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Assessing Your Eligibility For A Permanent Visa
Unfortunately not everyone who wants to live in Australia is eligible to do so. The Australian Government has strict legislation which determines who can be granted a visa and the criteria applicants must meet.
Many applicants assume having a relative in Australia automatically makes them eligible for immigration, this is not necessarily the case. If you having a spouse, partner, fiancé or child who is a permanent resident in Australia might make you eligible for a Family Migration visa but not for a Skilled Migration visa.
Skilled Migration
To be eligible for General Skilled Migration there are other determining criteria, such as skill, age, English language ability, employment experience, qualifications. A close relative in Australia who is prepared to sponsor you, it might increase your total points. However, it will not make you eligible for migration if you do not meet the other qualifying criteria. Applicants for this visa must be between 18 to 44 years. Once you turn 45 you cannot apply for General Skilled Migration regardless of whether you have relatives in Australia or are able to meet any of the other criteria.
It is also necessary to achieve a specific points total to give yourself a realistic chance of succeeding with your visa application. Points are awarded for the determining factors mentioned above, but there are also other ways earn additional points to your total, such as financial investment or if your spouse has suitable skills.
Spouse / Partner Visas
You could be eligible to apply for an Australian Spouse/Partner visa if you are married to, engaged to or living in a defacto relationship with an Australian Citizen or permanent resident. You will have to prove that your relationship is genuine and on-going, be sponsored by your partner and meet all health and character requirements.
A defacto relationship means having lived together as a couple for at least 12 months prior to lodging the visa application, you will be asked to provide evidence supporting this.
Parent Visas
If you have a child who has lived permanently in Australia for at least 2 years, you could apply for a Parent visa. If you and your spouse/partner have more than one child then you must meet the Balance of Family test. This test means that at least half your children must be permanently resident in Australia OR you must have more children permanently in Australia than in any other single country.
You must be sponsored by your son or daughter in Australia, meet the health and character requirements, have a financial assurer and pay both a bond and a health charge.
For more general information try the Dept of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs website at www.immi.gov.au and www.australia.org.uk.
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