MARA Registered Migration Agent
Kevin Cai
Principal Migration Adviser | Registered Migration Agent (MARN 1791066)
Double Degree, University of Melbourne
Kevin Cai is a Registered Migration Agent (MARN 1791066) with extensive experience in Australian migration law and visa services. He holds a Double Degree from the University of Melbourne and combines strong academic credentials with practical migration expertise.
Kevin specialises in Skilled Migration, Employer Sponsored Visas (482, 186), Partner Visas, Parent Visas, Business Migration and complex migration matters. His comprehensive understanding of Australian migration legislation and policy enables him to provide strategic, practical and outcome-focused advice to clients from diverse backgrounds.
Articles by Kevin Cai
- 482 Employer Sponsorship for Civil Engineers: Infrastructure, Mining and Beyond Which employers sponsor civil engineers on 482 visas, what the salary reality looks like, and how to navigate from temporary sponsorship to permanent residence as a civil engineer in Australia.
- 482 Employer Sponsorship for Carpenters: Construction Companies, Mining and Regional Work How carpenters can secure 482 employer sponsorship in Australia — which construction companies sponsor, why mining camp projects offer the highest wages, and the path to permanent residence.
- 482 Employer Sponsorship for Secondary Teachers: Private Schools and Catholic Systems Why public schools cannot sponsor teachers on 482 visas — and how secondary teachers can find sponsorship through private schools, Catholic school systems, and international schools in Australia.
- 482 Employer Sponsorship for Social Workers: Hospitals, Community Services and NDIS How social workers can secure 482 employer sponsorship in Australia — which sectors sponsor, how NDIS expansion is creating new opportunities, and the realistic path from sponsorship to PR.
- 482 Employer Sponsorship for Software Engineers: Which Companies Sponsor and How How software engineers secure 482 sponsorship in Australia — which tech companies sponsor, what salary to expect, and how the 482 fits into a long-term permanent residence strategy.
- 482 Employer Sponsorship for Aged Care Workers: Which Providers Sponsor and How to Approach Them How aged care workers can find 482 sponsorship in Australia — which large providers have dedicated migration teams, how to handle the TSMIT salary challenge, and what the path to PR looks like.
- 482 Employer Sponsorship for Early Childhood Teachers: Large Chains vs Independent Centres How early childhood teachers can get 482 sponsorship in Australia — why large childcare chains are the most reliable sponsors, how to handle the TSMIT salary challenge, and the DAMA option.
- 482 Employer Sponsorship for Accountants: Which Firms Sponsor and How to Get Hired How accountants can secure 482 employer sponsorship in Australia — which accounting firms sponsor, how to stand out as an international candidate, and the path from 482 to permanent residence.
- State Nomination for Carpenters: Which States Have Construction Demand in 2026 Carpenters have stronger state nomination prospects than most professions. This guide maps which states are active, what points you need, and why the construction boom is creating real opportunities.
- State Nomination for Social Workers: Which Pathways Are Realistic in 2026 Social workers have state nomination options — but the picture varies significantly by specialty. This guide maps which states are active, where STEM teachers and mental health workers have advantages.
- State Nomination for Civil Engineers: 190 and 491 Pathways by State Civil engineering has more realistic state nomination options than most professions. This guide maps out which states are active, what points you need, and which sectors give you the best chance.
- Skilled Migration for Software Engineers: Real Invitation Scores and What They Mean in 2026 The honest picture of software engineer invitation scores for 189 and 190 — why onshore applicants dominate, what offshore engineers can realistically expect, and how to build a competitive profile.
- State Nomination for Secondary Teachers: Why STEM Makes All the Difference How secondary school teachers can access 190 state nomination in Australia — and why STEM subject teachers have a dramatically easier path than non-STEM teachers applying for the same visa.
- State Nomination for Aged Care Workers: STSOL Pathways and What That Means for You Aged care workers sit on the STSOL — which means no 189, but 190 and 491 are open with lower points requirements than most professions. This guide maps the realistic nomination options.
