H1B Visa Prospects with Overseas Experience for 186?

Submitting your overseas experience to apply for the subclass 186 visa (Employer Nomination Scheme - ENS) through sponsorship in Australia can have a significant impact on your application. The subclass 186 visa is a permanent residency visa for skilled workers who are nominated by their Australian employer, and it has certain eligibility requirements. Here’s what happens and how your overseas experience could affect your application:

1. Relevant Work Experience:

Your overseas work experience can potentially be used to meet the work experience requirement for the visa, but it needs to be relevant to the occupation you’re being sponsored for. The experience should be in the same field or a closely related area to the nominated occupation, and it should meet the skills assessment criteria set by the relevant assessing authority for your occupation.

• Skills Assessment: For most skilled occupations, you will need to have your qualifications and work experience assessed by the relevant skills assessing authority (e.g., VETASSESS, Trades Recognition Australia, AIM). This authority will evaluate your overseas experience and determine if it matches the standards required for your nominated occupation.

2. Eligibility Criteria for the Subclass 186 Visa:

To be eligible for the subclass 186 visa, the general requirements include:

• Nomination by an Australian Employer: You must be nominated by a verified Australian employer for a position in the skilled occupation list.

• Age: You should generally be under 45 years of age when applying.

• English Language Proficiency: You must demonstrate a certain level of English proficiency (typically IELTS 6.0 or higher).

• Relevant Work Experience: You need to prove that you have at least 3 years of relevant work experience in the occupation or a qualification in the field.

3. Impact of Overseas Experience:

• Meets Experience Requirement: If your overseas experience is in a role directly related to your nominated occupation, it can be counted towards the 3 years of relevant work experience required for the visa.

• Skills Assessment: Your overseas work experience will be evaluated as part of the skills assessment process. If the assessing authority recognizes your overseas experience as equivalent to Australian standards, it can strengthen your application.

• Visa Processing: Having overseas experience can also demonstrate that you have gained the necessary skills, which can make you a more attractive candidate to Australian employers.

4. Documentation and Evidence:

When submitting your application, you will need to provide the following documentation for your overseas experience:

• Employment Reference Letters: Detailed letters from previous employers that describe your job duties, your role, and how your experience is relevant to the nominated occupation.

• Payslips, Contracts, and Other Proof of Employment: These documents help verify your experience and demonstrate that you were employed in the relevant field for the required period.

• Skills Assessment Results: A positive skills assessment outcome will help demonstrate that your overseas experience meets the required standards.

5. Possible Challenges:

• Recognition of Overseas Qualifications and Experience: Some countries’ qualifications or work experience may not be directly comparable to Australian standards. This could lead to delays or complications in the skills assessment process.

• Employer Nomination Requirement: You must have an employer in Australia who is willing to nominate you for the 186 visa. Your overseas experience will not substitute for the need to secure sponsorship from a valid employer.

• Visa Processing Time: The process can be lengthy, and the outcome depends on the availability of positions in your occupation and how well your experience matches Australian standards.

6. Possible Outcomes:

• Positive Outcome: If your overseas experience is recognized as equivalent to Australian standards, and you meet all other requirements, you can proceed with the application and, if successful, receive permanent residency through the 186 visa.

• Negative Outcome: If your overseas experience does not meet the criteria for the nominated occupation, it could delay your application or make it ineligible for the visa.

Summary:

Submitting your overseas experience for the subclass 186 visa can strengthen your application, but it depends on the relevance of your experience to the nominated occupation and the skills assessment outcome. It’s essential to ensure that your experience is well-documented, meets Australian standards, and is properly assessed. Additionally, you need to secure sponsorship from an Australian employer who is willing to nominate you for the position.