A frightening email message from a Registered Migration Agent and member of Migration Alliance today:

"I apologise for sending this email to your email address; I was hoping to reach Liana but I cannot find her email address in my inbox.

I have had a strange visa grant come in last night. Here are the details:

Toward the end of last year, in December 2014, the Federal Circuit Court (per Judge Nicholls) handed down an important decision concerning the scope of the MRT’s jurisdiction to review decisions of the Department concerning applications for 457 visas.  The Court’s judgment was delivered in the case of Minister for Immigration v Lee & Ors (2014) FCCA 2881 (10 December 2014) and can be reviewed at the following link:

http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/cth/FCCA/2014/2881.html

It is essential that all RMAs consider the implications of this decision when advising their clients whether to proceed with an appeal in the MRT against the refusal of a 457 application.

A new reciprocal Work and Holiday arrangement with Vietnam will enable up to 200 young Australians and 200 young Vietnamese to experience each other's culture through a new exchange programme.

The Minister for Immigration and Border Protection Peter Dutton and Vietnam's Minister and Head of the Government Office Mr Nguyen Van Nen today signed a work and holiday Memorandum of Understanding between Australia and Vietnam.

Mr Dutton said the agreement is just one of several that the Governments will sign this week.

'The new arrangement will increase opportunities for young adults between 18 and 30 to experience a new culture whilst being able to work and study for a year.'

Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection Senator Michaelia Cash said over the coming months, both countries will be working closely to implement the necessary legal and administrative processes to bring the new visa into effect.

I am just about to do something I have not done before on this website.  Swear. 

Sh*t.  

There you go.  I did it.  That wasn't too hard.  Especially when I had to find an appropriate word to describe the SBS's 457 'Explainer'.

An email was received from an RMA today which sets the 'reality' tone:

"I am looking at MARA and its functions due to a client who has become somewhat of a nuisance. The complaint was dismissed by MARA.

The client since has posted several claims online, shifted his claim to another issue etc.