The most recent Department statistics show that on 31 March 2018 there were 194,875 people in Australia on bridging visas, up by 41,066 on the same date last year and the number keeps on rising due to the government’s lack of action on finalising most substantive* applications already in the pipeline. While the Department of [...]
Effective July 1st, the Australian Government has released further changes to the skilled occupation lists affecting Temporary Work (Skilled) Subclass 457 visas, the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) Subclass 186 visa, and the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) Subclass 187 visas. Exemptions for high-income earners (with an annual salary of at least $180,001) have been revoked. [...]
Last April, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced the upcoming abolition of the Subclass 457 Temporary Skilled Work visa, replacing it with the more intensive Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa stream. Changes are being rolled out in stages, and here are the changes coming into effect on the 1st of July 2017: Police Clearance All 457 [...]
Two new visas have been announced to facilitate the arrival of Singaporeans into Australia. Working Holiday Visa Arrangement Coming into effect on 31 August 2017, this work and holiday visa enables Singaporeans under 30 years of age, who meet the education and English-language requirements, to live and work in Australia for up to 12 months. [...]
The U.S. has passed a ban to prevent electronics larger than a mobile phone bin the cabin on flights originating from the following cities: Cairo, Istanbul, Kuwait, Doha, Casablanca, Amman, Riyadh, Jeddah, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi. This only applies to direct flights, meaning if the one leg of the flight does not originate from one [...]
As of March 2, 2017, Immigration Minister Peter Dutton has ended the Fast Food Industry Labour Agreement, which the Gillard government introduced in 2012 due to a labour shortage in fast food workers. Around 500 workers were brought in on the agreement, with McDonald's bringing in nearly 300 employees, KFC bringing in nearly 100 employees [...]
“New Zealand’s Immigration Act of 2009 was enacted on November 29, 2010. The new regime will impose onus for stricter compliance on employers sponsoring foreign nationals for work. They are now required to accurately assess through due diligence and taking “reasonable precautions” that the prospective employee has not previously worked or resided unlawfully in New Zealand. Failure in [...]