Sunday, January 31, 2016

Certificate of Employment (COE)

If you want to migrate to Australia, one of the first things you need to do is to get skill assessment from your Assessing Authority. One of the requirements to assess your skills is your COEs from your previous and current employers.

Your COE should have the following:

  • Company letterhead and signed by author or representative your that company
  • Company full address, telephone, mobile or fax numbers, email address, and website
  • Start and end date of your employment using the DD/MM/YY format
  • Position title
  • Countries where your employment was undertaken
  • Performed duties and responsibilities
  • Indicate whether your work is part time or full time


What if I can't get a COE from my previous employer?
This happens usually when the company no longer exists, or you had a bad exit that you can't go back there and ask a favor, or your employer simply doesn't want to give you your COE. When this happens, you can ask your colleague, HR, supervisor, manager or anyone who works closely with you during your stay in that company to create a Statutory Declarations or Affidavit with the presence of an authorized witness (eg. legal attorney). The said document must be Sworn Before, Signed Before or Witness Before the authorized witness. Also the contact details and relation of your colleague should be provided in the document. It is also advisable that the colleague has a higher position than your position in that company.


What other documents can I provide to prove my employment?
Any document related to the company will do. Here are some examples:

  • Tax payments
  • Contracts (during job offer, promotion, etc)
  • Payslips
  • Termination letter


Last Updated: Feb 2016

References:

Sunday, January 24, 2016

Which Visa Requires Proof of Competent English

In order to prove your english speaking competency, you need to provide either a certification from your college/university or take an English exam.


To prove your English competency, you need to provide at least one evidence of the following:
  • You have a valid passport issued by United Kingdom, United States of America, Canada, New Zealand or Republic of Ireland, and you are a citizen of that country.
  • You have achieved a score of at least 6 points in each four test in International English Language Testing System (IELTS) which was undertaken in three years prior to lodging of the visa application.
  • You have achieved of at least 'B' in each four test in Occupational English Test (OET) which was undertaken in three years prior to lodging of the visa application.
  • You have achieved the minimum score (12 for listening, 13 for reading, 21 for writing and 18 for speaking) for each test in Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-based test (TOEFL-ibt) which was undertaken in three years prior to lodging of the visa application.
  • You have achieved a score of at least 50 points in each four test in Pearson Test of English (PTE) which was undertaken in three years prior to lodging of the visa application.
  • You have achieved a score of at least 169 points in each four test in Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) which was undertaken on or after January 1, 2015 and prior to lodging of the visa application.



The following visas have a requirement to show your English competency:
  • Skilled-Independent (subclass 189) Visa
  • Skilled-Nomination (subclass 190) Visa
  • Student Visa
  • ...



Last Updated: Jan 2016

References:

Monday, January 18, 2016

What is Skilled-Nominated (subclass 190) Visa?

Skilled-Nominated Visa or 190 Visa is similar to Skilled-Independent visa. The only difference between the them is the nominated occupation in Skilled-Nominated visa should be in Consolidated Sponsorship Occupation List (CSOL) instead of being in Skilled Occupation List (SOL).


Last Updated: Jan 2016

References:

Friday, January 15, 2016

IELTS vs PTE vs TOEFL

One of the ways to prove your English language proficiency is by taking an accredited English exam. And you can choose from these three organizations:

  • IELTS (International English Language Testing System)
  • PTE (Pearson Test of English)
  • TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)

You can use any of these three to prove your English language proficiency but take note that each have different grading results.

IELTS' scoring is from 0 to 9 points where some scores can be in between a number (eg. 6.5, 8.5). PTE's scoring is also using number but in different range. Their range is from 10 to 90 points. TOEFL's scoring is similar but their range is from 40 to 120.

Here's the comparison of their scores:





Last Updated: Feb 2016

References:
Pearson - Understanding of Scores

What is Skilled-Independent (subclass 189) Visa?


Skilled-Independent or 189 Visa are for applicants who wants to live and work in Australia and doesn't have any state or relative sponsorship, and your ANZSCO nominated occupation should be in Skilled Occupation List (SOL).


Step-by-step process when applying for this visa:

1. Skill Assessment
Skill Assessment is to determine whether you are eligible to submit an Expression of Interest or EOI. You need to submit your Skill Assessment to your designated industry.

Read more about Skill Assessment here.

2. Expression of Interest (EOI)
Once you pass the needed the Skill Assessment, you need to submit your EOI. Expression of Interest or EOI is where you'll be ask about your age, years of work experience in and outside of Australia, your english language proficiency, your partner, etc. In this part of the application, each entry is given a certain points (or no points), and when you add up those points you need to reach a certain number before can continue with your journey and be able to lodge your visa application.

Read more about Expression of Interest here.

3. Visa Lodging
Once you're done with EOI, you can now gather up your requirements because you are now ready to finally submit your visa application.




