Many people who study or work in Australia like the option of becoming Permanent Residents. Individuals on Study Visas, Employer Sponsored Visas, a General Skills visa, or anybody working as a doctor or nurse can usually apply for a Permanent Residency visa, at least after some time in the country.

An Australian Permanent Resident is not a citizen, but actually, a non-citizen who holds a Permanent Visa. This grants them many of the rights and entitlements of actual citizenship.

Permanent Residents (PR) have access to Medicare, and after spending two years in the country they are eligible for Social Security benefits. They can live, work and travel in Australia as they choose. They can hold most Government jobs. If studying they may be eligible for some (not all) education loans.

Children born in Australia to Permanent Residents will automatically acquire full Australian Citizenship. Relatives of the Permanent Resident who are overseas can often be sponsored for an Australian Visa.

A PR Visa is applicable for 5 years. After this time it must be renewed. But it is a simple matter to renew this while remaining in the country. And it is still possible to have a new PR visa granted even if you are overseas when the precious visa expires. PR Visa can be renewed an infinite number of times.

Circumstances When Individuals May Apply For PR?

Overseas students studying in Australia often apply when they graduate. Language (IELTS) and skill assessments will apply.

Individuals can improve their chances of gaining PR if they improve their English language skills (IELTS of 6 is the minimum) and increase their work experience. Increased education (perhaps a more advanced degree) or other qualification increase is also an advantage.

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Are you eligible for Permanent Residency or Australian Citizenship? Our immigration lawyers can advise the best Visa application path.

Among other options, Australia has a training Visa, the 407. This allows a suitable applicant to complete a workplace-based training program (actual hands-on experience) or a professional development program (tertiary study or on-the-job training).

The visa costs $325.oo and allows a 2-year stay in Australia. It requires the individual to be sponsored by an Australian company or invited by a commonwealth government agency.

There are some restrictions:

• You must only work in the training area applicable to the Visa.
• You can change employers if the new employer nominates you and offers the same type of work.
• There is a maximum of 40 hours of work per week.
• You must have adequate health insurance.
• You must be able to support yourself financially, either through savings or your paid work.
• You can leave and enter the country as you require.
• You must leave on or before the date when the visa expires.
• If you hold the 407 Visa you generally won’t be able to apply for another Visa, except a protection Visa where applicable.

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In some cases, the 407 Visa was not granted to an applicant because they were already qualified in that particular area of work. The Visa aims to train new people or train partially experienced individuals to a higher level. It is not a means of extending employment.

A few individuals who have worked In Australia under a student Visa found that they were not approved for a 407 while continuing in the same line of work. But these same individuals often had a good chance of approval for a 482 (Temporary Skills Shortage) Visa, which allowed a 2 to 4-year stay.

Immigration Lawyer Sydney

We have the best chance of immigration if we apply for the right Visa. Get up-to-date information from Immigration Lawyers in Sydney