With the removal of 457 visa subclass, it is important to keep in mind that the key fundamentals of general skilled migration visas remain unchanged. In this respect, the Australian Government wants to grant permanent residency to foreigners with skills, who can contribute to the economic development of Australia. This means that they want to reduce the importation of unskilled labour, particularly in industries which erode working opportunities for local Australian people. Consequently, we will now examine the points test and visa criteria to provide a greater insight as to the key requirements to get permanent residency (PR) and what you can do to increase the chance and reduce the time to be granted a visa under the general skilled pathway.

1. Choosing the right occupation
   When you are deciding on what you want to do in the long-term, it is important to consider whether that career pathway is deemed by the Department of Home Affairs as a high priority job. In this respect, over time as more international students major in one particular field, the number of visas granted for migrants skilled in that profession decreases, as more university graduates enter the job market in that profession. Similarly, over time it has become apparent that some university degrees may produce a lot of graduates and general skilled migrants, it does not translate to reducing perceived shortages in these highly sought after professions. Therefore, when deciding on what career to obtain an education on and what career you ultimately want to pursue, you want to consider not only what is and will continue to be highly sought after by the Immigration authorities, but also what you will want to continue doing long after you have been granted permanent residency. Our immigration lawyers at Chua Tan Associates can advise you of in-demand occupations and current trends so book a consultation today.
2. Living in regional Australia or big cities like Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane
   A conundrum exists for many migrants coming to Australia to live and work. Migrants want the lifestyle and culture of Australia but also want to feel connection to their home country and lifestyle. This can often mean that a migrant who has always lived in a big city might fear living in regional Australia, where there is limited reminder of their birth place and a stark contrast with their past.
   Nevertheless, rural life does not mean there is limited access and familiarity with another country. Far from that, there is an increasing number of migrants who are migrating to regional areas and lessening the cultural impact of life in rural Australia. They form social clubs and open restaurants. There is also the pace of life and increased lifestyle with nature and limited environmental pollution. In addition, non-native speakers of English will notice a marked improvement with their English. Ultimately, should you decide to move to the countryside, it does not mean you are trapped in the middle of nowhere. You can still travel frequently to the major cities and even live close to major metropolitan areas in keeping with the Department of Home Affair’s designated zones. It might turn out that living in regional Australia becomes a permanent move. Speak to one of our experienced immigration lawyers about your living options throughout Australia, both in major cities or in regional areas. We help clients all over Australia so have a deep understanding of visa applications throughout Australia.
3. Character
   The Australian Government does not want to import criminals today, even if that was how modern day Australia was established. You want to ensure that you do not get into trouble with the police and other people. As part of the character test, how you treat others and society is important to ensuring a successful visa application and renewal. If you get into trouble with the law, speak to our experienced lawyers here at Chua Tan Associates who work in both criminal and immigration law. We can help get you back on the right track or resolve issues before they further escalate.