In Interstaff’s Q&A Video Series, our Registered Migration Agents answer your questions on how the introduction of the new Regional 494 Visa impacts businesses and skilled visa applicants. With Perth recently becoming classified as a regional city for visa purposes, we’ve had many people enquire how the new 494 Regional… Read More »
The Department of Home Affairs has confirmed less invitations will be issued to skilled migrants for a General Skilled Migration visa in 2019-20. As per our previous article, last month in April only 100 invitations were issued for a Subclass 189 Skilled Independent Visa Australia-wide – the lowest amount offered… Read More »
WA Day! We’re very lucky in Western Australia to have a public holiday dedicated to everything that makes our state a great place to live, work and explore. This Monday 3 June is WA Day and there will be plenty of family activities on – both in Perth and right… Read More »
Following the 2019 Federal Election, we now have greater certainty of Australia’s immigration policy directions over the next three-year Government term. Prime Minister, Scott Morrison will continue to lead the Australian Government and immigration policy changes that were previously announced under his direction are likely to progress. This includes a… Read More »
After winning the 2019 Federal Election, Prime Minister Scott Morrison will lead the Coalition through its third consecutive term of Government in Australia and has already selected which Ministers will form the new Cabinet. While there were some changes in ownership across Ministerial portfolios, responsibilities for immigration and related policies… Read More »
The privilege to vote and have a say in the shaping of our nation is just one of many good reasons to become an Australian Citizen. For those who are Australian citizens – whether it’s your first time voting or not – why not celebrate your freedom to vote with… Read More »
Drop In Invites For Skilled Migrants | Skilled visa applicants across Australia may face a longer wait to be invited by the Government to apply for a Subclass 189 Skilled Independent Visa, due to a reduction in the number of invites being issued. The Subclass 189 Visa is highly sought… Read More »
In the lead up to the Federal Election, debate and discussion has again been raised on how Australia should manage its skilled migration programs. Congestion busting in metropolitan areas remains a contentious issue, and the Opposition has criticised the Coalition’s population policy for failing to address high numbers of temporary… Read More »
Recent debate in the lead up to the Federal election has highlighted the issue of extremely long wait times and high fees faced by many who apply for Australia’s Parent Visas. There is significant demand to bring parents to Australia, however only 7,371 permanent Parent Visas were issued in 2017-18.… Read More »
From 17 April 2019, the Department of Home Affairs will begin accepting Sponsorship applications from Australian citizens/permanent residents and eligible New Zealand Citizens to sponsor their parent(s) to come to Australia for up to 10 years on the new Subclass 870 Temporary Parent Visa. As the visa will be capped… Read More »
The Australian Governor-General yesterday proclaimed that the Partner Migration Amendment (Family Violence and Other Measures) will commence on 17 April 2019. The changes may result in a more onerous and lengthier process to obtain a Partner Visa, and will particularly impact those lodging their application from within Australia. The legislative amendment will allow the Department of Home… Read More »
2019 Federal Budget outcomes Last night’s 2019 Federal Budget announcements confirmed Australia will continue to focus on encouraging migrants to live and work regionally, with nearly $50 million of spending to be allocated to new regional visas over the next five years. Other key take-aways for the migration program included: A 5.4%… Read More »
Employers and Subclass 482 Visa holders may be interested to know a new permanent residence option has opened up for an additional 31 occupations in the Oil and Gas, IT, Science, Professional services and Arts industries (among others) through the General Skilled Migration program. Prior to the Skilled Occupation List… Read More »
Does your business struggle to find local workers for its regional operations? Do visa processing times get in the way of your business securing the workers you need? According to the Government’s $19 million plan to tackle the uneven distribution of Australia’s population growth over the next four years, businesses… Read More »
This month, the Government announced the Accredited Sponsorship Scheme will be expanded to allow more businesses to access priority processing times of up to 5 business days for a 482 visa, compared to the current average wait of 42 business days for a 482 Visa. Currently only 900 businesses have… Read More »
Employer sponsored doctors from overseas who are intending to practice in Australia will first need approval to work in a designated area from a Rural Workforce Agency (RWA’s) before applying for their visa. Due to a new condition on the revised Skilled Occupation Lists announced on 11 March 2019, overseas… Read More »
The Government today revealed Australia’s permanent migration intake would be reduced by 30,000 people as details of the new population policy were released. Under the policy changes, Australia’s annual permanent migration intake will be set at 160,000 places for the next four years, formally reducing the number of permanent residence… Read More »
