Clients’ Migration Stories

Category: 482 SID (Tasmanian Business)

AustraliaMigrate successfully assisted a Tasmanian business to secure a skilled overseas worker through an innovative visa strategy.

Our client, a Tasmanian-based company, urgently required a Plastics Technician, a role notoriously difficult to fill locally or even nationally. After extensive searching, they identified a highly skilled individual working in Egypt, originally from India, whose expertise perfectly matched their needs.

Category: 482 SID (Restaurant Manager)

AustraliaMigrate successfully secured long-term sponsorship for a Restaurant Manager despite imminent occupation-list changes.

Our client, a restaurant, sponsored a Restaurant Manager from overseas. The Subclass 482 Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa was approved in August 2023 for two years, with the applicant arriving in Australia in October 2023. According to the policy, to transition to permanent residency via the Subclass 186 Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream, the applicant needed to hold the 482 visa and work in the nominated occupation in Australia for two full years.

Category: Partner Visa (Alex and Sarah)

Alex reached out to us in a bit of a panic. He had been dating Sarah, an Australian citizen, for just four months, and his visa was about to expire in December 2023. They weren’t married, hadn’t lived together for long, and he was worried he wouldn’t be able to stay in Australia.

During our consultation, we found out they were living in New South Wales. This turned out to be key. In most Australian states (except WA and NT), couples can register their relationship with the state, which removes the usual 12-month living-together requirement for a partner visa.

Category: Partner Visa (Chinedu and Emily)

Emily, an Australian citizen, came to us wanting to bring her husband, Chinedu, to Australia so they could finally live together. Chinedu was living in the Phiilppines at the time, and although they were married, the distance was making things tough.

Emily was determined to build a life with her partner here in Australia, so we sat down to discuss the best pathway forward. After reviewing their situation, we advised them to apply for a Partner (Subclass 309) visa, which allows a married partner of an Australian citizen to live in Australia temporarily while waiting for permanent residency.

Category: Employer-Sponsored (Aussie Engineering Firm)

An engineering company in Australia came to us facing a common challenge—staff shortages and difficulty finding skilled workers locally, particularly in the telecommunications field. They had identified a candidate in the Philippines who seemed promising, but they weren’t sure if bringing someone in from overseas would work out.

That’s where we stepped in.

To help the business assess the worker’s suitability without a long-term commitment, we recommended applying for a Subclass 400 short stay specialist visa. This visa allowed the telecommunications linesworker to come to Australia for a short period and demonstrate his skills on the job.

Category: Employer-Sponsored (Mechanical Engineer)

We were contacted by a skilled mechanical engineering technician working in Australia on a 482 visa. He had been sponsored by an engineering company for 3 years but was offered a better opportunity with another employer in the same occupation.

He wasn’t sure if switching employers would affect his visa or future eligibility for permanent residency under the Subclass 186 Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream. That’s where we stepped in.

Category: 482 Visa (Nepalese Cook)

One of our clients, a cook from Nepal, reached out to us after being offered sponsorship by the restaurant where he was already working. He had heard that Nepalese nationals applying for a 482 visa as a cook are required to complete a skills assessment—and he was understandably concerned about the time and cost involved.

But after reviewing his background, we quickly reassured him: a skills assessment wasn’t necessary in his case.

Category: DAMA (Physiotherapist)

We were approached by a highly experienced physiotherapist who was eager to stay in Australia permanently. She was 48 years old—just above the standard age limit of 45 for most employer-sponsored permanent visas.

Despite this, we knew her case had potential.

She was working in a regional area of Queensland, and her employer was supportive and willing to sponsor her. We began researching visa pathways that could accommodate her situation and found a great fit: the Far North Queensland Designated Area Migration Agreement (FNQ DAMA).

Category: Labour Agreement (Waiter)

A restaurant client approached us with a challenge—they wanted to sponsor one of their experienced waiters, but quickly discovered that “waiter” is not on the standard list of eligible occupations for common visa types like the 482 or 407.

On the surface, it seemed there was no pathway available. However, after carefully reviewing the nature of the business and the role, we found a solution that many are unaware of.

Category: General Skilled Migration (Primary School Teacher)

We were contacted by a client who dreamed of becoming a primary school teacher in Australia. Although she had some teaching experience overseas, she didn’t hold a formal qualification that met Australian standards.

