TeeTMI

Hi Kathy To obtain a bridging visa your parents would need to be eligible to apply for the onshore aged parent option. They would need to be over 65 years of age to do this. The cost for each parent is approx $47,337. Tee

South Australia state sponsorship - occupations that have now met planning levels for 2015-16 The following occupations have met their planning level and special conditions apply (List current as of 14/08/2015) • ICT Project Manager • ICT Managers nec • Cafe or Restaurant Manager • Call or Contact Centre Manager • Customer Service Manager • Financial Institution Branch Manager • Training and Development Professional • Electrical Engineer • Industrial Engineer • Mechanical Engineer • Production or Plant Engineer • ICT Business Analyst • Systems Analyst • Software Engineer • Software Tester • Database Administrator • ICT Security Specialist • Systems Administrator • Computer Network and Systems Engineer • ICT Quality Assurance Engineer • ICT Support Engineer • ICT Systems Test Engineer • Telecommunications Engineer • Mechanical Engineering Draftsperson Human Resource Advisor and Marketing Specialist (on the Supplementary Skilled List) are close to meeting the quota for high points nomination. There are still many occupations with high nomination places left, for example Motor Mechanic, Physiotherapist or Developer Programmer, Electrician and Finance Manager. Tee

There is a brief overview on my web site in case of interest, although much of the info is also available on the DIBP web site. Tee

South Australia State Sponsorship In a new initiative South Australia have announced that people who can reach 80 points may have access to a broader range of occupations for state sponsorship. "If you have 80 points or higher (including state nomination points) on the Department of Immigration and Border Protection’s (DIBP) points test, you will be able to access additional occupations (special conditions and Supplementary Skilled List)." The list of occupations open for consideration of sponsorship was updated as of 1st July.

South Australia - State Sponsorship (190 / 489 visas). SA state sponsorship site will be down over the financial year end (from 1pm on 30 June) and that any draft (unsubmitted / unpaid) state sponsorship applications will be deleted and you will need to re-draft. A revised list of occupations (I don't have a copy) and some changes to the English requirements are expected.

From 1 July 2015, The Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS) will integrate with the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (the Department) and the Australian Border Force will be established. To support the integration, a new website will be launched at http://www.border.gov.au. From this date, internet searches for immi.gov.au and customs.gov.au will redirect to the new address. http://www.immi.gov.au/About/Pages/new-website-www-border-gov-au.aspx

Visa Application Charges (VACs) will change from 1 July 2015. These adjustments include: • A price increase in line with inflation (2.3 per cent) on visas which face strong international competition or have been impacted by recent price increases. o These include specific visas within the Permanent Migration Skill Stream, Skilled Graduate, Temporary Long Stay Business (Subclass 457), Visitor and Student visa streams. •A 5 per cent price increase on visas which continue to see strong demand despite previous increases, or are likely to see a sustained volume increase through policy changes under consideration. o These include specific visas within the Temporary Resident Short Term Business and Entertainment visas, Working Holiday visas, Resident Return and Retirement Investor visas, and Contributory Parent visa streams. •A 10 per cent price increase on specific visas within the Other Family (Remaining Relative, Carer and Aged Dependent Relative) visas, and (non-contributory) Parent visa streams where the underlying demand is not expected to be impacted by the price increase. •An alignment of VAC prices where a differential currently exists for lodging an onshore and offshore application for specific visa subclasses. Electronic Travel Authorities (ETA), eVisa and Refugee and Humanitarian visas will not be affected by these changes. A comprehensive list of VAC price increases is included below. Skilled (186/7, 189/190) main applicant $3600, additional adults $1800, children $900

The DIBP have advised the migration industry that processing times for the skilled nominated visas (190/489) may slow, and once the quota is filled that they will be required to stop processing until the new year (July 2015) when quotas are reset.

South Australia State Sponsorship Fees: SA have announced that some time after 15 March 2015 South Australia will be charging a processing fee for nomination applications for the following visas: State nominated skilled – 190 permanent: $200 State nominated skilled – 489 regional provisional: $200 Business 188 provisional: $500 Business permanent 888/892/893: $750 Business 132 permanent: $750 Business retiree 405: $500

The mid-year budget review yesterday announced that there will be an increase in the partner visa application charges for partner visas. The budget comments state "The Government will increase, by 50 per cent, the visa application charge (VAC) for Partner Visas (subclass 100, 300, 309, 820 and 801) within the Permanent Family Migration stream from 1 January 2015." If you are ready to submit it may be worth looking at before the increases.

