The report shows there were more than 247 000 visitor visa holders in Australia at the end of March, an increase of 12 per cent compared to the same time last year.

The department has granted almost three million visitor visas this financial year to 31 March, which is about six per cent higher than last year.

Interest from Asia continues to rise with tourism visa applications from China up 19 per cent (more than 310 000 applications), Malaysia up 14 per cent (more than 149 000 applications) and applications from Singapore up almost 29 per cent (more than 107 000 applications).  

The report also outlines the key initiatives for the visitor visa program in 2012–13, including the simplification of the visitor visa group to five new visitor visa subclasses on 23 March.  

Further enhancements are planned for the visitor visa program with the expansion of online visitor visa applications later in the year. These enhancements will make it possible for visitors from a growing list of countries to apply for their visa online.

There was a variety of nationalities attending the May 11-12 expo, including both Singaporeans and an array of third party nationals.  Most residents who attended were nursing, engineering and IT professionals. Migrants who hold such professions are highly sought after as they are able to assist in filling skill shortages in the Australian labour market.

Overall, the expo was a success for the department, with staff helping highly skilled potential migrants better understand the SkillSelect process and the options available for skilled migration.

There has never been a better time for eligible skilled migrants to come to Australia though SkillSelect, with short processing times for successful applicants.

To find out if your occupation is in demand, check out the SOL/CSOL on: www.immi.gov.au/skilled/sol/

If you have an occupation Australia needs and you can meet the visa requirements, log into SkillSelect today and tell us about yourself and what you can bring to Australia’s workplace at:  www.skillselect.gov.au.

In the article, the author says little has changed since 2005, a time when skilled visa applicants with a same-sex partner could not include them in their application.

This is incorrect. In 2009 changes to Commonwealth law removed discrimination against same-sex couples and their children. As part of these changes, new definitions of ‘spouse’ and ‘de facto’ partner were introduced into the Migration Act 1958 (the Migration Act) such that same-sex couples were given the same entitlements as heterosexual couples. This paved the way for all visa applicants to include their same-sex partners and allowed those partners the same work rights as ‘spouses’.  It’s a shame the report got this so wrong.

While the article is correct to say the status of ‘de facto’ for same-sex couples is not automatic this is misleading as no relationship status is automatic for migration purposes. All couples — married or de facto — are required to demonstrate their relationship is genuine and continuing, that they have a mutual commitment to a shared life and that they live together on a permanent basis.

The claim that couples must spend ‘a two year period of co-habitation on our shores’ is also misleading. Permanent visas and some temporary visas generally require de facto couples to demonstrate their relationship has existed for at least 12 months before they lodge their visa application. There is an exemption to this requirement for de facto couples who have registered their relationship under an Australian state or territory scheme, regardless of their sexual orientation.

It is true that a same-sex marriage that is legally solemnised overseas is not recognised for migration purposes. This is because the Migration Act mirrors the Marriage Act 1961 (the Marriage Act) which means that only marriages valid under the Marriage Act can be recognised when assessing visa applications. While their same-sex marriage is not recognised, couples can still be recognised and assessed under the de facto provisions. The fact that a marriage occurred overseas can be taken into account in this assessment.

While Australia’s migration law does not currently recognise a same-sex marriage solemnised overseas, it is taken to be a de facto relationship which hence gives these people the same entitlements as heterosexual married or de facto couples.

Our experts will be available to talk to you throughout the day about the different visa options available for living and working in Australia. They will also answer any questions about submitting an expression of interest through the SkillSelect website and will present each day from 1.15–2.00 pm.

When:  May 11-12, 11.00 am to 4.00 pm

Where:  Traders Hotel Singapore, 1A Cuscaden Road, Singapore

To register online or for more information, visit www.Workingabroad.net/exhibitions-and-events/singapore/

The Working Abroad Expo in Kuala Lumpur saw around 1000 attendees over the weekend of May 4-5.  Many attendees found the information presented by our experts to be very valuable. 

