The links below cover news and updates on migration, immigration and education in Australia, as reported in April 2015.
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April 2015 migration news
Contents
1. Virgin, ABC, immigration department: Best employers in Australia
The list also includes
– Seven Network
– Qantas
– Nestle
– Wesfarmers (Coles, KMART, Target and Bunnings)
– Coca-Cola Amatil
– Australian Federal Police
– BAE Systems
– Toyota
– Westfield
– National Disability Insurance Agency
Check Australia’s most attractive employers complete list:
2. International student satisfaction in Australia
According to The biannual International Student Survey that was released by federal education minister Christopher Pyne, eighty eight per cent of international students in Australia are satisfied or very satisfied with their overall experience including learning, support on arrival, living and support services, outperforming similar competitor nations.
The lone exception is living and accommodation costs which registered only a 50 per cent satisfaction rating.
3. Australia Migration: Changes to minimum English language test requirements
https://maninder.com/2015/04/20/english-language-test-scores-for-australian-visa/
4. Salary guide Australia 2015
https://maninder.com/2015/04/17/2015-australia-salary-guide-for-different-professions/
5. 2016 course guides of Victoria University now available
https://maninder.com/2015/04/16/victoria-university-melbourne-2016-course-guides/
6. Tourist Visa Australia
Multiple-entry Australian tourist visas set to drive repeat visits from China
Chinese travelers will be able to make repeat visits to Australia with ease, with a current online visitor visa pilot extended to offer three-year, multiple entry visas to approved applicants.
Minister for Trade and Investment Andrew Robb, who is also the minister responsible for tourism, announced the initiative in Adelaide at the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards.
Previously, visitor visas for Chinese travelers were only valid for 12 months. The new visitor visa provision follows the introduction of three-year, multiple entry Chinese business visas in February 2014
Source: http://trademinister.gov.au
7. Skilled migration – South Australia
South Australian skilled list expanded for 489/190 sponsorship
The South Australian state nominated occupation lists are divided into two separate lists; the State Occupation List and the Supplementary Skilled List. The State Occupation List is a list of occupations considered to be in demand in South Australia. There are currently 171 occupations on the State Occupation List.
The Supplementary Skilled List replaces the former South Australian Graduate List. This list offers all the remaining occupations on the Department of Immigration and Border Protection’s Consolidated Sponsored Occupations List (CSOL) that are not on the South Australian State Occupation List. There are 480 occupations on the Supplementary Skilled List.
These additional occupations will give an opportunity to more skilled workers who meet the requirements in one of the three categories below (many of whom are already employed in a skilled occupation in South Australia):
– International graduate of South Australia
– Worked in a skilled occupation in South Australia for the last 12 months
– Immediate family member permanently residing in South Australia for 12 months or more.
8. Temporary suspension of SIV nomination processing
The Australian Government has advised that state and territory governments will be unable to nominate applicants for a Significant Investor Visa (SIV) through SkillSelect from 24 April 2015 until 30 June 2015.
The Significant Investor visa (SIV) programme is designed to provide a boost to the national economy through an increased inflow of investment and to enable Australia to compete effectively for high net worth individuals seeking investment immigration.
To be considered under the current SIV framework, applicants must:
– be nominated and invited to apply for the SIV prior to 24 April 2015
– lodge a valid visa application within the Commonwealth Government’s prescribed timelines (applicants have 60 days from the date of invitation to make a valid visa application online before the invitation expires).
Clients should always check the Department of Immigration and Border Protection’s website for all immigration requirements.
For more information about the temporary suspension visit the Department of Immigration and Border Protection website
Source: http://www.immi.gov.au/Work/Pages/temporary-suspension-siv-nominations.aspx
9. Australian Significant Investor Visa (SIV) Statistics as of 28 February 2015
http://www.immi.gov.au/pub-res/Pages/statistics/significant-investor-visa-statistics.aspx
10. Registrations for Undergraduate Medicine and Health Sciences Admission Test UMAT 2015 are open!
11. Australia less attractive
A report by Hobsons says international students are no longer choosing Australia on the basis of affordable cost of living and tuition fees, as this advantage has been lost.
It recommended that Australia should play to the advantage offered by its post-study work visa, which gives bachelor’s degree graduates a two-year visa to stay and work in Australia.
12. Australian Capital Territory (Canberra, ACT) Migration update
Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) – ACT nominations closed for 2014/15 for overseas applicants
Effective 5pm AEST Friday 3 April 2015, all overseas applications for ACT nomination of a visa subclass 190 will be closed. The ACT program targets for the Skilled Nominated Visa (190) have been met for the 2014/15 financial year.
If you are living overseas, you are not able to apply for ACT nomination of a Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) until the program reopens on 1 July 2015.
If you are living in Canberra and working in a skilled occupation, you are still able to apply for ACT 190 nomination providing you meet the current nomination criteria.
Source: http://www.canberrayourfuture.com.au/
13. Education Australia Stats
Australian government figures show that enrollments of international students rose 10 percent last year.
International students contributed 16.6 billion Australian dollars ($13.1 billion) to the Australian economy last year.
14. UAE Students Increasingly Choosing Australian Universities
Australian universities currently have a presence in th UAE, providing benefits for Australia at home and abroad, with many students choosing to graduate at the UAE based Australian campuses.
Source: http://www.training.com.au/ed/uae-students-increasingly-choosing-australian-universities/
