Turner Coulson Immigration Lawyers - Australian Immigration Articles

Skilled Independent (Residence) visa (Subclass 885)

This visa is for you if you are in Australia and you are one of the following:

• an overseas student or former overseas student
• a holder of a Skilled – Graduate (subclass 485) visa or Skilled – Recognised Graduate (subclass 476) visa
• a holder of a Trade Skills Training (subclass 471) visa.

This visa uses a points test to select visa applicants with characteristics needed in the Australian labour market.  You do not require sponsorship to apply for this visa.

To be granted the visa you must score 120 points across the assessable criteria and must be be under 45 years of age, have good English language skills and have the skills and qualifications that meet the Australian standard for an occupation on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) and your nominated occupation is classified as either:

• a 60 point occupation
  or
• a 50 point occupation

See: Form 1121i Skilled Occupation List (SOL) and Employer Nomination Scheme Occupation List (ENSOL) (129KB PDF file) for the full list of occupations available for migration purposes

Once granted the visa, this visa allows you and any secondary applicants included in your visa application to live as permanent residents in Australia and enjoy benefits such as  -

·         study in Australia at school or university

• receive subsidised healthcare through Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
• access certain social security payments (subject to waiting periods)
• be eligible for Australian citizenship (subject to the residency eligibility criteria)
• sponsor people for permanent residence.