Regional permanent residence visa window to close on 23 Oct 2019

The window for employees on a temporary visa to gain immediate permanent residence through the 187 employer-sponsored visa will slam shut very soon. Employees on a temporary visa need to have arrangements in place by Wednesday, 23 October 2019 in order access the visa scheme before it closes forever on 16 November 2019.

The deadline of 23 October 2019 relates to the 21-day, specific job-advertising requirements for the 187 visa. If you have an employer in a regional area that is interested in sponsoring, speak with them now. In a matter of days it will be too late.

For employers, the benefits include keeping a valuable, committed employee contracted for at least two years from the date of 187 visa grant. Employers are not stuck however. If the employee does not perform or business needs change, the employer can make the position redundant or terminate the employee or resignation by agreement, as long as the employer complies with employment laws.

The beauty of the 187 visa is that occupation list is very long. The employee needs to have at least three years’ employment experience in the occupation and be under 45 at the time of visa application. The employment must be full-time and the absolute minimum salary is $53,900.

The employment must be in a regional location. This does not mean the employee needs to be based in the Outback or in the distant bush as most people expect. Regional postcodes close to southeast Queensland include:

• the rapidly-developing Gold Coast suburbs of Carrara, Nerang and Pacific Pines
• Gold Coast Hinterland
• Tweed Heads and Northern NSW
• Waterford and many postcodes between Brisbane and the Gold Coast
• Most postcodes north of Brisbane and most of the Sunshine Coast

After the 187 visa closes on 16 November 2019, it will be more expensive and take much longer to obtain permanent residence through the new temporary visas replacing the 187 visa. Have the conversation with your boss today to see if you and employer want to book a consultation to find out more about the 187 visa.

If you would like advice on regional permanent residence visas, contact Sed Crest, principal of Crest Migration (07 5592 0164) and lawyer with McLaughlins Lawyers – your Gold Coast Lawyers. We Stand Beside You.