Interstaff recently attended the Australian Oil and Gas (AOG) Exhibition and Conference held on 13-15 March 2019 at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre. Each year the AOG Expo provides an opportunity for our team to network with peers in the oil and gas industry and learn more about the… Read More »
Immigration was the subject of contentious political debate in 2018 and discussions shifted from the size of Australia’s permanent migration intake to how to distribute issues of apparent overcrowding in Sydney and Melbourne. We expect many of the discussions that began in 2018 will continue this year and could result… Read More »
Businesses have long been advocating for more flexible migration laws to accommodate for labour shortages in regional areas – and it looks like the Government is listening. As part of its focus on alleviating population pressures in Sydney and Melbourne, various regional migration agreements are being fast-tracked across the country.… Read More »
A new Temporary Parent Visa option is opening for eligible Australian citizens or permanent residents to bring their parents to Australia temporarily for up to ten years. The new visa will however be capped to only 15,000 people per year. Read on to discover more and find out if you… Read More »
Every six months, the Government reviews its lists of eligible occupations for a skilled visa to ensure the migration program continues to reflect Australia’s changing labour needs. The latest revisions came into effect on 11 March 2019. No occupations were removed from the Medium to Long Term Skilled Lists, however,… Read More »
Australia is known for its world-class education system, which is part of the reason why so many people choose to raise their family here. Giving your kids a good education is so important and is an integral part of the Australian lifestyle. If you’ve chosen to base you and your… Read More »
This Australia Day long weekend, people across the country will celebrate everything that makes our nation so amazing. In Perth, there will be plenty of activities for families and friends to enjoy. Here are our top 5 ways to celebrate the Australia Day long weekend in Perth – and best… Read More »
If you are on a skilled visa or applying for one you may be interested to know that as a result of recent legislative changes, the Government can now request your Tax File Number to cross-match your financial records with your visa information and more easily identify cases of non-compliance… Read More »
The Government is cracking down on businesses who fail to meet sponsorship obligations and has introduced new laws to be able to publicly name and shame businesses that have not complied with their sponsorship and visa requirements. While most organisations strive to do the right thing when sponsoring visa holders,… Read More »
Migrating to Australia has become more complex than ever with statistics showing visa refusal statistics increased by 46% in 2017-18. As part of our 30 year anniversary special, Interstaff takes a closer look into how the growing refusal rate is impacting individuals wanting to live and work in Australia, as… Read More »
Changing Skilled Migration Landscape | We have certainly seen a number of changes to Australia’s migration landscape since Interstaff was first established in 1988 three decades ago. One of the most significant changes recently has been the replacement of the 457 Visa scheme with the Temporary Skills Shortage (TSS) Subclass… Read More »
There will be major changes to the Partner Visa process as the Government has passed legislation governing the way in which couples can apply for a Partner Visa. Find out what has changed and why, as well as how the changes impact you and your partner. Partner sponsors to… Read More »
Australia’s Immigration Minister, David Coleman is accelerating negotiations for regional migration agreements as part of the Federal Government’s plans to address labour shortages and alleviate population pressure in major cities. As a result, the Department of Home Affairs has been directed to fast track negotiations to establish Designated Area Migration… Read More »
Australia’s International Trade Agreements can determine whether employers are required to undertake Labour Market Testing for visa applicants from certain countries. Usually employers first need to have undertaken Labour Market Testing in the local labour market for suitable candidates before sponsoring a visa holder on a subclass 482/TSS visa –… Read More »
Prime Minister Scott Morrison is calling on State Premiers to prepare individual population policies for their state with an aim to reduce Australia’s permanent migration intake of 190,000 migrants per year. Australia’s permanent migration intake is historically reviewed by the Department of Home Affairs as a national figure, however as… Read More »
This week, Interstaff had the pleasure of presenting on the topic, ‘Reimagining Skilled Migration’ at the 2018 WA HR Leadership Forum. As you may know, this year’s replacement of the 457 Visa scheme with the Temporary Skills Shortage (TSS) Subclass 482 Visa and broader changes in Australia’s migration arrangements have… Read More »
Employer sponsored migration will be a key focus for Australia’s Immigration Minister, David Coleman according to his speech to the Migration Institute of Australia in October 2018. Mr Coleman stated Australia’s skilled migration policies should emphasise visa categories providing the highest economic benefits, such as employer sponsored migration and regional… Read More »
