2014 February

As part of the 2013-14 Economic Statement, The Government has announced that Department of Immigration application fees will increase across the board by 15% from 1 September 2013. The only visas exempt from the increases are Student visas and Visitor visas. The increases are set to raise $542 million over the next 4 years. This

Even though the new migration program only commenced on 1 July 2013, places are already running out for IT and engineering professionals looking to apply for General Skilled Migration. Statistics released by the Department of Immigration show that as of 5 August 2013, many Engineering and IT Occupations were close to meeting their occupational ceiling.

The new criteria for State nomination will be released at 12.00pm on 1 March 2014. Until its release, the 2012-13 State nomination criteria will remain in place. If you receive an invitation to apply for State nomination before the release of the new criteria, your application will not be affected. [22nd Jan 2014]

NSW is pleased to announce that program targets for the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) have been met for the 2013/14 financial year.   Effective 24 December 2013, applications for NSW nomination for the subclass 190 visa will close. Applications received after this date will not be processed or returned. NSW will reopen for the