This decision was announced on 29 November 2011 and will
affect Business applications, Skilled Migration applications, and even the
Secondary applicants or dependents of the Primary applicant.

In line with the Department of immigration and
Citizenship (DIAC) endeavouring to encourage application on-line, there will
also be a fee for those who chose to lodge their application on paper.

The increases will be in the vicinity of between 5 – 15
percent.

The intention is to have all DIAC fees indexed to the
Consumer Price Index (CPI) as from 01 July 2012.

Student visas will be reduced by 5 per cent to endeavour
to maintain Australia’s competitiveness in this market.

Immigration Minister Chris Bowen said the cost of
processing visa applications were not being recouped, leaving taxpayers to
bridge the gap.

Should the reader want to find out more about this entry or anything else about Immigration or Emigrating to Australia, please either contact us via the FREE Visa assessment facility or the email facility.

Should the reader wish to find out more specific information, please contact the writer by completing our FREE VISA ASSESSMENT or email us directly at david@emigrateaustralia.com.au

General Information
The Skill Stream of Australia’s Migration Program is specifically designed to target migrants who have skills or outstanding abilities that will contribute to the Australian economy.
The Australian Government continues to emphasise skilled migration, while maintaining a commitment to family reunion migration. The migration to Australia of people with qualifications and relevant work experience helps to address specific skill shortages in Australia and enhances the size and skill level of the Australian labour force.
The 2008–09 Skill Stream outcome of 114 777 places accounted for 67 per cent of the total Migration Program. The permanent skilled migration program planning level was cut by 14 per cent from 133 500 to 115 000 in mid March 2009 in light of the economic situation. The 2009–10 Skill Stream was further reduced in 2009–10 to a planning level of 108 100.
The planning level for the Skill Stream of the 2010–11 Migration Program has been set at 113 850. This represents 67.5 per cent of the total Migration Program.
The Skill Stream gives priority processing to applicants who are sponsored by employers or nominated by a state or territory government under a State Migration Plan.

Skill Stream categories

There are four main categories of skilled migrants:

1. General skilled migration (GSM)
There is a range of visa options under general skilled migration for skilled workers who want to live in Australia and who do not have an employer sponsoring them.
Independent migrants are selected on the basis of their nominated occupation, age, skills, qualifications, English language, ability and employability so they can contribute quickly to the Australian economy. They are not sponsored by an employer or relative in Australia.
For those unable to meet the independent criteria, sponsorship by an eligible Australian relative or nomination by a state or territory government is also possible under GSM

2. Employer nomination
Employers may nominate (or ‘sponsor’) personnel from overseas through the following categories:
• The Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) allows Australian employers to nominate overseas workers for permanent residence in Australia to fill skilled vacancies in their business.
• The Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) is one of several government initiatives which are designed to encourage migration to regional and low population growth areas of Australia. Employers in these areas can nominate overseas workers for permanent residence to fill skilled vacancies in their business.
• A Labour Agreement enables Australian employers to recruit a specified number of workers from overseas in response to identified labour market shortages. This is a formal arrangement negotiated between the Australian Government and an employer.

3. Business skills migration
The Business Skills Program encourages successful business people to settle permanently in Australia and develop new business opportunities.

4. Distinguished talent
This is a small category for distinguished individuals with special or unique talents of benefit to Australia.
The profiles of people who have been successful under this category generally include sports people, musicians, artists and designers, all of whom were internationally recognised as outstanding in their field.
For those interested in contacting Emigrate Australia concerning this entry or for any reason regarding Immigration to Australia, please complete our FREE Visa Assessment on the Home Page

• skilled
• social and cultural
• international relations.

Temporary residents are required to pay taxes on income earned in Australia. They do not have access to social welfare benefits or national public health cover.

Applicants must be assessed to satisfy Australia’s strict health and character requirements.
Please refer to my submission to our blog site just recently.

Citizens of countries where Australia has reciprocal health care agreements (RHCA) are entitled to emergency medical cover in Australia. This cover does not extend to pre-existing medical conditions. RHCA countries include Belgium, Finland, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Travellers should check if they need to maintain private health insurance. Citizens from The Republic of Ireland can obtain health care also by just producing their Passport at any Hospital, Doctor, and Pharmacist.

Skilled visa classes

Business Entry visas allow employers to recruit skilled people from overseas for a stay of up to four years. The position being filled must be skilled and paid at the local market rate. More details are available on these visas by contacting the writer.

Social and cultural

Temporary residence visas are also available for people taking part in sporting, entertainment and cultural activities.

Entertainment visas are for people involved in a wide range of social and cultural events and activities, taking into account the need to protect the employment of Australians in the industry.

