Engineers Australia’s Migration Services fees will increase on 1 September 2019. A new price table will be effective from 1 September 2019.
The Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs’ webpage displays the following message: Thursday, 30 May 2019 Statement on appointment as Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs. It was an honour to be sworn in yesterday by the Governor General as Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs. Australia’s story is one of immigration. We welcome people to this country based on what they can contribute – regardless of race, religion, or cultural background. We celebrate the success of migrants from all corners of the globe. Migrant success stories define our nation. The small business person who takes a chance, works hard, and employs dozens of Australians. The professional who uses their skills to help grow our economy. The religious leader who provides spiritual guidance to their community. The married couple who make huge sacrifices so that their kids can have opportunities that were not available to them. These are the stories of Australia – in every town and suburb. Our Government will continue to run an orderly, non-discriminatory immigration programme that is focused squarely on our national interests. We will maintain a strong emphasis on the economic benefits of migration, filling gaps in skilled employment to help grow the economy. We will continue to progress initiatives that better match our immigration programmes to the differing needs across our regions. We will implement our reduced cap on permanent migration to take pressure off our cities, while offering more opportunities for skilled migration in regional Australia. We will continue to run a significant humanitarian programme, and ensure that it is always managed in Australia’s national interest. We will manage our temporary migration programmes to maximise their job-creating benefits for Australians. To be an Australian citizen is an immense privilege. In our citizenship activities, we will continue to emphasise the rights – and obligations – that come with being an Australian. We will honour the heritage of our citizenship and ensure that the next generation of citizens are fully cognisant of what it means to be an Australia. I am pleased to take on the additional responsibility of Minister for Migrant Services. These services are about assisting new migrants to become fully integrated into Australian society. We will back migrants who want to work hard, play by the rules and contribute to the growth of our nation. The key outcome we will be focused on in Migrant Services is employment. In integrating into Australian life, there is nothing more important than getting a job. Our multicultural society is one of our greatest strengths as a nation. We will build on it. We will work with community leaders to increase social cohesion, and protect our multicultural heritage. We are the most successful migrant nation in the world, and embedded in that success is our respect for the diverse cultural heritage of Australians. I look forward to progressing on these initiatives as part of the Morrison Government.
Mckkrs strongly urge individuals seeking positive migration outcomes to employ the services of a reputable and established Australian migration agent. We can provide advice on all aspects of the migration process. The Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority can assist in providing advice on migration agent compliance and registration. At least 50 immigrants paid a south-east Queensland man more than $100,000 in many cases for fake companies to sponsor them in their attempts to gain skilled work visas. Raids on two homes earlier this month in Logan, south of Brisbane, allegedly uncovered evidence, including visa application documents and electronic devices, supporting the allegations. A man was expected to front Brisbane Magistrate’s Court on June 7 on seven charges of submitting false information to the Department of Home Affairs following the joint Australian Border Force and Australia Federal Police operation. It will be alleged at least 50 potential applicants were charged significant amounts, in many cases well over $100,000, in exchange for visa sponsorship. It will also be alleged the man engaged with complicit Registered Migration Agents to lodge applications with the DHA, sponsoring individuals for positions in businesses that did not exist. ABF investigations commander Graeme Grosse said the investigation launched in 2017. “The ABF has been closely investigating this matter for some time. We believe that one individual has been arranging the submission of false visa nominations and applications for various skilled visas sub-classes,” he said. “The ABF is alert to attempts to circumvent the integrity of Australia’s migration and visa system. We investigate all allegations of visa fraud, and actively monitor the visa grant process in order to detect improper conduct. “We will not tolerate attempts to engage in fraudulent activity, and the Australian community can feel confident that we are doing everything possible to bring the full force of the law against anyone engaging in this type of unlawful activity and to maintain the integrity of the visa system.” Two homes in Daisy Hill and Logan Village were raided on May 15 and the seized evidence was being closely examined ahead of more potential charges against other people. The offence was punishable by a two-year prison sentence and/or a fine of $75,600 per charge. If more serious charges were laid, they could attract up to 10 years in prison per offence. Source: https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/migrants-paid-100-000-for-fake-companies-to-support-their-visa-applications-20190529-p51s7s.html
Young Australians will more easily be able to holiday, work and study in Greece with reciprocal #Work and Holiday arrangements set to commence on 1 July 2019. Five hundred places each will be available annually for young Australians and Greeks to visit each other’s country for up to twelve months. While on their first visa, Greek nationals may undertake specified work in regional areas to become eligible for a second #Work and Holiday visa and extend their stay. The option of a third year stay will also be available to them if they undertake six months of regional work in their second year in Australia. The Work and Holiday visa requires first-time Greek applicants to hold or be studying towards tertiary qualifications and to have a functional level of English. The commencement of the arrangement with Greece will take the number of countries participating in the #Working Holiday Maker program to 43.
