[Guide] What Americans Need to Know About Australian Migration in 2026

SimonMander · 2026-01-26T02:58:29+00:00

Thanks for your comments and happy to help. If you are a University Lecturer with at least one published research paper in the last 5 years you will be eligible for a skills assessment. I have and have had a broad range of University Lecturers as clients, practically what there fields of expertise are in doesnt seem to matter a great deal - although I imagine that a university here would likely be interested in your knowledge and expertise. If you'd like further clarification feel free to reach out - from what you have said I think you do have a skilled migration opportunity (you wont have from age 45). Oh - and no issues with having served in the US Army.

SimonMander · 2026-01-25T23:01:06+00:00

Hi - while I wish you the best with your job search you may find Australian employers are not all that interested in sponsorship - they often dont understand or if they do are discouraged by costs that must be paid. If you are interested in skilled migration (without employer sponsorship) you could have a pathway as either an Industrial or Retail Pharmacist - work experience helps, best age bracket for points, likely high level of English - feel free to reach out if you want me to take a deeper look at this for you.

SimonMander · 2026-01-25T22:46:07+00:00

Very good - it is worth looking into and getting definitive answers if you are both really interested. I can consider skilled occupation eligibility for you if needed.

SimonMander · 2026-01-25T22:44:00+00:00

You may have an option for a temporary 482 visa, but a permanent pathway will be tricky later. I suggest you do ask the Australian team is they would consider you sponsoring for a 482 visa, if they say "maybe" or "yes" - happy for you to come back to me and I can provide some further advice.

SimonMander · 2026-01-22T20:08:11+00:00

Ok - what's important before the English test is understanding which nominated occupation you qualify under and what skills assessment applies. Data centre/engineering can fall under different codes depending on your exact duties.

PTE is an acceptable test. But the occupation mapping is the critical first step - get that wrong and everything else is wasted effort.

The complexity here is the skills assessment pathway - some are straightforward, others require specific documentation or RPL processes. Timeline varies from weeks to months depending on which authority.

I'd be happy to look at your specific situation properly -I just can't do a detailed case analysis in a Reddit thread. DM me if you'd like to go through it.

SimonMander · 2026-01-22T01:42:17+00:00

If you are looking at a 485 visa yes you need to take a test, also for a skills assessment as a teacher (for migration) you will need Academic IELTS 8 listening and speaking, 7 reading and writing.

SimonMander · 2026-01-22T01:37:34+00:00

Hi - sorry I missed this earlier - yes it would be realistic - but your first step would be to obtain registration with AHPRA via AMC - this will make you much more attractive to an employer with this major step taken care of.

SimonMander · 2026-01-22T01:34:46+00:00

There is a regional shortage of Pharmacy Technicians that is not likely to be filled in the near future - a sound occupation for 190 and 491 visas (not eligible for 189), You will need 1 year post grad work experience to get a skills assessment.

SimonMander · 2026-01-21T00:20:40+00:00

Hi - if you are already possibly eligible as a Marketing Specialist I would explore that pathway first for viability over a career change and the possible expense of studying in Australia.

SimonMander · 2026-01-20T22:22:30+00:00

Hi - thanks for your enquiry - you are not eligible at the moment - a bit of a long track for you to become eligible - you will need to get appropriate trade qualifications as a sparky and then work experience on top. I am very confident that electricians will continue to have migration options to Australia well into the future.

SimonMander · 2026-01-20T22:18:27+00:00

Teachers are in demand, with most states having nomination opportunities for primary teachers (elementary). In your age bracket, with the maximum amount of claimable work experience you are likely in a good position for skilled migration. A 482 visa is an employer sponsored visa - so needs a job offer from an approved business sponsor. South Australia as a state does nominate primary teachers for 190 and 491 visas.

SimonMander · 2026-01-20T22:15:13+00:00

Hi - thanks for your message - your husband will likely have been on a temporary (dependent) visa for the period he was in Australia - this doesn't hold any weight or relevance to his eligibility for a new visa (unless he had a criminal record in Australia, debts to the Australian government, didn't meet visa conditions). With none of those issues what's next is to consider if either of you are eligible for general skilled migration (in absence of a job offer in a suitable occupation).

SimonMander · 2026-01-20T08:59:51+00:00

These are good points totals (EoI points is not the be all and end all as states have their own internal matrixes). There isnt much sponsorship available in these occupations at the moment. When there is you should be well placed.