Investor Retirement visas are for self-funded retirees who are 55 years or older, have no dependants (other than a partner) and are able to make a significant long term financial investment in Australia. The visa is temporary and will not lead to Australian permanent residence or citizenship.

Media and Film Staff visas are for correspondents or other professional media staff members posted to Australia by overseas news organisations. Also for visiting photographers, film and television crews making documentaries or commercials for overseas use.

Religious Worker visas are for religious workers, including ministers, priests and spiritual leaders, to serve the spiritual needs of people of their faiths in Australia.

Retirement visas are now only available to current Retirement visa holders and their partners, and to certain former holders of this visa who have not held another substantive visa since their last Retirement visa ceased. New or first time applicants considering spending a period of their retirement in Australia should consider the Investor Retirement (subclass 405) visa.

Special Program visas are for people coming to Australia under approved programs to participate in youth exchange, community benefit or cultural enrichment programs, or the Pacific Seasonal Worker Pilot Scheme.

Sport visas are for amateur or professional sports people to engage in competition with Australian residents and to improve general sporting standards in Australia through high calibre competition and training.

Visiting Academic visas are for professional academics to observe and/or participate collaboratively in Australian research projects and contribute to the sharing of research knowledge in Australia.

International relations

Working Holiday visa allows young people from certain arrangement countries to experience Australian culture and lifestyle through an extended holiday and short term employment, with special focus on regional Australia.

The program is an integral part of Australia’s tourism industry and also supports the Australian economy by providing supplementary labour for industries requiring short-term casual workers.

Work and Holiday visa is similar to the Working Holiday program, except that the Work and Holiday visa program requires additional documentation from arrangement countries. Applicants may need to provide a letter of approval from their government agreeing to their stay in Australia, hold university education qualifications and have functional English.
Note: These extra provisions do not apply to applicants from the United States of America.

To see if your Nationality qualifies you to be able to apply for either the Working Holiday Visa or the Work & Holiday visa, please click on the link.

Diplomatic visas allow for temporary entry of people wanting to travel to Australia in a diplomatic or official capacity, on advice from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). Eligible people should apply for this visa regardless of their intended period of stay in Australia.

Domestic Worker (Diplomatic/Consular) visas are for domestic staff working in a private capacity in households of diplomatic and consular staff posted to Australia, on advice from DFAT.

Domestic Worker (Overseas Executive) visas are for domestic staff of certain Temporary Business (Long Stay) (subclass 457) visa holders. This visa may only be granted where it is shown that the entry of domestic staff is necessary for the proper discharge of an executive’s representational duties.

Exchange visas are for skilled people overseas wanting to broaden their work experience and skills under reciprocal arrangements which allow Australian residents similar opportunities overseas. This includes people seeking entry under certain bilateral exchange agreements.

Foreign Government Agency visas are for foreign government employees conducting business or teaching duties on behalf of their governments, who do not have diplomatic or official status in Australia.

Government Agreement visas are for people who have the support of an Australian Government agency and a foreign government to enter Australia under the terms of a bilateral agreement between them. It can also be used by people who will direct the national operations in Australia of the British Council, the Alliance Francaise, the Goethe-Institute or the Italian Cultural Institute.

Occupational Trainee visas allow people from overseas to complete structured and supervised workplace-based training programs or academic research that will provide additional or enhanced skills and knowledge in their present occupations, tertiary studies or fields of expertise.
See: Fact Sheet 52a Occupational Trainee visa

Professional Development visas allow for the temporary entry of groups of professionals, managers and government officials from overseas who are seeking to enhance their professional/managerial skills by taking part in tailored training programs with an Australian sponsoring organisation.
See: Fact Sheet 51 Professional Development Visa

Access to retirement savings

Eligible temporary residents are able to access their retirement savings (superannuation) upon permanent departure from Australia.

More information on accessing this money is available on the Australian Taxation Office’s website (temporary residents).
See: Australian Taxation Office
See also: Accessing Superannuation Benefits

Statistics

Should the reader wish to know more about this article or if you have a more specific question, please contact the writer either via email or by completing the FREE VISA  ASSESSMENT on the home page

Australia enjoys some of the best health standards in the world. In order to maintain these standards people who want to migrate permanently, or stay in Australia temporarily, must satisfy the health requirement specified in the Migration Regulations.

Background

The health requirement is designed to:

• minimise public health and safety risks to the Australian community
• contain public expenditure on health and community services, including Australian social security benefits, allowances and pensions
• maintain access of Australian residents to health and other community services.

In line with Australia’s global non-discriminatory immigration policy, the health requirement applies equally to all applicants from all countries, although the extent of testing will vary according to the circumstances of each applicant.

