(Copyright
2007)
Edition
Number 110
Monday 20th
August 2007
Hiya folks
Welcome to
our latest update on news about
This is
often an update on the fortunes of my favourite Australian rules football team,
(Fremantle Dockers) who have been
playing catch up all season after losing 3 close ones at the start. We have had
a few useful wins the last few weeks including yet another win against our
local rivals 2 weeks ago, however it looks like we will be left dreaming the
world turning purple rather than it being a reality in the finals this season L
On to less
depressing matters, this months topics ..
1)
Reminder of 1st
September deadline
2) Potential new questions
for migrants
3) Expansion of MODL
4. New fee for Australian
Federal Police Clearances
5) Work restrictions on a
Business Visitor visa
6)
7) Migration Program number
for year to June 2007
8)
9) Position available in
1)
Reminder of 1st September deadline
A reminder
that the new points test comes in on 1st September. Applications
lodged from this date onwards will come under the new rules which are detailed
here www.iscah.com/index_files/Page849.htm
Also if
you are a tradesperson seeking to have your skills assessed, take note of the
change below ..
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.
2) Potential new questions for migrants
A recent media article detailed potential changes to the migration requirements in the short future …
Migrants seeking to live permanently in
Mr Andrews told an audience in
Addressing the Sydney Institute, he also detailed the Howard government's work
to roll out new citizenship test and values statement requirements for new
migrants, from later this year.
'In addition to the citizenship test and the values statement, the government
has decided to put greater emphasis on the capacity of potential migrants to
integrate into our community,' Mr Andrews said.
'The (nation's) Migration Regulations already make provision for assessing the
capacity of visa applicants to settle in
The new focus includes quizzing migrants over their ability to cope with
problems associated with resettlement, their capacity to 'integrate into
Australian society' and, where families are involved, whether all members are
'cohesive and united' in the decision to move to
'Factors taken into account in making an assessment include an applicant's
adaptability and resourcefulness, their knowledge of Australia and their
expectations about living in Australia, their attitude towards learning English
and their English language skills,' Mr Andrews said.
He said migrants seeking partner, child or temporary skilled worker visas would
be exempt from the changes. Mr Andrews said the new citizenship test
requirement for all migrants aged 18-60 would be in place in September.
New migrants would also be required to sign a values statement, in which they
pledge to obey the law, from October. Mr Andrews said the 'central principle'
of both the test and the values statement was for migrants to demonstrate a
'commitment to
'This way of life is influenced by a history that includes the Judeo Christian
beliefs and traditions brought by British settlers,' he said.
Mr Andrews said
'The contribution that migrants have made to
(Source: The Age newspaper
3) Expansion of MODL
Applicants for skilled migrant visas can gain extra points if their occupation is listed on the Migration Occupation in Demand List (MODL). This list is reviewed usually twice a year and the latest update has seen the addition of 10 new occupations as follows ..
FOREIGN
architects, locksmiths and aircraft engineers will find it easier to get work
in
Migrants with
skills in occupations considered to be in demand, such as those with labour
shortages, have a better chance of being accepted by the immigration department
for skilled work in
Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews and Employment Minister Joe Hockey today
announced 10 additions to the Migrant Occupations in Demand List.
These were architects, avionic and mechanical aircraft maintenance engineers,
quantity surveyors, external auditors, computing professionals, locksmiths,
painter-decorators, furniture finishers and optical mechanics.
Mr Hockey said the inclusion of architects and quantity surveyors on the list
would be particularly welcomed by the resources and construction industry.
The addition of aviation engineers would help
Foreigners who have experience in occupations on the list get extra points when
applying for skilled migration visas, improving their chances of being accepted
into
http://www.minister.immi.gov.au/media/media-releases/2007/_pdf/MODL-August-2007.pdf
(Source: Perthnow website)
4. New fee for Australian Federal Police
Clearances
The fee for this AFP clearance has been reduced from $36 to the hugely convenient fee of $32.73 As a result applications lodged with the old (higher) fee may see processing continue but with the promise of a massive refund of $3.27 each.
(source: AFP)
5) Work restrictions on a Business Visitor visa
Many people think that they can use a business visitor visa
to come to
Revised Policy -
Condition 8112
Condition 8112 states that: 'The
holder must not engage in work in
As you may already be aware, the
Department of Immigration and Citizenship recently revised its policy on Condition
8112. The revised policy document has now been finalised and will be released
on LEGEND on 19 August 2007.
