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5 Common Mistakes Made When Applying For A Visa In Australia

5 Common Mistakes Made When Applying For A Visa In Australia

Regardless of whether you are planning to go see Kangaroos on your vacation or immigrate to Australia from Singapore – applying for an Australian visa can be quite intimidating to some people. Visa applications are not only quite a process, but you also have to be interviewed by a visa officer, which some would consider a dreadful endeavour.

Intimidation and stress can lead people into making mistakes in the application process, which isn’t really ideal because when you want your visa application to be approved, you have to do it right.

As such, to help you avoid making mistakes in your application, we have gathered five of the common mistakes that people make in their application so you can avoid them and have your application approved in as little time as possible.

1. Filing an application for the wrong type of Visa

The immigration in Australia provides options for people who are meaning to stay temporarily or permanently. They have approximately 100 types of visa that you can apply for, all of which have a corresponding eligibility criteria.

Still, it goes without saying that the choices can be overwhelming to some people – which is why you need to take your time in finding the one that is right for you so that you wouldn’t be wasting time and money!

Not only that, applying for the wrong visa type can ultimately hurt your chances of being granted a residency visa.

2. Having inadequate supporting documents

Australia’s immigration department evaluates thousands of visa applications, which means they want to avoid wasting time as much as possible.

If an application lacks a certain supporting document that the department called for, it could lead to an immediate rejection. To give you an idea, they are mostly looking for documents that prove your relationship status, business history, your assets and resources, the credentials that you have gained, qualifications, employment records, and more.

So, always double check! Make sure that you check the required documents of the visa type that you are applying for so that you can prepare them and increase your chances of getting that application approved.

3. Committing mistakes in the application process

The mistake that most people make during their visa application is not reading the forms and instructions thoroughly.

If you want to increase your chances of getting an approved application, you have to make sure that you are providing the department with the information that they are looking for.

The most common mistake that people make in this area are failing to sign their application forms, not completing a separate application for their dependents, and using a PO box rather than their residential address.

These might seem like simple errors, but these can have negative implications on your visa application.

4. Providing inconsistent information

Given that you have been searching the internet on how to move to Australia from Singapore, you are already probably aware that their immigration process is very particular with the information that you provide in your application.

They will be cross verifying everything you provide them with other sources such as your supporting documents, government records – even your social media account. You can usually explain any information differences that may arise in the middle of your application, but the approval will probably be delayed at best.

That is why it is still best if you provide accurate information so that everything will fall into place. To avoid this mistake, be sure that you have checked the accuracy of everything that you provide them with (even triple check, if you must).

5. Not following the prescribed timeline

Provided that Australia’s immigration department is handling thousands of visa applications, they can be very particular with the timing of your submission.

Depending on the visa type that you are applying for, they frown upon any submission that is done beyond their prescribed timeline – non-compliance is only granted little flexibility, regardless of whether or not the deadline was missed by only a few days.

When applying for an Australian visa, timing plays a huge role in getting it approved. You must be able to come up with a plan that will help you meet the department’s eligibility criteria and the prescribed supporting documents.

Once you have a clear idea of the mistakes to avoid, you’re one step closer to submitting a successful visa application. With it, you can get prepared for your move to Australia and embark on a new journey!

Still, if the Australia PR application process is boggling your mind – you can rest easy with the help of NTRUST’s reliable and experienced team. From consultation up to casework management – we have the right qualified professionals to get your visa application approved in a jiffy. All you have to do is either call us at +65 6299 0245 or set an appointment date with us!

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How To Help Your Children Cope With The Migration Process

How To Help Your Children Cope With The Migration Process

Australia and Singapore are both modern cities with rich cultures. However, there are also many differences, such as their climate and cultural sensitivities. Therefore, migration can be an exciting process that promises new experiences and fresh beginnings.

However, it may also be confusing, challenging, and scary for children who are in their formative years. Uprooting your children from the familiar routines they have established in Singapore may cause them to feel distressed and anxious as they dread migrating.

Teenagers may be especially averse to moving. As they navigate the awkward transition between childhood and maturing as an adult, moving may be an added unwelcome challenge.

So, here are some common problems children face when moving to Australia from Singapore and some ways you can help ease their transition.

1. Relieve anxiety by maintaining familiar routines

To your child, moving may equate to leaving their old lives behind. Starting afresh in a completely new environment is fear-inducing as your child is exposed to many unknown possibilities. In such a situation, it is natural to feel overwhelmed and helpless.

In such a foreign environment, your child may need some familiar routines to counteract these feelings of fear and displacement. As it is hard to control daily life beyond the home, your child can find comfort in regulating the environmental factors within their control.

