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

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

Brendan Darcy, the outgoing Convenor of Migration Alliance has asked me to post up this report:

At the Annual General Meeting of the Migration Alliance, I announced that I would not be forwarding my name as its convenor.

As of the first month of 2014, I will be taking up a senior role in the new Federal Government. It will be a fantastic opportunity to contribute to the policy and program development and implementation in the Social Services portfolio.  The position necessarily requires that I unwind my migration practice and my advocacy role on behalf of Migration Alliance.

I have enjoyed the privilege of convening the Migration Alliance since May 2013. My short but eventful tenure occurred during a great deal of change for Migration Agents.

Not least among changes were the change of government and some key legislative changes.  Migration Alliance ran a very vigorous campaign to oppose the then Government’s changes for 457 visas  - the single largest visa category. Despite the change of government, red tape affecting Australian businesses, education providers and families poses a serious challenge to the efficiency of our world-class visa system.

I do not believe Migration Agents are yet treated as the valued partners they should be with the Department. Nevertheless the profession is heading in the right direction.

The reversal of the English language testing for long-standing and highly reputable Migration Agents is a notable triumph for the professional, testimony to the Alliance’s effectiveness and a personal victory for Liana Allan whose vigilance in this matter was breathe-taking.

The Migration Alliance is now standing as the undisputed leader in advocating for meaningful reform to the migration law and practice. It has the ear of government and it should audibly whispering the positive and constructive solutions its seeks.

I am confident it will play this role into the New Year and beyond.

My specific gratitude goes to Christopher Levingston, Holly Byrne and Liana Allan.

Adieu. 

Brendan Darcy

Migration Alliance has been asked to assist the tribunals by identifying Migration Agents suitable to participate in User Acceptance Testing (UAT) of the online lodgement system.

Migration Alliance has been asked to assist the Tribunals by identifying five (5) Migration Alliance member Migration Agents to assist with UAT? Ideally the MRT-RRT would like Migration Agents who represent a diverse range of clients across the following visa classes:

o   Skilled migration - Onshore / Offshore (only where applicants are sponsored for a regional area)

o   Student visas - Onshore only

o   Business visas – Onshore / Offshore

o   Family visas – Onshore only (for Parent, Child and partner cases)

o   Detention cases  - usually Bridging Visa E refusals/cancellations and time limited

o   Protection visa cases – Onshore and UMAs

Please note, this first stage of the project is primarily focused around the lodgement of applications.  Further stages are in development where additional functionality will be delivered.  While any feedback relating to desirable functionality is most welcome, the primary objective of this stage is the lodgement of applications.

Migration Agent UAT is tentatively scheduled for the week beginning 13 January 2014. The tribunals will need the contact details of Migration Agents chosen for UAT. Testers will be given a testing spread sheet which they may use to record their findings. We would also appreciate any screenshots which may assist in explaining their feedback.  Due to the project schedule, the link provided to Testers will only be available for a one week window.  Dates will be confirmed in the near future.

If you would like to participate in the UAT as a MA member RMA and are available during the dates mantioned above please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with your name and details of the visa subclasses you cover from the above list.