12/6/15 The Department of Immigration and Border Protection will increase many visa application charges on 1 July 2015. These adjustments include: A price increase in line with inflation (2.3 per cent) of specific visas within the Permanent Migration Skill Stream, Skilled Graduate, Temporary Long Stay Business (Subclass 457), Visitor and Student visa streams. A 5 […]
24/4/15 The significant investor visa program (SIV) will be suspended from 24 April 2015 and reintroduced on 1 July 2015 with new a set of requirements. This suspension will commence on 24 April 2015, with nominations reopening on 1 July 2015 to coincide with the introduction of the new framework through associated amendments to the […]
15/4/15 Trade Minister, Andrew Robb has announced that, “Chinese travellers will be able to make repeat visits to Australia with ease, with a current online visitor visa pilot extended to offer three-year, multiple entry visas to approved applicants.” Previously, visitor visas for Chinese travellers were only valid for 12 months.
2/4/15 The following changes have been made to the 457 visa program: 5 year study exemption for English cumulative not consecutive Sponsorship approval valid for 5 years instead of previous 3 years IELTS English requirement amended to an average score of 5.0 instead of 5.0 in each subtest Market salary exemption threshold reduced from $250K […]
19/3/15 The Minister for Immigration and Border Protection has signed a new Memorandum of Understanding with Vietnam which will enable a reciprocal arrangement for 200 young Australians and Vietnamese. The new arrangement will increase opportunities for young adults between 18 and 30 to experience a new culture whilst being able to work and study for […]
15/2/15 The new lists which are in effect from February 2015 can be found here: http://www.trade.nsw.gov.au/live-and-work-in-nsw/visas-and-immigration/nsw-skilledoccupations-list The newest occupation to be added is that of 411411 Enrolled Nurse which has been added to the 190 list for state nomination to New South Wales.
11/2/15 While the number of open occupations has decreased, there is a slight variation in the skill type and industry sector of the occupations that are currently in demand. Changes include: The status of the following occupations changed to closed: All medical specialists (except general practitioners); surveyors; engineers; complimentary health therapists and optometrists. The status […]
2/2/15 New South Wales is introducing a Selection-based Invitation Process which will ne implemented from February 2015 onwards. Under the selection and invitation process for the 190 visa program, prospective candidates can only apply for NSW nomination if they have been selected from SkillSelect and invited by NSW Trade & Investment. For more information please see the […]
1/2/15 In November 2014, The Department of Immigration and Border Protection announced two new acceptable tests of the English language for visa applicants – the Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-based test (TOEFL iBT) and the Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic). These tests are options in addition to the IELTS and […]
1/1/15 From 1 January 2015 the Department of Immigration and Border Protection have increased the visa charges for all Partner visas by 50%. This will have the following impact on partner visa application charges: Prospective Marriage Subclass 300 visas will increase from $3085 to $4627.50. Offshore Spouse / De Facto Subclass 309 visas will increase […]
22/10/14 The working holiday visa has been a popular stepping stone to the 457 visa and subsequently a permanent residence visa. Many skilled working holiday visa holders with carefully prepared and planned migration pathways have successfully made the transition. Australia has been promising to expand the program and has already added Greece, Poland, Spain and […]
15/10/14 Prime Minister Tony Abbot, has announced that the government will introduce a new “Premium Investor Visa” offering a faster 12 month pathway to permanent residency, for those meeting a A$15 million investment threshold. Key changes in respect of migration reform, include having SIV prospects target their money at areas of priority to the Australian […]