From the ImmiAccount Notices in case you are in the process of drafting an application "There will be a planned system outage on 22-23 November 2014. This may impact some applications that have been started but not submitted before this date. If you have started an application for a subclass 132, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 462, 476, 485, 489, 887 or 888 visa we would encourage you to complete and submit the application ahead of the outage to avoid losing any information."

Whilst generally people with a UK passport do not need to undertake an English test they can be useful if you are applying for a skilled independent visa and are short on points. Previously IELTS was the main test available. From 23rd November 2014, the DIBP will accept English language test scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-based test (TOEFL iBT) and the Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) across the Temporary Graduate, Skilled, Former Resident and Work and Holiday visa programmes. More details can be found at http://www.taylormadeimmigration.com/EnglishScores

The health requirement covers more than just medical treatment it also considered for example any special schooling or community resources that he may require or be eligible to access. Whilst your brother may not require these resources, the costing assessment would not be made against his needs but rather be calculated against what would be expected to be provided to an Australian under similar circumstances.

Just to update this thread Update on the Non-Contributory Parent, Aged dependent, Last Remaining Relative & Carer visas. A motion was passed in Senate today to disallow the cessation of these visas and therefore these visa categories will now re-open. Please note there are major expected waiting times for some of these options and the pros and cons in making an application deserve serious consideration. Plus there is the potential that the government will seek to find a way to cease these visas again, although there currently appears to be an expected window of at least 6 months. Tee

Thanks Rammygirl - it should have said 5.19(4)(h)(ii) [not (i)] and currently for the SC187 it is a Skill Level 1-3 as classified in ANZSCO

The 457 visa can be issued for up to a maximum of 4 years, however your husband's employer could seek further 457's at the end of that time. Under current legislation there are very limited exemptions to being able to apply for PR once over 50 through the employer sponsored visa options. At 47 you could consider applying immediately for permanent residence through the skilled or employer sponsored visa options if you can meet the eligibility requirements. The 2 year transitional stream to PR is not guaranteed and there are risks you should take into consideration. It is also important to remember that legislation and policy can change over time. A recent review has recommended some changes to the 457 some of which may be positive however they may or may not be implemented? Migration Regulations 1994, subparagraph 5.19(4)(h)(i)

Hi Blossom Once open they will provide an alternative test to the IELTS. The tests have different formats which may suit some people. Tee

The DIBP have announced how the scores for the new English tests (due to be accepted sometime in November, date still to be announced) will be benchmarked against IELTS. I have provided a comparison of the scores in a table on my website along with a list of visas for which these tests can be used (NB does not yet include SC457). http://www.taylormadeimmigration.com/EnglishTest

MARA registration is of individual ie each individual migration agent is registered independently, the company itself is not registered, although we list he companies and organisations we work for as part of our registration. You can always ask a company (certainly in Australia, and some outside Australia) which MARA registered migration agent you will be working with. The Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner is a UK government organisation - ie not Australian immigration. I would suggest if you are looking at the employer sponsored options then you might look at obtaining advice about the pathways at this stage. Without looking at the full details I would say that, depending upon your points, there are potentially a couple of state sponsored skilled independent visa options. I have a points calculator at http://www.TaylorMadeImmigration.com/PointsCalculator - or you could check the skillselect site at immi.gov.au Tee Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner

The states change their lists over time, youth work is not currently listed.

Migration updates 2014/15 program year State nomination process made simple Immigration South Australia is using data from SkillSelect to identify eligible applicants and inviting them to apply for state nomination. Find out more about the application process here. The number of available state nomination places (planning levels) are now calculated at the time of submission rather than time of decision, meaning your application will no longer be refused based on planning levels. We've also made the application process easier for you by updating our online application system. South Australian State Occupation List The new occupation lists for the 2014/15 program year are available on our website. Below are some of the new occupations added to the State Occupation List: • Advertising Manager • Regional Education Manager • Special needs teacher • Art Administrator or Manager • Nurse Practitioner • Finance Broker • Financial Investment Manager View the full list here. IELTS requirements (for most occupations) have been reduced to six in each band score to align with DIBP requirements. All score requirements are published on the State Occupation List. We're recognising applicants' commitment to South Australia Applicants who have worked in South Australia for the last 12 months in a skilled occupation* have access to a more extensive occupation list. View point 5 and 6 in the eligibility requirements section. International graduates of South Australia We’ve reduced the skilled work experience requirement from 30 hours per week to 20 hours per week. View point 5, 6 and 8 in the eligibility requirements section.