Health checks required

Permanent visa applicants

All applicants for permanent visas, including the main applicant, partner and any dependants, must be assessed against the health requirement. Even if the applicant’s partner and dependants are not included in the visa application, they must still be assessed against the health requirement.

Applicants for a permanent visa will be asked to undergo a medical examination, an x-ray if 11 years of age or older and an HIV/AIDS test if 15 years of age or older, as well as any additional tests requested by the Medical Officer of the Commonwealth (MOC).

Temporary visa applicants

Applicants for temporary visas may be required to undergo a medical examination, chest x-ray and/or other tests depending on how long they propose to stay in Australia, their intended activities in Australia, their country’s risk level for tuberculosis (TB) and other factors.

The department will provide applicants with details of the health checks required.

The decision process

For those applicants who require a medical and/or x-ray examination and a significant medical condition is identified, a MOC will provide the department with an opinion on whether the health requirement has been met.

In doing so they will take into account:

• the results of the medical examination(s) and x-ray(s)
• medical history, age and period of intended stay in Australia
• other relevant considerations.

Under the Migration Regulations officers deciding visa applications must accept the opinion of the MOC on whether applicants meet the health requirement.

Only TB is mentioned in migration legislation as precluding the grant of a visa, but the applicant is given the opportunity to undergo treatment in most cases. Other health conditions are assessed on the potential cost and impact on the Australian community resulting from the possible use of health and community services.

Some of the visa subclasses within the family and humanitarian migration schemes, as well as a limited number of onshore permanent skilled visas, have a waiver component. This allows the visa decision-maker to waive the health requirement if they are satisfied that granting a visa would not result in ‘undue’ health care or community services costs, or ‘undue’ prejudice to Australians’ access to such services. Where a waiver is available, the decision-maker will take into account the applicant’s personal circumstances, including their ability to mitigate potential costs and care requirements, and any compassionate and compelling circumstances.

The waiver cannot be exercised where the visa applicant is assessed by a MOC as representing a risk to public health or safety in Australia.

If the applicant does not meet the health requirement and the waiver is unavailable or not exercised, then under the Migration Regulations the application must be refused.

Specific diseases or tests

Tuberculosis (TB)

TB is a serious disease which has been declared an epidemic and a global emergency.

Visa applicants aged 11 years or older must undergo a chest x-ray. Those under 11 may be required to have an x-ray if there are indications they have TB or have a history of contact with a person with TB. The purpose of the x-ray is to determine whether there is any evidence of either active or previous TB.

Evidence of active or previous TB will not, in itself, adversely impact on the outcome of the visa application.

Where x-rays show possible evidence of TB, the applicant will be asked to undergo more specific tests to establish whether or not active TB is present.

If active TB is found, Australian migration law does not allow a visa to be granted until the person has undergone treatment and been declared free of active TB. A course of treatment usually lasting between six to nine months is required, plus further testing to show that the treatment has been successful.

If the x-ray shows evidence of previous but now inactive TB the applicant may be asked to sign an undertaking at the time of visa grant.

By signing the undertaking, the applicant agrees to contact the Health Undertaking Service on a free call number on arrival in Australia. The applicant also agrees to report for follow-up monitoring to a state or territory health authority, as directed by the Health Undertaking Service. The visa is not at risk, once in Australia, no matter what status of tuberculosis is diagnosed as a result of the monitoring.

Hepatitis

Although health authorities consider the risk of hepatitis transmission from newly arrived migrants to be low, screening for hepatitis is mandatory where the applicant is any of the following:

• pregnant
• a child for adoption
• an unaccompanied refugee minor child
• a temporary visa applicant intending to work as, or to study to be, a doctor, nurse, dentist or paramedic in Australia.

Examining doctors or MOCs may also ask any applicant to undergo tests for hepatitis where they consider it necessary. If the applicant is assessed as having hepatitis a decision on whether the applicant meets the health requirement will be made on the same grounds as any other pre-existing medical condition. The main factor to be taken into account is the cost of the condition to the Australian community of health care and community services.

The applicant may also be asked to give an undertaking to report to the Health Undertaking Service for referral to state or territory health authorities on arrival in Australia.

HIV/AIDS

Permanent visa applicants aged 15 years or older must take an HIV/AIDS test. Permanent applicants less than 15 years old must also take this test if being adopted or there is a history of blood transfusions or other clinical indications.

Temporary visa applicants who intend to work as, or study to become, a doctor, nurse, dentist or paramedic in Australia are required to take an HIV/AIDS test.

