Visa and Migration Services

14/05/2024

Migration Changes in the 2024 Budget.
https://uniqturn.com.au/.../migration-changes-in-2024.../
#1466755

22/08/2017

BSMQ temporarily suspends nominations for some skilled occupations - BSMQ

Queensland has temporarily suspended visa applcations from a number of occupations until further notice.

https://migration.qld.gov.au/latest-news/bsmq-update-skills-occupations-list/

Please note that due to high numbers of applications for the occupations listed below, BSMQ has suspended any further visa applications for these occupations until further notice. 221111 Accountant (general) 261311 Analyst Programmer 263111 Computer Network & systems Engineer 262111 Database Adminis...

03/08/2017

Increased points for Pro Rata Occupations

Invitations issued on 12 July 2017 has shown that there are a lot of EOI's at 70 points or above for all pro-rata occupations. This means that anyone with a lower score needs to plan on increasing their scores or lose the opportunity to be invited to apply for the visa.
Book a free 20 minute consultation with us by calling 02 8957 8783 and plan on how to increase your points and chances of getting invited.

03/08/2017

SkillSelect

New Occupation Ceiling released for this program year.
Accountant are the biggest winner with their ceiling increased to 4785 this year.
With the decline in student visa applications- it does not come as a surprise as increasing the number of accountants is what keeps Australia the most favorite international education destination.

http://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Work/Skil -content-3

Includes information on how to apply for visitor visas, bridging visas and transit visas and what you can bring into Australia.

18/07/2017

Visa overstays: 64,000 people believed to be illegally in Australia

64,000 people believed to be in Australia without a visa.
There are many ways in which people can regularize their visa status. We advice on such matters and would be glad to help people become lawful in Australia. We are just a phone call away at 02 8957 8783.

As many as 12,000 are believed to have overstayed Australian visas for more than 20 years.

18/07/2017

The team at VMS Global is delighted to get a 457 visa approved from overseas for our client who had a previous visa refusal in Australia. We would like to thank Roopreet Kaur for her trust in us and would like to welcome her back to Australia.

04/07/2017

Home - BSMQ

Queensland reopens its State Nomination

https://migration.qld.gov.au/

Business and Skilled Migration Queensland (BSMQ) is the state nominating body for the Queensland government and a business unit of TIQ.

04/07/2017

www.migration.tas.gov.au

Upcoming Changes to Tasmania State Nomination

From 1 October 2017
Three months prior employment requirement for ‘Category 2 – Job Offer’

From 1 January 2018
For 190 Visa - 2 year study is required
For 489 - No Changes One year study requirement remains in place

Current international students who are completing their one year study in Tasmania before January 2018 will have their 12 month residence requirement waived.

https://www.migration.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/151775/Fact_Sheet.pdf

27/06/2017

Fact check: Will the new citizenship test demand a university-level standard of English?

The debate for higher English requirments for Australian citizenship continues.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/factcheck/2017-06-28/tony-burke-citizenship-test-university-level-english-dutton/8656754

Tony Burke says the Government's proposed new citizenship test will demand the same level of English required for university admission. Is that accurate?

26/06/2017

Study Materials for the English Test

Came about this website while trying to compare English tests requirement for citizenship in developed countries.

English Test for US Citizenship Test

The English test has three components:reading, writing, and speaking.

For the reading test , you must read one out of three sentences
correctly to demonstrate an ability to read in English.

For the writing test, you must write one out of three sentences correctly to demonstrate an ability to write in English.

Your ability to speak English is determined by the USCIS officer based on your answers to questions normally asked during the
naturalization interview.

Can anyone assist us in finding the right equivalent scores in IELTS/PTE for the above mentioned tests.

https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/learners/study-test/study-materials-english-test

The English test has three components: reading, writing, and speaking. Your ability to speak English will be determined by a USCIS Officer during your eligibility interview on Form N-400, Application for Naturalization. For the reading portion, you must read one out of three sentences correctly. For...

21/06/2017

Sam Dastyari

On a light Note:
Grammar Force - Ensuring all migrants have University Level English

GRAMMAR FORCE .... the Government's new agency to ensure all migrants have university level ENGLISH PROFICIENCY.

16/06/2017

Australia in India

Good news for Indian Passport holders thinking of applying visitor visa to Australia.

Indian passport holders will be able to lodge Visitor visa (subclass 600) applications online from 1 July 2017, making it easier, quicker and more convenient to get an Australian visa.
With the applicant’s permission, the online form can be completed by a third-party such as a family member here or in Australia, a travel agent, or our contracted visa application centre, VFS.
http://india.embassy.gov.au/ndli/pa1017.html

08/06/2017

Migration lawyers say 457 visa changes 'unlawful'

It would be interesting to see how things would change on 1 July 2017.

The government's restrictions on temporary skilled visas are invalid due to a decade-old court precedent, migration lawyers say.

25/05/2017

Scam warning from DFAT.
Please be careful as DIBP would contact you via email or post if they want to cancel your visa.

DFAT is aware of a phone scam involving a caller seeking confirmation of immigration status. The caller is asking people to pay money to avoid having their Australian visa cancelled.

Please be aware that DFAT would never ask for payment to be made over the phone. Do not volunteer your details or pay any money in response.

If you receive a call of this nature, we advise that you hang up immediately and report the call to police in your state or territory, and to the Department of Immigration and Border Protection using their dedicated reporting service: http://www.border.gov.au/about/contact/immigration-and-citizenship-online-report

To find out more about migration fraud and scams, visit the Department of Immigration and Border Protection website : http://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visa/migration-fraud-and-scams

Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection

23/05/2017

Citizenship, visa waiting times could increase amid Immigration staff cuts

Certain visas are going to take more time given reduction in staff numbers at immigration.

