300,000 more chances to move to Australia
June 21, 2008
The Australian budget has been and gone and I didn’t pay that much attention to it to be honest.
Having said all that though a post made in our forums suddenly made me realise that the Australian Budget had pretty large implications for all wannabe Aussies.
The Labor party budget for 2008-09 includes an increase of almost 300,000 visas to Australia in a bid to address labour shortages in Australia.
Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan revealed a healthy increase of almost 300,000 more permanent and temporary visas to Australia as a part of the Labor Party Budget for the 2008-09. This is the biggest annual increase in visas in the history of Australia’s migration program
The new budget accommodates for an extra 31,000 skilled migrant visas, and over 150,000 other permanent migrant visas such as family visas & spouse visas. Read more
Popularity: 5% [?]
Current Australian Immigration processing lead time as of June 2008
June 14, 2008
Guys, latest Australian Visa Processing time line for June 2008.
Any comments or questions please post them in this thread on our forums.
RECEIPTING AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF APPLICATIONS
The ASPC is currently receipting new applications within service standards.
Once an application has been receipted it undergoes validity checking and an acknowledgement letter with client information and a receipt will be sent.
If an application is determined to be invalid documents will be returned and a refund of the visa application charge arranged.
As of June 2008 the ASPC Admin Section is processing applications as follows:
Onshore Applications: receipting and acknowledging applications received on 10 June 2008.
Offshore Applications: receipting and acknowledging applications received on 10 June 2008.
Once an application has been acknowledged it will be allocated to a case officer for further assessment as soon as possible, however, the ASPC receives a large number of applications and you will not be contacted immediately.
PROCESSING AND ALLOCATION INFORMATION - For the week of 10 June 2008
Applications lodged on or before the dates shown below have been allocated to case officers for further processing.
Popularity: 8% [?]
New ACS skills assessment fee from 1 July 2008
June 14, 2008
For those who are planning to apply to the Australian Computer Society (ACS), it’s worth noting that new fees will be applicable from 1 July 2008.
The Australian Computer Society is the approved professional organisation providing advice on skills recognition for prospective migrants to Australia .
Under the agreement between the ACS and the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC), those seeking to migrate to Australia as an IT Professional must complete an assessment through the ACS prior to lodging a migration application.
The new fees charged by the ACS from the 1st of July 2008 will be as followed:
Australian Recent Graduate A$360.00
Skills Assessment A$400.00
Recognised Prior Learning (RPL) A$450.00
Re-Validation/ACS MACS Members A$200.00
Appeals A$300.00
Popularity: 5% [?]
Changes to the Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL)
June 7, 2008
The Australian Immigration Minister has announced changes to the Migration Occupation in Demand List for applicants for General Skilled Migration visas.
The Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL) lists those occupations and specialisations identified by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) as being in short supply.
Twelve occupations have been added to the MODL, including five Computing Professional specialisations, Electronics Engineer, Optometrist and Dental Technican, as well as the trade occupations of Binder and Finisher, Landscape Gardener and Tree Surgeon. Read more
Popularity: 7% [?]
Capital Investment Scheme for pre-1 September GSM visa applications
June 7, 2008
The Australian Department of Immigration is currently considering options for applicants affected by the withdrawal of the States and Territories from the Capital Investment scheme.
Prior to 1 September 2007 General Skilled Migration visa applicants could earn 5 bonus points if they deposited at least $100,000 in a designated security for a term of not less than 12 months.
The NSW, Queensland and NT Treasury Corporations and the SA Government Financing Authority had been State and Territory authorities participating in these arrangements (the Western Australia Government withdrew from 1 July 2007).
Each of the participating States and Territories have notified the department of their withdrawal of support for the use of treasury bonds for this purpose. Read more
Popularity: 6% [?]
Amendments to Australian Student Visa announced
April 28, 2008
From time to time the Australian Department of Immigration make amendments and Legislation Changes which make obtaining an Australia Visa easier or indeed a litttle harder.
On the 26th of April a number of minor changes were announced. Most of these are not particularly relevant to most of our readers, however a changes to the Student Visa class are worthy of a mention.
The regulations are amended to:
- Include work rights on all initial student visa grants thus removing the need for student visa holders to make a separate application for permission to work.
