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Australian Visa Options Salary thresholds
Hello! I’m seeking guidance on the best visa options for migrating to Australia.
I’m 33 years old, and I have a wife and daughter.
From 2018 to 2020, I worked as a cabinet maker in Melbourne for two years, but I do not possess any formal qualifications in this field.
A friend of mine is prepared to sponsor my visa application, although the offered salary is $65,000 per year.
I’ve come across information stating that the minimum salary requirement is $75,000 annually. My main question is whether there are any alternatives or possible solutions regarding the salary threshold or what other migration pathways I might explore for moving to Australia.
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1 Reply
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Hi Jamie,
Thanks for reaching out and welcome to our community. 👋🏻
Based on your background as a cabinetmaker (ANZSCO 394111) and your friend’s offer to sponsor you with a $65,000 salary, here’s some options and some important considerations:
1. TSMIT Salary Threshold: The Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) is currently $73,150 (as of 1 July 2024). For most employer-sponsored visas, such as the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa, the offered salary must meet or exceed this amount to be eligible. Source: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/news-media/archive/article?itemId=1205
2. Concerns About the Sponsorship: You mentioned your sponsor is a friend, and the salary offer is below the TSMIT. This raises a few red flags:
The Department of Home Affairs closely assesses whether the role is genuine and not created solely for migration purposes.
The employer must prove that the role is necessary for their business, that it meets Australian market salary rates, and that they’ve genuinely tried to hire locally first (known as Labour Market Testing).
If these steps haven’t been properly followed, the application could be refused or worse (you could settle on Australia then your visa is cancelled).
3. Alternative Pathways: Here are a few other routes you might choose to explore:
Negotiate a Higher Salary: If your friend can offer $73,150 or more and comply with sponsorship obligations, the subclass 482 visa may still be viable.
Skills Assessment and GSM Visas: If you can get your experience formally recognised via a skills assessment, you could explore General Skilled Migration (subclass 189 or 190), which don’t require sponsorship or minimum salary thresholds.
State Nomination: Some states may have demand for cabinetmakers and offer nomination under their skilled migration programs.
Next Steps
Check with the relevant assessing authority (likely Trades Recognition Australia – https://www.tradesrecognitionaustralia.gov.au) to explore a skills assessment.
If pursuing GSM, submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect.
If you’re unsure how to move forward, consider speaking with a registered migration agent who can guide you through the process in detail. This is quite a complex case. We can refer you to a reputable migration agent if you want to have an assessment call.
I hope you found this helpful! Feel free to ask more questions if you need.
Best regards,
Mark
immi.homeaffairs.gov.au
Immigration and citizenship Website
Find out about Australian visas, immigration and citizenship.
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