Congratulations upon your decision to immigrate to Australia!
English is the nationall language of Australia, which is one of the unifying elements of the country. Australians use a different slang than the rest of the English speaking world however.
BBQ is barbie, mate – friend are two examples of Australian English slang. There are many others.
New Immigration Rules for Australia
As of July 1st, 2012 there are new rules and regulations that you should be aware of.
The first thing to do is to get either by e-mail or by regular mail the offical book about Australia. You should do this because you find out as much about the country as you can, and this book gives lots of background, history and offical information. I read it on-line! The book is available in English and has been translated into many different languages. You have to read this book and sign an oath that you will abide by the Australian Values that are described in the book. If you don’t speak English and there is no translation into your language, then you need someone to explain the book to you. Here is the link to the book in English:
http://www.immi.gov.au/living-in-australia/values/book/
Professions needed in Australia
There are many professions that are needed in Australia You can be sponsored by an employer, or non-sponsored. There is a need for certain types of workers in regional Australia. The list is pretty long, so it is possible that your profession is one that is needed. Health care workers in Regional Australia are especially needed
Applying for a Visa to Australia
There are many types of Visas that are available in Australia for people who want to live there, visit, or study. This Visa wizard will walk you through the process of applying for a Visa.
The process of immigrating to Australia is very complicated, so many people hire a Migration Agent. This person is your go between the Migration Authority and you, and you have to make all the final decisions. The agent does not replace your rights.
Students living in Australia
Foreign students studying in Australia have to show that they have access to sufficient amount of funds to cover their educational costs. This amount has been raised as of July 1st 2012.
There have been changes in the law for students as of July 1st as well. The amount varies depending upon the age of the student. Here is a link to the website that has the chart of how much money each student needs per year according to the new regulations: http://www.immi.gov.au/students/student-visa-living-costs.htm
If you are a college student and want to study in Australia then go to this page to help you figure out which type of Visa you need to apply for:
http://www.immia.gov.au/students/students/chooser/
Travel documents needed to enter Australia
As with other countries there are many different documents that you need in order to travel to Australia. Here is a website that has all the
different documents ready for you to download. Each different category needs different documentation so be sure to pick the the right one!
Once again, congratulations on your decision to immigrate to Australia. Keep in mind, that there is a lot of paperwork, but the final result will be that you will be living in a new country, on the bottom of the world! See you at the barbie, Mate!