With increased automation in visa processes, it is increasingly important to use the services of a registered migration agent to get your visa processed quickly.

http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-22/citizenship,-visa-grant-waiting-times-may-increase/8548012?pfmredir=sm

People may have to wait longer for visas or Australian citizenship to be granted because of cutbacks at the Immigration Department.

16/05/2017

Leadership with the Financial Review

This is something interesting to look at. Especially on how the government will manage their own agencies.

The 457 visa changes will hit its own agencies with high-profile CEOs, such as NBN Australia's Bill Morrow and newly appointed head of the energy regulator Audrey Zibelman, caught in the crackdown.

04/05/2017

Aged parents of migrants to get access to five-year Australian visas for $10,000

New Parent Visas are going to come at a significant cost. However, it may be a better option than the current contributory parent visa.

Turnbull government expected to announce 15,000 new visa places under changes in next week’s budget

23/04/2017

Turnbull enjoys Newspoll satisfaction rise

The government sure did want this as an outcome of announcing 457 and citizenship changes last week.

http://www.skynews.com.au/news/politics/federal/2017/04/23/turnbull-enjoys-newspoll-satisfaction-rise.html

The Coalition have improved their two party preferred standings by two points, 48-52.

19/04/2017

Changes to the 457 Visa Regime – VMS Global

What are the changes in the 457 visa regime and how does it affect your current or future application

http://vmsglobal.com.au/changes-to-the-457-visa-regime/

On 18 April 2017, the Government announced that the Temporary Work (Skilled) visa (subclass 457 visa) will be abolished and replaced with the completely new Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa in March 2018. These changes will be implemented in various stages and will start from 19 April 2017 when t...

18/04/2017

Malcolm Turnbull

The Australian government is abolishing 457 visa and replacing it with a temporary visa to recruit the best and the brightest.
Contact us on 0289578783 to get a free consultation on what these new changes mean to you if you are planning to lodge a 457 visa soon.

Hear it here first - we're putting jobs first and we’re putting Australians first by abolishing 457 visas. Watch the clip below to find out what these reforms mean.

12/04/2017

TIMING IT PERFECTLY

End of last month a client came to us whose 485 visa is expiring in mid April.
We advised the client and accordinly lodged his EOI.

With only a few days left on his visa we had to work hard and diligently to get his invitation and time everything perfectly. The result of our hard work is that we got the invitation to lodge a visa just days before his visa expires.

If you are in such a situation and want to discuss your options or get an invitation quickly- contact our office at 0289578783 to book a free consultation with our Migration Agent.

10/04/2017

Budget measures to encourage migrants out of capital cities

If you are an International student and have been struggling to get a PR, a subclasss 489 visa might be one option for you.

Based on the government considering proposed budget measures, we believe soon there would be openings for 489 visas in various regional areas. The government is focusing on NSW Central Coast and Goulburn at the moment to host migrants who would otherwise settle in Sydney.

Please contact us on 02 8957 8783 to learn more on how you can be ready for the new proposed changes.

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/budget-measures-to-encourage-migrants-out-of-capital-cities-20170409-
gvgzhh.html

The Turnbull government is considering new measures to encourage more migrants to settle in regional or remote areas to relieve pressure on house prices and infrastructure in Sydney and Melbourne.

08/04/2017

www.migration.wa.gov.au

RSMS for Perth region is still suspended.
However, you can get sponsored by a business in the following regions of WA:
Gascoyne, Great Southern, Kimberley, Mid West, Peel, Pilbara, South West and Wheatbelt

http://www.migration.wa.gov.au/services/regional-sponsored-migration-scheme

06/04/2017

Lodging a 485 visa successfully – VMS Global

Thinking of lodging your 485 soon. We hope this information helps you in lodging a successful visa application.

http://vmsglobal.com.au/lodging-a-485-visa-successfully/

. Applying for the wrong stream may lead to a refusal of your visa, thereby shattering your dreams of gaining an Australian Permanent Residency.

05/04/2017

Skilled migration to add $1.6 trillion to GDP by 2050 - AMMA

Good news for international students studying skilled courses leading to PR.

As a result of this report the government may continue to keep their yearly intake of skilled migrants or even increase it.

Please contact us if you plan to study courses that lead towards gaining Australian Permanent Residency.

http://www.amma.org.au/news-media/media-center/migration-contribute-1-6-trillion-gdp-2050/

MIGRATION will play a key role in Australia’s economic development over the coming decades, adding up to $1.6 trillion to the national gross domestic product …

05/04/2017

Important changes to GSM requirements

South Australia has changed its requirement for high points nomination and has increased the points from 80 to 85 points.

Furthermore, the following occupations are no longer available for high points or chain migration nomination:

Accountant (General)
Human Resource Adviser
Marketing Specialist
Sales Representative (Medical and Pharmaceutical Products)
University Lecturer
University Tutor
Hospital Pharmacist
Retail Pharmacist

http://www.migration.sa.gov.au/news-events/news-releases/2448

From 9am (Australian Central Standard Time) on 19 April 2017 the requirement for high points nomination will increase from 80 to 85 points.

25/09/2016

Skill select 14 September 2016 round results

Skill Select update for 14 Sept 2016
Contact us on 02 8957 8783 to get an detailed assessment on your chances of getting an inivtation based on your scores.

https://www.border.gov.au/WorkinginAustralia/pages/14-september-2016-round-results.aspx

Includes information on how to apply for visitor visas, bridging visas and transit visas and what you can bring into Australia.