Tag Archive
Australia: Visa Application Charges
Australian Visa Application Charges (VACs) are set to increase on July 1, 2010. The new VACs will apply to all applications received by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship on or after that date, including those for many employer-sponsored applications. The new fees for many of the employment-related visa categories are provided in the... »
Australia: 2010 Federal Budget Shifts Allocation of Visas
In a reallocation of the permanent migration visa quota, the Australian government will soon increase the number of permanent migration visas for two employment-based categories, the Employer Sponsored and Business Skills Programs, and decrease the number of visas in the General Skilled and Family Stream immigration programs. The new allocation will be in effect... »
Australia: Temporary Suspension of General Skilled Migration Applications
Effective May 8, 2010, foreign nationals will be temporarily unable to apply for the following offshore General Skilled Migration (GSM) visa categories: Subclass 175 (Skilled - Independent), Subclass 176 (Skilled - Sponsored) and Subclass 475 (Skilled - Regional Sponsored). Australian authorities will not resume accepting applications for these categories until anticipated changes to the... »
Australia: Visa Categories
Effective March 2010, Subclass 457 and other specialist visa applicants are subject to a relaxed health insurance evidence requirement, but their employers must meet other tightened requirements, the Australian government has clarified. The government has also clarified its rules on when certain Subclass 457 workers can change occupations or employers, and has introduced new... »
Australia: Several Changes to General Skilled Migration Program
On February 8, 2010, Australian authorities announced wide-ranging changes to the General Skilled Migration (GSM) program, one of the country’s points-based employment-based permanent residence programs. The changes took effect immediately. Foreign nationals who submitted permanent residence applications between September 1, 2007 and February 8, 2010 will not be affected by the changes. Foreign nationals considering... »
Australia: Current 457 Visa Holders to Be Subject to Market Salary Rates; New Salary Safety Nets Introduced for ICT Occupations
By January 1, 2010, employers must begin to pay certain Subclass 457 visa holders a Market Salary Rate instead of the current Minimum Salary Levels. The new rule applies to Subclass 457 visa holders last nominated before September 14, 2009. In addition to paying a Market Salary Rate, employers must ensure that the base... »
Australia: Additional Reforms for Subclass 457 Visas Taking Effect September 14, 2009
Additional changes to Australia’s subclass 457 temporary worker program will take effect on September 14, including an elimination of the minimum validity period for subclass 457 visas. »