擔保、提名和申請：三件分開的事

Employer-sponsored visas are often talked about as if they are one application. In practice, they can involve up to three separate approvals, each with its own form, fee, checks and processing time. A lot of confusion starts when sponsorship, nomination and visa application are treated as one bundle instead of three different steps.

這三個部分並不相同#

對於許多雇主擔保途徑，流程分為：

• 一項擔保核准
• 提名核准
• 簽證申請

這些彼此相關，但並不相同。不同決策者可能查看案件的不同部分，每個階段核查的文件也不同，而某一部分可能比另一部分更快或更慢。

企業可能需要先成為核准擔保人。之後，企業可以提名一個職位。另行地，簽證申請人再遞交簽證申請。在某些項目中，時間安排可以重疊；在另一些項目中，必須先有前一步，下一步才能被決定。

這就是為什麼標題式處理時間可能會誤導。如果某個網站說某簽證需要若干個月，那可能只是在描述簽證申請階段，而不是之前的擔保或提名階段。

擔保是什麼意思#

擔保是關於企業，不是勞工。它是允許企業在符合該擔保框架法律要求時，依相關計畫擔保海外勞工的批准。

在這個階段，部門通常會審查擔保實體及其狀況。視 stream 而定，這可能包括業務細節、營運活動、合規紀錄，以及該業務是否符合擔任擔保人的規則。

已核准的擔保有時可維持一段固定期間。這並不表示之後的每一項提名都會自動獲批。擔保只是整個流程中的其中一層。

對申請人來說，這點很重要，因為企業可以表示願意擔保，但正式擔保資格可能仍在審理中、已過期，或尚未到位。這會影響其餘流程何時可以推進。

提名是什麼意思#

提名通常是關於工作。這一步是由雇主指出職位、地點、條款與條件，以及相關簽證架構下要求的其他細節。

這個階段通常會審查以下事項，例如：

• 被提名的職業
• 擬議薪資與工作條件
• 該職位是否符合該業務活動
• 勞動力市場測試（如需要）
• 培訓徵費或其他雇主端費用（如適用）
• 該職位是否真實，若這是標準的一部分

A nomination is not the same thing as a visa grant. A nomination can be approved, but the visa application can still be undecided or refused. The reverse timing issue can also confuse people, because nomination processing can hold up the overall outcome even if the worker's personal documents are ready.

雇主端成本也常常在這裡，不只是簽證階段而已。這也是為什麼兩份都寫著 "employer-sponsored visa" 的報價，除非工作項目清楚列明，否則可能包含不同內容。

簽證申請涵蓋的內容#

簽證申請是關於申請簽證的人。它與商業批准分開，即使所有部分都與同一份工作聘書有關。

At this stage, the Department may look at matters such as identity, health, character, qualifications, work history, English language evidence and any criteria specific to the visa subclass and stream. The visa applicant may also need to provide family member information and supporting documents.

如果有要求補充資料、體檢、無犯罪審查或文件外部核實，這個階段可能比預期更久。它也可能與僱主一方的流程分開進行。

如果已委任註冊移民代理 (registered migration agent) 或澳洲法律執業者 (Australian legal practitioner) 處理案件中任何部分與部門的往來，該委任通常會記錄在 Form 956。該表格的法律依據載於 Migration Act 1958 第 s312A 條。

為什麼處理時間常常被誤解#

當人們問："雇主擔保簽證要多久？"，答案取決於他們指的是哪一部分。擔保、提名和簽證處理，部門通常會分開計算。

A simple example shows the problem. If sponsorship takes several weeks, nomination takes several more and the visa application then takes months, the real elapsed time is the combined period, not only the last step. If sponsorship was already approved before the job offer, the total timeline may be shorter because one layer is already finished.

另一個問題是，有些步驟可以在很接近的時間遞交，但這不表示它們是同一個決定。平行遞交在某些情況下可能縮短整體日曆時間，但每個申請仍需要各自評估。

Delays can happen at any layer. Common causes include missing employer documents, unclear job information, health or police check timing, requests for further information and document verification. False or misleading information can create far more serious problems. The Migration Act contains offences relating to false documents and misleading information, including s234 and s245AR, and Public Interest Criterion 4020 can also become relevant in some matters.

