My daughters are nervous about being tested on their English for something as important as this. The English language requirement may pose a problem for us. My daughters are in grade school and have only recently started learning English. My wife and I are completely fluent. How heavily are the children’s English abilities weighed during this process? What options do we have?
There is no English requirement for the 188C significant investor visa. Your children's English levels will not be assessed as part of the visa application process. A second instalment payment of the visa application charge must be paid for main and secondary applicants over the age of 18 who are unable to demonstrate functional English.
For all business skills visas, English testing is not necessary for children. Minimum English requirements are only for dependents above 18 years old and they only need to prove a level of "functional English," which is an average band score of at least 4.5 in International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test results, or evidence of five years secondary schooling in English/Australian schools. However, functional English doesn’t need to be proven if you are willing to pay for English charge before your visa is granted (which is $4,890 per applicant of over 18 years of age and $9,795 for the primary applicant).
The general 188 visa applicant should show competent English (IELTS 6 minimum) However, as an significant investor (AUD$5 million), the rule is loosened, as the government expects that with such high net worth, you are able to overcome the English difficulties in Australia. If your daughters cannot meet this, immigration has an option to request that you pay $4,980 for each of your daughters (subject to future change). Your daughters' English skills are more important in terms of the local school system, in that they will need to attend an intensive English course (IEC) so that they can attend school without difficulty.
Not important at all.
Your or your family's English-language ability will not be required to be tested, as the points test does not apply if you are applying in the significant investor stream (SIV), the premium investor stream, the entrepreneur stream, the business innovation extension stream or significant investor extension stream. However, the process to determine if you are eligible to apply for a possible SIV is very complex. In order to apply for an SIV, you will need to make a complying significant investment of at least 5 million Australian dollars over four years in the following proportions: $500,000 in venture capital and growth private equity funds, which invest in start-ups and small private companies; at least $1.5 million in approved managed funds investing in emerging companies listed on the Australian Stock Exchange; s “balancing investment” of at least $3 million in managed funds that may invest in a range of assets, including ASX-listed companies, Australian corporate bonds or notes, annuities and commercial real estate. Direct investment in residential real estate continues to be prohibited and indirect investment in residential property through managed funds is now strictly limited. Investments must not be used as security or collateral for a loan.
All visa applicants above 18 years are subjected to fulfill the English requirement of IELTS 4.5 average. If there is a difficulty in achieving that, the VAC2 payment can substitute the English test.
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