Australia visa additions and amendments

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) has added two new visas and have made some amendments which will take effect as from 27th October 2008.

Subclass “651″ eVisitor visa has been introduced for those with an eligible passport from European Union countries, to allow those with a genuine interest in visiting Australia as either a Tourist or on Business. This visa is a Temporary visa for multiple entries to Australia for up to 12 months, with each visit duration of no more than 3 months.

Subclass “488″ Superyacht Crew visa is a Temporary visa which has been introduced by Senator Evans to back up his commitment to this growing industry around our shores. It has been designed to cope with the specific requirements of the Superyacht crews. Some of the conditions of this visa are:-

• must be a member of the crew of a Superyacht
• must be Sponsored by either the Captain or the Owner of the Superyacht on which they are working
• can stay and work for up to 12 months
• can apply for a further “488″ visa on-shore.
• those already on a “456″ Business (short stay) visa do not have to apply immediately for this new visa, but must apply anytime before the expiry of their current “456″ visa.

Subclass “485″ – prior to 27th October 2008, it was permissible for the applicant of the 485 visa to just provide evidence they had only made arrangements to sit an English examination (IELTS). As from 27th October 2008 it is MANDATORY that the applicant has successfully taken the IELTS test.

Subclass “417″ Working Holiday and “462″ Work and Holiday visas – eligible applicants with DEpendent children may be eligible to apply for either of the above visas, providing the Dependent children do not accompany them during their stay in Australia.

As mentioned in a previous article, DIAC has increased their fees for on-shore application for the “TR” “676″ Tourist visa from $215.00 to $240.00.

Furthermore, as mentioned in a previous article, all Contributory Parent visas have had a 3.7% increase in fees also.

Australia visa – Visitor visa

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC), has made an announcement with regard to eVisitor Visas.

As from 27th October 2008, applicants with a current Passport from the Countries listed below, which are all EU countries, plus Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland and the Vatican City, will be able to apply for eVisitor Visas for either tourist or business purposes.

The Eu countries are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the UK.

DIAC have also announced that those applying on-line may do so free of DIAC fees.

Once the application has been approved, this visa will allow the holder to enter and stay in Australia as often as they like, for periods of up to 3 months at a time, with a maximum period of 12 months.

The applicant is not permitted to work.

Australia Visa – Regional cities

There are a number of Regional Cities throughout Australia, with large populations, great schooling, some with Universities, most with fabulous sporting facilities and a wonderful country feel, reception and attitude.

All these towns and cities are included in the areas under Regional Australia (except Newcastle and Wollongong) and can therefore be considered by all applicants looking to utilize one of the following visas;

“475” Skilled – Regional Sponsored (Off-shore applicant)

“487” Skilled – Regional Sponsored (On-shore applicant)

“887” Skilled – Regional (On-shore applicant).

“457″ Business (Long Stay) Sponsored Temporary 4 year visa can also use the Regional Area definition should the sponsoring employer have their business located in a Regional Area and the sponsored employee is employed and lives in that Regional Area. The employer in the Regional Area can apply for certification and gain wage relief with the local Regional Certifying Body (RCB).

It is also a consideration for the “417” Working Holiday and the “462” Work & Holiday visas, where, if the applicant wants to stay for a second year, they must work in a Regional Area of Australia for 3 months, fruit picking, working on a farm or using their skills in the construction arena.

Queensland.

Bundaberg – 48,000
Cairns – 100,000
Gladstone – 28,000
Hervey Bay – 40,000
Mackay – 60,000
Mt Isa – 25,000
Rockhampton – 65,000
Sunshine Coast – 250,000
Toowoomba – 95,000
Townsville – 120,000

Western Australia.

Albany – 24,000
Bunbury – 45,000
Fremantle – 25,000
Geraldton – 25,000
Gosford – 265,000
Kalgoorlie – 30,000
Mandurah – 50,000
Rockingham – 62,000

New South Wales.

Albury/Wodonga – 75,000
Armidale – 25,000
Bathurst – 30,000
Coffs Harbour – 30,000
Dubbo – 33,000
Gosford – 270,000
Lismore – 27,000
Maitland – 55,000
Newcastle – 285,000 (not included in Regional Australia)
Orange – 33,000
Port Macquarie – 40,000
Richmond – 27,000
Tamworth – 35,000
Wagga Wagga – 45,000
Wollongong – 235,000 (not included in Regional Australia)

Victoria.

Ballarat – 80,000
Bendigo – 70,000
Geelong – 135,000
Mildura – 30,000
Shepparton – 35,000
Traralgon – 20,000
Warrnambool – 26,000

South Australia.

Gawler – 16,000
Mt Gambier – 23,000
Pt Lincoln – 12,000

Tasmania.

Burnie – 20,000
Devonport – 22,000
Launceston – 68,000

Northern Territory.

Alice Springs – 27,000
Palmerston – 25,000

Australia Visa – Australian Police Check

All Australia Visa applicants who have lived in Australia for more than 12 months, when required by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC), must obtain an Australian Federal Police check, otherwise known as a Character Check (Schedule 4, number 4001).

On the 1st October, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) increased their charges for a Character Check for all visas.

The increase is from $32.73 to $43.00.

This is for all visa applicants, if they either do it on their own and have the results returned to them, or if they do it on their own and request that the results are returned to their Registered Migration Agent.

If the Registered Migration Agent makes the request on the applicant’s behalf, and pays for the client, the fee is $49.00.

The official site for the AFP fees can be found at:

http://www.afp.gov.au/business/national_police_checks.html

Do not be confused by the link on this site to the “National Police Check Application Form”. This is the incorrect form to be used for DIAC. Please continue to use Form 1101 to apply for the emigration AFP Character Check.