Family time is one way you can comfort your children. If your family constantly has meals together at regulated, scheduled times, you can continue this practice. You can also let your child play a bigger role in organising these family dinners, be it in cooking a dish or simply cleaning up after. If your child is alone overseas, you can continue to schedule a time to have a meal together over a video call, or even watch a TV programme or film every now and then.

Your child may also have hobbies that they used to pursue back home. So, you can try to encourage them to make these hobbies a part of their new life in Australia. These hobbies can help your child relax and find comfort in familiar activities they enjoy as they adjust to their new environment.

In Australia, malls are accessible, and it is easy to shop for supplies they may need to work on their craft projects. If they enjoy reading, they can explore the vicinity to find a library or bookstore. Australia is also spacious and home to many natural wonders and rich scenery, so if your child is into photography or outdoor sports, they can definitely find an appropriate spot to practise their hobbies.

2. Strengthen support networks by maintaining pre-existing relationships

Your child may fear losing contact with their friends and loved ones as they immigrate to Australia from Singapore. Without physical interaction and common activities, it is easy to lose touch with even the closest friends.

However, technology has made it easier than ever to stay connected. Tidbits and funny incidents about one’s simplest day to day activities can be shared in photographs and short videos with a quick text message. It is easy to delve into the details instead of glossing over the day briefly. This way, your child and their friends can share their lived experiences together.

There are also activities your child can do with their friends despite the distance. Streaming sites online and plenty of apps offer a multitude of ways to binge-watch movies together. Your child can also immerse themselves in video games with their friends. Sometimes, a heart-to-heart over a video call will even suffice.

Everyone has to put effort into maintaining relationships. If your family has moved to Australia together, make it a priority to spend more time together. You can explore the new city or neighbourhood with your child, or just hang out together at home. With the support of family, your child will feel less anxious.

They will realise that their lives haven’t changed as much as they thought; their family dynamics are still the same under a different roof!

3. Help your child fit in by encouraging them to take the first step.

Your child may be worried about finding friends and forming strong platonic relationships. After all, friends are important as your child begins to seek support networks beyond their home. In a new environment when local children may already have existing social circles, your child may find it hard to settle in.

Not to mention, after moving to Australia from Singapore, your child may notice there are many differences between them and the local children. There may be slang they do not understand or interests they do not share with the locals.

Still, all hope is not lost – you just have to start from somewhere! So, to start off, you can slowly ease them into this new environment by introducing them to fellow Singaporean students who may share more commonalities.

If your child is shy and finds it difficult to initiate conversation, slowly encourage them to take the first step. There are many interest groups they can join to meet new people in the community, and these groups also provide a common topic for your child to use as a conversation starter. They can begin to gradually build their confidence through these networks before moving into a school setting.

Sometimes, your child may be struggling to cope with the new curriculum while making new friends. Encourage them to reach out to new friends who can help them meet mutual schoolmates. They can also start with open-ended questions to sustain the conversation. Prioritise frequent check-ins with your child; you can ask them how you can support them while giving them the privacy and space they need.

Migration can be scary and intimidating, but with the right support and encouragement, your child will find it easier to settle down. You can help them build their courage and confidence by strengthening your relationship with them as a parental figure.

Supporting your child may be emotionally draining. While figuring out how to move to Australia from Singapore, you may encounter other logistical and administrative problems. Reduce your stress by engaging NTRUST as we aid you in the moving process – be it in regards to consultation, documentation, or legal matters. All you have to do is call us at +65 6299 0245 or get an appointment date ready with us.

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5 Practical Tips To Help You Ace Your Ielts Examination

5 Practical Tips To Help You Ace Your Ielts Examination

When you have plans on moving to Australia from Singapore, the most important requirement that you need to have is an Australian visa. To get one, you need to apply for it which quite a list of processes that you need to comply with in order to get it approved.

To be granted an Australian PR or permanent residency, you must take either the IELTS Academic or IELTS General Training. But if you have plans to be a professional in Australia (which you probably have), you must take the IELTS Academic. And in order to pass the IELTS or International English Language Testing System, you must have a score of at least 6 in all of the four components of the test.

But don’t let it overwhelm you because we have gathered five tips that can help you achieve superior knowledge of the English language, which will ultimately contribute to the approval of your Australian visa application.

1. Understand how the bonus points for PR works

If you have been looking up how to move to Australia from Singapore, you probably have stumbled upon visas that are based on points. Without going too much into the details of it, you basically earn more points the higher your proficiency level of the English language is.

