in each component. Compared to skilled immigration, it has clear advantages. However, the "employer" is the key focus and challenge of this immigration program! The qualifications of the employer affect whether the applicant can successfully obtain a visa to immigrate to Australia. It can be said that 80% of international students fail in the employer-sponsored immigration program due to issues related to the employer. Therefore, WorldWay Immigration suggests that international students should thoroughly understand the employer's (company's) business income, personnel structure, establishment time, and other basic information through an agency to confirm the employer's authenticity and reliability.