Last Updated: Jan 2016

References:

Skill Assessment

Skill Assessment info here


Last Updated: Jan 2016

References:

Thursday, January 14, 2016

Know the Types of Visas

One of the first things you know if you want to go to Australia is what visa should you get. Below are the types of visas that you can choose from:

Skilled-Independent (subclass 189) Visa
Skilled-Independent visa or 189 visa are for those who want to live and work in Australia but doesn't have any sponsorship in either a state or a relative. The applicants nominated occupation must be in Skilled Occupation List (SOL).

Click here to read more about Skilled Independent (subclass 189) visa


Skilled-Nominated (subclass 190) Visa
Skilled-Nominated visa or 190 visa is similar to Skilled-Independent (subclass 189) visa. The only difference is the nominated occupation must be on the Consolidated Sponsored Occupation List (CSOL) instead of in Skilled Occupation List (SOL).

Click here to read more about Skilled-Nominated (subclass 190) visa


State/Relative Sponsored (subclass 489) Visa
State or Relative Sponsored visa or 489 visa for those who have being sponsored by a certain state or your relative (eg. parent, sibling, aunt/uncle, nephew/niece, etc) living in a designated area.

Click here to read more about State/Relative Sponsored (subclass 489) visa


Temporary Work (subclass 487) Visa
soon...


Family Member Migration Visa
soon...


Employer Sponsored Visa
soon...


Student Visa
Student Visa is a temporary visa that allows you to live and study in Australia for a specific period of time.

Click here to read more about Student visa


Visitor - Tourist Visa
soon...


Last Updated: Jan 2016

References:

Glossary

ITA Invitation To Apply
EOI Expression of Interest
SOL Skilled Occupations List
CSOL Consolidated Sponsored Occupations List
IELTS International English Language Testing System
DIBP Department of Immigration and Boarder Protection
ANZSCO Australia and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations



Last Updated: Jan 2016

References:

EOI Skill Select Points System

Age at time of invitation
25 pts 18–24 (inclusive)
30 pts 25–32 (inclusive)
25 pts 33–39 (inclusive)
15 pts 40–44 (inclusive)
0 pts 45–49 (inclusive)

English language ability at time of invitation
0 pts Competent English

  • Passport from UK, USA, Ireland, Canada or NZ; or
  • IELTS: 6+ in each component; or
  • PTE Academic: 50+ in each component; or
  • Cambridge (CAE): 169+ in each component; or
  • TOEFL iBT: 12 in Listening, 13 Reading, 21 Writing, 18 Speaking
10 pts Proficient English

  • IELTS: 7+ in each component; or
  • OET: B pass in each component; or
  • PTE Academic: 65+ in each component; or
  • Cambridge (CAE): 185+ in each component; or
  • TOEFL iBT: 24 in Listening, 24 Reading, 27 Writing, 23 Speaking
20 pts Superior English

  • IELTS: 8+ in each component; or
  • OET: A pass in each component; or
  • PTE Academic: 79+ in each component; or
  • Cambridge (CAE): 200+ in each component; or
  • TOEFL iBT: 28 in Listening, 29 Reading, 30 Writing, 26 Speaking

Skilled employment outside Australia
5 pts At least three but less than five years (of past 10 years)
10 pts At least five but less than eight years (of past 10 years)
15 pts At least eight and up to 10 years (of past 10 years)

Skilled employment in Australia
5 pts At least one but less than three years (of past 10 years)
10 pts At least three but less than five years (of past 10 years)
15 pts At least five but less than eight years (of past 10 years)
20 pts At least eight and up to 10 years (of past 10 years)

Educational qualifications at time of invitation 
20 pts Doctorate from an Australian educational institution or other Doctorate of a recognized standard
15 pts At least a Bachelor degree, Masters from AU or other degree of a recognized standard
10 pts Diploma or trade qualification completed in AU, or qualification or award of recognized standard

Nomination/sponsorship at time of invitation 
5 pts Nomination by state or territory government (visa subclass 190 only)
10 pts Nomination by state or territory government or sponsorship by an eligible family member from a specified/designated area (visa subclass 489 only)

Australian study requirements at time of invitation 
5 pts One or more degrees, diplomas or trade qualifications awarded by an Australian educational institution and meet the Australian Study Requirement

Other factors at time of invitation 
5 pts Credentialed community language qualifications
5 pts Study in regional Australia or a low population growth metropolitan area (excluding distance education)
5 pts Partner skill qualifications
5 pts Professional Year in Australia for at least 12 months in the four years before the day you were invited


Last Updated: Feb 2016

Things to Prepare

Documents

  • Birth certificates
  • Adoption documents, if applicable
  • Marriage certificate if married (or divorce or separation documents)
  • Medical records, including X-rays, dental records, and prescriptions
  • School records, certificates, diplomas, degrees and academic transcripts
  • Letter of reference, containing all contact details of your former employees
  • Professional portfolio samples. This is relevant to creative works
  • Driver's license + international driver's license
Medical Records
  • Medical certificates, include x-ray
  • Dental record
  • Immunisation records for children and adults
  • Optical (eye) prescriptions
  • Other medical prescriptions