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Australia Visa Application: It Is Not Getting Any Easier

Australia Visa Application: It Is Not Getting Any Easier

Year after year, the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) received hundreds and thousands of visa application – work, family, student and permanent residency visa. With the goal to streamline and invite really eligible applicants, DHA revises immigration programme including increased in passmarks, updating eligibility requirements – making migration to Australia from Singapore or anywhere else tougher than before. 

As an established, registered Australia migration agency, NTRUST’s mission remains to be assisting applicants get the most possible outcome, outlining all the risk and options to move forward. Truth is we don’t have control over the changes that are being implemented by the immigration authorities; we just need to ensure that we oblige with the regulations and meet the criteria set by the DHA.

Importance of Registered Migration Agency

Australia Visa Application is all about consistency and accuracy. It requires many substantial evidences to support your application. Yes, there are tons of information available online including the step by step procedure and requirements. But little do you know, knowing the ins and outs of the entire process and understanding the nitty-gritty of the immigration programme is vital.

While it is helpful to ask your friends or colleagues who had applied for Australia visa about their experience, but what they experienced before may be different now. Considering the very dynamic immigration policies, what seems to be smooth and easy process before may not be the same now. If you are unsure of your eligibility criteria, you may need to seek professional advice from a registered Australia migration agency like NTRUST.

With over 15 years of dealing with immigration authorities, we are on top of all the changes even the smallest details of the rules and regulations. Regulated by the Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA), we only provide correct advise to all our clients, whether you are eligible or not. We are dedicated to representing all our clients’ application to the best of our abilities.

To get a professional advice regarding your eligibility criteria, call us at +65 6299 0245.

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Migrate To Australia: Avoiding Visa Refusal

Migrate To Australia: Avoiding Visa Refusal

With the immigration regulations getting tougher and visa refusal rate increasing each year, migrating to Australia from Singapore or elsewhere will never be as easy as it is five to eight years ago.

In an interview with Department of Home Affairs (DHA) Minister Peter Dutton, he said that the government is now having a war on fraudulent claims. For the past ten years, the previous financial year (2017-18) is Australia’s lowest migration rate. This is due to border’s integrity restoration, following the goal to only bring in the best migrants possible into the nation.

Almost every day, we’re receiving calls and inquiries from people who have had received rejections, even those who were just on the skills assessment stage. Reasons vary ranging from qualifications not equivalent to Australia Qualifications Framework (AQF) and over-claiming work experience points, to having a family member with serious medical conditions.

If you are really keen in lodging your Australia Permanent Resident (PR) application, getting professional advice or assistance has never been more important. There are no other people more relevant than the registered migration agents when seeking professional help with your application.

Reality is…

Reading online, visiting different Australia migration forums or consulting Facebook friends is really helpful. However relying on them so much is not really advisable, especially now that immigration rules and regulations are very dynamic. Your friend who obtained an Australian PR 4 years ago might have had an easy ride, but everything has changed drastically over the past months to two years. The thing about the DHA is there’s no grey area for them; it is either you meet their criteria or you don’t. And some more, getting a refusal from your first application may hurt your chances of getting approved for your next attempts.

Our duties and responsibilities…

As the most established, registered Australia migration agency in Singapore, we are dedicated to doing things in the best of our abilities to help your application get across the line. We conduct an initial consultation for us to have a better understanding of your family’s eligibility criteria. As regulated by the Migration Agent Registration Authority (MARA), we need to be upfront in telling you whether you are eligible to apply or not. With 15 years of experience, we have seen immigration rules and regulations become so dynamic. Small policy update such as an increase in passmark points can have a big impact on your application.

Yes, major changes can be seen on headlines, but migration agents know everything until the very small details on an ongoing basis, including English score changes, deduction of work experience, removal of occupations on the list, and which regional areas sponsor particular nominated occupation. As we abide by the MARA code of conduct, we are accountable in ensuring all applications will be in its strongest possible state.

Get a professional advice from NTRUST to know your eligibility criteria. Call 6299 0245 to meet our consultant.

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Australia Skilled Migration: Pool Passmark Increased

Australia Skilled Migration: Pool Passmark Increased

With the start of the 2018-19 fiscal year, the passmark is increased from 60 to 65 points for those who want to migrate to Australia from Singapore or from whicver part of the world under the General Skilled Migration (GSM) programme.

Effective 1st July 2018, applicants for General Skilled Migration (Subclasses 189,190 and 489) are required to have a minimum score of 65 points to be in the pool of applications and receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA).

While the minimum points that are being prioritized for Subclass (SC) 189 remains at 75 towards the end of the 2017-18 fiscal year, new rules and regulations are still expected to be released in the following days to come. However, as the new passmark also applies to SC190 and SC489, state nomination and designated area sponsorship, invitations and successful nomination still vary depending on per state requirements and criteria.