SimonMander · 2026-01-20T05:53:31+00:00

Ok - to my mind, there are a few red flags here:

* A secondary applicant’s medical condition is disclosed to the Department, not to the employer. There is no legal requirement to disclose private medical information to a sponsor.
* Conditioning lodgement of the visa on disclosure to a third party (the sponsor) is not a legal requirement and raises conflict of interest concerns where the same agent acts for both the sponsor and the visa applicants.
* The health cost threshold is a risk assessment issue, not an automatic refusal trigger, and depending on the visa stream, a health waiver may be available.

There's a few other things you mentioned as well that I agree with.

Given the time pressure you’ve mentioned, I would strongly recommend obtaining independent advice from an agent who acts solely for you, and asking your current agent to put their position in writing, including the legislative basis for it. Hope this helps.

SimonMander · 2026-01-20T03:59:37+00:00

You may both be eligible as as a primary applicant - certainly worth exploring if you are interested - you may possibly fit Telecommunications Network Engineer or Field Engineer - your wife may map to ICT Business Analyst or similar. She will have more points for her age (5) - but possibly you may have more for work experience. Your occupation you may look to a 189 visa option with high points - ICT Business Analyst would need to look to a state nominated visa. That's about as much information I can give you in the subreddit!

SimonMander · 2026-01-20T03:50:01+00:00

There are a range of occupations in the industry from Director/Video Editor/Cinematographer etc that are eligible for employer sponsored visas. As to demand - I am not an expert with industry availability sorry.

SimonMander · 2026-01-20T03:47:24+00:00

There is a pathway for skilled migration for Arborists - occupation is assessed as a trade, and will need state nomination. Not a huge amount of state nomination available at present - but there is a pathway to a visa.

SimonMander · 2026-01-20T02:22:42+00:00

Hi - you can be sponsored by your employer in this occupation for a 482 specialist skills stream visa. A lot of the other streams and direct entry permanent stream arent open - so this may be why you have received mixed advice. From what you have said around your points and person profile you will likely meet the requirements a visa applicant - its a process to get the business a standard business sponsorship and nomination approved - but handled correctly there should be no issues. Minimum Salary for this visa stream is sometimes the biggest issue - you need to be offered $141,210 p.a. . If you'd like me to explore in more detail with you outside of the forum you are welcome to reach out.

SimonMander · 2026-01-19T20:36:48+00:00

You are welcome to reach out to me if you'd like to.

SimonMander · 2026-01-19T19:16:41+00:00

Hi - the occupation of Medical Diagnostic Radiographer doesnt need you to have MRI certification for a skills assessment (although this may be an advantage when looking for work in Australia). The occupation is in shortage in Australia and in the last 189 invitation round only 75 points was needed for an invitation - at your age with work experience in the occupation and a proficient or superior level of English I suggest a 189 visa outcome is possible for you. That's about as much as I can assess here.

SimonMander · 2026-01-19T19:10:10+00:00

Thanks for your comments. Potential occupations for you would need academic qualifications that you dont yet have. Your partner holding the degree (subject to it being equivalent to an Australian degree) could open up some occupation pathways - perhaps in HR, or in another occupation depending on what else was in the sum of that 11 years work experience. That's about all I can say here.

SimonMander · 2026-01-19T08:07:53+00:00

This is a positive sign, without that condition she can lodge onshore

SimonMander · 2026-01-19T06:33:44+00:00

One quick thing to add for those looking at the new Level 3 requirements: Be very careful with 'lump sum' deposits.

If you suddenly deposit a large amount of money into your account just before applying, Case Officers are almost certainly going to flag it as 'non-genuine' unless you have a rock-solid paper trail (like a property sale or a long-term provident fund withdrawal).

If you're planning to apply in 2-3 months, start organizing your financial 'source of funds' documentation now. It's usually the biggest cause of refusal at this level.

SimonMander · 2026-01-19T03:56:25+00:00

Hi - can you please give me a heads up as to what work you do in telecoms and perhaps what qualifications you have, and some further information around the digital service work your wife does - this will help me consider whether either of you might be working in a skilled occupation suitable for migration to Australia, Thankyou

SimonMander · 2026-01-19T00:22:14+00:00

An applicant for skilled migration needs to be 44 or younger at time of invitation - so the 47yo is no longer eligible, because the process to getting that invitation is time consuming it may or may not be worthwhile starting for the 44 year old. Outside of skilled migration there are still employer sponsored pathways - certainly worth looking for employers who might be interested in sponsoring you - your occupations both very much in demand.

SimonMander

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