The Government has announced it will relax Working Holiday Visa program restrictions relating to age limits, areas of work, employer flexibility and length of stay to help agricultural businesses struggling with labour shortages while the Government considers creating a dedicated agricultural visa for a long-term solution. The Working Holiday Visa… Read More »
Last week, the Government announced Irish and Canadian citizens can now apply for a Working Holiday Subclass 417 Visa in Australia up to the age of 35. Prior to the change on 1 November 2018, people over the age 31 were ineligible for the program. The increased age limit therefore… Read More »
Interstaff is pleased to welcome our new Registered Migration Agent to the team, Melissa Phan (MARN: 1808239). As part of our Registered Migration Agent team, Melissa advises clients on migration solutions for businesses and individuals according to current migration legislation and manages all aspects of the visa and/or sponsorship application process… Read More »
Interstaff had a great lawn bowls night recently with WA Singapore Business Connect. Have you ever tried your hand at lawn bowls? It was a first for a few of us in the Interstaff team at the South Perth Lawn Bowls Club. Trying lawn bowls for the first time and… Read More »
One Fine Day There’s plenty of free things to see and do in Perth and they don’t have to cost you the Earth! We are lucky to have so many natural attractions to visit and with the weather beginning to heat up, we’re excited to start heading out for a… Read More »
The latest on plans for Australia’s new migrants to live in regional areas Australia’s Population and Urban Infrastructure Minister, Alan Tudge recently confirmed the Government is progressing plans to develop a new landmark population policy that will introduce visa conditions requiring overseas workers to settle outside Sydney and Melbourne for… Read More »
The WA Graduate Occupation List is now in effect, which means that apart from our world-class universities, international students now have another reason to choose to study in WA – a priority pathway to stay in Australia. The WA State Government recently introduced the Graduate Occupation List to provide eligible… Read More »
How will Australia manage its population growth? Since Scott Morrison became Prime Minister, we have been keen to see how he would begin to shape Australia’s immigration policies and population growth. It seems he is already beginning to shift debate on the size of Australia’s annual immigration intake, revealing facts… Read More »
Skilled migration data has been released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics which reveals some fun facts about the people that choose Western Australia as their home to work and live. The below skilled migration data captures a broad snapshot of permanent migrants arriving in WA between 2000 to 2016.… Read More »
A day after being announced as Australia’s new Minister for Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure, Alan Tudge has confirmed he is exploring different ways to incentivise migrants to work regionally to help ease congestion in Sydney and Melbourne. Alan Tudge attributes Australia’s population pressures to the disproportionate number of migrants… Read More »
David Coleman will be sworn in as Australia’s New Minister of Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs on 29 August 2018, after last week’s leadership spill culminated in the appointment of Scott Morrison as Australia’s new Prime Minister and a subsequent cabinet reshuffle. Scott Morrison has decided Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural… Read More »
If you are wondering how SAF Fees apply in cases where TSS Visa holders are changing sponsors, the Government has indicated employers will only be required to pay a portion of the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) Fees when engaging workers currently in Australia on a Subclass 457/482 Temporary Skills Shortage… Read More »
The WA State Government has announced a priority pathway to permanent residence will be made available for high-achieving graduates from WA universities through the introduction of a Graduate Skilled Migration List in coming months. WA University graduates with a PhD, Masters, Honours or other higher degree graduates will have access… Read More »
New legislation governing the Labour Market Testing (LMT) and advertising requirements to be undertaken before sponsoring a Temporary Skills Shortage (TSS) Subclass 482 Visa holder came into effect on Sunday. The below legislative changes apply to nominations made on or after 12 August 2018. Labour Market Testing Requirements At least two advertisements that meet the… Read More »
Further to our announcement last week, we would like to confirm the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) commenced on Sunday 12 August 2018 and is now in effect with SAF refunds available in some circumstances. Businesses are now required to pay a ‘Nomination Training Contribution Charge’ (NTCC) into the SAF for each visa holder sponsored on a: Subclass… Read More »
Changes to Australian Citizenship eligibility requirements are likely to be confirmed in coming months as amendments to the legislation have now been scheduled for review in parliamentary sittings. If the changes proposed in the Australian Citizenship Legislation Amendment Bill are passed into law, we can expect the eligibility requirements to… Read More »
