Migration Centre of Australia

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Why Use a Migration Agent?

With so much information available online these days, it can be tempting to ask… why even use a migration agent? The bottom line is that it can take a lot of the confusion and stress out of your migration journey to or within Australia. A migration agent’s experience, professional qualifications and familiarity with deadlines are often what you need to ensure all of your visa documents are lodged accurately and on time. A lot of applicants underestimate the amount of work that is involved when preparing and lodging a Visa to live, stay or work in Australia. Unfortunately, it is not as easy as filling out a form and sending it. The Australian Department of Home Affairs has a strict and regimented process in place and the requirements of the applicant will vary depending on a number of factors including visa type, country of origin, age, health, education, work experience, criminal records, finances and/or financial situation. Every applicant has a unique set of circumstances and the visa application process is very thorough. Depending on the type of visa you are applying for will also determine the amount of work that is required for a successful application. Some visas will require additional documentation such as training plans, skills assessments, character submissions if there are character issues, labour market testing, market salary rate, writing positions about genuine positions, satisfying the genuine temporary entrant requirement, offering alternatives to cancellation of visas, and handling AAT matters, including writing submissions and providing and producing more concrete evidence to the tribunal. Another reason why it is so important to use a migration agent is that a good migration agent will be proactive and chase up files and applications and also ensure that the documentation is filled out properly and completely to reduce the chance of an application being delayed or refused due to insufficient information. A migration agent will have direct contacts and avenues only available within the migration industry which will also assist with a seamless application process. This is why using a registered and experienced migration agent is and should be the preferred option for Visa applicants.  There are many migration agents available but it is worthwhile doing some research to ensure they are right for you. At Migration Centre of Australia, you can be assured that all of our team are qualified and experienced in their field and our agency is registered with MARA. We are well-trained to handle highly complex matters. Book one of our agents for professional advice by calling 02 4626 1002 or email us to book in a time at info@migrationcentreofaustralia.com.au. We also speak fluent Hindi, Nepalese, Punjabi, Turkish, Tamil, Portuguese and Marathi. If one of these isn’t your language, we can also help you arrange an interpreter.
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Alternative Pathway to Permanent Residency (PR)

Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) The Australian Federal Government has implemented DAMA to provide flexibility for States, Territories and regions to respond to their unique economic and labour market conditions through an agreement-based framework. What is a DAMA? A DAMA is an agreement between the Australian government (represented by Department of Home Affairs) and a regional or state/territory body to provide the following: To fill in positions in designated areas where employers are experiencing skills and labour shortages Streamlined access to a broader range of overseas workers than available through the standard skilled visa programs Wider range of occupations than available in the regular occupation lists with no applied caveats (limitations) Pathways to permanent residency as incentives to attract overseas workers Which states and territories have a DAMA? The following states and territory have access to a DAMA: Northern Territory – entire region Southern Australia will have two specific agreements: Adelaide Technology and Innovation Advancement Agreement – focus on Adelaide’s high-tech growth industries including defence, space, technology and advanced manufacturing industries. South Australia Regional Workforce Agreement – focus on agribusiness, forestry, health and social services, tourism and hospitality, construction and mining. Western Australia – Kalgoorlie-Boulder region Victoria – Great South Coast region which includes Glenelg Shire, Southern Grampians Shire, Moyne Shire, Warrnambool City, Corangamite Shire, Colac Otway Shire New South Wales – Orana region Currently, only the Northern Territory DAMA is in operation, and is expected to last for five (5) years from 2018 to late 2023. The other DAMA agreements are expected to come into effect at the end of the financial year, July 2019. Who can have access to DAMA? Only employers or businesses can access the DAMA if: they are actively operating in the nominated region are viable and have been operating for at least 12 months have no adverse history, such as not meeting obligations to employees are looking to employ overseas workers to fill full-time positions with duties that align with one of the occupations on the relevant DAMA list can demonstrate they cannot fill the position locally with Australian citizens or permanent residents can provide terms and conditions of employment to overseas workers that are in accordance with those offered to Australian workers employed in the region. What is the current procedure? The following procedure is currently in place for the Northern Territory DAMA: First and foremost, employers in the designated area need to apply to be endorsed from the region they want to access the DAMA This involves completing an application form and satisfying the Labour Market Testing The employers will need to provide a summary of domestic recruitment efforts and must verify that there is no known adverse information about the employer Once the employer has been successfully endorsed, they can apply to enter into a Labour Agreement with DoHA. Once the Labour Agreement has been approved, the employer will be able to nominate workers for Subclass 482 (Temporary Skills Shortage) visas under the labour agreement pathway. Why consider a DAMA? Availability of concessions The Northern Territory (NT) DAMA provides for English language and Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) concessions subject to relevant occupation. The English language level is reduced from the standard requirement to an average of 5 across the four IELTS components (reading, writing, speaking and listening) with speaking and listening components no less than 4.0 and no minimum core for the reading and writing components (unless registration or licensing requires a higher level of English). For TSMIT, the threshold currently sits at $53,900, however businesses can receive up to 10% concession amounting to no less than $48,510 (such earnings can also be comprised of non-monetary earnings) Additional occupations included that are not in ANZSCO The NT DAMA provides three additional occupations that are not in ANZSCO. They include: bar attendant (supervisor) waiter (supervisor) cook (specialist ethnic cuisine) Other employer sponsored visa programs, specifically the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) has undergone recent changes where businesses in regional and remote areas of Australia are no longer able to easily sponsor the overseas workers needed. Therefore, DAMA provides a solution by focusing on the needs of a specific region in a State and/or Territory. What are the requirements of an overseas worker? Once the business becomes able to nominate workers under Subclass 482 (after a successful endorsement), the overseas worker will need to demonstrate the same level of qualifications and experience as the required by the visa criteria. How much does the DAMA cost?   There are no fees for: Endorsement by Migration NT to access the NT DAMA Labour agreement Skills verification for selected occupations There are fees for: Nomination application Worker visa application Skilling Australians Fund levy Getting Assistance If you are an employer/business and would like us to assist you with any questions or endorsement applications relating to DAMA, contact us without delay. There are complex procedures involved in getting access to DAMA, more specifically satisfying technical requirements of Labour Market Testing and Market Salary Rate. At Migration Centre of Australia, we are well-trained to handle highly complex matters. Book one of our agents for professional advice by calling 02 4626 1002 or email us to book in a time at info@migrationcentreofaustralia.com.au. We also speak fluent Hindi, Nepali and Turkish. If one of these isn’t your language, we can also help you arrange an interpreter.
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Nursing pathway for international nurses and students

