Experience and approach
Chit Chua — Accredited Specialist in Immigration Law, Melbourne
Your pathway to Australia, handled by a specialist who speaks your language.
For more than 20 years, Chit Chua has helped professionals, business owners and families from across Asia build their future in Australia. He is a Melbourne immigration lawyer at Chua Tan Associates. The Law Institute of Victoria has recognised him as an Accredited Specialist in Immigration Law since 2016, a title earned by passing a demanding assessment that only a small number of lawyers hold.
Chit is a Mandarin- and Cantonese-speaking immigration lawyer, so you get clear, precise advice in your own language, with nothing lost in translation.
Trusted by clients for over a decade
Many of Chit's clients have worked with him for years. They have moved with him from student visas to permanent residence and citizenship, from temporary sponsorship to permanent residence, and through the uncertainty of the pandemic years. Several describe a relationship of a decade or more. They consistently mention his prompt responses, reliability and attention to detail.
Skilled migration lawyer for professionals
Your qualifications and experience deserve a strategy, not just a form. Chit guides skilled applicants from the first step to permanent residence.
Skills assessments
Preparing skills assessments with ACS, VETASSESS, TRA, ANMAC, Engineers Australia and other assessing authorities.
Skilled visas: subclass 189, 190 and 491
Advice on points-tested skilled visas, EOI strategy in SkillSelect, and state and territory nomination.
Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485)
Helping international students move from study into work, and on to permanent residence and citizenship.
Employer sponsored visas for Australian businesses
Chit helps Australian employers sponsor skilled workers and professionals from Asia. That includes the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482), the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186), regional sponsorship and labour agreements, along with sponsor compliance and the pathway to permanent residence.
Business, family and parent visas
For established families, migration is one part of a larger plan covering property, business, succession and the next generation. Chit advises on:
National Innovation Visa (subclass 858) for people with outstanding international achievements
Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) visa (subclass 888) for existing 188 visa holders
Employer sponsorship through a family-owned Australian business
Parent, partner and child visas that keep generations together
Resident Return Visas and Australian citizenship, including special residence requirements for people who divide their time between countries
Visa refusals, cancellations and appeals
Not every case is straightforward. Chit regularly handles:
visa refusals and cancellations
character issues and PIC 4020 concerns
health waivers
ministerial intervention requests
appeals to the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) and judicial review in the courts
Clients often come to him after a problem has already arisen. Review deadlines are strict, so early advice matters.
Qualifications and admissions
Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Science, The University of Melbourne
Accredited Specialist in Immigration Law, Law Institute of Victoria (since 2016)
Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria
Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of Australia
Languages: English, Mandarin, Cantonese
Location: Melbourne, advising clients Australia-wide and overseas
One Melbourne law firm for the whole family
Chua Tan Associates has served Asian families in Australia since 1990, and its team includes two Accredited Specialists in Immigration Law. Alongside visas, the firm advises on property purchases, Australian Wills and cross-border estate planning, family business succession, family law, and notarial services for documents used overseas. Your migration plan and your family's wider interests are handled together under one roof.
Frequently asked questions
What is an Accredited Specialist in Immigration Law?
It is a lawyer recognised by the Law Institute of Victoria as having substantial experience and expertise in immigration law, after passing a rigorous assessment. Only a small number of Victorian lawyers hold this accreditation.
Can Chit Chua advise me in Chinese?
Yes. Chit advises in English, Mandarin and Cantonese.
Do I need to be in Melbourne to get advice?
No. Chit advises clients across Australia and overseas through online consultations.
What should I do if my visa has been refused?
Contact us as soon as possible. Review deadlines are strict and can be very short, and a late application usually cannot be accepted.