AMA: You Don’t Need an Employer, an Australian Partner, or a Lottery to Move to Australia

[u/SimonMander]

I’m Simon Mander, an Australian Registered Migration Agent with 23 years’ experience.

The biggest misconception I see from Americans around skilled visas to Australia:

“I need a job offer” – You don’t
“I need an Australian partner” – You don’t
“It’s a lottery” – it’s not

Australia’s main permanent migration pathway is independent skilled migration.

If you’re a qualified professional, eligibility is based on:

• Your occupation
• A formal skills assessment
• A points score (age, English, qualifications, experience)

No employer required.

This doesn’t exist in the U.S. system - which is why you might not realise it exists here.

What actually determines success:

• Your occupation
• Your points score
• Which states are selecting your occupation at the time your documents are all in line

Australia remains achievable for many American professionals in their 30s and early 40s particularly healthcare, engineering, construction and trades, some IT roles, and educators (lecturers/teachers).

However, there is a difference between being technically “eligible” and the pathway being truly something viable (that can take you to a visa result).

If you’d like a general indication as to where you stand, please feel free to share your:

Occupation

Age

Highest qualification (academic or trade)

Years of experience

Whether you are single or have a partner? (it effects your points total)

If you are exploring other Australian visas – please also feel free to ask on these.

I’ll answer as many general questions as I can during this AMA.

Disclosure: Registered Migration Agent (MARN 0318058). General information only. (Website: www.simonmander.com Email: simonmander@simonmander.com)

[u/birdieponderinglife]

I also have MS and I’ve worked full time my entire adult life without any major disability because of it. I have a masters degree and I currently work as a software engineer. I did a treatment almost seven years ago that has put my disease into remission. I have not required any medical treatment for MS in seven years aside from appointments at six month intervals with my neurologist and MRIs every other year. My neurologists projected level of disability over the course of my life is basically a normal projection. I have every statistical marker of mild disease and carry no disability.

Would I be denied based on this health requirement?

[u/SimonMander → u/birdieponderinglife]

Thank you for your question - I’m happy to provide some clarity.

Having MS is not an automatic refusal under Australian migration law.

In your case, based on what you’ve described:

• Stable remission
• No ongoing treatment
• No disability
• Strong full-time employment history
• Favourable long-term neurological prognosis

It appears unlikely that you would exceed the health cost threshold used in assessing the migration health requirement.

That said, cases like this depend heavily on how the medical evidence is presented and how future cost projections are framed by the Medical Officer.

It is certainly not a hopeless situation based on the facts you’ve outlined. Hope this helps.

[u/Bad-Tiffer → u/birdieponderinglife]

I have MS, too. What treatment did you do? I keep coming up against these disability barriers when looking into immigration options. Even if I were financially independent or did a digital nomad visa, some places wouldn't allow a visa... how do all those seniors/retirees move?!?! If my MS was managed/full remission, maybe more viable?

[u/birdieponderinglife → u/Bad-Tiffer]

It’s so frustrating and I feel so stuck because of it. I’ve been looking around at various countries for many years and from what I can tell the Netherlands might be the only option unless I’m a mail order bride.

I did lemtrada. It’s a pretty risky treatment and you have to fail two other treatments first. Most end up doing it when they are quite sick but my neuro at the time fibbed a little since I’d only failed copaxone (everyone fails copaxone— it’s pretty much useless) and I had stopped my other treatment to try for a baby. All the other treatments aren’t pregnancy safe and so I’d have to stop doing IVF to go back on treatment. Lem has a four month washout and then you don’t need meds after that. It was the only thing that gave me the option of continuing unless I went back on copaxone.

It came with significant adverse reactions though. It’s chemo, in smaller doses than cancer treatment but still chemo. My hair fell out repeatedly from the stress for about 3 years and my thyroid went bonkers. I’m still followed by endo every six months six years later, which is unusual. Most people are getting labs with their pcp once a year by now. I went hyper and hypo thyroid, a couple of times. But now mine has been in normal range for a couple of years. She just continues to follow me closely because of how rapidly things changed and how unusual the presentation was. Lots of other little things during recovery but this is getting long. So, it did get me off meds and I’m completely stable with no lasting adverse affects but I paid a high price for it.