August - News, Views and Clues from Migration Plus
An interesting month for Australia following the elections with no clear government mandate at this stage. It could be that a few independents hold the balance of power.
857 - Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme Visas - Changing jobs!
We had a case come to us this week of an 857 holder who had left his employer after about 12 months without notifying DIAC or seeking a waiver of the two year work requirement on this visa. A Notice of Intention to Cancel has been issued by DIAC. RSMS holders be aware that you have agreed to work for the nominating business for two years as a condition of your visa. Whether it is mentioned on your visa label or not is not relevant. If you cease working for your sponsor, or leave within the two years, or if you never started working for your sponsor, you could be at risk of visa cancellation!
Subclass 457 visa threshold indexed to maintain wage growth
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship has changed the salary thresholds that apply to the subclass 457 visa program, maintaining the wage growth of temporary skilled workers. The temporary skilled migration income threshold (TSMIT) will be indexed by five per cent for all new nominations, in line with the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) report on average weekly earnings. This change took effect in July and has been mentioned in previous newsletters.
More information can be found at : http://www.newsroom.immi.gov.au/media_releases/821
Changes to the citizenship residence requirement on 1 July 2010
The general residence requirement is one of the eligibility criteria you must meet to apply for Australian citizenship. The residence requirement is specified in the Australian Citizenship Act 2007.
From 1 July 2010 all citizenship applicants will need to meet this residence requirement at the time they apply for Australian citizenship.
· You must have been living in Australia on a valid Australian visa for 4 years immediately before applying, including 1 year as a permanent resident, and
· You must not have been absent from Australia for more than 1 year during the 4 year period, including no more than 90 days in the year immediately before applying.
More information can be found a t: http://www.citizenship.gov.au/learn/law-and-policy/legis_changes/res_req_changes/
Australian citizenship test resource book
Everything you need to know to help you pass the citizenship test is contained in the free test resource book Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond. The book is currently being translated into 37 community languages. DIAC expects to upload the translations to the citizenship website progressively in 2010.
More information can be found a t: http://www.citizenship.gov.au/learn/cit_test/test_resource_book/
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Redistribution of ENS/RSMS cases - Waiting on your RSMS? - this is what is happening! |
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The Director of Program Delivery, Employer Nomination and Regional Skilled Migration Schemes (ENS/RSMS), has forwarded advice that, because of the very large caseload at the Parramatta Office, the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) will be moving cases involving 1700 people to Perth and Melbourne. These cases will be randomly selected from across the caseload. When the cases are allocated to a case officer in Melbourne or Perth, he or she will write to advise you. Delays are expected for RSMS applications, it seems particularly those lodged between December 2009 and March 2010! |
Local Newspaper Report - Cairns
DIAC has moved to cancel visa of 5 taxi drivers on student visas working more than 20 hours per week, which is a breach of their visa conditions. If you have a visa make sure you are aware of the both the expiry date and any conditions, usually designated by four numbers on the visa label - breach of conditions can lead to cancellation and possible bans from re-applying to re-enter Australia.
DIAC has little sympathy for the impact of the GFC - Global Financial Crisis
DIAC is showing little sympathy to businesses impacted by the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) and the downturn in global tourism in 2009. DIAC is acting to refuse nominations for businesses that have incurred a loss over this period "deeming them not to have the financial capacity to support a sponsored employee". Of course the impact of the GFC is behind us and this is a typical case of "driving whilst only looking in the rear view mirror". This has impacted businesses despite the fact that their 2010 results were markedly improved and in profit, nor have the cash resources of the business owners been taken into account. This is a case of DIAC dictating to business owners how they should run their businesses and making assumptions about what they do with their profits or indeed their separate cash and asset reserves. Are the Case Officers suitably qualified to make these decisions? Is this a case of extreme government interference in business? I can only leave you to be the judge!
Quotes:
"Good timber does not grow with ease; the stronger the wind, the stronger the trees", J Willard Marriott
"A happy person is not a person in a certain set of circumstances, but rather a person with a certain set of attitudes"' Hugh Downs - and we see this as we travel and find that the "have nots" are often happier than those that have almost whatever material thing they want!
"Nothing can stop the (wo)man with the right mental attitude from achieving their goal; nothing on earth can help the (wo) man with the wrong mental attitude" W W Ziege
"Whether you think that you can or you can't, you are usually right", Henry Ford
Best wishes until the next month and let's hope Australia gets the "best" government!!
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Chris Dr Christopher R White DBA, MBA, B.Bus, ALGA CA, FCPA,CFP, JP Migration Plus Network Pty Ltd : ABN 45136723987 Education Agent Counsellor F006 Level 15, Cairns Corporate Tower, 15 Lake Street, Cairns Qld 4870 Australia |
Communications:
Telephone: 07 4041 2620 Fax: 07 4041 5011 Email: visa@migrationplus.com.au
Post: PO Box 1477 Cairns Qld 4870 Australia Skype: vzn6971 |
Helping YOU, Helping OTHERS
Migration Plus begin_of_the_skype_highlighting end_of_the_skype_highlighting adds value to the community in which it works. At least 5% of our profit goes towards our charitable fund Step Up and Reach Out which assists selected young people from around the world who choose to improve their position in life through education and learning. Particular emphasis is given to those at potential risk and those who will assist other young people in a variety of ways eg: teaching and mentoring, and thereby improve their lives and that of others. Assistance is given to young people who choose to step up and reach out in return for a commitment that they will help others in some way in the future. This accords with our philosophy of putting a little back to the global community in an outreach of commitment. Our partners and clients are of course invited to contribute to this gift deductible fund.
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Helping You, Helping OTHERS
Migration Plus adds value to the community in which it works. At least 5% of our profit goes towards our charitable fund Step Up and Reach Out which assists selected young people from around the world who choose to improve their position in life through education and learning. Particular emphasis is given to those at potential risk and those who will assist other young people in a variety of ways eg: teaching and mentoring, and thereby improve their lives and that of others. Assistance is given to young people who choose to step up and reach out in return for a commitment that they will help others in some way in the future. This accords with our philosophy of putting a little back to the global community in an outreach of commitment. Our partners and clients are of course invited to contribute to this gift deductible fund.
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