The government in Australia has defined five different English competency levels – if you get an average band score of no more than 4.5 for each of the tests’ 4 components, your competency level would be defined as “Functional English”.

If you get at least 5, it would correspond to a “Vocational English” level. If you get at least 6, you would be considered to have a “Competent English” level. 7 Would merit a “Proficient English” level, while a score of at least 8 would earn you the highest “Superior English” level.

When migrating to Australia, there are more or less four visa types that you should be concerned with, there is the “Skilled Independent Visa” which earns you an additional 10 and 20 points for proficient and superior levels, respectively.

The same point system applies for the “Skilled Nominated” and “Skilled Regional (Provisional)” visa classifications. But for the “Skilled Work Regional (Provisional)” visa type, you get an additional 5 points for a partner with competent English.

2. Study as much as you can

The key to making sure that you pass the IELTS is to know and be familiar with the fundamentals of the English language.

Even if your first or native language is English, you should still practice because the test is going to be technical.

Speaking the language effortlessly doesn’t guarantee that you know the specificities of sentence constructions, which is why you need to be equipped with the knowledge that will help you advance your IELTS results.

3. Get into a work-study routine

Without a doubt, you might have other responsibilities that you need to attend to such as your 9 to 5 job.

So, for a certain – we’re not suggesting that you ditch it completely so you can focus more on studying for your IELTS. But rather, the plan here is to squeeze in a bit of your time after your work and allocate it towards studying.

It doesn’t have to be a huge chunk because at least an hour every day goes a long way.

4. Take practice tests

Apart from familiarising yourself with the English language, it would also help if you become familiar with how the test is going to be formulated.

Taking practice tests will give you an idea of what kind of answers are being asked for in questions found in IELTS, giving you the advantage of knowing what you need to prepare for.

The official website of the IELTS has practice tests that you can take at any time, all of which are scored by official IELTS markers. You can also use this platform to keep track of your progress each time you take a practice test.

5. Above all else, get some rest

When reviewing for a test like the IELTS, it is very tempting to allocate most if not all of your energy into reviewing and practising for it.

However, it might not be such a good idea because this will lead to burnout, reducing your chances of getting a passing mark.

As such, absolutely make sure that you are studying moderately and see to it that you get some rest afterwards – this will condition your brain for more learnings!

With these tips, polish your reading, writing, and listening skills in no time. All that’s left for you is to finalise your preparations for the upcoming IELTS examination, ace it, and improve your chances of migrating smoothly!

In fact, if you’re looking for an extra helping hand – assistance is on its way with NTRUST’s consultation and guidance. Whether it’s IELTS preparation, approval of Australia PR Application, or migration skills assessment – simply call our office at +65 6299 0245 or schedule an appointment for a clearer idea on how to make a successful PR application in Australia.

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5 Things To Prepare If You Wish To Migrate To Australia

5 Things To Prepare If You Wish To Migrate To Australia

Moving to an entirely different country is not an easy feat, and rarely it is possible for anyone to cross international waters and residency overnight.

Australia isn’t any different – there are a lot of things you need to think about and prepare so that the emigration process is as seamless as it can possibly get. Still, there are different reasons as to why people immigrate to Australia from Singapore – it could be something as practical as for employment purposes or something bold such as to step out of one’s comfort zone in search of their soul.

Regardless of the motivation that is driving you to move abroad, you’ve come to the right place because we have gathered the things you need to prepare.

1. First and foremost, secure yourself a visa

This is something that is very important because everything else on this list is practically pointless if you don’t have a visa.

There are quite a few options for an Australian visa, all of which are tailored for the applicant’s intention and qualifications. To determine which option is best for you, it should be in your best interest to do your research.

On the flip side, if you happen to have some trouble getting your visa application approved, you should;

2. Get yourself a migration agent

You might think about opting out of a migration agent and doing the entire migration process in a DIY fashion to save some money.

But to be completely honest, you’ll be doing yourself a favour if you get yourself a migration agent. These people are equipped with all the legal information and requirements that you need in order to make the emigration process as seamless as possible.

Getting your visa application approved can be challenging for some people, but thankfully migration agents are more than capable of working things out.

3. Settle your finances

It’s no secret that moving abroad is going to cost a hefty amount.

Nobody ever said that they were able to move overseas for a relatively cheap price, which is why you need to save up as much money as you can because there are going to be quite a lot of expenses that you need to deal with.

Apart from expenses, you might also want to settle or at least reduce any outstanding debt that you might have in Singapore before leaving – so, you’ll leave the country with any headaches or financial burdens!

