Workshop

Hallo all

This forum has provided me invaluable information on PR related
matters. Thank you all.

First, my apologies if this question has been previously posted.

If a sponsor (blood relative) would like to sponsor an Australian
overseas student via the Overseas Student Skill Designated Area, my
understanding is that it requires no point test but must meet the
"basic requirement", ie, age, education, etc. My question is:

1. Is it correct that the sponsor only need to show proof that he has
been living in a designated area for at least 12 months. Does the
sponsor need to be least 2 year as a PR before he can sponsor or 12
months stay in designated area is sufficient?

2. The booklet says that applicant must nominate occupation in the SOL
and the qualification MUST be relevant to SOL? Can a holder of, say,
Diploma in Accounting apply for SOL - Office Manager (40 points)? (work
experience is exempted assuming the applicant finish the course 6
months before PR submission). If VETASSESS approves the qualification
will DIMIA accept it?

Thanks

workshop

TracyAnne

Just thought I'd bump this one up to the top of the forum as you have not had any replies. I am going to apply under this category too, but am concerned about the new rules announced today.

Tracy

JAJ

1. Legal residence will normally do for the 12 months in a designated area. However - beware the changes to skilled designated area sponsored flagged up for 2006.

2. The Australian qualification must be relevant to the nominated occupation. How this is interpreted is a grey area in policy terms and subject to evolution. Most business courses do meet the relevancy requirement under current policy, however this is subject to change.
A skill assessment does not *in itself* mean DIMIA will accept the relevancy argument.

3. Don't forget the mandatory assurance of support.

Jeremy

Workshop

Thanks Jeremy for the info.

Yes, I am aware of the assurance of support, just not too sure if 12
months staying in designated area is enough to sponsor because I read
somewhere that to sponsor someone, PR holder must stay at least 2
years. Thanks for clarifying this.

I keep my finger cross with the new changes. Hopefully, they don't
change the 12 months to 24 months.

JAJ

There is a 'settlement' requirement (normally 2 years residence) to sponsor for many visas, eg parent - but it does not apply to skilled sponsored. PRs just need to be 'usually resident' in Australia.

Even if it does, legal temporary residence is deemed ok for the 2 year requirement.

There is nothing specific in DIMIA policy that states they *will* accept legal temporary residence towards the 12 months requirement, but I understand this is their current policy (and is consistent with the policy on settlement).

That could of course change. As a fall-back, will you qualify for the mainstream Skilled Sponsored visa (ie, pass mark of 110)?

Jeremy

Workshop

The problem is, the relative whom we intend to sponsor will only
graduate with Adv Dip in 2006 and for Adv Dip and that is not good
enough for even Australian sponsored (other than Area Designated
Sponsored). She would need to have at least 50 points for SOL for
other categories.

The only route that I can think of is Area Designated Sponsored.