The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) Permanent Entry Section has published the following processing information for the Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) and Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (Subclass 187) visa applications:
21-05-2013 –
Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) officers will visit Palmerston in the Northern Territory on May 22 to provide immigration information to people who have overstayed their visas as well as local community leaders and service providers.
Media release by the Honourable Brendan O’Connor MP, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship
Tuesday, 14 May 2013
The Gillard Government will implement additional measures in this Budget to combat the dangerous people smuggling trade.
The government is managing the global issue of growing numbers of displaced persons at an additional cost of $3.2 billion over the four years to 2015-16. (more…)
Media release by the Honourable Brendan O’Connor MP, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship
Tuesday, 14 May 2013
Australia’s migration program will be maintained at 190 000 places in 2013-14 to help fill skills shortages and reunite Australian families, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship Brendan O’Connor announced today. (more…)
Media release by the Honourable Brendan O’Connor MP, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship
Tuesday, 14 May 2013
The Gillard Government will continue its commitment to providing refuge for the world’s most vulnerable people by accepting 20 000 people through the humanitarian program in 2013-14.
‘Millions of people are displaced around the world and we should be very proud of Australia’s part in providing refugees with protection,’ the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Brendan O’Connor, said today. (more…)
An alleged crime boss wanted in Papua New Guinea over the theft of $30 million has used a 457 visa issued by the Australian government to avoid arrest and prosecution.
Eremas Wartoto, accused of being one of PNG’s most corrupt figures by anti-graft authorities, has been living in Cairns since mid-2011.
He obtained a 457 visa, the foreign skilled worker visa at the centre of a Gillard government crackdown, after learning PNG authorities planned to charge him in August 2011. (more…)
Immigration compliance officers have located 27 illegal workers and visa overstayers in a series of compliance operations in the Central Coast and Newcastle areas that concluded overnight.
A Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) spokesman said immigration compliance teams visited businesses and homes in Raymond Terrace, Hamilton, Birmingham Gardens, Morriset, Gosford, The Entrance, Berkeley Vale, San Remo and Tarro. (more…)
Latest news from the Honorable Brendan O’Connor MP, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship:
Friday, 03 May 2013
Australia’s first significant investor visa has been granted to a successful Chinese toy manufacturer and his young family, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship Brendan O’Connor announced today.
The significant investor visa was introduced in November 2012 to attract potential migrants with a demonstrated history of success in business and investment.
Under the scheme, significant investors must invest at least $5 million in the Australian economy under the business innovation and investment program. They become eligible for a permanent visa after holding a provisional visa and maintaining the $5 million investment in Australia for four years. (more…)
By Daniel Hurst, Federal political reporter
May 4, 2013
The opposition has backed most of the government’s planned changes to the 457 visa scheme, calling the reforms sensible ”housekeeping”.
The crackdown on the temporary foreign worker program initially attracted criticism from business groups and the opposition. It was claimed Prime Minister Julia Gillard was demonising foreigners and ”trashing skilled migration”.
Coalition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison maintains his attack on the government’s ”inflammatory rhetoric” but has used the release of an internal report to signal his support for most of the changes. (more…)
The Australian Taxation Office will scour the details of 1 million Australian visa holders in the hunt for fraud, tax-law breaches and cases of people flouting work rights.
Previous data-matching programs in 2010 and 2011 found an ”elevated level of risk” of non-compliance and fraud linked to temporary working visas.
[The program would] ensure that locals are not missing out on work opportunities to visitors who do not have the correct work rights. (more…)