Keen to Move Down Under? Read Traci Chen’s Advice First

For many, permanent residency in Australia is a dream come true, but navigating complex immigration policies and procedures can be grueling.

According to Traci Chen, CEO of Maison Chen Law Group and expert in international immigration to Australia, you must understand the potential obstacles before starting the application process.

From gathering the necessary documents to choosing the appropriate visa, several steps are involved before obtaining permanent residency. Each step must be taken with care to avoid any unwanted complications or refusals.

“My parents are migrants,” she says, “and I know what they went through. The lack of clarity and transparency in the immigration system — I want to change that.”

Chen says the current labor skills shortage in Australia has opened the path for many specialized occupations. According to the National Skills Commission, occupation shortages doubled in 2022, with registered nurses, software engineers, and teachers the most in demand. These are closely followed by construction managers, engineers, and motor mechanics.

“I heard that Australia needs around a million people to keep up with the workload,” she says. And this makes it easier for those in certain occupations to obtain a work-based residency visa. A work-based visa allows those who have sought-after skills to work in Australia with a view to permanent residency. They include the following:

• The Skilled Independent Visa (subclass 189) allows applicants with high-level skills to settle permanently in Australia, provided applicants can demonstrate their skills through an approved points test. The points test looks at factors such as age, education, language, and work experience to determine eligibility.

• The Employer Nominated Scheme (subclass 186) is also for skilled workers who an Australian employer sponsors to fill a vacancy in the labor market. To be eligible for this visa, the applicant usually must have obtained or gained qualifications equivalent to an Australian bachelor’s degree and have at least three years of relevant full-time post-qualification work experience.

• The Skilled Nominated 190 Visa allows skilled applicants to live and work permanently in Australia as well, provided applicants can demonstrate their skills through an approved points test. You will be nominated by the State or Territory to apply for this visa in Australia.

Chen says it’s much easier to obtain the permanent residency migrants seek by utilizing these visas. And Maison Chen Law Group assists in that process.

“We line businesses up with migrants,” Chen says. “We have businesses that come to us that need people, and then through my social media channels and my emails, I post the jobs out. Then, migrants following me can directly apply, and I connect them up.”

“It has absolutely changed their life.”

Language proficiency is another major challenge in permanent migration, as Australia is committed to ensuring permanent migrants have a good command of the English language. This helps ensure they can easily integrate into Australian society and engage in meaningful work. Strict language requirements exist for those wishing to migrate to Australia permanently.

There are five English language tests available. There are two that are more popular – IELTS (International English Language Testing System) and PTE (Pearson Test of English) – both must be completed with an acceptable level of proficiency. But there are exceptions, such as parent visa pathways, where language proficiency is not required because older parents typically do not work in Australia.

Chen says brushing up on your English will only benefit your move.

“When you come to Australia as a migrant, it can be tough to find a job if English is your second language. My dad is super educated,” she says. “He has a bachelor’s degree, two masters and a Ph.D., but he worked in a factory his whole life because he didn’t speak English well enough.”

Obtaining permanent residency in Australia may initially appear to be mission impossible, but by familiarizing yourself with basic requirements, you can make it happen.

Traci Chen provides a library of insightful guidance on her social media platforms to help you get through the challenges of the migration process. As a result, she is enabling a much smoother journey to your new life in Australia.

“I’m here to give people transparency when considering the move,” she says.

McClatchy newsroom and editorial staff were not involved in the creation of this content.