4. Make sure that you have a place to stay when you get there

You wouldn’t want to be stuck in the airport when you arrive just because you don’t have a place to go.

This is why you should find your permanent home in Australia and make all the necessary arrangements in advance. Still, if you don’t have the budget for a home yet because you spent the majority of your finances on other necessities, you can just settle with an apartment where you can stay temporarily.

Doing this will buy you more time to get your finances together and find a home where you can stay permanently.

5. See to it that you are ready

After you have taken care of all the tangible requirements, it is most important that you are prepared to migrate.

Moving yourself and your personal belongings overseas is going to be both physically and mentally taxing, which is why you have to make sure that you are eating well and getting the sleep that you need.

As your flight is approaching, make sure you have your pills ready if you have motion sickness, and keep yourself sober as dealing with a hangover during an almost 8-hour flight is not going to be easy. Remember that you always have to keep any minor matter in mind!

Apart from getting yourself physically ready, you also have to condition your mind – do you have sufficient knowledge of the living and work conditions in Australia? You can go around and ask how to move to Australia from Singapore if you happen to know people who have migrated as well. This will give you an alternative perspective on how they handled it and probably some tips that might be useful for you.

For starters, these tips will surely come in handy in ensuring that a smooth-sailing migration process is on its way. Still, don’t limit yourself to just these tips alone – keep exploring the World Wide Web or engage a professional to help you on this journey. With that, you can venture into Australia and prepare for a new life ahead!

On the other hand, if you require assistance during the immigration process – NTRUST knows the ropes and are ready to help you in any way. Be it the application for family migration, business migration, or skilled migration – we specialise in various migration programs and are qualified enough to assist you. Leave us a call at +65 6299 0245 or alternatively, set an appointment date with us and we’ll gladly guide you.

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Reasons Most Filipinos Migrate To Australia

Reasons Most Filipinos Migrate To Australia

Sad truth is more and more Filipinos are thinking of migrating to Australia from Singapore or Philippines year after year. In fact, a couple of years ago prior to COVID-19, we have supplied the most number of skilled and low-skilled workers all throughout the globe. It goes to show how eager each and every one of us to move out. For what reasons? Only one thing in common: BETTER FUTURE.

Whatever reasons we may have, be it for self-fulfillment, career growth, financial stability or economic reasons, many of us who took the risk and left the country have made a decision to start a new chapter of our lives in the hopes of having a better future. In fact, Australia has been continuously attracting migrants from all over the world, especially Filipinos. Aside from Australia, specifically Melbourne, being the most livable country in the world, one of the reasons why many decide to Migrate to Australia is because of its economic benefits.

Here’s a breakdown of some of the reasons why many Filipinos are choosing Australia:

1. Medicare – Being an Australian Permanent Resident (PR) gives you and your family access to free medical facilities and subsidies medicines. Not only that, you can also get free medical treatments when holding an Australian PR. Isn’t it something that we look forward to for our family’s welfare?

2. Advanced Educational Attainment – Other than the many career opportunity available in Australia, being an Australian PR also gives you chance to purse higher education for yourselves. You have to check with your state regarding their university fess, as school funds and regulations vary from state by state. If you are facing financial incapacity, you can also take advantage of the Higher Education Loans Program (HELP). This program covers tuition fees, university materials, and many more depending on your eligibility.

3. Social Security – This is one of the things we expect receiving from our Philippine government; a definite social security. In Australia, a master program called Centrelink by Social Security Department is available to provide social security benefits such as student benefits, sickness, unemployment, and many more. What makes it more attractive is that you can extend these benefits to your family members. This is rewarded though after you have settled in Australia for two years.

4. Live in Australia INDEFINITELY -One pf the perks of holding an Australian PR is you have the privilege to live in Australia whenever you want to. Your Australian PR is valid for 5 years, so you can go in and out of the country provided that your visa is still valid. After 5 years, and you wish to settle down in Australia indefinitely, you can do so. But, if you have plans of travelling outside Australia, you’ll have to apply for a Resident Return Visa (RRV); you have to check though if you are eligible for it.

5. Level up your PR to Citizenship – When opting to apply for Australian Citizenship status, you have to bear in mind that you would need to live and stay in Australia for four years prior to your application to become eligible. Not only that, you have to prove good character requirement and English language proficiency. You would need to pass the citizenship test as well to demonstrate integration with the Australian community and responsibilities.

These are only a few of the many benefits you will get if you apply for an Australian PR visa. It may be very risky during the application stage, most especially that the government has been raising the standards so high, but everything will be worthwhile after obtaining your visa.