Updates

Additional English Language Exemptions on 457 visa

Updates / January 8, 2023 / By

Effective the 19th of April 2016, two more exemptions on the English capability requirement for 457 visa applications were announced. These are: Applicants who were required to demonstrate the same or better English language proficiency to gain occupational registration/licencing and have been granted occupational registration/licencing. Applicants who have completed a minimum of five years of …

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Penalties for Work Visa Scammers Launched

Updates / January 8, 2023 / By

Employers or sponsors found to charge their potential employees fees in exchange for visa sponsorship will now be penalised. Effective 14th of December 2015, this conduct has been considered as a criminal act and will attract penalties ranging from paying a fine of $43,200 or two years’ imprisonment for individuals or paying a fine of …

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Au pairs: Now allowed to work more than 6 months per employer

Updates / January 8, 2023 / By

Au pairs on 417 Working Holiday Visa can now work for more than 6 months per employer if they can demonstrate that they have worked for a family with young children. This is great news for au pairs and their employers because the Subclass 417 Working Holiday Visas attract condition 8547 limiting work for any …

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Australia Tax Office to improve tax compliance of visa holders

Updates / January 8, 2023 / By

The ATO’s data matching program was launched to improve tax compliance of visa holders and reduce immigration fraud. ATO will acquire the names, addresses and other details of visa holders, their sponsors and their migration agents for the 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17 financial years from the Department. Information will be collected from an estimated …

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Changes to the SOL and CSOL

Updates / January 8, 2023 / By

Every year the Department of Immigration and Border Protection releases two lists of occupations that determine whether you can enter into the country under any of the skilled visas (189, 190, 457, 186, 187, 489) or the occupational trainee visa (402).   Overview The first list is called the SOL (Skilled Occupation List).  This document enlists …

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Australian Visas Grants Report (July 2013-June 2014)

Updates / January 8, 2023 / By

The Department of Immigration and Border Protection has released the latest Migration Trends Report covering the 2013-14 Financial Year.   Below are some interesting facts: What is the makeup of Australia’s population in June 2013? Country of birth Estimated resident population at 30 June 2013 United Kingdom 1,222,570 New Zealand 608,820 People’s Republic of China 427,590 …

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Visa Fees Increase

Updates / January 8, 2023 / By

There will be an increase on visa application charges starting on the 1s of July 2015 (beginning of the Australian Financial Tax Year).  The rate of increase is from 2.3% up to 50%.  However, the most common visas have the least increase rate. Here’s a table that shows the visa types and its corresponding visa …

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Updated English Language score requirements for 457 and 485 visas

Updates / January 8, 2023 / By

Effective today, the 18th of April 2015, the revised English language scores requirement for the following visa are: 457 visa IELTS – overall 5 (minimum 4.5 in each component) – single sitting TOEFL iBT – overall 36 (minimum 3 in each component  – single sitting PTE Academic – overall 36 (minimum 30 in each component) …

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