Australian Immigration Daily News

An overhaul of both the two most popular visa categories have been announced with some changes effective from tomorrow and further “significant changes” expected from 1 July 2016.

The department of immigration has told a Productivity Commission inquiry into migration that it was working on “significant” reform of the skilled migration and temporary activity visas that are “expected to improve Australia’s competitiveness and ability to attract highly skilled migrants”, according to a report in The Australian.

Are things ever as straightforward and simple as they might appear? 

Not usually – right? Not in the sphere of migration law, and not in our everyday experience either! 

A case that was handed down by the Full Court on 14 April – Cotterill v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (2016) FCAFC 61 – certainly brings this point home. 

Migration Alliance members are invited to participate in counter-warfare training in Poland, invited by our Convenor, Liana Allan.

As many agents are aware, a new subject, approved by the Office of the MARA, is currently available for Registered Migration Agents; Terrorism offences, Citizenship and ASIO Security Assessments - An overview for Migration Agents (click here to visit the paper)

Agents who have an interest in this area of law, may also be interested in courses that deal with immediate responses to terrorism in a real-life situation.

After over a year of considering the lengthy multiple-entry tourist visa for Chinese visitors, the Australian Prime Minister has finally announced that a trial for the 10-year visa will start soon but neither the PM, the DIBP or DFAT have provided any details except that the trial will for the first time allow for tourist visa applications to be lodged in Mandarin.

The trial is expected to boost tourist numbers particularly those of return visitors to Australia. For years now the industry has complained of the inordinate visa demands, such as bank records and other documentation, all of which they say have made travel to Australia less attractive even to those have been here and inclined to return.

The Australian trial lags well behind the US, Canada and Britain which have already moved to permanent 10-year, repeat-entry tourist visas for the Chinese.

Should there be some form of “merits review” of decisions made personally by the Minister to cancel a person’s visa on character grounds? 

Should someone who has spent most of their life living in Australia as the holder of a permanent residency visa but has not, for whatever reason, obtained Australian citizenship, be subject to visa cancellation and consequent “removal”? 

What if the visa cancellation will have very negative impacts on the visa holder’s family?