(1888PressRelease)
October 15, 2006 - Hawthorn, Australia, 14 October 2006--- More Brits chose Australia as their immigration destination.
This is what a recent British poll has found out: Australia ranks as a top immigration destination. According to the BBC and ICM-conducted poll, 13% of Britons expressed their wish to migrate in the near future, and 40% percent named Australia as their immigration destination of choice. Survey respondents cited “warmer weather” and “low cost of living” as primary reasons for Australian immigration.
Currently, British skilled workers such as nurses, bricklayers, carpenters, chefs, mechanics, engineers, and hairdressers score the most points for their Australian visa application precisely because their occupation is in demand in Australia. To be included in the MODL list (Migration Occupations in Demand for Australia) is a key requirement in Australian immigration system. The list changes depending on where which labor industries are suffering the most skill shortages. Currently, nine new professions have been added.
The Australian immigration system is points-based. Skilled migrants whose occupation is on the MODL automatically earn bonus points and their Australian visa application is fast-tracked. The points threshold for an Australian visa vary anywhere from 70 to 120 points and for some sponsored Australian visas, no points at all. Australian immigration is currently awarding 10 ‘extra’ points to applicants willing to live in a regional area.
The Australian visa application process is done in two parts; a skills assessment and application lodgment. At present, the process takes anywhere from 12 to 18 months depending on the complexity of the visa application. With online visa applications, Australian visa processing is simplified for those not knowledgeable about the immigration maze. Free online visa assessments, wherein applicants can instantly determine their current Australian visa points, are undoubtedly beefing up Australian immigration. Early this October, the Australian government has given Registered Migration Agents the authority to certify Australian visa application documents in behalf of clients.
For the financial year 2006-2007, the Australian Government is aiming at 144,000 job slots for skilled migrants.
For a list of the most in-demand occupations in Australia, see http://www.nationalvisas.com.au/employer/eligible457visaoccupations.htm
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