Additional English Language Exemptions on 457 visa
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 […]
Kiwis’ easier pathway to Australian PR
Good news! New Zealand citizens who are currently on a Special Category Visa (SCV) subclass 444 (about 60,000 to 70,000 New Zealanders in Australia), now have an easier pathway for applying for a Permanent Residency if the following can be satisfied: Arrived after the 26th of February 2001 and on or before the 19th of […]
Penalties for Work Visa Scammers Launched
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 […]
Au pairs: Now allowed to work more than 6 months per employer
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 […]
Work and Holiday Visa: China added
Good news to Chinese passport holders! You can now come to Australia for work and holiday if you meet the following criteria: are at least 18 but not yet 31 years of age at the time of application do not have a dependent child accompanying you at any time during your stay in Australia have […]
Australia Tax Office to improve tax compliance of visa holders
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 […]
Changes to the SOL and CSOL
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 […]
Australian Visas Grants Report (July 2013-June 2014)
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 […]
Visa Fees Increase
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 […]
Updated English Language score requirements for 457 and 485 visas
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) […]