The ACT Government has announced that all overseas applications for ACT nomination of a visa subclass 190 have closed as the ACT program targets for the Skilled Nominated Visa (190) have been met for the 2014-15 financial year.

If you are living overseas, you are not able to apply for ACT nomination of a Skilled Nominated visa under subclass 190 until the program reopens on the 1st of July, 2015.

If you are planning to apply for sponsorship from the ACT Government we recommend that you have your migration skills assessment in place so you can progress an application soon after the start of the new program year.

Our team of Australian migration experts is keen to hear from any qualified teachers who are interested in moving to Australia.

Whether you’re a primary, secondary or early years teacher, your occupation is in demand down under, potentially giving you the opportunity to apply for a visa that would allow you to live and work in Australia on a permanent basis.

Teachers can apply for visas allowing migration to Australia under the general skilled program using visa subclass 189, 190, or 489.

In common with all general skilled visa applications teachers must secure a positive migration skills assessment before they can progress a skilled visa application with the Department of Immigration.

The body that has the authority to assess teachers for the purpose of migration to Australia is the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership, or the AITSL.

The benchmark for a positive migration skills assessment from the AITSL is a minimum of four years full time higher education level study where one of those years involved completion of an initial teacher education qualification. For example, a three year Bachelor of Science degree and a one year Post Graduate Diploma in Education.

If you think you can satisfy these requirements and are interested in moving to a country where the sun shines more often than not we invite you to contact Go Matilda Visas for a free initial discussion.

Our team is one of the most experienced and highly regarded in the area of Australian visas, and we have helped hundreds of teachers successfully navigate the visa application process.

An initial consultation is without cost or obligation, and our fees are fixed in amount and are payable in instalments – complete the enquiry form on this webpage to find out what is possible.

What will 2015 mean to you?

For many the start of a new year brings with it hope, ambition and determination to achieve something we’ve desired for some time, or to move forward with a plan and give ourselves a fresh opportunity to do something amazing with our lives and for our family.

For some, that drive for a better life leads them to the sunshine of the land down under via an application for a permanent Australian visa.

Here at Go Matilda, our experienced team works with hundreds of people daily to help turn dreams into a reality. However we’re acutely aware that many people may not realise that such an opportunity is even available to them, or for whom the prospect of such a change is overwhelming and they don’t know where to begin – because migrating to Australia isn’t easy.

Just establishing a visa strategy can be a challenge. And then undertaking the legal process is fraught with difficulty.

If you think that you’d like to make 2015 a year in which you take control of your destiny we would love to talk with you about what options you may have to apply for residency in Australia, how long the process would take and what it would cost. Unlike many agencies, Go Matilda offers an initial consultation in which all this is established and explained, free of charge and without obligation.

Our transparent and honest approach to our clients, along with our extensive experience and outstanding reputation, has resulted in thousands of people enjoying working with our team over more than a decade to bring assurance and simplicity to what can be an overwhelming process.

Go Matilda has offices in the UK and in several Australian cities, so we are perfectly placed to help. Contact us today and one of our friendly, experienced consultants will be in touch to discuss what options you may have.

You can reach us via the enquiry form on this page, or by telephoning us at any of our offices.

In the meantime – we wish you a very happy and rewarding New Year!

From the 1st of January, 2015 VETASSESS is introducing a revised migration skills assessment process for general professional occupations.

A list of general professional occupations assessed by VETASSESS is here.

The skills assessment is to include an assessment of the highest qualification level and the “date deemed skilled” based on qualifications and employment evidence provided with the application.

VETASSESS claims that this ” … will offer a streamlined application process with one application form, a simpler fee structure and a reduced turn-around time.”

The skills assessment criteria and the occupational groups detailed on the VETASSESS website will remain the same. Applicants will be required to hold a qualification which is assessed as comparable to the required educational level for their nominated occupation in a highly relevant field with one year of employment that is highly relevant and at the required skill level.

Additionally, based on the applicant’s qualification and employment evidence provided within the last 10 years, VETASSESS will determine the date at which the applicant is deemed to be skilled based on closely related employment.

We anticipate that this “deeming date” will be used by the Department of Immigration in its assessment of skilled employment for the purpose of the skilled visa points test – which means that documentation supporting the application to VETASSESS will be of more critical importance in optimising the number of points claimed for the purpose of a general skilled visa application under subclass 189, 190, or 489.

Indeed, the VETASSESS website confirms that the introduction of the deeming date: ” … refers to the date that an applicant is considered skilled in their nominated occupation and therefore eligible for claiming employment points from that date and not earlier.”

An example is provided by VETASSESS:

An applicant nominating the occupation of Chemist (ANZSCO Code: 234211) completes a relevant Bachelor degree in 2007 and has four years of relevant work experience from January 2010 to December 2013.

One year of work experience post the relevant qualification meets the skills assessment criteria and the date the applicant is deemed skilled will be January 2011. Therefore, all relevant/closely related employment from January 2011 will be considered skilled employment and eligible for points test purposes.

If you would like to move to live in Australia and have a general skilled occupation requiring assessment by VETASSESS please contact us for a free initial discussion about your situation and your visa strategy. Complete the enquiry form on this webpage and we’ll be in contact with you.

The Victorian Government has announced that applications for state nomination will reopen on the 5th of January, 2015 for a number of ICT occupations:

135112 ICT Project Manager
261111 ICT Business Analyst
261112 Systems Analyst
261311 Analyst Programmer
261312 Developer Programmer
261313 Software Engineer
261314 Software Tester
261399 Software and Applications Programmers
262111 Database Administrator
262112 ICT Security Specialist
263111 Computer Network and Systems Engineer

The Vic Government advises that a temporary closure was required to process outstanding applications and to minimise delays for future applicants

If you have an IT occupation and are interested in migrating to Australia please complete the enquiry form on this page. We will be delighted to have an initial no charge conversation about your situation, and your visa options.