The new Business Skills Visa regulations have now been announced to the industry, and will take effect from 1st March 2003.

The Australian government offers a range of Business Skills Visas. Provisional visas are for those with lower assets, who are granted a 4 year temporary visa to come to Australia to set up their business. When the new business is running successfully these people can apply in Australia for a permanent visa. People with higher business assets and a wider experience can still apply for a permanent visa at first application.

All these questions are for the primary applicant - the person who runs the current business and who wants to start a new business in Australia. These questions are for us to assess which visa you are eligible for.

1) Please give a brief description of your present business, who your main clients are, and where you advertise.

2) How long have you operated your business?

3) Is this the only business you operate?

4) Did you previously run another business, or one in another country?

5) Are you the sole owner of your business. Does anyone else have shareholding, in formal title arrangements, in the business? If yes, please give details.

6) If your business is a publicly listed company, what percentage of ownership belongs to you , or to you and your spouse/ de facto partner?

7) Who is the manager of the business? Who makes the decisions? Or do you employ a manager?

8) If you are operating a professional, technical or trade service firm, have you spent at least 50% of your time in a managerial role during the at least 2 of the last 4 years?

Finances of your present situation - if your spouse or de facto partner is included you may include their assets too. Please give in Australian dollars, AUD$.

9) Please give the total net assets owned by the company that would be available for transfer to Australia within 2 years. Deduct any loans from the asset figure to give net assets. If you have more than one business, please give separate details for each business. These assets should be available for transferring to Australia - i.e. not tied up in some way. But you would not have to transfer them immediately. a) Any real estate, commercial property, land. a) Investments, stock, bonds, etc, owned by the company. b) Equipment, vehicles, any other company owned assets.

10) Personal assets you own overseas that would be available for transfer to Australia within 2 years: a) Value of a house, or domestic real estate. In any country. Anything else, like a car, that you plan to liquidate. b) Personal investments that you can transfer or liquidate. (Superannuation may not be considered available.)

11) What has been the turnover or gross revenue of your company for:

The fiscal year 2002?

The fiscal year 2003?

The fiscal year 2004?

The fiscal year 2005?

The fiscal year 2006?

We need 5 separate figures, one for each year. Please state if your year is from June to July, or calendar oriented.

12) What has been the net profit for each of the above years? We need 5 separate figures, one for each year.

The fiscal year 2002?

The fiscal year 2003?

The fiscal year 2004?

The fiscal year 2005?

The fiscal year 2006?

13) How many do you employ directly in your business? Please include family members who you pay for services. Labour and staff costs for your firm?

14) Please list other contractors you use on a regular basis. We're looking for an idea about how many other businesses you benefit by your operation.

Setting up your new business

15) Have you visited Australia to assess markets and business viability? Have you done some research?

16) Do you have general knowledge about the business laws and taxes in Australia?

17) Have you had any contact with the government authorities in any State or Territory? We may be able to apply for Sponsorship for you.

18) Is there anything about your business that would be a novelty in Australia? If you are granted a business visa, how will the enterprise benefit Australia or the State which sponsors you? For some visas State sponsorship may be available, especially if you plan to set up in a remote area where unemployment is high.

19) Have you done any research into the type of business you want to set up here? Do you have business associates or contacts in Australia?

20) Are you considering buying into an existing business?

21) If so, where do you intend to start the new business? What state and area?

22) How much time are you planning to spend in Australia during the calendar year? Living here full time, except for brief visits overseas? For at least 3/4 of the year? Less than 1/2 the year?

23) When do you plan to come to Australia?

Character and business integrity

24) Have you engaged in business activities which might be unacceptable in Australia? What are they?

25) Have you, or you and your spouse, ever been declared bankrupt? Or are you currently undergoing insolvency, liquidation or bankruptcy proceedings?

26) Are all your business assets lawfully acquired?

27) Do you have a criminal record, or does any member of your family travelling to Australia have a history of criminality? Things like parking fines are of no concern - this would need to be a felony or a more serious offence.

Health questions

28) Have you, or any member of your immediate family, had tuberculosis?

29) Have you, or any other member of your family who is travelling with you, had a serious disease? Please list any ongoing problems of a serious nature.

General questions

What is your full name?

What is your date of birth?

Nationality. Please list, if more than one.

Do you have any relatives in Australia? In what post code area do they live? (the post code is important for State sponsorship).

Home address:

Phone number (work):

Phone number (home):

Fax number:

Mobile phone number (home):

Email:

English

Have you taken the IELTS Test for English proficiency?

If so, what was your score?

Do all adult family members speak good English?

If your English, or any family member's English, is poor there may be a 2nd application fee to cover English tuition in Australia.

Family

Are you married, or do you have a de facto spouse? What is their age?

Do you have children?

How many family members are traveling with you? (Adult family members, other than a spouse, may only be included in your application if they are financially dependent - eg a Student.)

Community Language

Can you speak a second Language (other than English)?What is it?

Can you translate? Can you interpret?

Do you have a degree in your 2nd Language?

Do you use your 2nd language in your job?

Qualifications

Do you have training or qualifications that assist you in the current business? Any management training? Any skill, such as accountancy, an MBA, a trade skill or professional qualifications?

Please list the name of your qualification Eg, Certificate in IT.

The name of the educating institution, Eg, Boston College of Education, Boston, USA.

How long did you study this course?

Did you complete the course and pass the exams?

If you have more than one qualification, please list in detail for each one.

Anything else?

Is there is anything else that you would like to tell us about your business, or yourself or your travelling family?