News

Companies would be allowed to bring employees to Australia for up to a year without applying for 457 skilled worker visas under a migration-rule revamp being considered by the government. The Department of Immigration and Border Protection is proposing a new temporary entry visa for foreign workers that would not require the candidates to pass […]

From this 1st November 2014, the department has started accepting English language test scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-based test (TOEFL iBT) and the Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) across the Temporary Graduate, Skilled, Former Resident and Work and Holiday visa programmes. Scores from the Cambridge English: Advanced […]

Immigration Minister Scott Morrison told Parliament the Government was focusing its efforts on ensuring the virus did not spread to Australia. “The Government has strong controls for the entry of persons to Australia under our immigration program from West Africa,” Mr Morrison said. “These measures have been put in place in partnership with the Minister for Health, who leads the Government’s response.” The […]

NSW Trade and Investment has provided the following update on the October 2014 sponsorship round: As you would be aware, NSW has grown its Skilled Migration program from a limit of 600 places in 2011-12 to the current 4,000 places negotiated with the Commonwealth.  The purpose of the program is to deliver on the economic […]

The Federal Government has announced the following changes to the 457 programme:   The Government’s statement also said: “Safeguards will remain in place to ensure that the 457 visa programme is not rorted. It will continue to be a requirement that a foreign worker receives at least the same market rates and conditions that are […]

Some international students may find the course they enrolled in to study isn’t what they anticipated and would like to change their course. If this is you, it is important you do your research and are fully informed before you change courses. Moving from a university to a vocational education course Mr X was enrolled […]

The work conditions offered as part of a student visa provide an opportunity for international students to gain cultural experience during their stay in Australia, and can also help them improve their English language skills. However it is important to recognize that international students should not rely on work in Australia to pay for the costs of […]

Under the Migration Act 1958, it is against the law for an individual in Australia, who is not a registered migration agent with the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority, to provide immigration assistance. Using unregistered migration agents could leave you at risk of being given incorrect or misleading advice. Also, as you will […]

The cessation of non-contributory parent and other family visas has been disallowed and these visas can now be lodged again. All non-contributory parent visas were repealed by Immigration since 2nd June 2014. From 25 September 2014, the following visa subclasses in the Family Stream of the Migration Programme are open to new applications:   Only new […]

Applicants for a number of visas are being given more choice in English language testing. From November this year, people applying for Temporary Graduate, Skilled, Work and Holiday and Former Resident visas will be able to provide the department with a test score from the Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-based test (TOEFL […]