changes to General Skilled Migration [More]

If you are not a permanent resident of Australia and want to buy a home here you must get prior approval from the Australian government. [More]

I wonder how many migrants read "Who Moved my Cheese?" by Dr Spencer Johnson. The book is a very short story about change that takes place in a maze where 4 amusing characters look for "Cheese" -- cheese being a metaphor for what we want to have in life, whether it is a job, a relationship, money, a big house, freedom, health, recognition, spiritual peace, or even just a better quality of life. ... [More]

I recently went to my GP complaining of  a hernia in my right groin. He referred me to a specialist surgeon who advised me that I would have to have the hernia surgically repaired and to my surprise, he told me that I also had one on the other side which would also have to be repaired. He said that it would be a “little painful” and that I would suffer some “minor discomfort... [More]

I was recently reading a press release from the Australian Minister of Immigration relating to an identity fraud scam in Australia which reminded me that just like "Crime Doesn’t Pay", when dealing with the Department of Immigration in relation to a Visa application or a potential client, there are no “Short Cuts”. The press release stated that seven people were arrested across ... [More]

As I am licensed to provide immigration advice in both New Zealand and Australia I'm often asked the question as to which country it's easier to immigrate to and as my fellow director Colin Adno is fond of saying it's easier to qualify in the country in which you meet the immigration policy. Learn about the differences. [More]

One of my pet dislikes ["hates" seems too strong a word] is people who commence their immigration inquiries by saying "I have been self assessed by a points calculator/website [or any other tool that is designed for the same purpose] and qualify for permanent residence". I must admit to a perverse sense of pleasure when I identify issues that the self-assessment tool has missed in it’s over ... [More]

The following post explores some of the difficult issues faced by would-be Australian migrants surrounding the obtaining of offers of employment whilst still abroad.I wish I had a dollar for every time I received an enquiry asking how one obtains an offer of employment in Australia if based abroad.The short answer is that one's employment prospects are greatly enhanced if one can obtain a residenc... [More]

Our April 09 Australian Immigration Newsletter is now online. In this issue we cover: Australia Reduces Numbers in Skilled Migrant Program; It’s the Economy Stupid; So what is the economy like in Australia?; The Sunday Times Article. Upcoming Australian Immigration Seminars in April and May 09:Singapore Seminar - Saturday 18 April 09Johannesburg Seminar - Thursday 7 May 09Cap... [More]