Indeed, the Australia visa application process is not getting any easier. However, if you have consulted an established registered Australia migration agency, you’ll definitely get the most out of your eligibility criteria.

Call us for a professional advice.

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Australia Immigration: What To Expect For 2018-19 Fiscal Year

Australia Immigration: What To Expect For 2018-19 Fiscal Year

The 2018-19 fiscal year has yet to begin, but certainly, a number of changes on the Australia Visa Application process will be implemented.

Sure, Australia has been continuously welcoming hundreds and thousands of immigrants from all over the world. However, with the objective to protect Australian citizens’ employment opportunities, revisions with the Immigration programme including cuts and additions with the occupational ceilings, modification of eligibility requirements, and periodic reviews of the regulations are being set by the government. With that being said, migrating to Australia is getting tougher each year for many interested applicants.

What to expect?

Truth be told, there’s no perfect time than 5-10 years ago to lodge your Australia PR Application. The current fiscal year (2017-18) has been very tough for all applicants. There were 200 occupations removed from the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) and some occupational ceilings have been lowered. The process is extremely dynamic. You might have thought that you are eligible today, but might not be after the start of the new financial year. On the coming 1st July 2018, it would be interesting to see which occupations will continue to be included in the list, but it would be daunting to know also if you’re application will be compromised for not taking immediate actions. We, at NTRUST, always advise applicants to seize the opportunity while it is still available. Reality is, we will never know what could be the new rules and regulations to be implemented in the future, but we can definitely assist you in the best of our abilities to advocate your application.

What Not to Do?

While it is generally okay to seek advice from your friends and colleagues who have obtained their Australia PR visa, you have to bear in mind also that no two cases are the same. Their application may be smooth and successful, but their eligibility criteria may not be applicable for you, putting into consideration the very dynamic immigration rules and regulations. Apart from that, you have to make sure that you have the enough verifiable supporting documents to support your application. Failure to do so may result in negative assessment and may prejudice your future application.

Since 2003, NTRUST has been very dedicated to assisting families to migrate to Australia from Singapore and all applicants all over the world. As we are being regulated with the Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA), we are restricted to being truthful on all our advice, be it your eligible or not. With the mission of helping families fulfil their dream life in Australia, NTRUST will represent your case from assessing your eligibility criteria to the day we received your approved Australia PR visa. Book a professional consultation with us by calling 6299 0245.

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Australia Permanent Resident Application Points – What You Need To Know?

Australia Permanent Resident Application Points – What You Need To Know?

Am I claiming enough points? Have I claimed the right points for each component? What other extra points should I claim for my Australia Permanent Resident application? A few of the questions most Do-It-Yourself applicants ask. Some may even assume that the higher points they claim, the higher their chance of getting an approval. Most of the time, people are claiming points that they are not eligible for, which results in a refusal.

With hundreds and thousands of applications submitted every year, the competition is getting tougher; each and every one wants to stand out from the rest of the applicants, claiming unnecessary or ineligible points. While you can be prioritized over applications with lower scores, be reminded of obtaining enough verifiable supporting documents to prove the points you are claiming.

Here are some of the common mistakes people commit when claiming points:

  1. English Language Proficiency

People tend to mistakenly use the overall score when claiming points for the English Language. All four components in IELTS: Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking – must be taken into consideration when claiming English Language Proficient. For example, if you scored 6 in Listening and Writing, and 7 in Reading and 7 in Speaking, then you can only claim Competent Level of English (10 points) instead of Proficient English (10 points).

  1. Points for Employment

Many are confused when claiming employment points. Definitely, you will need to determine whether your occupation is in the Skilled Occupation List (SOL). Once determined and did not find exact occupation, know if your occupation is closely related, being in the same unit group. Number or work experience must be claimed with verifiable supporting documents. Lastly, you can only claim points for employment after you were deemed suitable qualified, usually after completing your degree or diploma.

  1. Points for Qualification

Many are not aware that Universities, regardless of which part of the world you are, are assessed on three sections. For example, a top-notch university in Singapore is in Section 1 of the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF), while small institutions are in Section 2 of the AQF where you Bachelor’s Degree will only be deemed equivalent to Australian Diploma or depending on per country requirement. Basically, you need to understand the AQF to know if you are claiming the right points for your qualification.

These are only a few of the common mistakes most of us commit when claiming points for Australia PR Application. With NTRUST, we will guide you accordingly all throughout your application, from the moment you seek professional advice from us until we receive the result of your visa application. Book an appointment by calling +65 6299 0245.