If the applicant is found to be HIV positive, a decision on whether the applicant meets the health requirement will be made on the same grounds as any other pre-existing medical condition. The main factor to be taken into account is the cost of the condition to the Australian community of health care and community services. Standard pre and post-test counselling must be provided by the doctor who examined the applicant.

Other tests

Any other tests may be requested at any time by a MOC.

Should the reader have any further questions regarding this article or a more specific enquiry, the reader is encouraged to contact Emigrate Australia either by completing the FREE VISA ASSESSMENT on the home page or by email.

It may be of some interest to the readers of our blog site.

The following table contains migration program outcomes for 2005–06 to 2009–10 and planning levels for 2010–11.

Note: Numbers have been rounded and totals may not be the exact sum of components.

Migration Program numbers do not include New Zealand citizens or holders of Secondary Movement Offshore Entry (Temporary), Secondary Movement Relocation (Temporary) and Temporary Protection Visas and are detailed at the top of the planning range.

¹ Includes spouse, fiancé and interdependent. Net outcome as places taken by provisional visa holders who do not subsequently obtain permanent visas are returned to the Migration Program in the year that the temporary visas expire.

² Includes Child-adoption, Child Dependent and Orphan Minor.

³ Includes Aged Dependent, Carer, Orphan Unmarried and Remaining Relatives.

⁴ Includes Designated, Contributory and Non-contributory Parents.

⁵ Includes Employer Nomination Scheme, Labour Agreement, Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme.

⁶ Includes State/Territory Nominated Independent Scheme and Skilled Independent Regional.

⁷ Includes brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, non-dependent children, working age parents, grandchildren and first cousins who have been skill tested.

⁸ Net outcome as cancelled visas are returned to the Migration Program in that year.

⁹ Initial Planning Level.

Should the reader have further enquiries regarding this entry or their own person visa enquiry, please contact the writer via our FREE VISA ASSESSMENT  – link on the Home Page or by writing an email direct.

We endeavour to respond to all enquiries within 48 hours.

Parent category visa applications have a lower processing priority than other family stream visa applicants such as partners, children and the contributory parent category.

In the 2010–11 Migration Program year:

• 1000 places will be allocated to the (non-contributory) Parent category, including approximately 700 places for Parent (subclass 103) visas and approximately 300 places for Aged Parent (subclass 804) visas.
• 7500 places have been allocated to the Contributory Parent category. This includes approximately 7000 places for Contributory Parent visas (subclass 173 or subclass 143) and approximately 500 places for Contributory Aged Parent visas (subclass 884 or subclass 864).

The final proportion of places allocated between applicants applying in and outside Australia in both Parent visa categories is dependent on a number of factors, including client response times.

To ensure equity, all parent category visa applications are assessed in order of lodgement, assigned a queue date and then placed in the queue for the relevant visa subclass. Applicants are advised of their queue date when they reach this stage.

The queue date is the date that the application was assessed as meeting the initial criteria for a parent category visa. When a queue date has been assigned it is a fixed date and the application cannot be given priority ahead of other applications. Applications are considered for grant in order of their queue date as places become available.

Parent category queue

In the 2010–11 Migration Program year, 1000 parent category visa places are available for applicants applying from in and outside Australia.

Based on current planning levels, parent category visa applicants can expect an approximate 20 year wait before visa grant consideration after being allocated a queue date.

Contributory parent category queue

In 2007–08, high demand for the contributory parent visa category meant that a queue formed for the first time.

In the 2010–11 Migration Program year, 7500 contributory parent category visa places are available for applicants applying from in and outside Australia.

Based on current planning levels new contributory parent category visa applicants can expect to wait up to two years before visa grant consideration.

Applicants for contributory parent category visas should note that processing times can vary. It is important that applicants ensure they have funds available for the second visa application charge at all times in the application process, as payment may be required at an earlier date than was originally anticipated at the time of visa application lodgement.

Applicants place in the queue

The number of people ahead of applicants in the queue includes applicants being considered for visa grant for this migration program year.

Numbers in the queue are subject to:

• changes to planning levels
• fluctuations due to visa grants, refusals and withdrawals
• fluctuations due to successful review cases which are given priority

Special circumstances of a compelling or compassionate nature

The order of precedence for considering and finalising parent visa applications will not be affected by any special circumstances of a compelling or compassionate nature.

This means that once a queue date has been assigned it is a fixed date and the application cannot be given priority ahead of other applications even if such circumstances exist, as this may disadvantage other applicants whose circumstances are equally or more compelling or compassionate.

Should the reader wish to discuss this email further or have a question regarding Parent Visas or any other type of visas, please either contact us via or email address or complete our FREE VISA ASSESSMENT on the Home Page.

