Posts in category: Immigration
The Australian Dollar
Notwithstanding having completed a BCom degree, majoring in Economics, I only “got” interest rates when I acquired my first mortgage. I can safely therefore say that I am no economist and feel on uncertain ground writing a blog on the value of the Australian dollar but I couldn’t help but consider the implications of the softening Australian dollar on migrants.
The Australian dollar is currently trading at 0.96 against the US dollar having been as high as $1.05 earlier this year.
I remember when we emigrated from New Zealand to Australia in 2008. Like most migrants our house was our biggest asset and in retrospect we couldn’t have put our house on the market at a worse time (during the first months of the global financial crisis). We received an offer on the house which was less than we wanted and agonized over the decision until I realized that the New Zealand dollar was very favourably priced against the Australian dollar at that time and the gain in the favourable exchange rate would more than compensate for a lower sale price.
Many of my friends chose to retain property New Zealand and rent in Australia in the hope that the property market in New Zealand would recover and they chose to rent out their properties in New Zealand and in turn had to forgo the opportunity of purchasing property in Australia. All the while putting up with the hassle of obtaining tenants for their homes and managing the process remotely.
When we transferred the proceeds of the sale of our property the New Zealand dollar, was buying 0.87 Australian dollars. The exchange rate subsequently fell to a low of 0.78, more than compensating for the softer sale price.
Why has the Australian dollar fallen in value?
1. Partly because of an 18 billion dollar budget deficit for the next financial year announced earlier this month.
2. The dollar's fall has been exacerbated by a rally in the US dollar against all major currencies amid expectations of a softening in its quantitative easing (money printing) program.
3. The carry trade which is where global investors who have the ability to borrow cheap money in the US or Japan, Britain or Europe and can do so at rates not too far from zero, using those funds to park cash in higher-yielding countries such as Australia and New Zealand.
4. The reduction in the Official Cash Rate (OCR) to 2.75 % - the lowest level in history
5. Lower worldwide commodity prices as the Chinese economy slows down
Whilst a lower Australian dollar does have some immediate benefits for migrants making the immigration process cheaper and Australian housing [amongst other things] more affordable a heavy fall in the dollar, rather than a gradual decline, would be a clear signal of a fragile economy and a deterrent for would be migrants. So it’s a delicate balancing act, a softening in the currency is good because it makes Australian goods and services cheaper provided the economic fundamentals remain sound.
The Australian economy will only be in a perilous state if the commodity boom has run its course and if China is really in trouble, and the global economy more broadly is turning down. This doomsday scenario is hardly likely to occur and Australia’s fundamentals appear strong. Inflation remains at a healthy 2 – 3% and unemployment remains at 5 – 6%.
Recent data shows the Chinese economy accelerating and jobs growth is surging in the US, hardly signs that the economic environment is deteriorating.
Ultimately the Australian dollar is going through a long overdue correction due to a combination of lower than expected economic growth, a fall in short-term interest rates and a fall in the terms of trade as global iron ore and coal prices adjust to rising supply and the reversal of capital flows.
Over the last few years I’ve really enjoyed the purchasing power of the Australian dollar. It’s made traveling abroad for Australians a lot more affordable but has made exporting product more expensive. As our product is Australia you can view the correction in the Australian dollar as a discount in consumer terms.
We were delighted to note that the Australian dollar fell not only against the American dollar but also against the relatively weak South African Rand and the Singapore dollar as well. The Rand strengthened from 9.71 in late March to a recent 9.22 and as far as the Singapore dollar is concerned it fell from 1.3 on 13 April to 1.21 yesterday.
If I knew how far the Australian dollar would ultimately fall I wouldn’t be sitting at my desk on Monday and you’d find me in a different career. No one ever immigrates for profit and the experience is sure to set you back financially several years. You have to accept that you are never going to get the best possible price for your house and never be able to obtain the most favourable historic exchange rate but if realizing your assets enable you to fulfil your dream of immigrating to Australia they should be viewed as having served their purpose.
For most migrants, attempting to understand the whims of the currency market is a bit like trying to understand how the immigration process works. You can read a lot, get a lot of opinion but frankly you are better off handing it over to someone who knows what they are doing. Just like you would plan out your move to Australia and when to take the couch, ship the pets and relocate your family, taking a strategic approach to your currency ‘relocation’ is always a smart idea.
Most banks offer very simplified currency products that usually consist of a single one off deal based on your decision that the time is right. They generally wont offer much by way of advice (unless you have shares in a Fortune 500 company) and don’t reveal the tools that they have at their disposal to manage your currency transfers. For example one way to approach your currency needs is to set a ‘Market Order’ whereby you identify a reasonable price you want to achieve and then when the market hits that price your deal is done, whether you are asleep or out fishing.
A good Foreign Exchange broker will analyse your needs, evaluate your objectives and provide relevant and useful advice to try and achieve those goals. They should be realistic about that advice and give you a practical solution to maximise your currency gains and hopefully minimise potential losses.
Foreign Exchange brokers will also charge a lot less for their service than a bank, typically offering prices at 1.5 to 3% better than a retail banking institution, which on larger transfers can mean savings of tens of thousands of dollars. Rates vary between brokers, but often the advice you get is worth more than just the exchange rate. However like Immigration Advisers, Foreign Exchange Brokers are not all created equal. We know some very good ones who assist our clients with their financial migration, offering sound, practical and valuable advice.