If you are unable to attend the expo in Singapore then you can learn more about SkillSelect by visiting www.immi.gov.au/skills/skillselect/ 

Remember, there is no better time to express your interest through SkillSelect, so read about our top 10 tips here:
migrationblog.immi.gov.au/category/skills-australia-needs-events/

Have you recently completed an English language test?

If so, we’d like to hear from you.

Fill in our short survey and let us know about your recent experience with English language tests. You can find the survey here www.surveymonkey.com/s/RG83W23  If you have any difficulties with the link please copy and paste it into your web browser.

Your feedback is important to us and will help inform the department’s review of its expanded English language testing arrangements for students.

The survey will remain open until 5pm AEST 20 May 2013.

Thank you

Automatic and mandatory student visa cancellations were abolished on 13 April 2013.  This means that students who do not meet attendance or course progress requirements, or work for more than 40 hours per fortnight no longer face automatic or mandatory cancellation of their visa.

All international students are required to abide by their visa conditions, however if they do breach them they are now subject to a discretionary cancellation framework.  The discretionary framework allows departmental officers to take the circumstances of an individual student into consideration when assessing visa condition breaches and making a decision on whether or not to cancel a visa. 

The discretionary framework will lead to fairer outcomes for students.  For example, it will enable the department to consider individual circumstances, such as where a student may be struggling with particular unit choices and could benefit from a change of course or education provider.

The move to a discretionary framework does not change an education provider’s responsibility to report a student for breaching a visa condition.  Providers still have to advise a student when they have breached a visa condition that they may be reported to the department.  The provider should also have in place a process for the student to appeal.  If an appeal is unsuccessful an education provider must report the student to the department so that a case officer can consider the breach under the discretionary cancellation framework.

More information about the cessation of automatic and mandatory cancellation is available on the Department of Immigration and Citizenship’s website www.immi.gov.au/students/.

The SkillSelect team spent an hour on the event page answering over 100 questions and engaging with 1188 users, proving to be our busiest live chat so far. Posts about the live chat reached a further 15 632 people, more than half our audience on Facebook.

There were many great questions asked during the live SkillSelect chat. So for those of you who have not yet liked our Facebook page, we have provided a quick snapshot of some of the questions raised and our answers.

Q. If I get exactly 60 points for the Skilled Independent (subclass 189) visa, how long does it take for my Expression of Interested (EOI) to be approved (for invitation)?

A.  Invitation rounds are currently held twice a month. If you have 60 points at the moment, then you stand a good chance of being invited in the next couple of rounds provided your occupation has not reached its yearly invitation ceiling.

 Q. What does it mean by Associate Degree or Advanced Diploma? Are they the same as a Bachelor degree?

A. You should contact your assessing authority and ask them to confirm if your qualifications are of the recognised standard to an Australian Bachelor Degree.  You may also find the following post on the SkillSelect Technical Support site useful regarding claiming points for educational qualifications, visit https://skillselect.govspace.gov.au/2013/03/07/points-for-educational-qualification/

 Q. Is there any change taking place to the Skilled Occupation List in July 2013?

A. The Skilled Occupation List (SOL) is reviewed annually. The current SOL was released by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) in June 2012 following advice from the Australian Workforce and Productivity Agency. Consultation for the development of the 2013 SOL commenced in October/November 2012.  The 2013 SOL is expected to be released by DIAC in mid-2013 and is expected to come into effect from 1 July 2013.

Q. Is there a minimum employment experience threshold needed to apply for a Skilled Independent (subclass 189) visa through SkillSelect?

A. There is no minimum employment experience threshold for this visa type. However, some assessing authorities may require a certain amount of employment experience to achieve a suitable skills assessment. If you have skilled employment experience, you can use this to increase your points in the points test.

Q. Is it possible for SkillSelect to send an acknowledgement automatically when medical reports are accepted/ assessed successfully?

A. SkillSelect and e-Visa are two separate systems and processes. SkillSelect is the database for selecting intending migrants for an invitation and e-Visa is where you lodge your visa. If you want to find out about your medical results you should contact your case officer or send an enquiry through our contacts page on the website, www.immi.gov.au

Q. Why do applicants (from non-English countries) need 7 in each band for IELTS?

A. For points tested visas it is a threshold requirement that a person have at least ‘competent English’, which is a minimum of six in each of the four components of the IELTS test.

