Australia...visa
If you want to work in Australia, you will need skills or business abilities that will contribute to the country's economic growth. You will need to pass a points test, which will assess you on the basis of skill (qualifications and experience in your occupation), age and language abilities, amongst other factors. Good English is essential for most occupations in Australia, if you are to find a job to match your skills and qualifications.

Australian labour market conditions vary significantly from time to time and between regions. Each occupation receives a "Labour Market Rating", which is regularly reviewed by each State and Territory Government. Bear in mind that if you are willing to live outside major metropolitan centres, your application will stand a greater chance of success, because the Australian Government promotes a special scheme to help fill regional skill shortages.

For many jobs in Australia, applicants must be eligible for membership of a professional or industry organisation and/or be able to be registered with an Australian state authority before they can work in their occupation. We will need to ascertain whether any such restrictions apply in your case.

Perhaps you would prefer to work for yourself, managing a business in Australia? If you have experience of running a successful business or substantial investment portfolio, or a track record as a senior executive in a large company, you may qualify on this basis.

If you do not want to work, then you may be eligible to retire in Australia, since it is one of the few countries with a specific retirement policy. You will need to be prepared to transfer some funds, as well as meet certain other criteria.

If you have any family connections in Australia, this could certainly help with your visa application. We will fully explore this possibility on your behalf.

It is up to us to find a way of ensuring that you score sufficient points to reach the pass mark. But if you do not, all is not necessarily lost. Provided that you reach what is termed the "pool" mark, your application will be held in reserve for up to 24 months after it is assessed, in case a newer, lower, pass mark is set - or your circumstances change.

Be careful, though. The Australian Government varies the pool and pass marks from time to time in order to regulate the number of people arriving in Australia. You must reach the pass or pool mark in force at the time your application is assessed by the migration office, not when your application is lodged! So the timing of your application could be critical.

USA...visa
US immigration legislation can be bewildering for would-be migrants. You are faced with over 100 different kinds of visa to choose from - only one of which is likely to be exactly right for you!

Furthermore, most classes of visa are restricted by a quota, which limits the number of people thatwill be accepted each year. The US permanent residence visa is known as the "Green Card", which identifies the holder as a permanent resident of the US. Green Cards in certain categories can be obtained fairly quickly.

In other categories, even if you have the strongest qualifications possible, it can still take months or years to obtain one because of quotas. You can qualify for a Green Card through employment, although all categories are limited by quotas. You will need a job offer from a US employer and the correct background in terms of experience, training and education for the job you have been offered. The US government will also need to be satisfied that there are no qualified American workers available and willing to take the specific job that has been offered to you. Certain occupations - such as Nursing - may have special categories of visas which lead to Green Cards.

Your country of origin may make you eligible for getting a Green Card through the "lottery", a category that was introduced to encourage ethnic diversity in the US population. Or you could qualify for a Green Card through investment, if you are prepared to invest funds in creating a new US business or expanding one that already exists.

If you have family connections with the US, this will certainly help your visa application. We will fully explore this possibility on your behalf. But a Green Card is not the only route to a new life in the US. It may be best to obtain a temporary visa first and then reconsider your long-term objectives once you are in the USA. You can then make a Green Card application if you want to stay permanently.

There are numerous kinds of non-immigrant, or temporary, visas. Unlike Green Cards, which are identical once allocated, temporary visas differ from each other in the benefits they offer, as well as how long they last.

Most importantly, your application will be processed much faster if your intention is not to take up permanent residence right from the start. Their dependent on your personal circumstances, we may be able to identify other routes to gaining entry to the US, even if you do not wish to work.

NEW ZEALAND...visa
If you want to work in New Zealand, you'll be assessed on a points system related to a range of employability factors, including qualifications, work experience and age. You will certainly need a good standard of spoken and written English. And you'll receive extra points if you have a genuine offer of employment in New Zealand!

It's not as straightforward as it sounds, though. Points for qualifications are allocated according to the New Zealand qualification to which your qualification is comparable, so we may need to obtain an assessment from the New Zealand Qualifications Authority. Also bear in mind that registration may be compulsory for your occupation before you can work in New Zealand.

Perhaps you are not interested in working for someone else. You would prefer to establish, buy or invest in a business in New Zealand. If so, you may qualify for business investment migration. This is also assessed on a points system, with factors such as business experience and investment funds taken into consideration.

Whichever you choose, up-to-date advice is essential because the New Zealand government recalculates the pass mark on a regular basis.

If you do not want to work when you arrive in New Zealand, you may still qualify if you are able to invest funds over there for a specified period of time.

If you have family connections with New Zealand, this will certainly help your visa application. We will fully explore this possibility on your behalf.

CANADA...visa
If you want to work in Canada, you'll need a good education, as well as employment skills that are currently in demand there. We will need to ensure that your occupation appears on the Occupations List published by the Canadian government, which changes from time to time.

We may also need to show that you have met any trade or professional licensing requirements to follow your intended occupation in Canada. A job offer from a Canadian employer will dramatically increase your chances of success. You should be able to communicate in either English or in French, to enable easy integration into the Canadian community. Over 98% of the population speaks either language - or both. Personal suitability will also be taken into account. This refers to adaptability, motivation, initiative and resourcefulness, which are considered essential to enable you to settle successfully in Canada.

Perhaps you would prefer to work for yourself. Would you consider establishing or buying your own business in Canada, or investing in a business or commercial venture over there? If so, you may qualify for business migration. You will, of course, need to demonstrate an ability to become successfully established in your occupation or business in Canada - as well as meeting many of the requirements outlined above.

Even if you do not want to work when you arrive, you may qualify for investment migration. The Canadian government is keen to attract immigrant investment to small and medium-sized businesses - even if the investors themselves have no desire to play an active role in themanagement of those businesses. If you have any family connections in Canada, this could certainly help with your visa application. We will fully explore this possibility on your behalf.

Like most countries, Canada's immigration laws are complex and much of it is based on units of assessment, which are awarded against each of the criteria that must be met. It is vital to ensure that you apply in the category that provides you with the best opportunity for a successful application.