The revised policy applies equally
to the following visa subclasses which all have a mandatory 8112 condition
imposed:
These visas allow business people
to:
They are not intended to be work visas and, as such, do not involve the
same obligations on employers through sponsorship that is backed by monitoring
arrangements designed to offer protection from exploitation to visa holders and
protect the interests of Australian workers.
The Business (Long Stay) visa
(subclass 457) visa is considered the most appropriate visa for people who are
primarily travelling to Australia to undertake skilled work, as it contains a
range of safeguards backed by monitoring arrangements that are designed to
ensure that sponsors are aware of their obligations and abide by them when
bringing overseas skilled workers to Australia.
The revised Condition 8112 policy
aims to ensure that the Department's interpretation of Condition 8112 is
consistent with the original intention behind the subclass 456 visa. Work will
therefore still only be allowed in very limited circumstances. Nevertheless,
the revised policy aims to provide greater clarity as to the type of limited
work that may be allowed.
Under the revised policy, work may
be allowed if the employment is one of the following:
The revised PAM document provides
examples of activities that are likely to meet the above provisions.
Short stay business visitor visas
are still not appropriate for:
Please
note: The above change in policy does
not affect those coming to undertake visitor-related business activities (e.g.
attend meetings/conferences).
Please be aware that subclass 456
and 459 applicants intending to work in Australia and/or their employers may,
however, be requested to provide additional evidence that the activities they
propose to undertake will not have any adverse consequences for the employment
or training opportunities, or conditions of employment, for Australian citizens
or permanent residents (see reg. 456.212 and 459.212).
(Source: DIAC)
The important point here is that for ASCO groups 1-4, which is nearly all professional, management and trade positions, work will be allowed for up to 21 days.
6)
As of 17 August 2007 the ASPC admin section is processing as
follows:
Onshore Applications: receipting applications received on 03 August 2007
and acknowledging applications received on 03 August 2007.
Offshore Applications: receipting applications received on 12 July 2007 and
acknowledging applications received on 24 May 2007.
Applicants and representatives who have not authorised e-mail communication
will not receive separate advice that the ASPC has received and receipted
an application and will receive the standard acknowledgement letter and
receipt details in due course.
Please note that any delay in acknowledging an application does not
affect
the date on which a valid application is recorded as having been received
and does not delay processing of the application.
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 21 August 2007
Applications lodged on or before the dates shown below have been allocated
to case officers for further processing.
ONSHORE APPLICATIONS
Student/Graduate
Paper based applications: 5 February 2007 (subclass 880), 22
January 2007
(subclass 881) and 29 January 2007 (subclass 882)
E-lodged (on-line) applications: 31 March 2007 (subclass 880) and 5
February 2007 (subclass 881) and 5 February 2007 (subclass 882)
Skilled Independent Regional (Provisional) (SIR VISA)
Paper based applications: 31 January 2007
E-lodged (on-line) applications: 19 January 2007
New Zealand
All applications: 27 March 2007 (all subclasses)
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: 15 October 2006
Non-Priority Applications: 30 September 2006
Skilled Independent Regional (Provisional) (eSIR visa applications)
E-lodged (on-line) applications: 15 March 2007
7) Migration Program number for year to June
2007
The 2006-07 Migration Programme composition will strengthen
A total of 148,200 permanent visas were granted for the programme 2006-07 year.
The Howard Government believes that people wishing to live
in
A total of 97,920 permanent skilled visas were granted for the year, this represents 66 per cent of the total migration programme.
This year the average age of skilled stream entrants is 31 years.The top occupation for skilled stream entrants is accountancy (10,688), followed by computing professionals (4,044) and registered nurses (2,088). Other top professions included mechanical engineers, civil engineers, marketing specialists and general managers.
The top five countries of origin for skilled stream entrants
were:
The Coalition Government understands the major economic and social challenges of an increasing demand on our economy for skilled workers at a time when our workforce is retiring in greater numbers due to the aging of the population.
The reality is we face a shortage of workers in
(Source: DIAC)
8)
As some of
you may know I am heavily interested in a local cricket competition in
Generally
for an afternoons work you earn around $90 and is easy money if you are
interested in cricket. If you want to know more please get in tough with Phil
Mclean at fabphil@iinet.net.au or on
9459 3599. Tell him Steve sent you.
9)
Position available in
If any of
you are interested in the following position, please email Keith direct at
Hello,
We are a
telecommunications company in rural
We
currently have 1 x ex-British Telecom tech, and 2 more awaiting visa’s but need
staff urgently. If you have any prospects, please contact us.
Regards,
Keith Green
Okay
folks, hope there is something of interest there this month. Next newsletter is
due on Monday 17th September. Keep well.
Regards
Steven
O’Neil
Iscah
Migration