Immigration

Australian Capital Territory Reopened The Australian Capital Territory reopened today its 190-nomination program with a new expression of interest process. The new program will continue focusing on specific state occupation shortages but will replace its previous first-in/first-out process with a points merit-based approach. The new system will allow intending applicants to express their interest through

DECEMBER CHANGES TO BUSINESS HOURS & SERVICES (VETASSESS)…AUSTRALIA IMMIGRATION OFFICE CLOSURE: During the festive season, VETASSESS offices will close from Friday 21 December 2018 and will reopen, Wednesday 2 January 2019. SUBMITTING NEW APPLICATIONS: Please note the revised time frames for submitting new applications prior to this period: Priority Processing – last applications for 2018

VETASSESS update for PhD students VETASSESS has just announced a change to their skills assessment criteria, that will affect many PhD students studying in Australia and overseas, From Friday 15 December 2018 VETASSESS will no longer accept a full scholarship or stipend as work experience for the purpose of obtaining 1 years work experience for

According to the latest government figures, more than 45,500 citizenship applications were finalised between July and October 2018, of which 39,000 applications were granted Australian citizenship. The Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, Mr David Coleman has claimed the new investment in boosting resources within the Department of Home Affairs (DoHA) has helped processing

Queensland is temporarily suspending issuing new invitations for the following visas under the Business Innovation and Investment Program from 02/01/2019. Queensland are not accepting any new EOI’s submitted from this date. The visa subclasses suspended include: 188 – Business Innovation (188A), Investor (188B), 188 Significant Investor (SIV or 188C), 188 Entrepreneur (188E), 132 – Significant

Invitation date:  3 January 2019 Number of invitations issued: 205 Matrix score range: 70 to 115 Invitation date:  20 December 2018 Number of invitations issued: 93 Matrix score range: 85 to 130   SOURCE : http://www.canberrayourfuture.com.au/portal/migrating/article/canberra-matrix-invitation-round/

The Australian Government has announced changes to our immigration program to strengthen our economy and boost our regional areas. The changes include: two new Skilled Regional Provisional visas. a new permanent resident visa for new regional provisional visa holders. a simplified definition of regional Australia for skilled migration purposes. additional points under the Skilled Migration

This initiative provides for an additional Temporary Graduate visa with an extra year of post-study work rights for international students who: graduate from the regional campus of a registered university or institution with higher education or postgraduate qualification, and maintain an ongoing residence in a regional area while holding their first Temporary Graduate (subclass 485)

Many migrant communities look set to benefit from Tuesday’s generous pre-election budget. The government has earmarked $64.2 million for so-called “social cohesion” measures which help migrants “become established and integrated in their communities”. “This budget provides funding for local sport, community languages, national community hubs and grants to encourage mutual understanding and celebrate diversity,” budget

By:  Amin Saleem (Registered Migration Agent of Australia: 1804599) The Australian government has introduced a new Skilled visa (subclass 491) to assist regional Australia (designated regional areas) and make related amendments. At the commencement of the new regional provisional visas, it is intended that the designated regional areas, to be identified in a legislative instrument,