There is a high demand of overseas nurses in Australia as it faces an ageing population. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), 1 In 7 Australians are aged 65 years and older. This, alongside increases in chronic non-communicable diseases and longer life expectancy, is creating great demand for health care in urban and especially rural areas of Australia. ASSESSING AUTHORITY IN AUSTRALIA As part of its public protection role, the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) in partnership with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) is responsible for assessing registration applications from internationally qualified nurses and midwives (IQNMs) to ensure they are suitably trained and qualified for registration in Australia.  To work as a registered nurse, enrolled nurse, nurse practitioner or midwife in Australia, you must be registered with the NMBA. The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council holds the authority for the Department of Home Affairs to assess the eligibility of register for migration. BENEFITS FOR NURSES IN AUSTRALIA Opportunity for flexible work Travel and work between different states Large and modern hospitals Excellent rates of pay Opportunities for further study and professional development JOB OPPORTUNITIES IN AUSTRALIA There are multiple job opportunities for nurses in range of different specialisations with experience in ICU, CCU, midwifery, theatre and chemotherapy and mental health.  Aged care is a growing industry in Australia, and more importantly in rural areas. VISA PATHWAY FOR AUSTRALIA To work as a registered nurse, enrolled nurse, nurse practitioner or midwife in Australia, you must be registered with the NMBA. The NMBA will commence assessment of International Qualified Nurses and Midwifes (IQNMs) from eight assessment criteria’s to three criteria in the second half of 2019. All IQNM’s will have their qualifications assessed and only IQNMs qualifications that don’t meet all the required assessment criteria will be directed to the outcomes-based assessment pathway.  Some IQNM’S may need to complete an NMBA approved program of study if they do not hold a relevant qualification. Those who have done their Bachelor of Nursing from overseas and have not begun practising may have their credit transferred and complete a Bachelors Degree in Nursing in Australia and complete the course in 1.5 years instead of 3 years. In some cases, depending on where you obtained your qualification, you may not have to complete your Bachelor of Nursing if your qualification is recognised in Australia. To become a registered nurse, you must undertake a Bachelors in Nursing in Australia. This requires completion of Year 12 or overseas equivalent and have a basic English IELTS score of 7.0 overall with no band lower than 6.5 or equivalent. Individual institutions or universities may require a higher or lower IELTS score. Alternatively, international students with no previous nursing background can also study a Diploma of Nursing and become qualified as an enrolled nurse in 12 to 18 months. As above, this requires the completion of Year 12 or equivalent, and the expected English IELTS score from the education provider or equivalent in one of the other accepted English exams. GETTING ASSISTANCE If you have any questions or would like us to assist you with your migration queries to migrate to Australia, contact us without delay.  At Migration Centre of Australia, we are well-trained to handle highly complex matters. Book one of our agents for professional advice by calling 02 4626 1002 or email us to book in a time at info@migrationcentreofaustralia.com.au. We also speak fluent Hindi, Nepalese, Punjabi, Turkish, Tamil, Portuguese and Marathi. If one of these isn’t your language, we can also help you arrange an interpreter.
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APPLYING FOR A VISITOR VISA