- Prevent students and their family members from undertaking work until the student has commenced their course of study or training by amending student visa work conditions.
- Define the term ‘week’ as it applies to student visa work conditions.
Popularity: 10% [?]
IELTS Preparation Video - Useful Stuff
April 20, 2008
Not so long ago I wrote a post which gave an overview of the IELTS Exam.
IELTS or the International English Language Testing System measures a persons ability to communicate in English across all four language skills – listening, reading, writing and speaking – a key requirement for folks who intend to study, work and generally live in Australia.
Although a written post is always going to prove useful, I thought I’d also include a Video which I found on Youtube which some of you folks may also enjoy watching.
There’s actually a ton of stuff on Youtube which I think might be of interest or of use to visitors to our site so as I find them I’ll add them for you to review 
I hope you find the Video of use, please let me know if you’d like to see similar resources added to the site
Popularity: 9% [?]
Australian 457 visa program to be reviewed
April 14, 2008
The 457 Temporary Skilled Migrant Visa is in the news today, with the federal government commissioning a review following accusations that foreign workers are being exploited.
Industrial relations commissioner Barbara Deegan will head a working party of industry and trade union leaders looking into the 457 visa program.
Immigration and Citizenship Minister Chris Evans said the six-month review would address concerns about the exploitation of migrant workers, salary levels and English language requirements with Industry and union groups in Australia welcoming the decision.
The general secretary of the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union, John Sutton, says the deregulation of the visa program under the Howard government allowed abuse of the system and workers’ rights
Mr Sutton told ABC Radio. Read more
Popularity: 8% [?]
UK Applicants - Police Clearance Certificates
April 1, 2008
For Australian Visa Applicants applying from the UK, it’s worth noting that Police certificates are now being issued by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO).
This covers applicants who have lived or currently reside in England, Wales, Scotland, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and Northern Ireland.
Application forms and guidance on how to apply for the police certificates for residents and non-residents can be located online at www.acpo.police.uk
Until further notice, the Australian Department of Immigration has announced that they will also continue to accept the outcome of a Subject Access Request made under the Data Protection Act 1998 for each relevant UK jurisdiction.
Popularity: 7% [?]
Current Australian Immigration processing lead time as of April 2008
April 1, 2008
Well, we’re into April so let’s look at the current Australian Visa Processing timelines for April 2008.
To discuss this post, please use the appropriate thread in our forums here
PROCESSING AND ALLOCATION INFORMATION - For the week of 1 April 008
Applications lodged on or before the dates shown below have been allocated to case officers for further processing.
Applications Lodged Before 1 September 2007
Onshore Skilled visas (permanent and provisional)
Student/Graduate applications - Class DD and DE visas
Subclass 880: 18 August 2007 (paper), 9 August 2007 (e-lodged)
Subclass 881: 29 August 2007 (paper), 29 August 2007 (e-lodged)
Subclass 882: 29 August 2007 (paper), 29 August 2007 (e-lodged)
Onshore Skilled Independent Regional (Provisional) (SIR) – Class UX visas Subclass 495: All applications: all applications are now allocated to case officers
New Zealand Citizen (Residence) - Class DB visas
Subclass 861, 862 and 863: all applications are now allocated to case officers
Offshore Skilled visas (permanent and provisional)
Skilled Migration visas - All paper based applications for Class BN, BQ, BR, UX and UZ visas
Subclasses 134, 136, 137, 138, 139, 495 and 496: 2 May 2007
e-lodged Skilled Independent Regional (Provisional) applications
Subclass 495: all applications are now allocated to case officers
Applications Lodged After 1 September 2007
General Skilled Migration visas: Class VE, VF,VB and Class VC subclass 487
Subclasses: 175, 176, 475, 476, 885, 886, 887, and 487
E-lodged: 8 November 2007
Paper lodged: 16 September 2007
General Skilled Migration visas: Class VC subclass 485 only
E-lodged: 29 September 2007
Paper lodged: 16 September 2007
If a visa application was made more than two weeks before the relevant date shown above and you have not been contacted by a case officer please contact the Adelaide Skilled Processing Centre from the web page which can be viewed by Clicking Here
Popularity: 10% [?]
