Services

There are many types of visa categories in the current migration programme. There are visas which can only be applied for off-shore and some able to be applied for off-shore and also from within Australia (onshore), and some only from within Australia (generally only where qualifying visas are held).

For some visas, e.g 457 visas, location does not matter. As a result choosing the appropriate visa in unique circumstances can be confusing for intending temporary and permanent visa applicants.

This  section summarises the broad range of visas handled by Signet and the assessments referred to in this section are intended to give information to follow up with more detail. Signet does not process 1^st stage student visas, business skills visas or humanitarian /refugee visas.

The Signet service

The Signet service includes liaising with the applicant (including all dependents) to establish the desired visa option or pathway and to coordinate all necessary steps, including preliminary advice and preparation of all required forms, medical and character documents and seeking to address all regulatory requirements pertinent to the particular visa being sought.

As the applicants’ registered agent Signet will be authorised to deal with DIAC in all material matters and to otherwise deal with DIAC through to a final decision on any/all relevant application.  

1. 457 visa

This visa option is for persons who are interested in being sponsored for temporary work visas by an Australia based company or even an overseas company.

It required details of the proposed sponsoring company.

Applicants from certain designated countries and certain designated occupations are required to undergo 457 skill assessments. The English requirement for trade occupation is 5 in each of the IELTS modules. This visa is a popular pathway to permanent residency usually through the ENS program.

See 457 visa assessment

Please also refer to my 457 page

2. General Skilled/Sponsored permanent work visa

This visa grouping would normally be appropriate for those persons looking for either independent or employer sponsored positions, with a professional, management or trade qualification or background in the general capacity of paid employees. 

Occupations will need to be on the current Skilled Occupation List (SOL)

New SOL and FAQs (81 KB)

See General Skilled/Employer nomination assessment

You may wish to look at the "Skills' page to access the SOL and other skilled visa related information.

3. Family visas

This category of visas is for persons wishing to be sponsored by Australian citizens, permanent residents and eligible New Zealand citizens (ENZC) for either married, de facto (including same-sex)  or fiancé partners (subject to marriage) to Australia or wishing to be sponsored as other family members (eg, parents, children, remaining relatives, aged dependent relative and carers visas) after meeting the required criteria.

An Assurance of Support (AoS) may be required depending upon the category and particular circumstances.

See Family visa assessment

4. Other temporary visas

This visa group is a miscellaneous group of short term temporary visas, some of which can lead to permanent visas and some which remain temporary in nature.

This group comprises Working Holiday Maker visa (417 (see link for eligible countries http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/working-holiday/), Short term business visas (456/977), Visitor visas including Family Sponsored visitor (676/679), NZ family Sponsored visas (461)) as well as other designated purpose temporary visas such as Educational (418), Visiting Academic (419), Sport (421) and Occupational Trainee (422).

Electronic visas (label free countries)

Applicants ( where eligible) often will apply for Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) visas for holiday and also business purposes (977/956), as Australia is part of the ETA system and is also a visa label free country. For a full list of visa label free countries see: http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/skilled-workers/sbs/visa-labels.htm  

Applicants should however be aware that whilst applied for and granted on-line, ETA visas carry the full force of the law and are monitored so an applicant remains directly responsible for legal statements made in the application process.

See Temporary visa assessment