The Visitor visa (subclass 600) lets you visit Australia as a tourist, or visit family and friends.  This visa is widely used by travellers who want to visit tourist hotspots around Australia, or by family members intending to visit their loved ones.  A visitor visa is generally granted for 3, 6 or 12 months.  Eligible parents of Australian citizens or permanent residents might be granted longer validity periods.  New Zealanders do not need to apply for this visa to visit Australia for the short-term. Visa requirements You need to submit some documentation along with your visitor visa application for Australia, to satisfy the Department that you should be allowed into the country, and that you’re only intending on visiting. You should satisfy the following: Character requirement – You must be of good character to visit Australia.  If you have declared any criminal offences on the visa application, the Department may require you to provide further evidence of good character. Health requirement –If you intend to visit Australia for more than 6 months, you may be required to complete health examinations.  If you have a history of tuberculosis, the Department may put your application on hold for the period of your recovery, and you may require to undertake health examinations again. Genuine visitor –You need to provide evidence to the Department that you are a genuine visitor and intend to stay temporarily in Australia and obey any condition and stay period attached to your visa. Have enough money –You must have access to enough money to support yourself while on the trip, or the family you intend to reside with needs to provide a support letter to confirm that they access to sufficient funds to support your stay. Health Insurance –You must have sufficient health cover for your period of stay in Australia. After you apply The Department may require you to provide biometrics as part of your visa application before they can finalise it.  If you have not completed your health examinations, or declared any medical conditions, the Department may require you to undergo health examinations, depending on the age of the visa applicant. Visa outcome If you have submitted all the relevant documents mentioned above, the Department will likely process your application within 3-4 weeks.  If they find they need further information to fulfil the visa criteria, the processing of your visa application may be delayed. Getting Assistance  If you have any questions or would like us to assist you with your migration queries, contact us without delay. At Migration Centre of Australia we are well-trained to handle highly complex matters. Book one of our agents for professional advice by calling 02 4626 1002 or email us to book in a time at info@migrationcentreofaustralia.com.au. We also speak fluent Hindi, Nepalese, Punjabi, Turkish, Tamil, Portuguese and Marathi. If one of these isn’t your language, we can also help you arrange an interpreter.
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  • April 26, 2019

Training Benchmarks are still valid

Training Benchmarks were abolished from 12 August 2018 with the introduction of the Skilling Australia Fund (SAF) levy. However, sponsoring employers may still need to meet Training Benchmark obligations. This means that: Please note that Training Benchmarks still apply to all sc457 Sponsors who have or had sc457 visa holders working for them. The Skilling Australia Fund (SAF) Levy applies to new nominations made after 12th August 2018 only on sc482,  sc186 and sc187 visas. sc457 sponsor companies who wish to nominate workers on sc482 and sc186/ sc187 visas will need to provide evidence of having met their Training Benchmark obligations. Please also note that sc482 sponsors who had nominated workers after the implementation of sc482 but before the implementation of SAF on 12th August 2018 also will need to meet their Training Benchmark obligations.
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  • April 26, 2019

April 2019 SkillSelect

The April 2019 SkillSelect invitation round information has been released by the Department of Home Affairs (Home Affairs). Invitation quotas have dropped significantly in a lead up to the May 2019 Federal Election and the end of the financial year. The figures provided by Home Affairs indicate that since the last round information: The number of invitations for the Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent) visa has been substantially reduced from 1,490 to 100. The minimum points score for a 189 visa invitation is currently 80 points, with a one month processing time Expression of Interest (EOI) at this score. The number of invitations for the Subclass 489 Skilled Regional (Provisional) remained the same at 10, requiring a minimum point score of 80. Processing times are around 5 months from lodgement of an EOI. The minimum points score for pro-rata occupations, or those classified as occupations for which there is more demand for places, are as follows: Accountants: 90 Auditors, Company Secretaries and Corporate Treasurers: 85 Electronics Engineer: 80 Industrial, Mechanical and Production Engineers: 80 Other Engineering Professionals: 80 ICT Business and System Analyst: 85 Software and Applications Programmers: 80 Computer Network Professionals: 80
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  • April 23, 2019

