Immigration FAQs
What is an Immigrant Visa?
Immigration is referred to as the act of passing or coming into a particular country for the purpose of permanent residence. Immigration can be caused by many reasons, including political, economic, family re-unification, or the wish to change one’s surroundings voluntarily.
How long does it take to get a permanent residence visa to immigrate to Australia, Canada or New Zealand?
Every application is different and processing times largely depend on the type of visa being applied for. As a general rule however, it takes most applicants for permanent residence visas in Australia 18 to 24 months, Canada 24 to 48 months and in New Zealand 12 to 18 months (including the time required to prepare the application before lodgment) to receive a decision on their visa application. Spousal cases and temporary work visas tend to be a little quicker at 3 to 6 months, while applicants requiring professional registration can take an additional 6 to 12 months to process.
Are Australian, Canadian and New Zealand immigration point based?
Yes, the immigration to Australia, Canada and New Zealand for skilled workers is based on a point scoring system. The pass mark changes from time to time. You can score points for skill, age, English language ability, specific work experience, occupation in demand (and job offer), Australian, Canadian or New Zealand qualifications, spouse skills, foreign language skills or Australian, Canadian or New Zealand work experience, Points are awarded once the basic requirements have been satisfied.
Will my application benefit if I have a close relative in Australia, Canada or New Zealand?
Skilled worker applicant will be awarded bonus points if a close relative is a Australian, Canadian or New Zealand citizen or permanent resident and over the age of 19 years.
Do I have to sit for an English language ability test?
You must have sufficient ability in the English language for working in Australia, Canada or New Zealand. A higher level of English is required for certain occupations where English ability forms part of the skills assessment. You have to sit for the IELTS exam to claim points for English language.
Do I need to hire a lawyer, immigration consultant, or representative to help me complete my immigration application or advise me?
You do not need to hire a lawyer, immigration consultant or representative to apply for ant immigration program or to advise you on your application if you feel you do not need one. They may be of assistance in completing your application if you have difficulty understanding the forms.
Hiring someone does not mean that your application will receive special attention or be handled differently from any other application that the Australian, Canadian or New Zealand immigration authorities receives.
What is the difference between a resident visa and a permanent resident visa?
Both of these visas allow you the same privilege of living and working in a country, but they provide you with different travel conditions.
Your resident visa will allow you to travel in and out for a specified period of time only – usually 24 months.
Permanent residency refers to a person’s visa status: the person is allowed to reside indefinitely within a country of which he or she is not a citizen.
Who is considered a dependent?
A dependent is a member of the family unit of the Australian, Canadian or New Zealand visa applicant. This may include the spouse/ partner of the applicant, any dependent children (under 18 years of age) or some other dependent relative.
You may include other relatives in your application if they are wholly or substantially reliant on you for financial support for their basic needs of food, shelter and clothing and they have been reliant on you for that support for a substantial period. They must also be more reliant on you than on any other person or source. A relative may be considered dependent on you if they have a mental or physical disability that prevents them from earning a living to support themselves e.g. an aged unmarried relative.
Do I need to declare all of my immediate family members (spouse and children) even if they are not accompanying me to Australia, Canada or New Zealand?
Yes. You must declare all immediate family members whether or not they are accompanying you to Australia, Canada or New Zealand.
What supporting documents do I need to submit with my application?
There are certain documents that must accompany an application. This will depend on the type of immigration visa applied for. A list of minimum requirements for each type of visa is available on the page entitled, Applications and Forms.
Will an immigration officer interview me?
As per the new law Visa offices may grant an interview waiver, depending on the qualifications of the applicant, quality of supporting documents, and the overall credibility of the applicant
Will I have to undergo medical tests?
Yes, all immigration applicants must take a medical examination. This is in order to protect the health of the Australian, Canadian and the New Zealanders people and to prevent a burden on the respective country medical system from an existing illness.
Am I required to carry certain amount of funds with me?
You must show that you have enough money to support yourself and your family after you get to Australia, Canada or New Zealand on permanent residence visa. You cannot borrow this money from another person. You must be able to use this money to pay the costs of living for your family (even if they are not coming with you).
You will need to show proof to the respective visa office in your home country that you have enough money when you apply to immigrate.
Do professionals need registration & licensing to work in Australia, Canada or New Zealand?
Approximately 20% of occupations in Australia, Canada and New Zealand are regulated professions and trades. These are to protect the health and safety of Australians, Canadians and New Zealanders. People who want to work in regulated occupations need to obtain a license from the provisional regulatory body.
When can citizenship be obtained?
Australian, Canadian and New Zealand citizenship can generally be obtained after 3 years of permanent residence.
When I migrate, will I lose my current passport?
No, not necessarily. Firstly, you will enter as a permanent resident which does not affect your current citizenship status. After four years you can apply for Australian, Canadian or New Zealand citizenship (but this is not obligatory). The Australian, Canadian and New Zealand Governments allow dual-nationality (i.e. the holding of two passports), so you could retain your current passport and obtain an Australian, Canadian or New Zealand passport as well. Having said this, you must check that your own country of citizenship allows dual-nationality, as this right must be reciprocal. If not, you will need to surrender your other passport in order to become a citizen.
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