The Department has announced a 50% increase to application fees for partner visa subclasses from 1 January 2015.PARTNER VISA CHARGES* Provisional and permanent partner visas - currently $3085 increased to $4627.50* Prospective marriage visa - currently $3085 increased to $4627.50* Temporary and permanent partner visas - currently $4575 increased $6865.50

Skill Select Invitations to apply to migrate – Round Nov 2014 Results​​​​ The automated invitation round for Skill Select in Nov 2014 was successfully completed. The table below lists the number of invitations issued…

490 primary SIV visas have been granted as at 31 Octoer according to official data from the Department of Immigration. The Assistant Minister for Immigration announced on 17 Nov that the 500th visa had been granted. The monthly rate of approvals is now 54, which if annualised, equates to 648 approvals per year.State based distribution data is below…

According to the new free trade agreements signed on 17 Nov 2014 between China and Australia, Australia will provide guaranteed access to Chinese citizens for the following categories:Intra-corporate transferees and independent executives for up to four years (including executives, managers and specialists);Contractual service suppliers for up to four years…

This Instrument specifies that holders of Peoples Republic of China passports may make online applications through agents who are party to a DIBP agreement to use an internet facility to lodge offshore visitor visa applications.This Instrument commences on 23 November 2014.

Todays Australian Financial Review report that accountants have been removed from the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) is incorrect.The Department of Industry, who are responsible for compiling the list, have confirmed they are only just starting their review of the list and the outcomes will not be known until well into next year.The Department of Industry…

Skill Select Invitations to apply to migrate – Round Oct 2014 Results The automated invitation round for Skill Select in Oct 2014 was successfully completed. The table below lists the number of invitations issued…

According to Migration Regulations and Citizenship Regulations amendments, it allows student visa applicants enrolled in Advanced Diploma courses with an approved education provider to access streamlined visa processing and extend this SVP to the Vocational Education and Training sector.

From 2015, the Government has decided that all 457 Visa holders will need to contribute the cost of educating their children in public schools. The fee is an annual contribution of $4,000 per family. Tuition fee of $4,,000 per annum will apply for the first child attending a public school. There will be no fee payable for second or subsequent children from…

The second round of applications for NSW State sponsorship for Subclass 190 visas will open on 22 October 2014 at 10 am. NSW Trade and Investment has temporarily suspended some occupations for this round, in an effort to ensure a more equitable spread of occupations.The suspended occupations are…

The Government today announced important changes to the Significant Investor Visa and creation of a Premium Investor visa.The newPremium Investor Visa (PIV) will require an investment of $15 million, nomination by Austrade and has no residency requirements. PIV holders will be eligible for permanent residency after holding the complying investment for…

Skill Select Invitations to apply to migrate – Round Sep 2014 Results The automated invitation round for Skill Select in Sep 2014 was successfully completed. The table below lists the number of invitations issued…

Great opportunities are opened for Liaison Officers on a casual basisJoin a leading team:AEMS - an established Education and Migration Sergices Provider, serve as a platform for you to enhance your skills and creating a pathway to your bright future.Heres what you will be doing:You will be responsible for supporting Education division of AEMS in communicatio…

At a National Press Club lunch today, the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, the Hon Scott Morrison, has discussed the Government’s response to the just released report by the panel conducting the Independent Review into Integrity in the Subclass 457 programme.The review report, Robust New Foundations: A Streamlined, Transparent and Responsive…

Australian Minister for Immigration, Mr Scott Morrison has today announced that the Australian Government will ban the use of loan schemes attached to the Significant Investor Visa (“SIV”). This means that an SIV investor will be forbidden from encumbering their complying investment or using it as security for a loan as the Australian Government…

Skill Select Invitations to apply to migrate – Round Aug 2014 Results The automated invitation round for Skill Select in Aug 2014 was successfully completed. The table below lists the number of invitations issued…

Although there has been a plunge in the demand for sc457 visa workers with grants down by 25% from last year, there remain some 108,870 people with 457 visas in Australia as of June 30 this year, up slightly on the same time last year, according to a new Immigration Department report.A report in the Herald Sun estimates that at least one million such…

