Wanderlust World Wanderlust World Study the website of the Australian government's Department of Immigration and Citizenship. Read the Skilled Occupation List and the Employer Nominated Skilled Occupation List and decide which Australian visa category best applies to you.
Visit the nearest Australian Visa Office for advice and information about the correct visa category for your circumstances and lodging your visa application. The Visa Office in the U.S. is part of the Australian Embassy, based in Washington D.C.
Engage the services of a registered migration agent to provide assistance with your Australian visa application. You are not obliged to use an agent, but a registered agent has wide knowledge and experience of immigration procedures. Migration agents must be registered with the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (known as the MARA) and will charge for their services.
Open a bank account within six weeks of arrival when you will require your passport for identification. Your salary or wages will be paid directly into your bank account.
Apply for a tax file number so that you can receive income in Australia. You can obtain one in person from any Australian Taxation Office or apply online.
Register with Centrelink for social security benefits. As a new migrant, you can't receive any benefits for 104 weeks, but after that, benefits to permanent residents are generous and provide for unemployment, health and pensions.
Enroll with Medicare, Australia's National Health Service, seven to 10 days after your arrival. You can do this at any Medicare office. All permanent residents are eligible for Medicare, apart from retired migrants who must have health insurance. Your Medicare payments are 1.5 percent of your income and are deducted directly from your salary.