Australian Immigration Daily News

Yet again no notification provided by the government about cutoff times....this time it's about NSW State sponsorship..... no information that we were nearing the close of state sponsorships, that the NSW government was down to it's final numbers towards end of 2013.  Consultation seems to be at an all time low at the start of 2014.  It can only get better I guess.  I received this email from a RMA...

Please take this up with the NSW State Sponsorship unit, if possible.

They have suspended accepting applications for 190 effective today. The notice seems to have been published today itself.

With 4 applications at hand, 2 of them ready for dispatch, it is extremely demotivating that they should suspend processing without sufficient advance notice. My clients prepared and couriered their applications from India only to find out that NSW wasn’t going to accept them until July 2014.
Check this out:

http://www.business.nsw.gov.au/live-and-work-in-nsw/visa-and-migration/skilled-sponsored-migration

Migration Alliance received the following email from the DIBP on 2 January 2014, an announcement which refers to a change happening for RMAs in late December 2013!  After the fact....but anyway....

Dear Registered Migration Agents

From late December 2013 registered migration agents will no longer be able to lodge applications with the department via the ‘Decision Ready’ process (see Agents Gateway for further information).  All applications lodged under the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS)(Subclass 186) and Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS)(Subclass 187) visa programmes will now be queued and allocated by date of lodgement with the department. Further information will be available on the Agents Gateway shortly.

The department would like to remind agents that the department recognises that registered migration agents play an important part in delivering our programmes.  We are looking to strengthen our working relationship with migration agents, with a view to improving visa processing times for clients.  The most important way that you can assist the department is by lodging complete visa applications.  This significantly helps us to process applications quickly and efficiently and benefits our mutual clients.

Where you have any queries on the above update, please ensure those queries are directed through the ‘Permanent Employer Sponsored Visas’ channel available in the form of the Agents Gateway: www.immi.gov.au/gateways/agents/contact/feedback/

 

Kind regards,
 

Migration Agents Policy Section

Visa Framework & Family Policy Branch
Department of Immigration and Border Protection

Strong interest of Chinese tourists supported by the increased frequency and capacity of flights to Sydney from China is driving the boom.

The most recent National Visitor Survey has revealed a surge in tourists from China to New South Wales by 18 per cent over the previous year. China is now NSW top source of tourists. It has surpassed New Zealand.

The survey revealed that Chinese tourists stayed a total of more than 11.6 million nights and contributed $1.4 billion to the NSW economy. This was an increase of $178.5 million on the previous year.

Almost 12.000 partner visas were issued to the Garden State last year.

Victoria is a hotspot for partner visas, the The Herald Sun has reported recently. 

Referring to the Federal Government's latest State and Territory Migration Summary Report, a recent article noted that, “More than 2000 Indians, 1245 Chinese and about 1000 UK-born migrants were among 11,840 people to get partner visas in 2012-13.The total number for Australia was more than 46,000, including people in gay relationships.”

The article did not reveal whether the sponsors are Australian born or new migrants themselves.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from Migration Alliance

Migration Alliance would like to wish you and your family a very joyful Christmas.
 
Christmas is such an amazing time of the year.
 
It is a time to count our blessings for all the good things we enjoy and reflect on the year.
 
Australians are great people and migration agents contribute heavily to the building of this great nation, full of people from all over the planet.  This makes me proud.
 
From Migration Alliance to each one of you, a valued migration agent, we wish you every happiness this Holiday Season and prosperity in the New Year.  We look forward to continuing our relationship in the coming year.

The Prime Minister of Australia has created a Christmas message.  To watch this message please click here.
 
All the best to you and your family,
 
Liana Allan
Migration Alliance