“I encourage young people from across China and NSW to get involved in this exciting new initiative,” Mr Baird said.“A new initiative will bring together 100 young innovators from China and match them with 100 bright young minds from Australia for a five-day innovation workshop as part of CAMP,” he said.“This initiative reflects the essence behind the…

Senator Hanson-Young will move a disallowance motion against the Migration Amendment (Repeal of Certain Visa Classes) Regulation 2014, as contained in which ceased the non contributory parent and aged parent, aged dependent relative, remaining relative and carer visa subclasses on 24 September 2014.IF the disallowance motion is successful, there…

The NSW Government has announced, in Australia today, changes to streamline the Significant Investor Visa (SIV) requirements.From 1 September 2014 visa holders are no longer required to hold $1.5 million of their $5 million investment in NSW Waratah Bonds. Applicants will still be required to invest the full $5 million in approved complying investments…

From 22 August 2014，the policy on the withdrawal of 457 visa applications after refusal of the sponsorship or nomination application has been changed.When applying for a 457 visa, applicants are asked if they wish their visa application to be withdrawn if the sponsorship or nomination is refused. It the applicant indicates they do want the visa…

SkillSelect Invitations to apply to migrate – Round July 2014 Results The automated invitation round for SkillSelect in July 2014 was successfully completed. The table below lists the number of invitations issued…

The ACT Occupation List – August 2014 has now been released.The Guidelines for ACT nomination of a 190 visa have also been updated with three major changes:The EOI must now be lodged before you apply for ACT nomination; and the record of EOI response attached to the application.The ACT must be selected as the preferred location.Canberra residents are now…

DIBP today provided comparative information on past GSM programs and the current 2014-15 program at the MIA WA State Conference. The presentation included the following:The top five countries of origin for GSM applicants for this program year so far are: India, China, Pakistan, the UK and the Philippines;The top 5 skilled occupation for this…

NSW Trade and Investment have provided an update on yesterdays Subclass 190 nomination technical issues. The initial 1000 available nomination places were filled within the first hour and a half of the online system opening. As the high level of traffic was causing the system to crash, the link to the application form was removed once the…

The current Onshore Medical Services Contract between the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) and the current service provider Medibank Health Solutions (MHS) will expire on 25 July.From 28 July the provision of visa medical examinations and assessments to clients in Australia will commence with Bupa Medical Visa Services. As a result…

The Subclass 186 and 187 policy relating to start-up businesses has changed from 1 July 2014.This section has been removed from the latest policy:Under policy, the nominator must demonstrate that their business has been actively operating for a period of at least 6 months before lodging a nomination. If the business has not operated for a period…

Immigration SA has updated their State Nominated Occupation List (SNOL) and related policies as at 1 July 2014.These include:Adding further occupations to their SNOLSimplifying the state nomination process, including receiving an invitation within 2 business days if you are selected for state nomination.State nomination places will now be calculated…

NSW Skilled Nominated Migration to be Reopen in Mid-JulyNSW is pleased to announce that applications for the 2014/15 Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) program will soon reopen. Details on eligibility requirements and the application process will be published in mid-July 2014.NSW will introduce a number of new initiatives in 2014/15 which are designed…

Australia and China will create an investment cooperation framework to identify key areas and projects to improve the countries’ investment relationship, Treasurer Joe Hockey and Trade Minister Andrew Robb announced in Beijing on Tuesday.And demand for new projects in Northern Australia was a particular area that “created a lot of interest” in discussions…

DIBP has determined the following number of visas in the following visa classes will be granted for the 2014/15 financial year:A maximum number of 1550 will be granted for:Parent (Migrant) (Class AX) visas; andAged Parent (Residence) (Class BP) visas.These figures include grants to New Zealand citizens that are not included in the Migration Program…

From 1 July 2014, specifies credit card surcharges will be imposed on the following fees and charges:nomination fees or chargessponsorship fees or chargesvisa evidence charges or feesvisa application charges or fees These Instruments do not relate to the current surcharges levied on sponsorship and nomination applications until 1 July 2014, which the…