Some Australian visa categories

The best place to start researching your eligibility for an Australian visa is: http://www.immi.gov.au

• Employer sponsored workers
• Points-based skilled workers
• Point-based skilled workers who have studied in Australia
• Students

Discussion Forums for getting help from fellow applicants

• Immigration FAQs Not a discussion forum, but a comprehensive must-read prior to posting your questions! It was compiled by Peter Chiam who (based on his participation in the usenet newgroup listed below) applied around the same time as me.
• misc.immigration.australia+nz Helpful group, worth searching the archives to see if your question has already been address. Some questions are addressed by professional migration agents. (A usenet news group also accessible through Google.)
• Yahoo Groups AustraliNZMigrate Moderated Yahoo Group with some questions addressed by professional migration agents.
• Aus Timeline This website went up while I was waiting for a response to my PR visa application. Its great for tracking how applications similar to yours are progressing over time.

Migration Agents

Agents are not required for submitting application. If you're planning on using a migration agent (inside or outside Australia), you should use one registered with the Migration Agents Registration Authority. While this is a professional organization (not governmental), it does requires agents to have a sound knowledge of migration law and procedure and to abide by a Code of Conduct.

Studying in Australia

The subcontinent exports students in droves (thats how found myself in the US). When last in Bombay it was hard to miss all the adverts in the papers for Australian universities and Indian counsellors. If you're in the process of applying, or are currently studying in Australia, your findings, insight, and opinions would be appreciated. Meanwhile, here is a repetition of what a Google search would get you:

• Study in Australia
• Some commercial counsellors in Bombay and Delhi. Expect to see polls asking for feedback about whether to expand this information (counsellor/agent listings, ratings, etc) .
• IDP Education Pty Ltd Australian Universities' International Development Program. Fee paying students provide big income to Australian (and American and British) universities, and the IDP was set up to facilitate applications. Opinions, as to the value-add IDP provides, would be welcome.