- State Nomination for Early Childhood Teachers: Which States Are Open and Why NT Stands Out Early childhood teachers have better state nomination options than many professions. This guide maps the active states, explains the NT and regional advantage, and sets realistic expectations.
- State Nomination for Accountants: Which States Are Actually Nominating in 2026 Accountants face one of the most competitive 190 pools in Australia. This guide cuts through the noise: which states are open, what conditions apply, and what score you realistically need.
- CDR for Civil Engineers: How to Write a Competency Demonstration Report That Passes The complete guide to writing a CDR for civil engineering migration — what Engineers Australia actually looks for, how to structure your Career Episodes, and the pitfalls that get applications rejected.
- AITSL Skills Assessment for Secondary Teachers: The Process and What Can Go Wrong How the AITSL skills assessment works for secondary school teachers migrating to Australia — the difference between AITSL assessment and state registration, and the pitfalls that delay applications.
- AASW Skills Assessment for Social Workers: Qualification Requirements and Process The AASW skills assessment process for social workers migrating to Australia — why only social work degrees qualify, what the assessment looks for, and how to avoid the most common application mistakes.
- ACECQA Skills Assessment for Early Childhood Teachers: What You Need to Know The ACECQA assessment process for early childhood teachers migrating to Australia — qualification equivalency, English requirements, and why so many applicants are surprised by the English threshold.
- Skills Assessment and TSMIT for Aged Care Workers: The Two Hurdles That Catch Most Applicants The two hardest parts of aged care worker migration — skills assessment requirements and whether the salary meets TSMIT — and how DAMA can solve the salary problem for those in regional areas.
- TRA Trade Recognition for Carpenters: How the Assessment Works and How to Prepare The TRA assessment process for carpenters migrating to Australia — practical test format, documents needed, and how overseas carpentry experience is evaluated against Australian trade standards.
- CPA Australia vs CA ANZ Skills Assessment for Accountants: Which to Choose and How to Pass The real differences between CPA Australia and CA ANZ skills assessments for migration — which body to choose, what documents you need, and why the wrong choice can cost you months.
- ACS Skills Assessment for Software Engineers: What Actually Gets Approved The ACS assessment process for software engineers and IT professionals — right ANZSCO code, RPL vs standard pathway, and why so many applications get delayed for avoidable reasons.
- Subclass 482 Employer Sponsorship for Registered Nurses: What Actually Works Which types of employers sponsor registered nurses on the 482 visa? A wide range of healthcare employers sponsor registered nurses on the 482 visa, with public hospitals, private hospitals, aged care
- State Nomination for Registered Nurses: 190 and 491 Reality Check Which states are nominating registered nurses for subclass 190 in 2026? SA, TAS, WA, and NT are the consistently active states for Registered Nurse 190 nominations in 2026, while VIC and NSW fluctuate
- ANMAC Skills Assessment for Registered Nurses: Complete Guide What is the difference between ANMAC skills assessment and AHPRA registration? ANMAC skills assessment and AHPRA registration are two separate processes — ANMAC assesses your qualifications for migrat
- Employer Sponsorship Accountant Migration to Australia: State Nomination, Points & CPA/CA Assessment | State/Territory | On 190 List? | On 491 List? | Typical Base Points Needed | Key Requirement / Note |
- Employer Sponsorship Social Worker Migration to Australia: State Lists, Points & AASW Assessment | State / Territory | 190 List | 491 List | Typical Points Required (with nomination) | Key Condition |
- Employer Sponsorship Engineer Migration to Australia: State Nomination, Points & Engineers Australia Assessment | State | On 190 List | On 491 List | Effective Score Needed | Key Requirement |
- Employer Sponsorship Teacher Migration to Australia: State Lists, Points & AITSL Assessment (STEM priority) > Quick Answer: South Australia is currently the most accessible state for secondary school teachers on the Subclass 190(/en/subclass-190-skilled-nominated/) pathway — it accepts all teaching subjects
