Case Studies

Category: 482 Skills in Demand (Regional 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 Skill in Demand (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 – Onshore 82/801 – Relationship Registration

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: Offshore Partner Visa, Subclass 309/100 - Spouse living in an overseas country

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: Subclass 482 Employer-Sponsored - ‘try before buy’

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: Changing 482 Sponsors and apply for Subclass 186 TRT with a new Sponsor

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 – Skill Assessment for designated occupations not required if qualifications obtained in Australia

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).

Premium Dining Labour Agreement – 482 Visas

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.

485 Visa – Temporary Graduate visa – Subclass 485. Post- Vocational Education Work Stream

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.