Last week, Josh Frydenberg delivered his second pandemic budget. While the federal budget covers the priorities of the Australian Government for the next financial year, of particular interest is how immigration will be affected.
Earlier this month the federal budget was announced and as predicted there were no surprises where Australia’s financial future is concerned.
As with all budgets over the years, Migration had a place in this current budget. So, how does Migration fare in the 20/21 budget?
We are delighted to announce that Andrew Emmott has joined the team at Visa Solutions Australia in the role of Director (Immigration Services).
Andrew is one of the most experienced Registered Migration Agents in Australia and has worked in the industry for over 18 years, with the most recent 7 years spent working with me at Interstaff.
The federal budget delivered by the Treasurer Joe Hockey was somewhat predictable for increasing the visa application charges particularly for those applications lodged offshore and a number of revenue raising measures aimed at foreign property buyers and working holiday makers.
For the revenue side of the budget, the Treasurer announced an increase to visa application charges of between 2.3 per cent (around the CPI level) and 50 per cent for a range of visas depending on demand and other policy considerations.
2015 is set to see an influx of immigrants into Australia, with more than; 5 million visas; predicted to be issued!
With such a significant change in population demographic within the nation, a reconsideration of policy is inevitable. The challenges to Australian policy that will evolve in 2015 are expected to be of a scale so large that the last comparable period of change was in World War II.
Approved forms and the location for lodgement on applications for Subclass 461: http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/F2015L00568
Temporary Work (Short Stay Activity) (Subclass 400) Visa Applications – the Specification of Arrangements: http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/F2015L00565
Read about the latest updates to the New TSMIT (Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold) & 457 and ENS (Employer Nominated Scheme) highly paid position, Lowered English requirements for subclass 457 visa application, and English language test scores for subclass 476 and 485 applications, Specification of Arrangements for Special Category Visa Applications and other important visa updates.
Changes to the English language requirements for Temporary Work (Skilled) Subclass 457 visas came into effect from 18 April 2015. The change amends the requirements applicants must meet to satisfy the English language criteria while continuing to ensure that applicants have a sufficient level of English language ability to perform effectively in their nominated occupations. The amendment gives effect to a recommendation from an independent review conducted in 2014, the 457 Integrity Review. The required English test scores for 457 visas are now as follows:
The Federal Government has made changes to the Subclass 457 visas. These changes action the recommendations in the 457 Integrity Review.
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