When Advait first arrived in Melbourne to study, he did not suspect that he would make Australia home by becoming a crucial professional link with his home country. After completing his studies in Australia, Advait went on to secure employment with a great Australian company, Alluvium. He brought so much value to Alluvium, that the company supported his journey to obtain Australian permanent residency.
This support was a smart investment for the organisation. Using his networks and local know-how, Advait is helping establish a subsidiary in India where he leads a team. Advait’s incredible achievement has been recognised by the India Australia Business and Community Alliance, which named him a finalist in its Young Professional of the Year Award 2023.
The Migration Agency worked with Advait to address a range of complicated challenges, including changes in Government policy and visa rules, to ensure Advait received his permanent residency. We had a quick chat with Advait about his visa journey.
Why did you first come to Australia and what were your impressions?
I’m originally from Mumbai. In 2016, I enrolled in a Master in International Urban and Environmental Management at RMIT. My wife Snehal was also completing her postgraduate studies here. Two years of education in Melbourne gave us an idea of the types of prospects we could have in Australia.
We felt very appreciated in our workplaces and our hard work was recognised. The systems felt honest and the living standard high. We lived in Melbourne, so of course we enjoyed the coffee too.
What was your migration challenge?
We decided to stay in Australia after finishing university studies. I began work as a graduate design engineer at natural resources management firm Alluvium. There was a lot of information about visa options available online, but it was hard to sort through it all to find the right fit for us.
We wanted to talk to a high quality lawyer and not a migration agent. That’s how The Migration Agency came in. We collaborated with Sarah and Marianne to find the right solution for us.
I went via the skilled migration pathway. At first, I experienced a setback when the skilled occupation lists changed. I needed to shift course and re-classify my skills under a different, eligible occupation. This led me to move to ACT to pursue a visa through their regional migration program.
At that time the ACT migration program was also volatile and the timing of invitations were difficult to predict, so in the end, Alluvium offered to support me on a company sponsored work visa. This was such an incredible moment – I didn’t believe it could happen. Sarah and Marianne were so supportive during this time. It was quite a journey!
What was the visa application process like?
Sarah and Marianne provided us with a number of creative options. They were our partners in the necessary steps: getting the English speaking score, the skill assessment and the preparation of the visa application.
The last part of our application took a long time – especially as Covid-19 hit. The borders were closed. We had no idea how long our application would take to process, or how we would stay in the country. There were a lot of nervous calls to Marianne, who was patient and reassuring! Her being a very experienced lawyer, as well as her emotional intelligence, gave us a lot of confidence through this difficult time.
What are your plans now?
Things are going very well at work. Alluvium was invested throughout the whole process and I have been promoted to team leader for their business in India.
I’ve had the support of my wonderful wife, Snehal. We moved to Canberra together and she works as a recruitment manager. Our family visits us in Canberra over summer and we visit them from time to time too. We are now Australian citizens and have recently purchased a house. Canberra is growing on us!
At the start of the year, Advait’s facilitation and technical skill was recognised by the India Australia Business and Community Alliance. Advait was announced as a finalist for the Young Professional of the Year Award for his passionate work on an urban water design and policy framework. By bringing the Australian and Indian water sectors together, Advait is sharing knowledge that will inspire more sustainable water management. His story is a testament to the immense value skilled migrations bring to Australia and to great Australian businesses.
