Migration insights & support
Helpful information for your next step.
Clear explanations, practical checklists and useful questions, before and after your consultation.
Guides and articles
Guide
Migration
189 vs 190 vs 491: which skilled visa fits you?
Points, nomination, where you can live and the route to permanent residence, compared.
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Migration
Victoria state nomination for the 190 and 491
How the Registration of Interest works, what Victoria looks at and how to prepare.
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Migration
Partner visa processing times and the second stage
How the two stages work, what slows applications down and how to prepare for the permanent stage.
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Migration
The Australian citizenship test
The format, the 75% pass mark, the values questions and how to prepare.
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Migration
Partner visa misconceptions
Five common myths about partner visas, and the facts.
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Migration
Does divorce affect my visa?
What happens to your visa if your relationship ends.
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For employers
From 482 to 186: the pathway to permanent residence
How sponsored workers move to permanent residence, for workers and employers.
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For employers
186 visa processing time: what affects it
The nomination, the stream, priority processing and how to avoid delays.
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For employers
Employer sponsorship checklist
What your business needs before sponsoring an overseas worker.
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For employers
Becoming a standard business sponsor
Who can sponsor, what Home Affairs checks and how long approval lasts.
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For employers
Sponsor obligations for employers
What you must do after approval, what to report and the penalties for breaches.
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For employers
Labour market testing for the 482 and 494
When you must advertise in Australia, how to do it and who is exempt.
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For employers
Occupation caveats on the 482 and 186
Why some roles cannot be nominated, and why the 494 has no caveats.
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For employers
Salary thresholds for sponsored workers
The CSIT, SSIT and TSMIT, and the market salary rate you also need to meet.
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For employers
Mandatory skills assessment for the 482
When a 482 applicant must have a skills assessment, and how to plan for it.
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For employers
The 494 regional employer visa
Sponsoring a worker in regional Australia, and the 191 pathway to permanent residence.
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For employers
Employer sponsored visa fees
Sponsorship, nomination, the SAF levy and visa charges, and who pays each one.
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Visa rules explained
English requirements for Australian visas
Functional, vocational, competent and proficient English, by visa type.
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Visa rules explained
PIC 4020: the 3-year and 10-year bans
False documents, misleading information and identity, and when a waiver is possible.
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Visa rules explained
Schedule 3: applying in Australia from a bridging visa
When Schedule 3 applies, the 28-day rule and compelling reasons.
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Visa rules explained
Health waivers for Australian visas
When a health concern can stop a visa, and when a waiver may be available.
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Visa rules explained
Character waivers for Australian visas
How the character test works, when a refusal is likely, and when a waiver may help.
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Visa rules explained
Exclusion periods after a visa refusal or cancellation
When a ban applies, how long it lasts, and what you can still do.
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Visa rules explained
Australian visa fees
Current Home Affairs charges for every visa we help with, in one table.
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Study
The Genuine Student requirement
What the questions cover and how to give clear, honest answers.
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Study
After your studies: planning for the 485 visa
The streams, the age limit, English timing and the 6-month deadline.
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Visa reviews
Visa refused? What to do in the first week
Deadlines, bridging visas, review rights and how to prepare, day by day.
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Visa reviews
Visitor visa refused: can you apply again?
Why visitor visas are refused and how to build a stronger application.
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Visa reviews
Understanding visa reviews
What to do after a visa refusal or cancellation.
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Visa reviews
Section 57 natural justice letters
What an invitation to comment means and how to respond before the deadline.
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Visa reviews
Notice of intention to consider cancellation (NOICC)
What a NOICC is, the common grounds and how to respond for any visa type.
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Preparing for consultation
Your first migration consultation
What happens in your first consultation and how to get the most from it.
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Preparing for consultation
What to bring to your consultation
The documents and details to have ready before you meet us.
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Preparing for consultation
How to check a migration agent is registered
Checking a MARN, questions to ask and warning signs.
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Not sure which resource applies?
Talk to the SavieMEC teamView all Google reviews (opens in a new tab)“Very helpful and informative agent, they explained all your visa options in details.”
Popular questions
Straight answers to the questions we hear most.
Do I need a migration agent?
When advice helps, and how to check an agent is registered.
What happens in a consultation?
What we cover, what to bring and what it costs.
Which visa is right for me?
Skilled, employer, partner and student pathways compared.
My visa was refused. What now?
Deadlines, bridging visas and your options.
Free checklists
Printable PDF checklists for the most common visas. Tick off each document before your consultation.
Download PDF
What to bring to your consultation
A checklist of documents and details for your first consultation.
Download PDFDownload PDF
Student visa checklist
Documents for the Student visa (subclass 500).
Download PDFDownload PDF
Visitor visa checklist
Documents for a Visitor visa, including visits by parents.
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Partner visa evidence checklist
Relationship evidence across the 4 areas Home Affairs assesses.
Download PDFVisa guides by topic
Everything you need to know about each type of visa, in one place.
Got a refusal or cancellation?
Review deadlines are strict. Contact us as soon as you get your decision letter.
General information only, not migration advice. Visa rules change often. We will confirm what applies to you in a consultation.
Have a question about your situation?
Guides are general. For advice on your circumstances, talk to our registered migration agent.