Australian Immigration Daily News

JOINT COMMITTEE HANSARD: Joint Standing Committee On Migration - Review processes associated with visa cancellations made on criminal grounds - Sydney

JSCM---review-processes-associated-with-visa-cancellations-made-on-criminal-grounds.pdf

Migration Alliance has received the following information from the AAT.  We have permission to publish:

Last year the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) developed six information videos to help people become familiar with our role and important aspects of our processes.

The videos include:

Migration Alliance would like to bring your attention to this transcript from the public hearing in Sydney on 16 July 2018.

JSCM---Hansard-July-2018.pdf

Migration Agents should take note of the comments made at the bottom of page 10 and page 11 from the MIA regarding CPD pricing.

Generally, an application for a student visa (subclass 500) will need to be accompanied by sufficient evidence of English where appropriate. Whilst evidence of English language is not a time of application criteria, applicants seeking to meet the primary criteria for grant of a student visa must provide evidence of English language proficiency in order for the visa to be granted. The maximum time periods in which an English test must be taken is either two years before the application is lodged or two years before a decision is made on the application.  The Department of Home Affairs will accept the following tests in order to satisfy the English language requirements:

• IELTS Test
• TOEFL iBT
• Certificate in Advanced English
• PTE and;
• OET

Relevant test score can be found here: https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2018C00474

Students who have completed a Toefl paper based test will be able to rely on instrument “English Language Tests and Evidence Exemptions for Subclass 500 (Student) Visas 2016/019 (IMMI 16/019)” as it continues to apply in relation to applications for a Subclass 500 (Student) visa if that application is made before 6 June 2018 and is not finally determined on or before 6 June 2018.

As reported previously, the Department of Home Affairs confirmed that Skilling Australians Fund is likely to commence in the first quarter of the new migration year.   An estimated $1.5 billion will be available from the Commonwealth for the ongoing Fund between 2017–18 to 2021–22. With matched funding from states and territories (states), the Fund will grow the number of apprentices and trainees to support Australia's future productivity, jobs and growth.

It has now been publicly announced that Five states have signed have signed the Agreement: New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory. These states will have the opportunity to develop projects for consideration by the Australian Government. 

During a recent press release statement Hon Karen Andrews MP stated that “The Turnbull Government is committed to seeing an extra 300,000 apprenticeships over the coming four years through the Skilling Australians Fund and I expect that many of them will find on-going employment with Australia’s various manufacturers.”