Helping you call Australia home

Receiving a refusal for a subclass 866 protection visa when you are seeking asylum as a refugee can be devastating, especially when the decision feels unfair. While every case is different, there are a few common reasons why protection applications are refused. Understanding these issues can help you prepare a stronger application or appeal. 1.      They do not believe your story One of the most frequent reasons for refusal is that the Department of Home Affairs does not find

If you hope to stay in Australia long term, it is important to strengthen your visa pathway wherever possible. You may have a clear visa pathway where you will only need to meet the general eligibility criteria of your visa. However sometimes in Australian immigration law you need to make a strong argument of why your visa should be granted. Examples of this may be: ·         if you have a health issue that is expensive to treat; ·         if the government is considering can

If you’ve been invited to complete Form 884 – Health waiver (Part A), it usually means your medical results show that you don’t meet the health requirement for your visa. This can be stressful, but it’s also an opportunity — Form 884 gives you the chance to explain why your visa should still be granted despite your health condition. Many applicants focus only on filling out the form, but the most important tip is this: don’t limit yourself to what’s listed in the form. What i

Most visa applicants must meet Australia’s health requirement, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is often considered a condition that could lead to significant health costs. However, for some visas – including partner visas, employer sponsored visas (subclass 482 SID and subclass 186 in the temporary residence transition scheme) – a health waiver may be available. This can allow applicants with HIV to continue their application and potentially be granted a visa despite t

Applying for a partner visa can be an exciting step in building your life in Australia with your loved one. But for some applicants, the PIC4007 health requirement can create challenges. Fortunately, for partner visas, a health waiver is available, allowing you to continue your application even if you don’t fully meet the health criteria. What is the health requirement? All visa applicants must meet Australia’s health requirement. This means undergoing medical examinations to

Receiving a notice of intention to consider cancellation (NOICC) can be stressful and overwhelming. The Department of Home Affairs has the power to cancel visas for a range of reasons. In this article, we’ll focus on cancellations under section 109 of the Migration Act — and what you should do if you receive a NOICC under section 107. What is section 109 of the Migration Act? Under section 109, the Department can cancel your visa if they believe you provided incorrect informa

By Dr. Andrea Ballesteros Danel, NAATI-Certified Translator & Published Author How Cross-Cultural Research Transforms Document Translation When I completed my PhD at the Australian National University on trans-Pacific cultural connections, I never imagined the research would revolutionise how I approach visa translation. But after publishing my recent monograph with Palgrave Macmillan and working with hundreds of Australian visa applications, I've discovered that successful m

In our blog post “Why you shouldn’t just renew your 461 visa” we described why subclass 461 visa holders should apply for another visa that gives them permanent residence, rather than continuing to renew their 461 New Zealand citizen family relationship visas and remaining only temporary residents in Australia. An obvious option for many 461 holders is the subclass 820/801 permanent partner visa, however if that option is not available to you (eg if you are no longer in a rel

If you’re working in Australia as a mechanic and would like to stay long-term, one of the possible options is to be sponsored by your employer.   Motor Mechanic is on the Core Skills Occupation List   The occupation motor mechanic (ANZSCO Code 321211) is included on the Core Skills Occupation List. This means that employers across both metropolitan and regional Australia can sponsor qualified/experienced mechanics for work visas.   Which visas can a mechanic apply for?   Mech

Congratulations! Being granted the subclass 820 partner visa is a major milestone in your journey to permanent residency in Australia. Now that your temporary partner visa has been approved, you may be wondering what comes next. Here’s a practical guide on what to expect and how to prepare for the next stage of your visa journey. Understand what the 820 visa gives you The subclass 820 visa is a temporary visa, but it comes with many of the same rights as permanent residents:

If you are in the cabinetmaking business, and you are struggling with staff shortages, hiring migrants may be the perfect solution for you. This pathway allows you to hire experienced tradespeople from overseas (who might already be in Australia or may even already work for you) and bring stability back to your workforce. Cabinetmaker is on the skilled occupation list Cabinet maker (ANZSCO Code 394111) is listed on Australia’s Core Skills Occupation List. This means business

Applying for a visa can be a stressful and overwhelming experience — especially when it involves moving your life to a new country. While some people successfully complete their visa application without help, others find that getting professional assistance makes the process smoother, faster, and less risky. So how do you know if you should do it yourself or work with a migration agent? Here are some important factors to consider: Complexity of your situation Should I do the

If you’ve applied for the New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship visa (subclass 461), there’s an important update from the Department of Home Affairs that could make managing your visa much easier. From 23 July 2025, 461 visa applicants who lodged their application using the paper form can now import their application into ImmiAccount after receiving their application acknowledgment from the Department. This new functionality applies to both new and existing applications and

The Subclass 461 New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship Visa is a fantastic visa option for many people. It’s affordable, generally processed quickly, and allows the holder to live and work full-time in Australia. Even better, you can keep renewing the 461 visa as long as you are either in a relationship with a New Zealand citizen—or not in a relationship at all. But here’s the important part: the 461 visa is a temporary visa. And while it has great advantages, relying on it

If you’re working in Australia as a diver and would like to stay long-term, one of the possible options is to be sponsored by your employer. Fortunately, recent changes have made this pathway more accessible for divers. Important update: Diver added to Core Skills Occupation List As of December 2024, the occupation Diver (ANZSCO Code 399911) has been added to the Core Skills Occupation List. This is a significant change it means that employers in both regional and metropolita

If you’re working in Australia as a cabinet maker and would like to stay long-term, a good option is to be sponsored by your employer. Fortunately, cabinet maker is on the skilled occupation list in Australia, which makes employer sponsorship a viable pathway to remain in the country. Cabinet maker is on the Core Skills Occupation List The occupation Cabinet Maker (ANZSCO Code 394111) is included on the Core Skills Occupation List. This means that employers across both metrop

What is the income threshold? When a business wants to sponsor someone for a visa, one of the key requirements is that the salary offered must meet or exceed a minimum income threshold. In some cases, applicants will need to be paid even more than the minimum if the market salary rate for the role is higher than the threshold. The idea behind this rule is to ensure that overseas workers are not paid less than Australian workers performing the same job. What are the changes? F

Applying for a Protection Visa (subclass 866)  in Australia is one of the most important and life-changing decisions you can make. Whether you are fleeing persecution, violence, or serious harm, this visa offers you a chance to find safety and security. It is a humanitarian visa for refugees. However, the process of applying can be complex, emotional, and overwhelming. That’s why getting professional legal help is not just a good idea — it’s essential. Only Registered Profess

One of the best pathways to permanent residency in Australia is securing an employer-sponsored visa. However, finding an employer willing to sponsor you can be challenging. If you do manage to secure a sponsor, it can significantly increase your chances of staying in Australia long-term. Here’s how you can improve your chances of finding an employer sponsor: 1. Be in Australia if Possible Being physically in Australia can make it much easier to find an employer willing to spo

Migrating permanently to Australia is an exciting goal, but it requires careful planning and flexibility. Immigration laws change...