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 »
Businesses and Unions Defend Skilled Migration | Businesses and unions don’t always see eye to eye – but recently businesses and unions joined forces to release a policy document urging the Federal Government to maintain levels of permanent migration for the economic benefit of Australia. The signatories included the Australian… 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 You may be wondering what your permanent residence options are now that the 457 visa has been replaced by the 482 visa.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 »
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 »
