Australia’s Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Bowen announced this morning that Perth has been reclassified as a regional city as part of the federal government’s plan to attract skilled migrants to the WA capital. For the first time, businesses in Perth will now be able to sponsor workers with lower skill sets under the
Student’s Skilled Migration Visa Application Refused On Technicality
Zimbabwe-born Melbourne university graduate, Tatenda Muradzi, 25, is seeing red after she was informed by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship that her skilled migration visa application was deemed invalid because it was not lodged in the prescribed manner. On 15 March 2010 Ms Muradzi visited the offices of her Melbourne based migration agent at
Increase In Skilled Migration To Western Australia
Businesses in Western Australia have recorded a steep incline in the number of skilled migrants they are sponsoring from the Netherlands, Malaysia and Ireland. Reports show that the number of Skilled Regional Sponsored visas increased by more than 40% (approximately 4000 units) in 2010 compared to the same time in 2009. Reports from the show
Australian Visa Application Charges Set To Increase 1st July 2011
The has announced that a number of visa application charges are set to increase by 15 per cent from 1st July 2011. Tourist visas, student visas and second installment investor retirement visas will not be subject to a visa application charge increase. Meanwhile, second installment contributory parent visas will increase in accordance with aged care,
Skilled Migration Boost Needed To Meet Mining Boom Demand
With the mining boom Mark II driving the need for labour, there are fresh calls for an immediate increase in skilled migration to meet these demands. Deloitte Access Economics predict the growth rate among Australia’s working population will plummet from 2.2 per cent in 2008-09, to just 1 per cent next year. There is a
Visa Applicants Seeking Sponsorship From South Australia
The last day for submitting requests for South Australian sponsorship under the current Points Test, before the new Points Test commences on 1 July 2011, is 2 May 2011. This means all completed applications including sponsorship application and supporting documents must be received by Immigration SA before 5pm local Adelaide time on Monday 2 May
The Minister For Immigration, Announces Further Locations For Biometrics Collection
The Minister for Immigration & Citizenship has announced further locations for biometrics collection. Visa applicants lodging paper-based visa applications in the following designated locations will be required to provide fingerprints and a photograph as part of their visa application: Syria ( Damascus ) – beginning April 2011 Malaysia ( Kuala Lumpur ) – beginning April
Introduction Of A New Public Interest Criterion
Effective from 2 April 2011, the introduction of a new Public Interest Criterion will enable a refusal of a visa application when a visa applicant submits ‘bogus documents’ or information that is false or misleading. Where a visa applicant has had a visa application refused on this basis, any further applications submitted within a three
NSW State Migration Plan Announced; Effective From 3rd March 2011
The NSW State Migration Plan will be subject to capping which will limit the number of skilled migrants that may be sponsored by Industry & Investment NSW each year from the agreed NSW State Sponsorship Eligibility Lists. There are 138 occupations on the NSW State Migration Plan, including eighteen occupations that are not listed on
Skilled Migration: Introduction Of New Points Test
Skilled migration visa applications will be subject to a new points test which will take effect from 1 July 2011. The aim of the changes is to strike a greater balance between all the different factors that are considered when assessing a skilled migration visa application. It is hoped that by emphasising high level qualifications,