Australia has topped the list as the number one destination worldwide for migrating millionaires. According to the latest Global Wealth Migration Review from market research consultancy New World Wealth, 12,000 #Special Category Migrants, or those classed as High-Net Wealth Individuals (HNWIs) made their way to Australian shores in 2018 alone. It is the fourth consecutive year that Australia has ranked first on the global list, adding more than 35,000 wealthy new residents over that time. Australia landed ahead of the US on the global list, with far greater inflows than the third and fourth-ranked destinations of Canada and Switzerland, with a respective 4,000 and 3,000 wealthy individuals added. In terms of outflows, the largest high wealth exodus was from China, with 15,000 HNWI departing, while Russia, India and Turkey saw the departure of upwards of 4,000 HNWIs each. Australia has added 3 percent to its HNWI tally. New World Wealth cites several potential factors for Australia as a preferred destination. Among these are Australia’s safety rating. Australia is named the number one country for women in a separate New World Wealth report. In addition, the nation’s first-class healthcare system is far cheaper and more accessible compared to American health care. Also noted is the absence of an inheritance tax in Australia. Individuals with wealth of over $5.5 million in the US are subject to an ‘estate’ tax at rates of as much as 40 percent in the top bracket. Australia is therefore an attractive base from which to continue building wealth for future generations. Altogether, the report records the number of HNWIs now living in Australia at nearly 370,000 (the seventh-most of any nation), with 35 of those assessed as billionaires among the 2,140 worldwide. The complete New World Wealth Report is available here: https://www.afrasiabank.com/en/about/newsroom/global-wealth-migration-review-2019
The ANZSCO (Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations) is structured in five hierarchical levels i.e. major group, sub-major group, minor group, unit group and occupation. The most detailed level of the classification is called occupation which is denoted by 6 digits, e.g. 142111 Retail Manager. A set of occupations are aggregated together to form a unit group, e.g. 1421 Retail Managers. Each unit group has a description of the nature of the occupations, a summary of the main activities of occupations that form part of that unit group and a detailed list of duties that would generally apply to all or most of the occupations in that unit group. For each skill level, ANZSCO outlines the level of relevant formal qualification, the amount of relevant work experience and/or on-the-job training that may be required for an individual to competently carry out the tasks and duties of an occupation. For most occupations, work experience may substitute the qualification listed. However, in some instances, work experience and/or on-the job training may be required in addition to the required qualification. Registration or licensing may also be required for certain occupations. The concept of skill level In ANZSCO, skill level is defined as the range and complexity of the set of tasks performed in a particular occupation. The greater the range and complexity of the set of tasks, the greater the skill level of an occupation. Skill level is measured by: the level or amount of formal education and training the amount of previous experience in a related occupation, and the amount of on-the-job training In general, the greater the range and complexity of the tasks, the greater the amount of formal education and training, previous experience and on-the-job training required. Formal education and training refers to the level and amount of education and training required for competent performance of the tasks required in an occupation. It is measured in terms of educational qualifications as set out in the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) and the New Zealand Register of Quality Assured Qualifications (NZ Register). Previous experience refers to the time spent gaining work experience in related occupations. On-the-job training refers to the amount of training required after commencing work in an occupation for competent performance of the tasks in that occupation. It is measured in months or years, and may be undertaken at the same time as formal training. ANZSCO does not measure the skill level of an individual, rather it refers to the level of skill that is typically required to competently perform the tasks of a particular occupation. Skill level is an attribute of occupations, and it is irrelevant whether a particular individual working in a job in a particular occupation has a certain amount of training or a particular level of competence or not. The determination of boundaries between skill levels is based on the following definitions. SKILL LEVEL 1 Occupations at Skill Level 1 have a level of skill commensurate with a bachelor degree or higher qualification. At least five years of relevant experience may substitute for the formal qualification. In some instances relevant experience and/or on-the-job-training may be required in addition to the formal qualification. SKILL LEVEL 2 Occupations at Skill Level 2 have a level of skill commensurate with one of the following: NZ Register Diploma or AQF Associate Degree, Advanced Diploma or Diploma. At least three years of relevant experience may substitute for the formal qualifications listed above. In some instances relevant experience and/or on-the-job-training may be required in addition to the formal qualification. SKILL LEVEL 3 Occupations at Skill Level 3 have a level of skill commensurate with one of the following: NZ Register Level 4 qualification AQF Certificate IV or AQF Certificate III including at least two years of on-the job training. At least three years of relevant experience may substitute for the formal qualifications listed above. In some instances relevant experience and/or on-the-job-training may be required in addition to the formal qualification. SKILL LEVEL 4 Occupations at Skill Level 4 have a level of skill commensurate with one of the following: NZ Register Level 2 or 3 qualification or AQF Certificate II or III. At least one year of relevant experience may substitute for the formal qualifications listed above. In some instances relevant experience may be required in addition to the formal qualification. SKILL LEVEL 5 Occupations at Skill Level 5 have a level of skill commensurate with one of the following: NZ Register Level 1 qualification AQF Certificate I or compulsory secondary education. For some occupations a short period of on-the-job training may be required in addition to or instead of the formal qualification. In some instances, no formal qualification or on-the-job training may be required. At Migration Centre of Australia, we are well-trained to handle highly complex matters. Book one of our agents for professional advice by calling 02 4626 1002 or email us to book in a time at admin@mckkrs.com.au. We also speak fluent Hindi, Nepalese, Punjabi, Turkish, Tamil, Portuguese and Marathi. If one of these isn’t your language, we can also help you arrange an interpreter.
