Testimonials & Interviews

Jason was originally an Indian national and came to Australia to study commercial cookery in Brisbane. Before coming to Australia, Jason had no professional work experience or education as a chef. Whilst undertaking the course, Jason was also fortunate enough to find paid work experience at local restaurants. This allowed him to earn to support himself whilst he studied. Upon graduating, PTA assisted him to apply for the Temporary Graduate Work Visa (Subclass 485). This is an open work visa that allowed him to remain in Australia and live and work for 24 months with full work rights. On his 485 visa, Jason undertook the Job Ready Program where he had to work as a chef for 12 months. This allowed him to gain a full skill assessment which allows him to apply for different General Skilled Migration Visas. The next step was to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI), through Skill Select and apply for a General Skilled Migration Visa. Jason was fortunate enough to be invited for the Skilled Independent – Subclass 189. In the future, he wants to continue to work as a chef and become an Australian citizen.

Meet John from the UK. John initially came to Australia to study the Cert III in Carpentry. Prior to coming to Australia he was working as a fireman with no previous carpentry work experience. After studying, John moved on the a Temporary Graduate Work Visa (Subclass 485). This allowed him to live and work in Australia for 2 years upon completion of his study. Pathway to Aus then assisted him to move onto a Training Visa (Subclass 407), before applying for the Permanent Employer Sponsored Visa (Subclass 186). John and his family and now permanent residents of Australia and will soon apply for citizenship.

Mohit is a client of Pathway to Aus who we have helped successfully transition from Student Visa to Graduate Visa to Employer Sponsored TSS (Subclass 482 Visa). He now works in the international education industry working as education management on The Gold Coast. The Graduate visa was a very simple process and went through easily. It was when it came to applying for the TSS employer sponsored visa where it became tricky. Generally speaking in order to be employed on the TSS visa as an education manager NEC you would need to have 5 years post qualification work experience. This was requested by immigration after lodgment. However PTA migration agents were able to successfully argue that in specific circumstances these 5 years experience could be waived as the occupation is highly specialised. After a lot of explanatory evidence provided, the case officer decided in our favour and granted Mohit the visa!

Sveta is a past international student from Russia. She came out to Australia to study English. However after studying English for a year, she realised she loved the country and decided to stay on and study Commercial Cookery and Diploma of Hospitality at Holmes College on The Gold Coast. She graduated in July 2017. Pathway to Aus then successfully helped Sveta apply for and was granted her Temporary Graduate Work Visa (Subclass 485) in September 2017 She is now working her way through the Job Ready Program and will hopefully receive the equivalent of her full skills assessment as a chef and apply for General Skilled Migration next year.

Ian is a previous PTA student and client who has successfully went from student visa to graduate work visa to lodging his PR application in roughly 3 years. Throughout his studies Ian was fortunate enough to find paid work experience at the boat builder where he did his vocational placement. On the student visa Ian could work 40 hours per fortnight and unlimited hours during school holidays. This allowed Ian to earn money to partially support himself during his stay. Because boat building is on the Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List, upon graduating, we were able to apply for an 18 month temporary graduate visa for Ian. We then passed a provisional skills assessment and entered into the Job Ready Program run by Trades Recognition Australia. As part of the Job Ready Program Ian undertook a minimum of 1725 hours of full time work as a boat builder. After we lodged Ian’s EOI, we received an nomination to apply for the visa in only 2 days!

Rotem is a previous PTA student and client who has successfully went from student visa to graduate work visa to lodging his PR application in roughly 3.5 years. Rotem came to Aus with his wife from Israel to study boat building (Marine Craft Construction) at TAFE QLD on the Gold Coast. Whilst undertaking the course, Rotem was required to undertake 400 hours of vocational placement where he would gain industry experience. Close to 4 years after first beginning his studies in Aus, Rotem and his family were then granted their Permanent Visa (Skilled Nominated (State Sponsored) Subclass 190 visa to Australia. After one year on the PR visa, Rotem and family can look at becoming Australian citizens.

In this video we meet Thalia. Thalia came to Australia from South Africa and studied to become a Civil Engineering Draftsperson at TAFE QLD in Brisbane. Thalia went straight into studying the course after graduating from high school. Whilst undertaking the course, Thalia was also fortunate enough to find paid work experience at a local engineering company. This allowed her to earn to support herself whilst she studied. She was allowed to undertake 40 hours per fortnight of paid work and unlimited hours in school holidays.

Jad came to Aus from Lebanon to study boat building (Marine Craft Construction) at TAFE QLD on the Gold Coast. Whilst undertaking the course, Jad was also fortunate enough to find paid work experience at a local boat building company throughout his studies. This allowed him to earn to support himself whilst he worked. Upon graduating, PTA assisted Jad to apply for the graduate work visa (Subclass 485). Consequently a PTA Migration agent lodged an expression of interest requesting QLD State Nomination and Jad was fortunate enough to receive the invite and apply for the Skilled Work Regional Visa – Subclass 491. This is an open 5 year work visa that converts to PR if you live and work in a regional area for 3 years. Moving forward he hopes to remain living and working on the Gold Coast and become an Aus citizen.

Will came to Australia and studied carpentry at TAFE QLD. Upon graduating, PTA assisted Will to apply for the Temporary Graduate Work Visa (Subclass 485). This is an open work visa that allowed him to remain in Australia and live and work for 18 months with full work rights. After approximately 1 year or 1725 hours working as a carpenter, Will was obtained his final skill assessment for migration purposes by TRA. The next step was to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI), through Skill Select and apply for a General Skilled Migration Visa. PTA Migration agent lodged an Expression of Interest requesting QLD State Nomination. Will was fortunate enough to receive the invite and apply for the Skilled Work Regional Visa – Subclass 491. This is an open 5 year work visa that converts to PR if you live and work in a regional area for 3 years and earn above $53,900. In the future, he hopes to remain living and working on the Gold Coast, and set up his own building company.