no lobang available

I have a Bachelor Degree in IT, I have 6 years experience in IT industry,
My wife has the same experience too, I have a kid, thinking to migrate to AUS.
Easy to get PR?

This would be a good place to start http://www.immi.gov.au/visawizard/
Or you can always engage in an agent service, the first consultation is always free

Personally, I would apply PR without any help from an "agent".

The Australian immigration provides all the information one needs for migration to Australia.

Just follow the requirements given and save thousands and thousands of dollar.

Consulting an agent does not make it any easier in my opinion.

An agent follows the requirements given by the Australian immigration anyway, and Australian immigration is very efficient in providing information and assistance. So why waste money on an agent cause it does not make it easier?

I beg to differ, as the process is long and complicated if you are not familar with the process. An agent will help you through short cuts (though not always, case-by-case basis) and cut down time reading and figuring out how to provide and fulfill the process requirement. It is more so if the applicant is applying in a family which requires to submit countless of documents or an off shore applicant. The DIAC will also demand you to resubmit documents if deem unsatifactory.

The conclusion is you'll need an agent if:

1. English is not your first language, you'll need to fully understand the terms in the forms so that you furnish them the correct/required information. Else you risk delays, given a run around or even rejection.
2. No contact, relatives, or friends residing in Australia as your reference (depending on the type of application)
3. Off shore applicant (meaning applying from outside Australia)



This post has been edited by rg470: May 7 2013, 01:58 PM

I agreed. I think it is easier to apply for PR after graduating from Australian Uni should you meet the requirement. As when you have work experience, your experience and skills have to be assessed by a recognized body before you are able to apply for PR.
Hence, it actually depends on your situation. You can apply on your own if you have friends/relatives that have applied before you which you can seek advice (if it is the same requirements as the migrations requirements and regulation changes almost every July each year)

Sorry.
Noob here,

From the AUS VISA wizard,
8. Is your nominated occupation on a Skilled Occupation List (SOL)?

Software Engineer considered as one of the occupation?

Graduating from an Australian university no longer enables/qualify youself as an PR applicant, gone were the days when DIAC officers go to universities to give out application forms to final semester/year students. They now demand you to return to your country of origin as soon as you complete your studies and then apply whatever visa application you intend to from there onwards with the exception if you can secure an employer/state sponsored visa before your student visa runs out.

I think it has been quite some time since DIAC officers go to universities to give you application forms. All of my friends that applied PR in the past 3 years, apply once they graduate if they meet the requirement.
I think now international students are given a visa to allowed them to stay in Australia for 18 months if you study for 3 years and graduate with a bachelor. During this period, i think they have to apply for EOI should there skill set is required. I am not too familiar with the new change in regulation as most of my friends applied their PR with the previous regulation

As rg470 said, it's not that easy to apply for PR now after graduating.
I know a few friends who has graduated and was trying to apply (in the past 6 months), now they are back in Malaysia already. They were not successful with the application.

I agree, my sister did the same through online just before she graduated, that was about 4 years ago. It then took about a year to get it approved. If you are applying through skill migration, you'll need to have relevant work experience of at least 3 to 5 years (depending on type of industry/skill), or Australian working experience (sounds stupid to me coz' you don't get hired here without the visa in the first place). When I myself went looking for jobs online here, they will fail you as soon as they know you are not a PR or relevant working visa holder.

My sister applied for KPMG here and the 1st question they asked on their job application website was, "Are you a XXX visa holder?" Answer "No" and it will bring you straight to "Unfortunately you do not meet our recruitment requirements, thank you". LOL

It is the whole chicken and egg situation, no job cant get sponsor for work visa, no right visa, cant look for a job. This actually all depends on luck when come to securing a job there. Not necessary that you are a PR holder, you will get a job more easily. It definitely help but not a guarantee.

It's not much more complicated than applying for other type of visas. In fact, the correct name of "Australian PR" is permanent visa which lasts for 5 years. A person who holds this visa is considered a permanent resident, and the residency status does not expire (to those looking for info, please confirm this with the immigration). However, permanent visa renewal is compulsory once every five years.

Well, if the applicant feels that the official information given by the immigration is too complicated, I also agree just like you said that seeking an agent is the best option.

However, I still insist that doing it yourself is the best way to apply for it. I don't know the cost here in Malaysia, but in Australia it could cost over 2000 AUD (5 years ago) just for the agent's services.

This post has been edited by Vaedoris: May 7 2013, 07:38 PM

Some years back when I was looking the agent fees in Malaysia were roughly RM7-8k, independent of whether you were applying alone or with a family.

Then it's more expensive than I thought it would.

All the more reason to apply it independently.

This post has been edited by Vaedoris: May 7 2013, 11:01 PM

The thing is I know two people applying independently and failed, one who did it through the agent which went through ok. RM7-8k isn't a huge sum for me, the time I saved was.

But I'm not sure how it changes now that you're required to submit a LOI etc. How relevant would an agent be nowadays?

It is always cheaper hiring an agent from AUS directly, there are plenty of formally malaysian agents around who understands our background and needs.

Even if one fully understands the forms and instructions given, you still lack of the tips & shortcuts of getting through and fast, which I think it all matters at the end of the day. Knowing someone who have gone through the application process is good, but remember all applications are vetted case-by-case basis so it might not apply to yourself.
You sounded like a permanant visa holder/citizen, mind sharing what sub-class did you apply for?

This post has been edited by rg470: May 8 2013, 09:00 AM

I think agent fees are pretty standard, the only difference is the type of visa you're applying and the different fees you need to pay.

I know agents who cant get same type jobs in Australia so they become agents. After 2 years searching for suitable jobs, my friend's hubby who used to be a school principal joined as Jims Mowing franchise grasscutter! His wife has become an agent.