Australian Immigration Daily News

July 1 is important date in Australian immigration.  This is due to the fact that a number of legislative requirements (new or previously announced) come into effect.  As we are just weeks away from this significant date, below is a number of useful hints and tips to assist you to be as ready and prepared to lodge as visa application as you can be.

1. Do you know your visa expiry date?

July 1 generally creates traffic in all aspects when it comes to applying for an Australian visa.  For example, it may be more difficult to secure an appointment to complete health checks or undertake the English language exam.  Historically the number of applications lodged with the Department of Immigration and Border Protection is at its highest in June and December.  Accordingly, it is important to be prepared and not leave anything till the last day to avoid being stuck in an unfavourable situation.  Check the expiry of your visa and aim to submit your application (or instruct your agent to do so) well before expiry of your current visa.  Keep in mind that frequent system outages are to be expected.

2. Time of application Criteria

Many Australian visas have “time of application” criteria which may include age, English or skills requirement.  It is important to be fully across time of application requirements applicable to the visa subclass you are making an application for.  If the time of application criteria is not met, your application may be refused which in turn can create restrictions on the types of subsequent visas you may be able to apply for whilst in Australia.

There are times when you see news stories about visa decisions that have been made by the Department that are so amazing, crazy and lacking in compassion and common sense that you literally cannot believe the words that you are reading.

That you cannot believe that the government, in the sound administration of the migration legislation, could possibly have made such a decision.

That gives new definition to the concept of “Wednesbury unreasonableness” – a decision that is literally so unreasonable that no reasonable decision-maker would have made it.

In April 2017, the Australian Government proposed replacing the requirement of ‘basic’ proficiency in English with ‘competent’ proficiency in English as a criterion for citizenship.

Australia Iran Migration Consultants Association has prepared the following submission regarding strengthening the test for Australian Citizenship:

English_test_for_citizenship.pdf

Exactly how should the “best interests of children” be considered in a case involving visa cancellation on character grounds?

Or for that matter, in any other migration decision?

For example, do the “best interests” of children override all other considerations?

Dear Migration Alliance members,

Migration Alliance is proud to announce we have recently partnered with Vasco Pay.

Vasco Pay is the preferred payment partner of Migration Alliance. We offer an innovative payments solution for all Visa applicants. Whether you are a skilled worker or an international student, we have you covered with a secure, safe and reliable payment service.