費用和專業成本通常也會分攤#

Because the process can have up to three parts, the costs are often split into three parts too. There can be Department charges paid by the business at the sponsorship or nomination stage, Department charges paid at the visa stage and separate professional fees if a registered migration agent or lawyer is engaged.

Department fees change and are indexed, so it is better to check the current figures on the relevant Department page or compare the structure of quotes carefully. On the professional side, some agents charge a single packaged fee for all stages, while others itemise sponsorship, nomination and visa application work separately. Itemised pricing makes it easier to compare quotes on a like-for-like basis.

Under the Migration Agents Code of Conduct 2021, a registered migration agent must give a written agreement before starting work, s42, explain the fee structure, s46, and provide invoices and receipts, s49. The agent must also give the consumer guide first, s38, and must not take money before the agreement is in place, s51. If money is held on trust or in a client account, s50 is relevant.

If you are comparing professionals, check that the person is properly registered or is an Australian legal practitioner. Migration assistance given in Australia by an unregistered person is restricted by s280 of the Migration Act, and charging for it is covered by s281. VisaBid is not a migration agent or law practice, so this library gives general information only. To compare quotes from registered professionals, a case can be posted at /post, 且可在以下位置查核業者 /check.

如何閱讀雇主擔保案件的報價#

一份有用的報價會清楚告訴你包含哪些部分。有些報價只涵蓋簽證申請。有些涵蓋提名和簽證，但不包括擔保。另一些則三者都包括。

尋找這樣的明細，例如：

• 擔保申請工作
• 提名申請工作
• 簽證申請工作
• 墊付款項，例如翻譯、無犯罪證明或體檢費用
• 是否包含對 Department 要求的回應
• 是否不包含覆核或上訴工作

這很重要，因為首頁上最便宜的報價不一定是整體最便宜的。一位專業人士可能只對其中一個步驟報價，而另一位則是對整個事項從頭到尾報價。

The Code of Conduct also requires honesty in advertising and communication. A migration agent must use their MARN in advertising, s25, and must not create unjustified expectations of success, s26. If a quote or advertisement sounds like a guarantee, that is a warning sign. Current and former clients can also read the official consumer material at /consumer-guide.

實際上的重點#

如果正在討論雇主擔保途徑，把對話分成三個部分會有幫助：sponsor、nomination 和 visa。這樣更容易理解時間安排，也更容易比較報價。

這在收集文件時也有幫助。擔保的商業文件不同於提名的工作文件，而這兩者又都不同於簽證申請的個人文件。

On VisaBid, itemised quotes are useful for exactly this reason. Instead of one vague line for "employer-sponsored visa", the quote can show what work is included at each stage and what costs sit with the employer or the applicant. If you want a general sense of professional fee levels before posting, the estimator at /costs/estimate 可以幫助。

常見問題#

擔保和提名是一樣的嗎？#

不是。擔保通常是指企業依相關項目獲准成為擔保方，而提名則是指企業想填補的特定職位。兩者有關聯，但屬於分開的申請，並有各自獨立的審查。

提名可以在簽證之前獲准嗎？#

是的，這些是分開的決定。提名可能已獲核准，而簽證申請仍可能在等待查核、補充資料或之後的決定。

雇主擔保簽證是付一筆費用嗎？#

通常不是。雇主擔保案件常涉及不同階段各自的 Department 收費，另加註冊移民代理或律師收取的任何專業費用。這就是為什麼逐項報價比單一打包數字更容易比較。

我怎麼知道移民代理是否已正確註冊？#

根據 Code of Conduct 2021 的 s25，註冊移民代理（registered migration agent）應在廣告中提供其 MARN（移民代理註冊號）。在委聘任何人之前都可以查核註冊詳情，而 VisaBid 也在以下頁面提供營運者查核： /check.

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關於本指南。 這是關於某項程序在澳洲如何運作的一般資訊。這不是 immigration assistance，也不是針對你情況的建議。根據 section 280 of the Migration Act 1958 只有註冊移民代理或澳洲法律執業者可以提供這項服務。政府收費會按指數調整，而且大多數會在 1 July 變更，所以請自行查核任何金額於 immi.homeaffairs.gov.au, 並在以下位置查核任何代理 OMARA（移民代理註冊管理局）名冊.