To be awarded points for higher English language ability all applicants, regardless of citizenship, must demonstrate their level of competency by sitting an English language test such as IELTS as proof of their language competency. 

As well, some skills assessing authorities require higher English language levels for certain occupations.  You can confirm this with your relevant assessing authority.  

More questions and responses are available on the department’s Facebook live chat page.

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Working Abroad is one of the largest international recruitment exhibition companies and the department will present on Australia’s skilled migration policies and SkillSelect.

Our experts will talk about the different visa options available for living and working in Australia and will also be available to answer any questions about submitting an expression of interest through the SkillSelect website.

When:  May 4-5 from 1.15 pm to  2pm each day

Where:  Shangri-La Hotel, 11 Jalan Sultan Ismail, 50250 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

To register online or for more information, visit www.workingabroad.net/exhibitions-and-events/kuala-lumpur/

 If you are unable to attend the Working Abroad Expo in Kuala Lumpur then you can learn more about SkillSelect by visiting www.immi.gov.au/skills/skillselect/ 

Remember, there is no better time to express your interest through SkillSelect, so read about our top 10 tips here migrationblog.immi.gov.au/category/skills-australia-needs-events/

Visa Entitlement Verification Online or VEVO is a free online service that gives visa holders, employers and other registered organisations access to visa entitlements and status information 24 hours a day.

Australian authorities no longer require visa holders to have a visa label in their passport, with VEVO now the preferred method for checking work, study and residence entitlements of visa holders.

VEVO helps millions of visa holders and organisations find and check visa details every year. And now that most visa holders need to pay a visa evidence charge for a printed visa label, more and more people are logging on to VEVO. This year we have seen a 36 per cent rise in visa holders using VEVO to check their entitlements.

Throughout this year, we are improving VEVO so it continues to meet the needs of visa holders and organisations, quickly and effectively. In March 2013, in addition to introducing VEVO Email, we made changes that allow users to see if a visa holder is currently in Australia or overseas. This is important because entitlements for the holders of some visas, such as student visas, can change according to whether they are in Australia, or yet to enter the country.

Following user feedback, we’ve also extended the VEVO password expiry time from 28 to 90 days, which will help users keep track of their password.

Later in the year, organisational users will also be able to manage their own VEVO account, making it easier for them to use VEVO at any time, as they will no longer need to wait for service centre support during standard office hours.

Watch our latest video about checking your details using VEVO.

Checking Your Australian Details

Visit VEVO online to find out how VEVO can help you.

VEVO—anywhere, anytime, online.

We have also updated our information packs for standard, on-hire, and meat industry labour agreements. Each pack includes a PDF booklet and Word document containing a business case form and consultation template letter. These are all attached below.

In the six months to 31 December 2012, the department received 48 requests for access to a labour agreement. During the same period, 33 labour agreements were approved, 15 were declined and a further two were withdrawn.

Those approved included employers in agriculture and food processing, transport, specialist construction and engineering recruitment.

The main reason proposed agreements were declined was failure to demonstrate a genuine labour market need to recruit workers from overseas. Employers seeking a labour agreement are required to provide extensive evidence of their efforts to recruit locally first. Without this, we cannot negotiate an agreement.

For more information about labour agreements, visit the department’s website or email the specialist team for your industry.

Resources sector employers: resource.agreements@immi.gov.au

On-hire employers: on-hire.industy@immi.gov.au

Meat processing employers: meat.industry@immi.gov.au

All other industries and employers: labour.agreement.section@immi.gov.au

STANDARD Labour Agreement information booklet April 2013

STANDARD Labour Agreement proforma and template letter April 2013

ON-HIRE Labour Agreement information booklet April 2013

ON-HIRE Labour Agreement proforma and template letter April 2013

ON-Hire LA – Training benchmark guidance and worksheet April 2013

MEAT INDUSTRY Labour Agreement information booklet – April 2013

MEAT INDUSTRY Labour Agreement proforma and template letter April 2013