Jad’s Pathway to PR

Jad came to Aus from Lebanon to study boat building (Marine Craft Construction) at TAFE QLD on the Gold Coast. Prior to coming over to study his course, Jad was working as a mechanical engineer in Lebanon in his parent’s boat building company.

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. He was allowed to undertake 40 hours per fortnight of paid work and unlimited hours in school holidays.

Upon graduating, PTA assisted Jad to apply for the graduate work visa (Subclass 485). This is an open work visa that allowed him to remain in Aus and live and work for 18 months with full work rights.

When on the graduate work visa Jad obtained work as a mechanical engineer and also obtained a skill assessment based on his previous education. Jad could have followed the path and obtained a visa through the occupation of Boat Building, but he was already able to pass a skill assessment as a mechanical engineer, so he went down this pathway.

The next step was to submit an expression of interest through Skill Select and apply for a general skilled migration visa. Jad did not have sufficient points to apply for the skilled independent. However, as mechanical engineer was on the QLD State Occupation list and Jad was working in the occupation in QLD, it was sufficient points to apply for QLD State Nomination. 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.

If you are interested in studying in Aus or would like to know what migration pathways you may have in different courses and cities all over Australia, feel free to contact Pathway to Aus