When clients based offshore receive an invoice from their migration agent in Australian Dollars, they are often faced with the task of wondering what the most effective way to pay for it is.

Many will use their bank and incur a $50 bank fee for the privilege, others will us their credit card and receive a less than favourable exchange rate, making the invoice more expensive than it has to be.

An ever increasingly popular method is clients using a foreign currency exchange payment specialist to assist with the transaction ensuring;

Graduate engineers from around the world may well have their last chance to apply for a temporary visa to work in Australia this year if the department of immigration proceeds with plans to drop the Skilled Recognised Graduate (sub-class 476) visa from next year.

The visa which allows recent graduates from recognised universities to work in Australia for up to 18 months in order to gain work experience was introduced in 2007 with the aim of easing engineering shortages. It is available to applicants aged below 31 years, with competent English language ability and who have graduated within two years from the date of application from recognised foreign institutions.  

DIBP is expected to scrap this visa as early as next year, according to an internal proposal paper of the department, which was obtained by The Australian Financial Review.

The number of applicants for the visa almost doubled last year to 1100 but DIBP’s paper states that it does not see “an adverse outcome arising” from the possible repeal of the visa.

“The cohort for this visa is very small, with approximately 600 visas granted in 2012-13 and approximately 1100 visas granted in 2013-14,” says the department’s proposal paper.

Welcome back everyone and best wishes for a fantastic year in 2015.

Migration Alliance is hosting a networking event to allow you to 'unlock the power of positive and proactive networking'. All attendees will receive a copy of The Professional Migration Agent: Best Practices for Registered Migration Agents. This is a new and inspirational e-book dedicated to the migration agent profession by the founder of Migration Alliance, Liana Allan.

Come and have some fun with your colleagues. Join in the trivia quiz on unlucky superstitions.

When: Friday 13th February 2015

Where: The Angel Hotel, 125 Pitt St Sydney

What time: 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

What to wear: Something black or freaky

Cost: $50 per head for canapés and drinks

Proposed menu:

- spiced lamb samosa
- tomato, black olive and basil crostini (v)
- mexican prawn and lime salad on corn chips (gf)
- vegetarian spring roll (v)
- green pea and mint risotto balls (v)
- tandoori chicken drummer and cucumber raita (gf)
- pumpkin and goats cheese ravioli with fresh tomato and parmesan (v)
* (v) - vegetarian (gf) - gluten free

Places are limited so get in early and pay now to secure your place at this premium networking event.

To register, please download the registration form below and return to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Click to download event Registration Form

We hope you can make it and look forward to seeing you there.

The government is intending to introduce a one-year multiple entry visa for foreign workers that would not require applicants to pass language or skills requirements. Nor would employers have to prove they cannot find an Australian to fill the position.

The proposed “short-term mobility” subclass of visas would be available for “specialised work which may include intra-company transfers and foreign correspondents”, says a proposal paper obtained by The Australian Financial Review.

This visa is expected to replace the existing sc400 visa.

The current sc400 is problematic because employers have to prove that the intended work is ‘non-ongoing’ and the standard grant is 4 weeks although legislation allows grants for up to 6 weeks. Case officer’s have the discretion to determine both the time-frame and whether the specialised work is ‘non-ongoing’ in their decision. A conservative approach in decision-making has sometimes, had the unfortunate effect of resulting in refusals and the redirection of applicants to the more onerous 3-stage sc457 visa.

The new visa is a sensible approach but it remains to be seen if, under the new system, sc457 visa applicants will instead be redirected to this new "short-term visa”, thus limiting the pathway to permanent residency.

According to the AFR, there has been a steady increase in the sc400 visa applicants since it was first offered in 2012. The number of visa grants jumped from 4587 in the year ending 2013 to 32,984 in 2013-14. Applicants are concentrated in mining, manufacturing, construction and education.

More than 9000 public servants at the Immigration Department face random or targeted breathalysing and drug testing in their offices under a tough new workplace regime. DIBP officers are also being told that they must dob-in colleagues they suspect of misconduct, even if it occurs away from the workplace.

The crackdown doesn’t stop at drugs and alcohol use on their day jobs but is expected to see investigations into second jobs, social media use and sloppy appearances among the department's public servants, according to a report in The Canberra Times.

Immigration is the fourth largest public service government department now employing just over 9000 people according to ABS statistics.

Customs has already adopted these policies as part of its ongoing battle to get on top of its internal corruption problems.

A fact-sheet issued to the officers apparently sets out that public servants will be in trouble if caught with a blood alcohol reading above .02 or if they are found to be "impaired" by illegal or prescription drugs while on duty, according to the news report.