Contributions into the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) Levy will be payable on all nomination applications for Subclass 482, 186 and 187 Visas from Sunday 12 August 2018. The SAF was approved by the Australian parliament in May 2018. The fund has been established to provide training for Australians in areas of need as identified by the… Read More »
This year’s Avon Descent is coming up on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 August. Head on down to the events spanning Northam, Toodyay, Belmont, Bassendean and Bayswater and see competitors from around the world tackle our white waters. There will be free entertainment, an international food festival and lots of family fun. Don’t… Read More »
Citizenship Minister Alan Tudge has indicated it should become mandatory for intending migrants to first stay in Australia on a temporary visa to allow the Government time to assess their adoption of Australian values before granting permanent residence. While this has raised controversy and debate on whether there is a… Read More »
In a speech to the Australia/UK Leadership Forum in London recently, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs Minister Alan Tudge discussed the Government’s plans to introduce an Australian values test before granting new migrants permanent residence. Why introduce an Australian values test? A significant part of the controversy is centred around whether… Read More »
Recently released statistics show the Department of Home Affairs only accepted 162,417 people on a permanent residence visa in 2017/18 in comparison to 183,608 in the previous year. The figure is well below the permanent migration planning level of 190,000 placements, and confirms several trends we have seen developing over… Read More »
The CEO of WA’s Chamber of Minerals and Energy, Mr Everingham has shown support for a Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) to address shortages in WA’s Goldfields mining region. The Shires of Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie-Boulder and the Citizenship and Multicultural Minister, Mr Alan Tudge met last month to discuss the DAMA and… Read More »
The Department of Home Affairs has announced the pass mark has increased from 60 points to 65 points to become eligible for a visa under the General Skilled Migration program. This change came into effect on 1 July. The change in the pass mark demonstrates a further narrowing of Australia’s permanent skilled migration… Read More »
Over the past few years, the Interstaff team have seen the Government become increasingly selective of the occupations that get accepted onto Australia’s skilled occupation lists and become eligible for skilled migration to Australia. In April 2017, fundamental changes were announced which split eligible occupations into two skilled occupation lists.… Read More »
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has announced the Federal Government is considering changes to ensure all permanent residence applicants, including dependent partners or family members, can meet English requirements at least at a primary school level before being granted permanent residence. The Government is considering a range of options, from mandatory… Read More »
Over the past few months, the Interstaff team have noticed the Department of Home Affairs are requiring businesses to provide more substantial levels of evidence for Subclass 400 Visas. As you may know, the Subclass 400 visa enables businesses to engage highly skilled applicants with knowledge or experience that cannot… Read More »
If you have applied for Australian Citizenship and are waiting to hear if it has been granted, you may wish to know the average Citizenship times for government processing have blown out from 12 months in March 2016 to 16 months this financial year. Interstaff looks into three reasons why.… Read More »
Find out what’s happening across the state to celebrate everything that makes Western Australia a great place to visit, work and live. What’s on: For a comprehensive guide on all the events across the State over the long weekend, visit the Celebrate WA website: Celebrate WA – Events across Perth… Read More »
Permanent Residence pathway for Retirement Visas | The Government has announced that those on Subclass 405 or 410 Retirement Visa may soon become eligible to apply for permanent residence through Australia’s Parent Visa streams. Retirement Visa holders wishing to transition to permanent residence will not have to meet some of… Read More »
Calls for more skilled visas in regional Australia and smaller cities | Rather than cutting Australia’s migration intake, think tank The Regional Australian Institute is calling for the Government to redistribute skilled migration to regional areas and smaller cities in need of a population boost – and it appears the… Read More »
Despite pressure to cut Australia’s annual permanent migration intake, the Government has confirmed the migration program ceiling will remain unchanged at 190,000 visas for 2018-2019. However, Interstaff migration agent, Sheila Woods says that unlike previous years, recent trends indicate the full quota may not be reached. Although the Government has… Read More »
SAF Levy Refunds Businesses | The 2018 Federal Budget handed down recently has revealed that employers will be able to access additional refund provisions for the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) Levy. Businesses who sponsor visa holders will be able to apply for a refund of the SAF Levy fee under… Read More »
