1. How can I live permanently in Australia under the General Skilled Migration program?
There are 12 different General Skilled Migration visas. Some are available to skilled people with Australian relatives who are willing and able to sponsor them. Others are for those people who are sponsored by an Australian State or Territory government. There are also ´independent´ General Skilled Migration visas, for applicant who do not have any Australian relatives or are unable to obtain State or Territory government sponsorship.
To determine the right visa for you, and to read more about each of these visa categories, you should visit the General Skilled Migration website. This site contains detailed information on all General Skilled Migration visa options and their requirements.

2. What are the basic requirements for a General Skilled Migration Visa?
Australia’s General Skilled Migration Program is designed to attract people who have skills in particular occupations that are required in Australia. These occupations are listed on Australia’s Skilled Occupation List (SOL). (Pl check with Migration Links Consultants for the SOL).

If you want to apply to live permanently in Australia under one of the General Skilled Migration visa categories you will need to meet all of the following basic requirements:

3. What is the points test and will my application be assessed against the points test?
The points test is a requirement for some General Skilled Migration visa categories. The pass mark is the total number of points you need to score on the points test in order to be eligible for a points-tested General Skilled Migration visa. You must score sufficient points on the points test to reach the pass mark applicable to your visa subclass.
You must meet the pass mark that is in effect on the day you make your application.
You should be aware that for the points-tested General Skilled Migration visas, the points test is just one requirement that you must meet. There are other visa specific requirements that you need to meet before your visa can be granted.
More detailed information on the General Skilled Migration points test is available from our experienced Migration Consultants at our office. This includes a list of visas which are points tested and further detail about the different parts of the points test.

• submit the results of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test taken within 12 months of applying for your General Skilled Migration visa. To demonstrate vocational English you must achieve a band score of at least five on all four components of the test - speaking, reading, listening and writing.
• submit the results of an Occupational English Test, or equivalent. Some assessing authorities may require you to sit this test as part of your skills assessment. A pass result on this test will be accepted as evidence that you meet the vocational English requirement and means that you can be awarded points for competent English under the General Skilled Migration points test.
• Provide evidence that you are a native English speaker in order to demonstrate vocational or competent English language ability. A native English speaker is a person whose first spoken language was English and who is the holder of a passport of the United Kingdom (UK), Canada, New Zealand, United States of America (USA) or the Republic of Ireland.
  If there is any doubt about your English language ability, you may be requested to undertake an IELTS test if you have not already done so. This decision is at the discretion of your case officer.
  It is your responsibility to contact an IELTS test centre to make arrangements. You do not need a letter of introduction or referral from the department to take the IELTS test. For the most up-to-date list of IELTS centers in Pakistan please check with the British Council.

8. Who can sponsor my General Skilled Migration application?
For some General Skilled Migration categories you must be sponsored by either an Australian relative or a State/Territory government.
For Australian sponsored visa categories, a sponsor is a an eligible relative aged 18 years or over who is an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen. This relative must be willing and able to sponsor you.
For the State/Territory sponsored visas, a sponsor is an authorised State/Territory government agency or a Regional Certifying Body.
For detailed information about who can sponsor you for a specific visa please discuss your case with our Migration Consultants.