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UGLOBAL IMMIGRATION MAGAZINE
“I’m very happy here because I don’t feel as stressed
as in Malaysia,” Cheah said, “and I have more time to
spend with my children.”
To fulfill the requirements as a 188 visa holder, she
operates a boutique pet grooming shop in Mornington,
a seaside town about 20 minutes from Melbourne.
The 188 visa allows applicants with management
experience and a minimum net wor th of $800,000
Australian dollars to run a business in Australia, she
said. If the business manages to achieve an annual
turnover of $300,000, the applicant is eligible to apply
for permanent residency.
For tunately for Cheah, profitability hasn’t been an
issue. Her shop, which opened in October 2017, has
already accomplishe d annual sales of more than
$500,000. She is preparing her permanent residency
application and feels confident about the outcome.
“ The business is very good,” Cheah said. “I want to
continue running it after I get permanent residency.”
When her Australian migration journey started, Cheah
wasn’t as confident, however. She felt that running her
own business as a new immigrant in a new country
was a daunting proposition. That’s why she initially
submitted her 188 visa application through a passive
i nve s t m e n t r o u te . B u t h e r p e ti ti o n wa s r e j e c te d
because she didn’t meet the net worth threshold.
“ ‘I was quite happy but also
surprised that my application
got approved this fast’ ”
“ ‘得知签证获批如此之快
我十分惊喜’ ”