Subclass 417 (Working Holiday) visa

Please note changes to electronic application form introduced on 17th April 2019. You may need to start a new application for an incomplete application. A new electronic application form was introduced for the Working Holiday visa on 17 April 2019. Any partially completed, ‘saved’ or, ‘in progress’ Working Holiday visa application forms that were not submitted by 16 April 2019 will be set to a status of ‘discontinued’ within ImmiAccount. Applicants will need to start a new Working Holiday visa application form to continue the visa application process.
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  • April 23, 2019

Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) and Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored visas

The Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) and Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored visas will be introduced from 16 November 2019. These are points tested skilled assessment migration visa which requires either employer or state government nomination, or sponsorship by an eligible family member who is settled in a designated regional area. The validity period for either visa is five years. Holders of either visa will be work in a nominated position within any designated regional area. Condition 8579 will be imposed on both visas to enforce the government’s intention that that visa holders live, work and study only in regional areas and, if employer sponsored, only in the nominated position. A new permanent visa, the Subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa will be introduced in November 2022. To meet the requirements of the permanent visa, applicants must have held a subclass 491 or 494 visa for at least 3 years, have complied with the conditions on that visa and have met minimum taxable income requirements. The Subclass 187 (Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme) Visa and the Subclass 489 (Skilled Regional (Provisional)) Visa (subclass 489) will close to new applicants from 16 November 2019. Transitional arrangements will be put in place for applications which have been lodged and are undecided at that time. New points test thresholds for both the subclass 489 and 491 visas are: 15 points for nomination by a State or Territory government agency or sponsorship by a family member residing in regional Australia, to live and work in regional Australia; 10 points for a skilled spouse or de facto partner; 10 points for certain Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics qualifications; 5 points for a spouse or de facto partner with ‘competent English’; and 10 points for applicants without a spouse or de facto partner.
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  • April 23, 2019

Update to the Queensland Business and Skilled Migration Program

Business and Skilled Migration Queensland has received additional quota for the skilled program and is re-opening the ‘Working in Queensland, ‘Masters’ and ‘PhD’ Queensland Skilled Occupation Lists (the Lists) from 18 April 2019. Once this quota has been filled the program will close again until July 2019. The Lists have recently been amended with occupations added and removed so will need to reviewed by the applicant before lodgment of an EOI. The Lists are available at: https://migration.qld.gov.au/skilled-occupation-lists/ Only EOI’s submitted from 18 April 2019 will be picked up via Skill Select. This means that if an applicant has lodged an EOI prior to this date and not received an invitation a new EOI will need to be submitted. Applicants must be onshore only and meet the onshore criteria for working in Queensland, including being employed for 6 months in the nominated occupation before submitting an EOI and have an ongoing job offer for at least a year. Queensland Masters graduates must be currently working in the nominated occupation and have continual ongoing employment for at least 12 months. PhD graduates are not required to have a job, however there is an exception for the occupation of University Lecturer. PhD applicants applying under the occupation of University Lecturer (ANZSCO code 242111), must meet working in Queensland criteria including having been employed for six months in their nominated occupation and have continual ongoing employment for at least 12 months. Invitations to suitable candidates will commence from 24 April 2019.
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  • April 23, 2019

Australian Working Holiday Maker International Promotion

The Federal Government is launching a new tourism campaign aimed at backpackers from the United Kingdom, France and Germany to lure more working holiday makers and boost the Australian economy. The number of backpackers arriving in the country has stagnated. A campaign video launched on 20 April 2019 will run in the United Kingdom, France and Germany and will re-engage young foreigners on the benefits of working while holidaying in Australia. Quarterly figures from the Department of Home Affairs shows there were 145,479 working holiday makers as at December 2018, compared to 146,431 in the same period last year, December 2017. However, the numbers dropped substantially between March 2017 and September 2017 when it went from 150,059 to 136,925, during which the backpacker tax came into effect. This is one of a range of measures introduced to promote the working holiday visas. The Government last year also announced it would ease time limit restrictions on working holiday makers allowing them to spend more time in Australia. The changes allow backpackers to stay with one employer for up to a year, rather than six months as well as being allowed to renew their visas for a second year, and sometimes a third.
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Migration Centre of Australia (MCA) Your trusted partner for Australian immigration. We simplify visas, skilled migration, sponsorships, and more—so you can focus on your future.

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