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 »
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 five years to ease congestion in… 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 miss… 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 »
On 22 June, the Interstaff team mascots dropped by to say hello for Take Your Dog To Work Day. Needless to say they were spoilt with plenty of tummy rubs and treats. Meet Poppy and Astra, everyone! Head on over to our Facebook page to see more of our pictures!… 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 »
 Sheila Woods Industries facing local labour shortages, such as the hospitality industry, can often find it difficult to source stable, ongoing employees – and the impacts of this can be especially difficult for small businesses. A business owner of a bakery shared these particular concerns with us, expressing how… Read More »
Sheila Woods I recently assisted a couple who were struggling to meet the character requirements for a partner visa. The applicant wanted to marry his partner and stay with her in Australia, however he did not meet the character requirements for his visa application due to a criminal conviction received… Read More »
Elain Flynn A client in the resource industry urgently required a specialist to come to Australia for repair and maintenance work for a key project. Timelines for the project were critical and delays in the person arriving to Australia would have compromised on-site health and safety requirements and cause the… Read More »
Sheila Woods | Registered Migration Agent | Over 10 years experience in visa appeals A couple came to see us very distressed following their partner visa being refused by the Department of Home Affairs. The husband, who was the visa applicant, had a period of 21 days to leave… 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 »
How does this impact your Australian visa, sponsored workers or travel?