Purpose The 407 Training Visa is a visa introduced to promote international goodwill by allowing Australian businesses to sponsor people to travel to and stay in Australia for workplace occupational training. There are three types of occupational training covered under this subclass: Workplace-based training required for registration Structured workplace-based training to enhance skills in an eligible occupation Training that promotes capacity building overseas This is a sponsored visa. If the organisation has applied for approval as a training and research or professional development sponsor and is approved as a sponsor of this type, it will be able to sponsor a Training Visa (Subclass 407) applicant. The organisation will need to be approved as temporary activities sponsor which is approved for a period of 5 years commencing from the date of approval. The approved sponsor can also nominate any number of applicants. Members of a family unit can also apply. This visa is not intended to fill labour shortages, therefore it is not a Visa for people whose sole purpose is to work in Australia. The visa allows applicants to work in Australia for a maximum of 2 years but it can be renewed at the end of the training period as many times as needed. Visa holders have restricted work rights. They can only perform work or a training activity that was specified in the applicant’s nomination or visa application. If applicants underwork work or activities that are not directly relevant to the nominated work or activity, the applicant’s visa may be cancelled. Stages of Application An application for a 407 Training visa requires a Sponsorship and Nomination application. A lawfully operating Australian organisation, government agency or foreign government agency in Australia can apply to be a sponsor and then nominate the applicant for the proposed occupation training. If the sponsor is not a Commonwealth agency, the application process has three stages: Sponsorship – Nomination – Visa Sponsorship Application – must be lodged by the Sponsoring organisation to become a temporary activities sponsor Nomination Application – must be lodged by the Sponsoring organisation to nominate the applicant for the training program Visa Application – must be lodged by the applicant If the sponsor is a Commonwealth agency, then the application process will have only two stages: Sponsorship application and Visa Application. Commonwealth agencies, as approved sponsors, do not need to lodge a nomination. If the sponsor is a Commonwealth agency and has been approved as a sponsor, then there should be an invitation letter to the applicant which includes the information regarding the duration and dates of the training and a brief explanation of the training program. For the visa application, the applicant must provide a copy of the invitation letter from the common wealth agency. Changing sponsors If the applicant wishes to change the organisation and training is to be organised by a different approved sponsor, then the applicant has to lodge a new nomination application and the training can commence only after the approval of the nomination. If the applicant continues the training with the same sponsor but decides to change the occupation, then a new nomination and visa application must be lodged and the training must commence only after the nomination application has been approved. Nomination Type 2: Most common Occupational training is for applicants with recent and suitable experience in the nominated occupation, who are seeking to undertake a structured workplace-based training programme in relation to an occupation specified in the list of eligible occupations. For the nomination to be considered under the type 2 it must be: Workplace based training programme specifically, structured for the nominated person as per the training needs The occupation should be in relation to the 6-digit code mentioned in the ANZSCO The nominee should have at least 12-months full time experience in the occupation to which the training relates in the 24 months immediately preceding the time of nomination. Training Program The training should include an assessment of the nominated trainee’s current level of skill in the chosen occupation, a skills assessment, and details of supervisors, trainers and assessors, including their qualifications and experience, planned learning outcomes and how they will be monitored and assessed. The training programme should be specifically tailored to the training needs of the nominee. The programme should: clearly differentiate between periods of practical work experience and periods of instruction and/or observation outline the objectives, tasks and timeframes describe nominated trainee’s current level of skills and outline the additional or enhanced skills the applicant is aiming to gain. The tasks to be completed and outcomes to be achieved should increase in difficulty and complexity over the course of the training program to allow the trainee to progress to a higher-level capability. The training will include supervision by appropriately qualified and experienced supervisors. The program should comprise at least 30 hours a week of training and at least 70 percent of that training must be conducted in the workplace. (i.e. not in a classroom or similar teaching environment). Nomination decision If the nomination is approved, then the Department will send a letter with: the nomination identification number the date the nomination ceases This letter is required for the visa applications of the applicant. If the nomination is not approved, then the Department will send the letter with: the reason for the refusal of the nomination if there are any rights for the merit reviews of the application and also, the time limits to apply for review of the application Visa Application Primary criteria: Age: Applicant must have turned 18 at the time of the application Functional English: Must meet the requirements for Functional English Nomination: At the time of the decision for the approval of the visa there should already be an approved nomination Opportunities for Australian residents: The applicant does not intend to engage in activities that will have an adverse consequence for Australian citizens or permanent residents Health insurance: must have adequate arrangements for health insurance Genuine temporary entry: officer must be satisfied that