[h=2]Nomination pathway expanded for South Australia[/h] Immigration South Australia introduced a new nomination pathway, chain migration*, which allows applicants with an immediate family member permanently residing in South Australia to apply for a state nominated visa. Chain migration enables applicants to access occupations on the South Australian Graduate List and occupations listed as special conditions apply. Requirements To qualify for the chain migration pathway, applicants must: • Have completed a Bachelor degree or higher • Meet all DIBP criteria and Immigration South Australia criteria • Have 60 points on the DIBP points test. To qualify for the chain migration pathway, the family member in South Australia must: • Be the applicant’s grandfather, grandmother, father, mother, brother or sister. Applicants can still apply if it’s a step or adoptive parent/sibling. • Be an Australian Permanent Resident or an Australian Citizen • Have resided in South Australia for the past twelve months. For full details of the chain migration criteria, view the eligibility requirements section on our website. *Quotas apply. Once reached, no further applications for chain migration will be accepted for the 2014/15 program year.

For any 457 visa holders out there: There is to be a change in the ENS/RSMS 'transitional stream' legislation in respect of the: '2 year requirement with same employer'. Legislation in respect of demonstrating the visa applicant has worked for the same employer for 2 years, is to be amended (1st July) as it is currently considered too restrictive in relation to circumstances where businesses may have undergone restructuring/takeover/sale and therefore changed their ABN/ACN/name currently impacting on the ability to nominate under the transitional stream. The new legislation will assist in cases where the nominee is effectively working for the same business, in the same position, performing the same duties over the required period. Many SC457 visa holders have been negatively impacted by this requirement in the past. If you have previously been unable to use the transitional stream option due to the previous legislation in this matter you may now wish to revisit your eligibility.

That is correct, a maximum of 3 years (some may have shorter validity) one of several changes announced the other day.

Both the new SOL and CSOL to start 1st July 2014 have now been announced. Summary of changes: The following changes will apply to applications made for the above visas on or after 1 July 2014. The following occupations will be added to the SOL: - Chef (ANZSCO) 351311) - Bricklayer (ANZSCO 331111) - Wall and Floor Tiler (ANZSCO 333411) The following occupations will be added to the CSOL: - Hydrogeologist (ANZSCO 234413) - Exercise Physiologist (ANZSCO 234915) The following titles will be changed: - Ship's Surveyor will be titled Marine Surveyor (ANZSCO 231215) - General Medical Practitioner will be titled General Practitioner (ANZSCO 253111) Changes to assessing authorities. For new applications for the above visas made on or after 1 July 2014, new assessing authorities will be specified for the following occupations: - Nurse Manager (ANZSCO 254311): (ANMAC) - Nurse Educator (ANZSCO 254211): ANMAC - Nurse Researcher (ANZSCO 254212): ANMAC. - Marine Transport Professional not elsewhere classified (ANZSCO 231299): (VETASSESS) Tee Both the new SOL and CSOL to start 1st July 2014 have now been announced. Summary of changes: The following changes will apply to applications made for the above visas on or after 1 July 2014. The following occupations will be added to the SOL: - Chef (ANZSCO) 351311) - Bricklayer (ANZSCO 331111) - Wall and Floor Tiler (ANZSCO 333411) The following occupations will be added to the CSOL: - Hydrogeologist (ANZSCO 234413) - Exercise Physiologist (ANZSCO 234915) The following titles will be changed: - Ship's Surveyor will be titled Marine Surveyor (ANZSCO 231215) - General Medical Practitioner will be titled General Practitioner (ANZSCO 253111) Changes to assessing authorities. For new applications for the above visas made on or after 1 July 2014, new assessing authorities will be specified for the following occupations: - Nurse Manager (ANZSCO 254311): (ANMAC) - Nurse Educator (ANZSCO 254211): ANMAC - Nurse Researcher (ANZSCO 254212): ANMAC. - Marine Transport Professional not elsewhere classified (ANZSCO 231299): (VETASSESS) Tee