So you have heard about the Employer-sponsored 494 visa. But what is it? and what are the main requirements?.
Well, it is similar in its application steps when compared to the 482 Employer-Sponsored, the main difference being that the employer must be located in a regional area. The regional area is designated by its postcode by Immigration, you can view the list of approved postcodes for this visa here.
The 494 visa replaces the old 187 and is also given 10,000 places, making it a very attractive option for those who can meet the requirements, and as it’s not a “points based visa’ that requires you to submit an Expression of Interest, upon lodging it (if onshore) you can receive a bridging visa for the processing timeframe (average is approximately 4 months).
So, what are the steps to apply for the 494 visa?
- The employer needs to apply to the local “Regional Certifying Body (RCB) to be assessed and approved.
- The employer lodges a ‘nomination application’ that shows evidence that no one in the local workforce is suitable and nominates you and your profile for the position.
- This is your visa application, which reiterates your skills, qualifications and English ability in relation to the nominated position.
All 3 steps can be lodged in succession OR an employer can choose to only proceed to the next step once the previous step has been approved.
Once the visa is granted, you and the Employer are then in a legal agreement that you can only work for them and they must meet their obligations related to payment and employment law. Your visa is granted for 5 years and has a pathway to PR after 3 years.
What else is required to apply for this visa?
The English score required is ‘competent‘ you can read more about the scores here, plus you need to prove 3 years of full-time work experience.
In some cases, depending on the occupation you are nominated for, you may need a Skills assessment as well as the above factors.
If you are interested to know more about the 494 visa, EMSA can explain in detail what the requirements are for your case and your employer. Contact us for more information!