Whilst nationals from most of the top ten poorest countries in the world have made it to the department of immigration’s list for expedited processing of temporary work visas (sc400), economic giants China and India have been notably left out of the recently released list with no reasons provided.

Australia and China recently signed an intention to enter a Free Trade Agreement with several promises including simplifying of visa applications. India and Australia have also indicated that such an agreement is being negotiated and could well be signed in the near future. Both the leaders were here recently and even spoke at a joint session of both houses of the Australian parliament promising better trade ties.

Given this it may come as a shock to many that the recent government instrument IMMI 14/100 excludes both China and India from the expanded list of 197 countries and territories eligible to submit online applications for Temporary Work Visas. The list is over three-times the size of the previous list.

From 23 November, nationals from the countries listed in the instrument will be eligible to make online applications and are expected to enjoy faster processing of their visa applications eliminating the need to post or courier paper applications or make in-person visits to Australian DFAT offices.

The SC400 visa is for employers requiring foreign workers to travel to Australia to do short-term, highly specialised, non-ongoing work; participate in non-ongoing cultural or social activities at the invitation of an Australian organisation; or in limited circumstances, participate in an activity or work relating to Australia’s interests.

Move over IELTS.  The end of the IELTS monopoly has finally arrived. 

Here's a look at two other great options for Australian visa applicants:

ETS:

ETS-MEDIA-RELEASE---GETTING-TO-WORK-IN-AUSTRALIA-JUST-GOT-EASIER---241114.pdf

The recent boom in student migration numbers is being attributed not only to the lower Australian dollar and better working rights via the post-study sc485 visa but also to the streamlined visa processing system (SVP). However the SVP is beginning to look like a convenient backdoor into Australia for some who enter Australia easily on the SVP but then change courses to cheaper non-SVP providers soon after. 

RMAs are monitored closely and scrutinised for indiscretions. What about education agents and SVP approved instituitions? The emerging trend of 'course-hopping' among students begs the question: what steps, if any, are being taking by education agents and SVP approved institutions to discourage course-hopping and how exactly are these education agents and providers being monitored?

Over the last year the department of immigration has issued some 1400 warning letters to students who entered Australia on the SVP system but had since left the SVP-approved institutions before completing their course, reports The Australian. According to the report 503 students received notices of DIBPs intention to cancel their visas with 103 visas actually being subsequently cancelled.

The report notes that “there was increasing evidence that students were entering the country by enrolling in a government-approved university or college under what is known as streamlined visa processing, then jumping ship to a cheap private college to finish their qualification at a fraction of the cost while ¬remaining eligible for post-study work rights.”

The streamlined visa processing arrangements was recently extended to eligible advanced diploma level students. It was previously the domain of universities but now vocational and education training institutes assessed by DIPB to be ‘low- risk providers’ have also been included.

Given this and the potential further increase in student numbers, it remains unclear how exactly education agents and SVP approved institutions are managing the SVP privileges or how DIBP is monitoring them.

It was always my view, that there is no bigger or smaller half, majority means more than 50 % . Obviously I am wrong .  The 457 visa legislation requires  nominator to certify that the tasks or duties of the nominated occupation will include a "significant majority" of the tasks or duties described in the relevant occupation dictionary or legislative instrument . 

The  457 visa compliance unit intends to sanction my client on the basis of visa holder is performing prescribed tasks and duties for approximately 80% of the employment time.  That  is "not enough " according to the Delegate . 

Seeking explanation what this "significant majority " means,  while 80 % "is not good enough " I turned to very helpful , as usually "agent's gateway "  getting helpful and competent answer .

The Australian High Commission is urging Indian nationals to be cautious of scams while applying for Australian visas, and report any frauds to the authorities. Last month, the Australian Government launched a national campaign ‘Work visa scams. Don’t pay the price’ to investigate allegations of unauthorized payments to visa sponsors in return for visas.

The campaign involved an initial assessment of up to 100 visa sponsors who are subject to allegations of receiving payment for arranging sponsorship for individuals under the 457 visa programme.

‘Work visa scams. Don’t pay the price’ also has a public education component to further educate visa sponsors about their obligations and make visa holders more aware of their rights and responsibilities.

The government website Scamwatch, states that some scammers contact prospects by post, email, or phone offering a visa in return for payments, personal details and identity documents.  They may claim to be a ‘registered provider’ or ‘Australian visa application service’.

Other scams involve people posing as staff from an Australian Government department, or by using websites which look like official Government sites.