Introduction:
The Northern Territory released its State Migration Plan under which skilled migrants to Australia can apply for Australian permanent residence with state sponsorship.
Sponsorship applications for NT state sponsorship are now being accepted.
Revised eligibility lists for occupation under which NT state sponsorship may by granted have now been released for Australian visa subclass categories -
· Subclass 176,
· Subclass 886,
· Subclass 487
· Subclass 475
Eligibility:
International Students Applying for Subclass Visa 886
The Subclass 886 Skilled Sponsored Residence Visa, you will need to meet the following requirements to be considered under the NT State Migration plan and sponsorship;
· have completed a recognized course of study in Australia;
· hold an appropriate temporary visa; either a Subclass 476 (Skilled - Recognized Graduate) visa or
A Subclass 485 (Skilled - Graduate) visa; or bridging visa granted in association with a valid Subclass 886 (Skilled – Sponsored Residence) visa
· meet the relevant English ability level of 7.0* minimum (**conditions apply) or above and work experience criteria; AND
· are resident and working full time in NT; OR
· Completed studies at Charles Darwin University and you have positive employment prospects; OR
· You can demonstrate strong family or friends connections in the Northern Territory; OR
· You are on the NT eligible state migration plan list; AND
· have a successful skills assessment in your nominated occupation;
· Can demonstrate net assets for financial capacity to live in the NT;
· have a demonstrated commitment to living and working in Northern Territory for at least two years from the date your Australian permanent residence visa is granted; and
· Meet all visa requirements for General Skilled Migration.
NT does not charge an application fee for Subclass 886 State Sponsorship applications
The new NT state migration plan lists occupations under which NT state sponsorship can be applied for. These occupations are segregated by the level of demand that exists in the Northern Territory for that occupation. The categories of occupations are –
· red, (not taking any nominations for this occupation)
· amber &
· green.
If the occupation is listed under ‘amber’ all occupations must be checked against work experience and employer requirements.
The Eligibility List for the 886 Visa contains some of the following occupations:
· Hairdresser
· Computing Professionals Group 2231
· Welfare Worker
· Trade Workers such as Cooks, Chefs and Electricians
The full list can be found at;
http://www.migration.nt.gov.au/documents/SMP_Shortage_List_FA.pdf
International graduates who have not completed two years full time study or who are holders of a 485 visa and completed study in another state have additional criteria to meet sponsorship requirements, contact one of our solicitors for further information.
Eligibility:
International Students applying for Subclass 487
The Subclass 487 Skilled Regional Sponsored Provisional Visa, you will need to meet the following requirements to be considered under the NT State Migration plan and sponsorship;
· Be an eligible overseas student holder who can meet the 2year study requirement; or
· Be an eligible 485 OR 476 visa holder;
· Have a positive skills assessment;
· Have a nominated occupation on the state migration plan list for the Northern Territory;
· Can demonstrate net assets for financial capacity to live in the NT; and
· Meet all other visa requirements set out by the Department of Immigration & Citizenship
Other additional qualifying criteria can apply, like relevant study at Charles Darwin University and work experience in the Northern Territory that may still allow applicants to apply for state sponsorship, speak to one of our solicitors for further information.
Offshore Applicants who are applying for Subclass Visa 176
The Subclass 176 Skilled Sponsored Visa, you will need to meet the following requirements to apply successfully to the NT government for state sponsorship –
· Nominate an occupation on the NT State Migration List;
· Have recent, relevant work experience in the nominated occupation and there must also be sufficient employment opportunities available in the NT at the time of lodgment;
· A positive skills assessment in your nominated occupation;
· Sufficient English language ability (*conditions apply) to enable reasonable employment opportunities in the Northern Territory labor market;
· Sufficient financial resources to settle in the NT while seeking employment, $35,000AUD for the main applicant and $15,000AUD for each additional family member;
· A demonstrated commitment to living and working in the NT for at least 2 years from the date your Australian permanent residence visa is granted; and
· Meet all visa requirements set by the Australian immigration department for general skilled migration under the skilled independent Australian visa pathway.
The Eligibility List for the 176 Visa contains some of the following occupations:
· Registered Nurses
· Computing Professionals
· Trade occupations; Electrician, Carpenter, Motor Mechanic
· Teachers; Secondary and Primary
· Engineers; and
· Health care professionals
The full list can be found at;
http://www.migration.nt.gov.au/documents/SMP_Shortage_List_FA.pdf
Offshore Applicants who are applying for Subclass Visa 475
The Subclass 475 Offshore Skilled Regional Sponsored (Provisional) Visa, you will need to meet the following requirements to apply successfully to the NT government for state sponsorship –
· Nominate an occupation on the NT State Migration List;
· Have recent, relevant work experience in the nominated occupation and there must also be sufficient employment opportunities available in the NT at the time of lodgment;
· A positive skills assessment in your nominated occupation;
· Sufficient English language ability (*conditions apply) to enable reasonable employment opportunities in the Northern Territory labor market;
· Sufficient financial resources to settle in the NT while seeking employment, $35,000AUD for the main applicant and $15,000AUD for each additional family member;
· A demonstrated commitment to living and working in the NT for at least 2 years from the date your Australian permanent residence visa is granted; and
· Meet all visa requirements set by the Australian immigration department for general skilled migration under the skilled independent Australian visa pathway.
The full list can be found at;
http://www.migration.nt.gov.au/documents/SMP_Shortage_List_FA.pdf
Conclusions:
The Northern Territory (NT) government set specific criteria that must be satisfied if you are to be awarded NT State Sponsorship. The Northern Territory government wants to attract potential applicants who have a genuine intention to live and work in the NT and show all relevant support networks to establish themselves.
Various occupations have further individual criteria that must be met in order to satisfy the states requirements as part of the State Migration Plan. If your application is incomplete inaccurate or you do not satisfy all applicable requirements, then the application will most likely fail and be refused.
Therefore, it is important to have accurate and up-to-date legal advice and assistance in preparing your State Sponsorship and correlating visa applications because quite simply, your future is riding on it!
For an assessment of your application and whether you will be successful in achieving approval through State Sponsorship please contact either Ray Turner or Stewart Coulson immediately by phoning +61 (0)2 9264 4654 or emailing us at info@tcilawyers.com.au
This article should not be taken as legal advice and cannot be relied upon as a complete or accurate representation of the law. It is meant to be indicative only and should be seen as a general informative guide to the visa application processes.