The department of immigration has announced that from 18 April 2015, the minimum English language test scores for the Skilled – Recognised Graduate (subclass 476) and Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visas will change.

This change means the ‘competent English’ requirement no longer applies to subclasses 476 and 485.

For applications lodged on or after 18 April for the sc485 and sc476, applicants must provide evidence of having achieved one of the following in a test taken in the three years immediately prior to lodging your visa application:

• an  overall score of at least 6, with nothing below 5 in each of the four test components (speaking, reading, listening and writing) in an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test
• a score of at least 'B' in each of the four test components (speaking, reading, listening and writing) of an Occupational English Test (OET)
• a total score of at least 64, with nothing below 4 for listening, 4 for reading, 14 for writing and 14 for speaking, in a Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-based test (TOEFL iBT)
• an overall score of at least 50 with nothing below 36 in each of the four test components (listening, reading, writing and speaking) in a Pearson Test of English Academic
• an overall score of at least 169 with nothing below 154 in each of the four test components (listening, reading, writing and speaking) in a Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) test taken on or after 1 January 2015.

The following statement is now found within online partner visas for Australia:

Family violence is an unacceptable occurrence that has a tragic impact on the lives of victims, the community and the economy. The Australian Government is committed to achieving a reduction in family and sexual violence, particularly against women and their children. As part of this commitment, all successful applicants will be provided with a link in their visa grant letter to information about family and sexual violence, forced marriage and Australian law, and the services and support available within Australia.

Take a look at the Customs and Border Protection flyer which has been developed into multiple languages:

http://www.customs.gov.au/site/offshore-communication-campaign-people-smuggling.asp

It's a pretty strong message.

Did you receive an OMARA email in about September 2013 setting out that GST is no longer payable on your registration fee? Few RMAs seem to recall this let alone realise the effective fee hike. Some may now have also potentially and wrongly claimed an input tax credit. 

Many RMAs are calling this change by OMARA a covert fee hike and going directly against calls made by the Migration Alliance to half the current registration fees so that they were closer to other professions like tax agents and medical professionals.

IN THE COURSE OF PREPARING YOUR LAST TAX RETURNS you may not have noticed the OMARA tax invoice for repeat registration application states: “GST is not payable on registration application fees”. Previous such invoices however show that GST applied to registration application fees. The difference of these statements is that you could be out of pocket by the GST amount (depending on the type of registration you have).

An MA member recently queried the OMARA’s chief executive Steve Ingram on the matter:

“If this situation has changed, I would like to know why I am still being charged the same amount as if the GST was included,” the RMA asked citing that the change would mean that RMAs are effectively left out of pocket by $145 from now on.

OMARA pretty much threw the book at the RMA in its response stating that the OMARA has the right under legislation to charge same fee irrespective of whether GST applies:

The following information has been received from BSMQ:

The Commonwealth Government has advised that nominations for the Significant Investor Visa (SIV) will be suspended from 24 April 2015 until 30 June 2015.

This means that state and territory governments, including Queensland, cannot make any nominations during this period.

If you wish to apply to the Queensland Government for a Significant Investor Visa under the current criteria and receive your nomination before 24 April, the following timeframes will apply:

• Lodge an Expression of Interest via SkillSelect by 17 April 2015;
   
• You will then be sent an email from BSMQ requesting further information, which will be required to be returned by 21 April 2015.

We ask that you send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. when you have lodged your Expression of Interest in SkillSelect.

For more information about the temporary suspension visit the Department of Immigration and Border Protection.