On 13 March 2017, the Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) published a list of processing times for various visa types and citizenship application programs. According to the DIBP, the recent move is part of the government’s goal of enhancing customer service by regularly updating client information and making processing arrangements faster and…
DetailsPrime Minister Malcolm Turnbull just announced earlier today that the Australian government has decided to abolish the 457 visa route. This specific visa type will be replaced with a temporary visa with stricter requirements, including longer work experience, higher English proficiency score and mandatory penal clearance certificates to be provided. “We are putting jobs first,…
DetailsThe Federal Government of Australia has adopted a new stance on eligibility for Australian citizenship. In a statement released by the Australian government on 20 April 2017, a sweeping redraft of Australian citizenship laws is underway. For Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, new arrivals in the country must embrace Australian values and prove their commitment to…
DetailsAn increase in the fees of the Australian Migration Review Tribunal and Refugee Review Tribunal will take place on 1 July 2015 as part of the new reorganization under the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT). It will be known as the Migration and Refugee Division of the AAT. The fee payable when lodging an application with the…
DetailsAustralian Citizenship Act – Person of good character Section 21(3) (f) of the Australian Citizenship Act requires applicants for Australian citizenship by conferral to be of good character but many applicants are surprised when their applications are refused on character grounds . If the above scenario relates to you, or you received a letter from…
DetailsStandard Business Sponsor – Training obligations (457 Visa) The Procedures Advice Manual Says: 100 Requirements Sponsors are required to meet the training benchmarks as specified by legislative instrument if, during all or part of the twelve month period commencing on the day the person is approved as a standard business sponsor, or their approval as…
DetailsWhat happens if a nomination and application for a Subclass 457 visa (Australian work Visa) are lodged at the same time and the nomination is refused? The Procedures Advice Manual says: 101 Sponsorship/nomination refused/withdrawn If the associated nomination application has been refused, the visa applicant would not meet 457.223(4) (a). Form 1066 (Internet) asks applicants…
DetailsA large number of Australian Immigration Departmental fees will increase on 1 July 2015. There will be large numbers of visa applications lodged prior to the deadline which will lead to system outages. The Department has also advised that there will be planned system outages on 26 and 27 June 2015. http://www.immi.gov.au/pub-res/Documents/budget/VAC-increases-fact-sheet.pdf For more details…
DetailsThe Australian Minister has announced a crackdown on partner visa sponsors who tell one story to the Department and a different story to Centrelink about their status: The Procedures Advice Manual shows that declaring your relationship to Australian government bodies has always been a factor taken into account in assessing partner visa applications. For regulation…
DetailsChanges in temporary Skilled visas (Subclass 457) This message is to notify that the Australian Government has made changes to the Temporary Skilled (Subclass 457) visas. These changes action the recommendations in the 457 visa Integrity Review. Assistant Minister Cash announced the Australian Government Response to the 457 visa Integrity Review on 18 March 2015.…
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