- Employer Sponsorship Aged Care Worker Migration to Australia: Pathways, ACILA & Cert III > Quick Answer: Aged or Disabled Carer (ANZSCO 423111) is an STSOL occupation — the Subclass 189(/en/subclass-189-skilled-independent/) is not available. Your realistic routes are Subclass 190(/en/sub
- Employer Sponsorship Construction Trades Migration to Australia: State Lists & TRA/VETASSESS Assessment > Quick Answer: For carpenters and other construction trades, Western Australia, South Australia, and Queensland are consistently the most accessible states for skilled migration in 2026. A carpenter
- Employer Sponsorship Early Childhood Teacher Migration to Australia: State Lists, Points & ACECQA Assessment > Quick Answer: The Subclass 491(/en/subclass-491-skilled-regional/) and Subclass 190(/en/subclass-190-skilled-nominated/) are the realistic pathways for Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teachers
- Employer Sponsorship IT Migration to Australia: State Lists, Points & ACS Assessment > Quick Answer: New South Wales and Victoria offer the most active Subclass 190(/en/subclass-190-skilled-nominated/) and Subclass 491(/en/subclass-491-skilled-regional/) nomination programs for IT / I
- Employer Sponsorship Nurse Migration to Australia: State Lists, Points & ANMAC Assessment > Quick Answer: South Australia and Tasmania are consistently the most accessible states for Registered Nurses to obtain state nomination in 2026. A competitive 190 nomination application requires a b
- Visa Services Australian Citizenship: How to Apply After Getting PR After four years of lawful residence in Australia — including at least 12 months as a permanent resident — you are eligible to apply for citizenship. The five-step process runs from an online application and citizenship test through to a mandatory ceremony, and typically takes 12–24 months from lodgement to conferral.
- Visa Services Is Moving to Australia Worth It? Pros, Cons & Reality Check For most skilled migrants, moving to Australia is worth it — but the timeline to permanent residency can stretch 2–5 years, and housing costs, geographic isolation, and a shifting visa system are real trade-offs. Your occupation and financial resilience matter more than most applicants expect.
- Visa Services Migration Agent Fees: How Much Do They Cost & Is It Worth It? Migration agent fees in Australia range from $1,500 to $15,000+, depending on visa type and complexity. For applicants with any complicating factor, a MARA-registered agent often costs less than a refused visa.
- Legal Services Visa Refusal, AAT Appeal & Cancellation: Complete Guide An Australian visa refusal triggers a strict appeal window — just 28 days onshore or 70 days offshore — to lodge a review with the ART, with fees starting at $3,496. Visa cancellation timelines vary wildly, from 24 hours at the border to several months for contested cases.
- Visa Services Australian Visa Application Fees by Subclass: Complete 2026 Guide Australian visa fees in 2026 span a wide range — from $190 for a visitor visa to $8,850+ for partner and skilled permanent visas — and employer-sponsored work visas carry mandatory SAF levy costs that cannot legally be passed on to employees.
- Employer Sponsorship Employer Sponsored Visas Compared: 482 vs 186 vs 494 vs 407 The 186 grants permanent residence immediately, while the 482, 494, and 407 are all temporary — each suited to different locations, occupations, and long-term goals. Understanding which pathway fits your situation is the key decision every employer-sponsored applicant faces.
- Legal Services Your Rights and Options While on AAT Review or a Bridging Visa Waiting on an AAT decision doesn't mean your life is on hold. Understanding your rights on a bridging visa — including work and travel entitlements — helps you make informed choices while your case is reviewed.
- Employer Sponsorship Eligibility Requirements for Employer Sponsored Visas (482, 186, 407) Employer sponsored visas in Australia require both the employer and the applicant to meet strict eligibility criteria before a visa can be granted. Understanding these requirements across the 482, 186, and 407 visa subclasses is key to a successful application.
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