(Copyright
2007)
Edition
Number 109
Monday 16th
July 2007
Hi Everyone
Welcome to
the umpteenth edition of our monthly newsletter on
Has been a
difficult few weeks to be an Aussie rules footy supporter in
Suppose we
can talk about more enjoyable topics like the Australian soccer team at the asian cup…. Actually let’s not
that is depressing also L
Lets talk
about visa changes instead J
1)
Trades assessments
As mentioned in the update sent on the 2nd of July, Tradespeople RESIDENT in the countries of United Kingdom, India, Sri Lanka, South Africa and the Philippines, if they come under the trades of a.Carpenter, Joiner, Bricklayer, General Electrician, Refrigeration and Air-conditioning mechanic, Cable Jointer or Electrical Powerline Tradesperson (Lineworker) will need to be assessed by a NEW skills assessing body after 1st September 2007.
That is they can no longer use the TRA. Instead they must use a number of other assessing bodies (most likely Vetasssess) and the cost will rise from $300 to around $2100/$2200. Also an interview and practical assessment will be added to the paper assessment.
At present this only affects those people resident in those
countries. If you are in
So if I was in one of those countries, in one of those
trades, and thinking of migrating to
(Source: Vetassess)
2) Company Sponsorship Obligations on 457 visa
Currently in parliament there are proposed changes to the sponsorship obligations of companies who sponsor workers on a subclass 457 visa. These in short will require a company to reimburse 457 visa holders for the following costs
-
Travel costs leaving
- Migration agent costs
- Recruitment agent costs
- Medical costs
- Certain other fees
This may be made retrospective as well for costs paid already by a 457 visa holder. Also the minimum salary ($41,850 per annum for non computing professionals) may rise through the period of a person’s visa and if such, the worker needs to be paid the higher amount as it rises.
There are a number of groups concerned about these changes and how long it will take to go through parliament is not certain. Updates as they happen ..
(Source: DIAC)
3) Student visa conditions
Change of
provider
Student visa condition 8206, which restricts
student visa holders from changing education provider within the first 12
months of their principal course of study, will have no effect after 1 July
2007.
Therefore, from 1 July 2007, student visa
holders will no longer be required to lodge a change of provider application
with the department.
Students intending to change education
provider should contact their current education provider for information. In
most circumstances the new education provider will be restricted from enrolling
a student if they have not completed 6 months of their main course of study for
which the visa was granted.
Course progress and attendance
Student visa condition 8202 has been amended
to reflect changes to the monitoring of attendance and course progress
requirements under Standards 10 and 11 of the National Code 2007.
Students will now be required to achieve
satisfactory attendance and course progress as determined by their Education
Provider (in some cases this can be as low as 70% rather than the previous
mandatory 80%). Any claims for medical issues etc need to be addressed with
your institution as it will be now almost impossible for DIAC to overturn a
process that leads to cancellation if your institution has already reported
you.
(Source: DIAC)
4) New
Forms from 1st July 2007
As most would know, new fees came into place for DIAC applications from 1st July 2007. However there are also were a number of changes to DIAC application forms as follows ..
Forms and booklets with essential changes — 1 July 2007
Essential change forms usually contain information about legislative changes or have been amended to reflect those changes. Existing stocks of these forms must be destroyed prior to the date of effect of the legislative changes for this cycle, that is, 1 July 2007.
Forms and booklets 26, 40, 40CH, 40SP, 47A, 47CH, 47OF, 47PA, 47PT, 47SK, 47SP, 47ST, 47SV, 48 (and other language versions of this form), 48ME, 48R (and other language versions of this form), 55, 118, 119, 124, 128, 132, 147, 148, 157A, 157G, 157N, 157P, 160, 456, 601, 852, 876, 931, 983i, 984i, 985i, 990i, 993i, 994i (and other language versions of this form), 1003, 1027i, 1066, 1085, 1119, 1121i, 1127, 1128, 1129, 1130, 1133, 1150, 1160i, 1163i, 1182, 1194, 1195, 1196, 1234i, 1235, 1238, 1263
Forms and booklets with non-essential changes — 1 July 2007
Only minor changes have been made to the text or construction of these forms. Existing stock, with acceptable earlier design dates, can continue to be used.
Forms and booklets 26MP, 47BT, 47BU, 47ES, 47P, 48S, 54, 80, 160MP, 164, 424A, 424B, 424C, 681, 785, 842, 886, 888, 913, 918, 919, 922, 927, 929, 949, 950, 956, 964i, 968i, 971i, 986i, 1000, 1002, 1005, 1006, 1008, 1010, 1022, 1023, 1024i, 1025i, 1026i, 1031, 1031A, 1040, 1044i, 1054, 1060, 1071i, 1101, 1110, 1126i, 1131, 1132, 1134, 1136, 1137, 1138, 1139, 1149, 1153 (and other language versions of this form), 1154, 1162, 1187i, 1192, 1193, 1208, 1213, 1214, 1215i, 1216, 1217, 1218, 1221, 1224, 1226, 1227, 1228i, 1229, 1230, 1243i, 1247i, 1248i, 1249, 1252, 1257, 1259i (and other language versions of this form), 1260i, 1261, 1262, 1264i, 1266, 1267 and 1268.
Iscah comment – Generally you should try and use these current forms. If you don’t and you use a version that is out of date, then in most cases the case officer will still accept the application, but may at their discretion ask you to provide a more updated copy later on.
(Source DIAC)
5) Iscah Fees
We have put up our new fees from 1st July 2007 here
http://www.iscah.com/index_files/Page701.htm
You will see that we have tried to anticipate what we will charge for the new visa categories from 1st September 2007. Although we will need to see what amount of paperwork may be required as to whether this rises or falls after DIAC release more details.
We continue to provide answers to your questions through email, phone and face to face interviews at no cost. If you do have any questions or wish to have a free assessment, please email us at migration@iscah.com
6)
Here is the latest available information from
the
As of 10
July 2007 the ASPC admin section is processing as follows:
Onshore Applications: receipting applications received on 5 July 2007 and
acknowledging applications received on 5 July 2007.
Offshore Applications: receipting applications received on 25 June 2007 and
acknowledging applications received on 23 April 2007.
Once an application has been acknowledged a case
officer is appointed to
assess each application as soon as possible, however, the ASPC receives a
large number of applications and you will not be contacted immediately.
Processing and Allocation Information - For the week of 10 July 2007
Applications lodged on or before the dates shown below have been allocated
to case officers for further processing.
ONSHORE APPLICATIONS
Paper based applications:18 January 2007 (subclass
880), 8 January 2007
(subclass 881) and 5 January 2007 (subclass 882)
E-lodged (on-line) applications: 24 January 2007 (subclass 880) and 18
January 2007 (subclass 881) and 18 January 2007 (subclass 882)
Skilled Independent Regional (Provisional) (SIR VISA)
Paper based applications: 18 January 2007
E-lodged (on-line) applications: 12 January 2007
OFFSHORE APPLICATIONS
All paper based applications for Classes BN, BQ, BR, UX and UZ (subclasses
134, 136, 137, 138, 139, 495 and 496)
Priority Applications: 4 October 2006
Non-Priority Applications: 20 September 2006
Skilled
Independent Regional (Provisional) (eSIR visa
applications)
E-lodged (on-line) applications: 13 February 2007
7) Living in
A young chap who just finished some work experience with us
wrote a short article on what it is like to live in
http://www.iscah.com/index_files/Page382.htm
Okay folks that is it for another month. Am sure next month will be quite busy given the changes coming up on 1st September 2007. Keep safe ..
Regards
Steven O’Neil
Iscah Migration