Australian Immigration Daily News

Migration Alliance has been asked to distribute the following information to the profession:

The offices of the Migration Review Tribunal and the Refugee Review Tribunal (the tribunals) will be closed over the Christmas and New Year period. Offices will close from 5:00pm on Tuesday, 24 December 2013 and will reopen from 8:30am on Thursday, 2 January 2014.

Applications for review or any responses to correspondence or any other matters which have a due date or deadline on one of the days on which the offices are closed, can be lodged or provided on Thursday, 2 January 2014 and no later than that date.

Fax facilities will remain operational during the period. Please note that applications for review can be lodged by fax, however the tribunals cannot currently accept applications lodged by email. Please contact the tribunals prior to 24 December 2013 or on 2 January 2014 for further information.

Media Release: http://www.newsboost.com/newsroom/migration-alliance/migration-alliance-wins-english-language-testing-for-registered-agents-to-be-repealed

Media release 2: http://medianet.com.au/releases/release-details?id=790972

MIGRATION ALLIANCE HAS DONE IT!!!  WOOOHOOO!!!!

The following information has been received by VETASSESS at 6:03pm last night Australian EST.

Dear Agent,

We’d like to inform you about some recent and upcoming changes in the SRGO assessment process.

Firstly, applicants and agents applying for an SRGO assessment can now upload the required documents onto the online portal. This applies to both new and pending applications. Documents no longer need to be certified photocopies, but should be colour scans of original documents. Please note that you can upload initial documents until 30 days after submitting your application. If you are requested to or need to upload more documents at a later stage, please contact us and we will enable the upload feature again.

If an applicant is unable to scan documents effectively, you will still be able to submit hard copies of the certified required documents. If you are unable to apply online, you can also still apply using a paper-based application.

At the moment applications for Chinese Qualification Verification still need to be submitted separately, either online or by post. For information on how to submit the supporting documents for Chinese Qualification Verification, please visit http://www.vetassess.com.au/migrate_to_australia/verify_chinese_documents.cfm.

Secondly, we will be issuing electronic outcome letters very shortly. All outcome letters will then be available to download from the applicant or agent portal as digitally certified pdf documents.

If applicants still wish to receive a hard copy of the outcome letter in addition to the electronic version, they can indicate this in the postage section of the online application form.

We are hoping these new features will further streamline the application process and make the system even more user-friendly for applicants and their agents.

Kind regards,

Marieke Shin

Acting Coordinator SRGO

Today Migration Alliance made a decision to stop promoting and advertising the LexisNexis immigration 'professional library' product.

Christopher Levingston has today said:

'The product promoted by LexisNexis and in effect "sold" to MA fell short of the expectatons of the profession.  When it became apparent that what was on offer fell short of the expectations I urgently sought a meeting with LexisNexis to discuss my concerns about the continuing relationship.'

The following message has been received from VETASSESS today by a Migration Alliance member (RMA):

'I am writing in relation to your recent Skills Assessment application to VETASSESS. Unfortunately, we have experienced an extremely high application rate over the last six months which has caused an unusual delay in our processing times. Currently an application, with all the required documentation, requires 10 to 12 weeks for completion. We are extremely sorry for any inconvenience that this delay is causing you and wish to assure you that we are taking a number of steps to reduce the processing time and to ensure that our completion rates are back to normal early in 2014.

If you have an urgency request for faster processing due to a DIBP deadline (approaching significant birthday or visa expiry), please complete the Urgency Request form (SRGO5) available on our website and email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Please note that all urgent requests require manager's approval and must be supported by evidence of urgency.

We appreciate your patience and understanding in this matter and request that you contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for any enquiries.

Regards,


Jenna Wong
acting manager
Skills Recognition - General Occupations
VETASSESS
Level 5, 478 Albert Street
EAST MELBOURNE VICTORIA 3002
AUSTRALIA'