don544

hi all
does anybody know if you can apply for permanent residency as a skilled independant (nurse), if you are already in Australia on a work visa, and if you can, what subclass is it?
thanks
dom

welshtony

Not for permanent residence - permanent residence being a visawhere the application is made on-shore and granted on-shore and ahas an associated bridging visa to allow you to remain in Australia while the permanent residence visa is being processed - should your current work visa expire before then.

You can apply for the "off Shore" Skilled Independent visa while you are in Australia on another visa. It does not give you a bridging visa and you would have to leave Australia for 7 working days when they are ready to grant you your visa.

Tony

George Lombard

Hi Dom,

You'd be looking at subclass 136 skilled independent without a sponsor (and depending on your age and points you might also be considering subclass 137 STNI or if desperate subclass 495 SIR). All fully described in Booklet 6 at www.immi.gov.au . If you're already working here as a nurse then it shouldn't be difficult. This visa does require you to be offshore at time of grant, but the application can be made while you're onshore unless you've had another application refused and your substantive visa has expired.

Cheers,

George Lombard

www.austimmigration.com.au

don544

many thanks welshtony and george for above info.
dom