SAF Levy Labour Market | The Senate has today passed legislation for the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) Levy after further debate on the Government’s bill. The SAF Levy is not yet operational however, and the Department of Home Affairs is yet to confirm when businesses will begin to be charged… Read More »
Are you currently sponsored by an employer on a 457 or the new Subclass 482 Visa? You may be wondering what your permanent residence options are now that the 457 visa has been replaced by the 482 visa. There are new eligibility requirements to transition to permanent residence which you… Read More »
In response to pressure from business leaders in the ICT industry, the Australian Government announced it would pilot a new visa from 1 July to provide tech businesses the ability to employ highly skilled ICT workers from overseas. ICT business leaders have widely expressed concerns of not being able to… Read More »
To permanently migrate to Australia through the General Skilled Migration program, the Department of Home Affairs advises you need a minimum of 60 points through various points-tested requirements before getting invited to apply. Migration agent from Interstaff, Sheila Woods however believes you may need to aim much higher than this… Read More »
The new Subclass 482 Visa | Changes for employers and skilled visa applicants The 457 Visa was Australia’s most commonly used employer-sponsored visa program for more than 20 years and its replacement with the 482 Visa on 18 March 2018 has resulted in significant changes to the way in which… Read More »
Debate on cutting Australia’s migration intake has continuously been discussed in the media since Former Prime Minister, Tony Abbot’s call to reduce Australia’s skilled permanent migration intake by 80,000 in February. Mr Abbott had argued that migration cuts were needed saying, “At least until infrastructure, housing stock and integration have… Read More »
Australia’s skilled migration intake is now 10,000 spots fewer due to the Government’s decision to merge a new skilled visa for New Zealanders with the existing skilled migration program without increasing the placements offered. New Zealanders who are already living and working in Australia on a Subclass 444 Visa will… Read More »
TSS Visa Implementation | The Government has today released legislation for the new TSS Visa and confirmed the new program will commence this Sunday 18 March 2018. The change will mean new applications will need to be made under the TSS Visa program rather than the 457 scheme from Monday… Read More »
If you are interested in establishing a business in Australia, there may soon be a new Business Visa option available to you. The Federal Government has proposed a new visa to enable overseas entrepreneurs and investors with innovative ideas and supporting business plans to apply for a temporary visa and… Read More »
Australian Citizenship changes continue to be a topic of interest in the media, with Peter Dutton, Minister of the Department of Home Affairs continuing efforts to win the Senate’s support for changes to citizenship laws, after the changes that were originally proposed were rejected by the Senate in October last… Read More »
Partner Visa Checks | To help ensure the safety of those on a Partner Visa, the Government proposed migration amendments that would require Partner Visa sponsors to meet police and character checks. The changes were expected to commence in 2017, however, the amendments still lie before the Senate and are… Read More »
The Government has advised on the eligibility requirements for 457 Visa holders to transition to permanent residence from March 2018, however the arrangements are still pending final Government approval. Transitioning to Permanent Residence as a 457 Visa Holder after March 2018 In line with the introduction of the TSS Temporary… Read More »
The Department of Home Affairs plans to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology and machine learning to identify dubious visa applicants and automate the visa assessment process. The Department, previously known as The Department of Immigration and Border Protection, has already begun engaging market providers to utilise AI technology as part… Read More »
Marriage Visa for Same-Sex Couples | Following Australia’s legalisation of same-sex marriage laws, same-sex couples can now apply for a Subclass 300 Prospective Marriage Visa. The Prospective Marriage Visa Option is designed for couples intending to marry in Australia and enables your partner to stay in Australia for up to… Read More »
The visa process to engage skilled Singaporean nationals will now be quicker and easier for business sponsors after amendments to the Singapore-Australia Free Trade Agreement. The amendments from 1 December 2017 effectively mean sponsors who nominate an employee who are a citizen, national or permanent resident of Singapore will not… Read More »
What do property managers, psychotherapists and real estate representatives have in common? Each of these occupations have been added to the Short Term Skilled Occupation List as eligible for a Subclass 457 Visa. The Government has completed their six-monthly review of the skilled occupation lists, with changes effective immediately from… Read More »
