Australian Immigration Daily News

Strong interest of Chinese tourists supported by the increased frequency and capacity of flights to Sydney from China is driving the boom.

The most recent National Visitor Survey has revealed a surge in tourists from China to New South Wales by 18 per cent over the previous year. China is now NSW top source of tourists. It has surpassed New Zealand.

The survey revealed that Chinese tourists stayed a total of more than 11.6 million nights and contributed $1.4 billion to the NSW economy. This was an increase of $178.5 million on the previous year.

Almost 12.000 partner visas were issued to the Garden State last year.

Victoria is a hotspot for partner visas, the The Herald Sun has reported recently. 

Referring to the Federal Government's latest State and Territory Migration Summary Report, a recent article noted that, “More than 2000 Indians, 1245 Chinese and about 1000 UK-born migrants were among 11,840 people to get partner visas in 2012-13.The total number for Australia was more than 46,000, including people in gay relationships.”

The article did not reveal whether the sponsors are Australian born or new migrants themselves.

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

Court finds that oral notification to DIBP to vary the RMAs preferred method of communications is sufficient.

The recent Federal Court’s decision suggests that no further written notification to DIBP is required to vary original written notice to DIBP. Oral notice is sufficient, provided all the correct communication information (i.e. email, fax and/or address) had been properly provided to DIBP previously.

Briefly, in that case, the applicant’s visa refusal decision was sent by the DIBP Case Officer (CO) to the RMAs postal address whilst the RMA was overseas. The RMA was unaware of this notice. By the time the RMA returned from overseas, the timeframe for lodging an appeal to the Tribunal had expired. After a series of failed appeals the applicant took the matter to the Federal Court.