Changes have come into effect that will impact on prospective students intending to study for a higher education diploma or advanced diploma. From 1 January 2011, these prospective students can be assessed for a Higher Education (subclass 573) visa.

 Prior to 1 January 2011, these prospective students were assessed for a Vocational Education and Training (VET) (subclass 572) visa, as diplomas and advanced diplomas were not specified in relation to the Higher Education (subclass 573) visa.

 Three course names which are obsolete will be removed from the courses specified in relation to the VET (subclass 572) visa.

These are:-

• certificate
• advanced certificate
• associate diploma.

Should the reader require further information or clarification regarding this subject or information or clarification of their own visa situation, please contact the writer via our FREE VISA ASSESSMENT opportunity or send us an email, both available on our home page.

Basically what DIAC are saying is that they, as always, will give priority to:-

• Dependent Children (including children for adoption),
• Orphan relatives
• Partners (married or de facto) or Fiancés

Then the priority moves to:-

• Carers
• Remaining Relatives (very hard visa to prove)
• Aged Dependent Relatives
• Parents (Within the parent migration stream, the contributory parent category has higher processing priority than the parent category).

Visa applicants for each of the categories listed above are then usually considered in date order of receipt of each application, unless there are Compelling or Compassionate grounds. An excellent case and reason must be argued to have DIAC consider such a request. This must be done at the Office where the visa is to be lodged or has been lodged, with as much evidence as possible to provide weight to the claim. Even though the applicant may consider their claim on Compelling or Compassionate grounds has merit, this will never guarantee priority or a positive decision from DIAC.

There has always been a finite number of visas granted each year by DIAC. The demand on the General Skilled Migration (GSM) program has been so great, DIAC have removed some of the visas which were allocated to the Parent Program to enable the GSM Program to have extra visas, so that the overall figure was  not surpassed.

Those applying for any of the 6 Parent visas must understand that DIAC has earlier this year taken some of these visas which were to be granted and given them to GSM. Because of this, instead of the Contributory Parent visas queue time being 18 months to 2 years, it is now at least 4 – 5 years. The Parent visas queue time has now gone from 9 – 10 years up to most likely 20 – 22 years. These higher figures were the figures during the last Liberal Government under Mr Howard, but when the Labour Government under Mr Rudd took power, Mr Rudd reduced the waiting time by doubling the number of Parent Program visas granted each year, thus reducing the waiting time by half. It has  now been reversed by the new Labour Government under Julia Gillard to the old extended waiting times.

Therefore, unfortunately, for the existing queues of applicants, neither the Minister nor DIAC can expedite a Parent or Contributory Parent visa application.

If the reader wishes to discuss this entry or any other matter pertaining to Emigrating to Australia, please email or phone the writer or complete our FREE VISA ASSESSMENT on our Home Page.

Joint Media Release with Andrew Fraser MP – Queensland Treasurer, Minister for Employment, Economic Development and Innovation and Senator Chris Bowen – Minister for Immigration and Citizenship

Friday, 26 November 2010

Federal Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Bowen, and Queensland Treasurer and Minister for Employment, Economic Development and Innovation, Andrew Fraser, today announced the commencement of the Queensland state migration plan.

‘State migration plans are part of the Gillard Government’s continued commitment to supporting the Australian economy by attracting skilled migrants who can positively contribute to our workforce,’ Mr Bowen said.

‘The implementation of state migration plans will provide flexibility for state and territory governments to nominate skilled migrants in a broader range of occupations than are currently offered on the Skilled Occupation List.’

State migration plans are agreements between individual states and territories and the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship. The agreements specify an overall number of applicants that each state and territory can nominate and in what occupations they can nominate skilled migrants to work.

The Queensland state migration plan enables the Queensland Government to nominate migrants who meet the particular needs of the Queensland economy.

‘Queensland is looking at sourcing highly skilled workers to meet critical skills shortages in priority industry areas and occupations, such as regional health practitioners and engineers for mining and coal seam gas projects,’ Mr Fraser said.

‘In total, 83 occupations in skills shortage areas are covered under the state migration plan.

‘State sponsorship is just one of the strategies the Queensland Government uses to address the future needs of its workforce. Other measures include education, training and employment initiatives.’

State sponsorship of skilled migrants to Queensland under the plan is limited to the skilled sponsored (subclasses 176 and 886) and skilled regional sponsored (subclasses 475 and 487) visas.

The lists of eligible occupations for these visas will be released on the Queensland Government website along with information on specific sponsorship requirements for each occupation.

Should the reader wish to discuss this email further or have a question regarding SMP, please either contact us via or email address or complete our FREE VISA ASSESSMENT on the Home Page.