As you may know, if you are interested in applying for a skilled visa such as a 457 or Temporary Skills Shortage (TSS) Visa (from March 2018), your nominated occupation will need to be listed as eligible on the skilled occupation lists: Medium and Long Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL)… Read More »
As part of the 457 Visa program’s transition to the Temporary Skills Shortage (TSS) Visa in March 2018, businesses and visa holders will need to meet requirements to provide information to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) for data matching. The initiative is designed to identify non-compliance with obligations under taxation… Read More »
As you may know, the current 457 Visa program will soon be replaced by the new Temporary Skills Shortage (TSS) Visa in March 2018. Under the TSS Visa, applicants will need to meet more rigorous English language requirements and mandatory police clearances. It will also be more likely for applicants… Read More »
Interstaff will be closed over the Christmas period from 5pm Thursday 21 December and will re-open on Monday 8 January 2018. For any urgent matters, please call 08 6263 4406 to be transferred to our out-of-office mobile. We wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy… Read More »
Stay sharp with our updates on changes to skilled visas such as Subclass 457 Visas and 187 Visas over the next coming months. New Health Insurance Requirements for Subclass 457 Visa Applicants Subclass 457 visa applicants will no longer be required to provide evidence of their health insurance from 18 November 2017.… Read More »
New legislation introduced from 17 November has confirmed businesses will no longer be able to access the 187 Visa program for positions in the Perth metropolitan and surrounding areas. Since 13 March 2017, the WA Government had been declining certification requests for 187 Visas pending a decision by the Commonwealth on Perth’s exclusion from… Read More »
The Immigration Department has confirmed there will be an available pathway to transition to permanent residence for those who held a 457 visa or applied for a 457 visa when the visa changes were announced by the Government on 18 April 2017. Stay sharp with our update on transitioning to permanent… Read More »
Applicants who have provided false or misleading information on their visa applications in the past 10 years will be barred from being granted an Australian visa under new immigration legislation coming into effect on 18 November. The new rules are a significant change from current legislation, which only bars individuals… Read More »
Why become an Australian citizen? Here are 8 things Australian citizens can do that Permanent Residents can’t. Hassle-free travel in and out of Australia Although permanent residents can stay in Australia as long as they wish, they do have to apply for a Resident Return Visa every 5 years… Read More »
After months of parliamentary discussion on whether the proposed citizenship requirements will be retrospectively applied, the Government has decided that any citizenship applications received on or after 20 April 2017 will be processed under the current citizenship legislation until 1 July 2018. The decision has re-opened a window of eligibility… Read More »
Have you been an Australian permanent resident for at least one year? You could be eligible for Australian citizenship before 1 July 2018. After months of parliamentary discussion on whether the proposed citizenship requirements will be retrospectively applied, the Government has decided that any citizenship applications received on or after… Read More »
Thinking of migrating to Australia? You might be interested to know Perth has maintained its ranking as the world’s seventh most liveable city, beating Sydney at number 11. The Economist ranked Melbourne in the number one spot, with Vienna, Vancouver, Toronto and Calgary making up the rest of the top… Read More »
Thinking of migrating to Australia? You might be interested to know Perth has maintained its ranking as the world’s seventh most liveable city, beating Sydney at number 11. The Economist ranked Melbourne in the number one spot, with Vienna, Vancouver, Toronto and Calgary making up the rest of the top… Read More »
As the 457 visa program transitions to the Temporary Skills Shortage (TSS) Visa, we expect to see ongoing changes to the requirements businesses need to meet in order to nominate visa holders. Here’s what has changed recently for businesses and 457 visa holders. Changes to Market Salary Rate Requirements The… Read More »
The Australian Government is exploring the idea of making provisional visas a mandatory step before permanent residency, meaning migrants may need to spend a certain period of time in Australia before becoming eligible for permanent residence. According to the Immigration Department’s recent discussion paper, around half of Australia’s permanent visas… Read More »
Access to appropriately skilled and experienced talent has been identified by businesses across Australia as one of their biggest risk factors going forward following the 457 visa changes on 1 July 2017. MYOB Chief Executive, Tim Reed recently spoke at the Australian Financial Review Innovation Summit saying, “The number one… Read More »
It is still possible to apply for citizenship while the legislation is being confirmed by parliament. However, it is important to note that the Government has announced that a number of reforms will apply to citizenship applications received on or after 20 April 2017. While the legislation is currently under… Read More »
