A new pilot program for online lodgement of subclass 600 visas for Indian business and tourism visitors is in the process of being rolled out through selected travel agents in India, according to a media release from the office of the Minister for Trade and Investment.

The department of immigration itself has made no announcement on the matter but it is expected that the trial will follow that of the one recently rolled out in China. According to Senator Michaelia Cash, the China trial was “limited to low risk cohorts to ensure programme integrity is maintained”.

DIBP currently has agreements to accept applications for certain classes of visa from overseas agents who are not registered with the Migration Agents Registration Authority.It is unfortunate that registered migration agents actually cannot use these online facilities unless they are part of those agreements.

Indian outbound traveler numbers surge

Although India is said to be one of the world’s fastest growing outbound travel markets, the total tourist arrivals from India to Australia rank 10 compared to arrivals from other countries according to a publication by Tourism Australia . New Zealand, China and the UK take the top three spots.

Proprietors of a Launceston restaurant who setup an elaborate and unconscionable system to defraud the immigration department and underpay a chef over a period of four years have been fined $100,000 by the Federal Court for underpaying wages and creating false wage records.

According to a report on the ABC, the Fair Work Ombudsman had found David and Priscilla Lam, who own Dave's Noodles in Launceston, created false records to pay a staff member for a 38-hour week when he worked 60. It resulted in the Chinese chef being underpaid $86,000 over a four-year period.

The couple convinced the chef, who they sponsored on a 457 working visa, he had to sign the false time and wage sheets for immigration purposes.

The Federal Court fined the pair $100,000 and ordered them to repay the employee.

The couple are also the franchisors of the Dave's Noodles restaurants in Hobart, Burnie, Kingston, Moonah and Mowbray.

When clients based offshore receive an invoice from their migration agent in Australian Dollars, they are often faced with the task of wondering what the most effective way to pay for it is.

Many will use their bank and incur a $50 bank fee for the privilege, others will us their credit card and receive a less than favourable exchange rate, making the invoice more expensive than it has to be.

An ever increasingly popular method is clients using a foreign currency exchange payment specialist to assist with the transaction ensuring;

Graduate engineers from around the world may well have their last chance to apply for a temporary visa to work in Australia this year if the department of immigration proceeds with plans to drop the Skilled Recognised Graduate (sub-class 476) visa from next year.

The visa which allows recent graduates from recognised universities to work in Australia for up to 18 months in order to gain work experience was introduced in 2007 with the aim of easing engineering shortages. It is available to applicants aged below 31 years, with competent English language ability and who have graduated within two years from the date of application from recognised foreign institutions.  

DIBP is expected to scrap this visa as early as next year, according to an internal proposal paper of the department, which was obtained by The Australian Financial Review.

The number of applicants for the visa almost doubled last year to 1100 but DIBP’s paper states that it does not see “an adverse outcome arising” from the possible repeal of the visa.

“The cohort for this visa is very small, with approximately 600 visas granted in 2012-13 and approximately 1100 visas granted in 2013-14,” says the department’s proposal paper.

Welcome back everyone and best wishes for a fantastic year in 2015.

Migration Alliance is hosting a networking event to allow you to 'unlock the power of positive and proactive networking'. All attendees will receive a copy of The Professional Migration Agent: Best Practices for Registered Migration Agents. This is a new and inspirational e-book dedicated to the migration agent profession by the founder of Migration Alliance, Liana Allan.

Come and have some fun with your colleagues. Join in the trivia quiz on unlucky superstitions.

When: Friday 13th February 2015

Where: The Angel Hotel, 125 Pitt St Sydney

What time: 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

What to wear: Something black or freaky

Cost: $50 per head for canapés and drinks

Proposed menu:

- spiced lamb samosa
- tomato, black olive and basil crostini (v)
- mexican prawn and lime salad on corn chips (gf)
- vegetarian spring roll (v)
- green pea and mint risotto balls (v)
- tandoori chicken drummer and cucumber raita (gf)
- pumpkin and goats cheese ravioli with fresh tomato and parmesan (v)
* (v) - vegetarian (gf) - gluten free

Places are limited so get in early and pay now to secure your place at this premium networking event.

To register, please download the registration form below and return to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Click to download event Registration Form

We hope you can make it and look forward to seeing you there.