She reached out to us to explore her options. After assessing her background, we recommended enrolling in a recognised teaching degree in Australia. We helped her secure admission into a two-year Master of Teaching (Primary) program and supported her throughout her student journey.

Category: 482 Visa (South African Toolmaker)

A steel factory in Queensland contacted us with an urgent need for a highly skilled toolmaker. They had found the right candidate—a talented and experienced tradesman from South Africa—but weren’t sure how to bring him over.

We stepped in to assess the worker’s eligibility for a Subclass 482 visa. Because toolmaker is a licensed trade occupation and the applicant was from a country where mandatory skills assessments are required, we advised that he would need to complete a skills assessment before moving forward.

Ranjeet Kumar's story

Ranjeet Kumar, a young man from India, studied and completed Certificate IV in Commercial Cookery and Advanced Diploma of Hospitality Management at one Sydney’s hospitality management institutes in June 2020. His course took him 2 years and 3 months to complete. He approached us to help with his 485 Graduate Visa application.

AustraliaMigrate advised him that a skill assessment as a chef with TRA was required.  As he had not completed a degree level qualification he could not apply for the Post Study Work Stream. Fortunately, his occupation of chef was on the 485 list of occupations.

We assisted Ranjeet to apply for his Skills Assessment with TRA and he received a successful outcome. With a positive skill assessment, Ranjeet’s 485 application was lodged together with the other documents required at the lodgement stage, such as an English language test (IELTS or PTE). His visa was granted for 18 months which means he has time to build his work experience as a chef.

Maren Beattie’s story

Maren Beattie arrived in Australia on a Working Holiday Visa in 2007. She and Matt had been pen-pals before she arrived.

Our relationship developed and we got married in Jan 2008. I applied for a spouse visa with my husband Matthew Beattie. I received my Permanent Visa in 2010.

Starting off in Australia in 2007 with a Working Holiday Visa, subclass 417. Shortly after meeting my husband, Matthew Beattie, we decided to get married. We were introduced and recommended by Matthew’s friend to contact with AustraliaMigrate for assistance in spouse visa application.

Nicholas Yang’s story

Nicholas was an engineering professional in Singapore. He applied for the Skilled Migration visa and his permanent resident visa was granted on June 2012.

I was introduced to AustraliaMigrate by my sister. Prior to my application, two of my family members was engaged with AustraliaMigrate in visa applications.

What motivated me the most to carry out the visa application was my 4 siblings who are currently residing in Sydney. Initially, I tried to conduct my visa application through some company online but I deemed them to be unsuccessful due to weak and frustrating support they provide.

Rainer and Juan’s story

Juan applied for a Spouse Visa (Provisional 309) in March 2011 and got her Permanent Visa (Subclass 100) in August 2012.

She is currently living in Sydney and works at Kairos International Pty Ltd, as a Software Support Assistant.

I met my husband, Rainer, an Australian of Norwegian background, and an IT Technician, in Jan 2008 and we got married in China in Jan 2010. At that time, I was working in Nanjing, China and my husband was working in Sydney, Australia. We had to live separately even after we got married, which was very grievous for a recently married couple.

Sandeep & Ashu Sharma’s story

Sandeep Sharma applied for his Permanent Residence visa under subclass 186 Employer Nominated Sponsorship, after two years of being sponsored under a 457 Employer Sponsorship visa. His Permanent Visa was granted on August 2014.

I have been in Sydney, Australia for the last 6 years. I was referred to AustraliaMigrate by a friend of mine.

In the beginning, I was sponsored by my company under a 457 visa. As I would like to stay on in Australia, I applied for the visa Permanent Residence Visa (186).

The visa application process was complex and very challenging. AustraliaMigrate helped me to prepare and lodge my application in a limited time. My application was approved just within one week and my 457 long stay business visa was granted.

John and Katz’s story

Katz and John applied for an Employer Nominated Sponsorship Visa and successfully got their Permanent Residency in 2007. The couple are settled in Melbourne, Australia.

We moved to Australia with only suitcases (and sentimental items), and have virtually bought everything from scratch including our large detached townhouse, two cars and all our media/furnishings.

While in Adelaide and Melbourne we had attended two immigration agents to gauge the complications and expense of the next step of settling in Australia. However, on personal recommendation from one of Katz’s colleagues we visited Mr Ian Singer in Sydney.