As per latest data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), the Indian population in Australia has grown significantly in the last two years. ABS data estimates that there are 592,000 Indians living in Australia as of June 2018. This is a 30 per cent increase compared to 2016 ABS Census figures which recorded 455,389 Indians living in Australia. India moved into third place of Australia’s total migrant population overtaking the number of New Zealand migrants and moving New Zealand to fourth place. India accounts for 2.4% of the Australian population and the median age of an Indian migrant is revealed to be 34 years, the same as those born in Australia. There were 162,417 Permanent Residence Visas granted in 2017-18 by the Department of Home Affairs. About 33,310 out of these were granted to Indians. In 2016-17, 38,854 out of 183,608 Permanent Resident visas were granted to Indians. The number of Indian students studying in Australia reached a seven-year high in 2018. According to November 2017 figures, close to 70,000 students were studying in Australian universities and colleges. ABS identify the Australian population by country of birth for 2018 as follows: Country of birth Total number Percentage (proportion of total population in Australia) England 992,000 4.0% China 651,000 2.6% India 592,000 2.4% New Zealand 568,000 2.3% Philippines 278,000 1.1% Vietnam 256,000 1.0% South Africa 189,000 0.8% Italy 187,000 0.7% Malaysia 174,000 0.7% Scotland 135,000 0.5%
The following updated information on the Skilled Migration Invitation Round in the ACT has been published on the Canberra Your Future website: Canberra Matrix – Invitation round Invitation date: 24 May 2019 Number of Invitations Issued: 323 Matrix score range: All Matrix submitted with 135 to 70 points 65 point matrix submitted on or before 30 April 2019
Do not risk it! To order training for Training Benchmark B and get an Auditable Training Plan for FREE, click here. Please note that: training Benchmarks still apply to all sc#457 Sponsors who have or had sc457 visa holders working for them. the #Skilling Australia Fund (#SAF) Levy applies to only new nominations made after 12th August 2018 on sc#482, sc#186 and sc#187 visas. Sc457 sponsor companies who wish to nominate workers on sc482 and sc186/ 187 visas will need to provide evidence of having met their #Training Benchmark obligations. Please also note that sc482 Sponsors who had nominated workers after the implementation of sc482 but before the implementation of SAF on 12th August 2018 will also need to meet their Training Benchmark obligations. At McKkr’s we may help if your clients are short of meeting Training Benchmark obligations. We are not only providing FREE #Auditable Training Plans for the current periods and any missed periods but also FREE Submission to support the nomination applications for sc186 and sc187 visas. In relation to Training Benchmarks, there have been several questions from RMAs, and our response to these questions are: Q1: For sc457 sponsors, do they need to continue fulfilling the Training Benchmark obligations if they are still employing 457 visa holders. What if the 457 visa holder has lodged the 186TRT after 12 August 2018. How long do they need to continue this obligation? Response: Until the sc186 visa is granted, because until then the worker would be working while holding sc457 visa or a bridging visa. Please note that SAF levy paid for sc186/ 187 visa is a one-off levy for sc186/ 187 visa and has nothing to do with sc457 sponsorship obligations. Q2: Is it sufficient if the sc457 sponsors fulfil the Training Benchmark obligations for the completed sponsorship years prior to 12 August 2018 and discontinued this obligation? Response: Training Benchmark obligations will continue to apply as long as the sponsors have at least one sc457 visa holder working for them for whom the SAF levy has not been paid either for 482 or 186/ 187 visas. Q3: For those 186-TRT lodged, with sponsors only fulfilling the Training Benchmark obligations for the completed sponsorship years prior to 12 August 2018, they would have missed out the Training Benchmark obligations for the current sponsorship year. How could this be remedied? Response: At McKkr’s, we are helping RMAs in preparing a tailored submission to the Department of Home Affairs, FOR FREE, if we are the provider of Training Benchmark B for a sponsor OR if we are hired now to write Auditable Training Plan and deliver training for the current or missed year(s). For any further queries, please feel free to cal us on 02-4626 1002. Do not forget that McKkr’s training delivery is valid for Training Benchmark B and McKkr’s is a leading Training Benchmark B provider in the country having delivered thousands of trainings under Training Benchmark B with 100% success.