Forthcoming seminars :
South Africa
Johannesburg
Seminar will be held on Thursday 13 June at 7pm at the Michelangelo Hotel
Consultations will be held on 14, 15, 16, 24, 25 and 26 June in Auckland Park.
Durban:
Seminar will be held on Monday 17 June at 7pm at the Riverside Hotel
Consultations will be held on 18 and 19 June at the Endless Horizons Boutique Hotel.
Cape Town:
Seminar will be held on Thursday 20 June at 7pm at the Commodore Hotel
Consultations will be held on 21 and 22 June at the Commodore Hotel
Singapore
Seminar will be held on Saturday 22 June at 11am at the Holiday Inn, 11 Cavenagh Road
Consultations will be held on 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28 June at the Holiday Inn.
To book for the free seminar please go to www.immagine-immigration.com/seminars
Seminars are free to attend. Should you wish to book a consultation there is a charge – to book consultations please contact Ruth on ruth@immagine-immigration.com.
The Nons
The “Nons” vote with their feet
I had a very interesting consultation recently in Malaysia with a Malaysian of Indian ethnicity wherein she introduced me to a term that I was unfamiliar with. She referred to herself as a “Non.”By this she meant that she is a “Non Malay” even though she is a Malaysian citizen, in other words she is not regarded as an ethnic Malay or non Bumiputra.
This term prompted me to reflect that the Non’s (whether they are ethnic Chinese or Indians living in Malaysia) or Whites, Coloureds or Indians living in South Africa (the equivalent Nons of South Africa) tend to make up the majority of our clients.
These Nons of both countries probably have a lot more in common than they think. They are both disadvantaged by affirmative action programs in Malaysia and South Africa respectively. I would, at the outset of this post, like to declare my position as an official fence sitter. I am categorically not against affirmative action programs and I make this point because I know that it is a contentious issue and many of you would be relishing the opportunity of shooting me, the humble observer, with your poisoned emails. So please don’t, I bleed easily.
Most people who have a consultation with me are curious as to the reasons why their fellow countrymen are choosing to leave. They probably attended one of our free seminars and have been amazed at the number of people sitting in the seminar and wondering whether their fellow countrymen were leaving their respective countries for the same reasons that they are.
I have to say that the number one driver of migration for the Nons in Malaysia is affirmative action programs. They express their feelings as being a stranger in their own country. A feeling of marginalization. As far as I can remember it’s been driving the Nons from Malaysia [probably since the advent of the New Economic Policy] in the early 1970s following the race riots of 1969.
As far as South Africa is concerned the main motivation driving migration from South Africa in the 1990’S had to be crime and violence but of late I have to say that affirmative action programs are the single greatest driver for South African Nons.
Don’t get me wrong I do understand the arguments for affirmative action and its place in social justice and economic development and that there is little point in [a South African context] giving previously disadvantaged population groups under apartheid the vote without giving them better education, better employment opportunities and for the country to achieve a more diverse workforce that is broadly representative of the national population to promote economic development and efficiency in the workforce.
In Malaysia it was introduced to achieve social justice and communal peace and quotas of Bumiputra were reserved in-state universities, schools, in granting scholarships, public sector employment, employment quotas in the private sector and tendering of government contracts to name some. The nature of NEP has been altered over the years with some of the stricter requirements being softened or even eliminated but there is still a strong sentiment by the Non’s in Malaysia that they have been marginalized and excluded from the opportunities available to greater society which is motivating them to consider leaving.
It requires a selfless individual to sacrifice their opportunities for the greater good of society for social/economic reengineering through affirmative action policies. Undoubtedly there are individuals like this in Malaysia and South Africa who do understand the benefits of affirmative action and are prepared to sacrifice their immediate well-being for the greater good of society but more and more Nons in these respective countries are not and are voting with their feet in choosing Australia as a migration destination.
The belief in a "fair go" is a key part of Australian culture and Australian society, related to the support for the underdog. This can be seen in equal opportunity legislation which ensures people are not excluded from jobs or positions by their race, gender or sexual orientation.
Forthcoming seminars
South Africa
Johannesburg: Thursday 7 February at the Michelangelo Hotel – 7pm to 8.30pm
Consultations: 8, 9, 10, 18, 19, 20 February
Durban: Monday 11 February at the Endless Horizons Boutique Hotel – 7pm to 8.30pm
Consultations: 12, 13 February
Cape Town: Thursday 14 February at the Commodore Hotel – 7pm to 8.30pm
Consultations: 15 and 16 February
Singapore and Malaysia
Singapore:
Saturday 23 February at the Holiday Inn – 11am to 12.30pm
Consultations: afternoon of 23 February, whole day 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 February and 1 March
Kuala Lumpur:
Saturday 2 March at the DoubleTree by Hilton, , The Intermark – 11am to 12.30pm
Consultations: afternoon of 2 March, whole day 3, 4 and 5 March
The seminars are free to attend but there is a charge for consultations. You are not obliged to book a consultation.
To book for the free seminar go to : http://www.immagine-immigration.com/seminars/
Skills Select Results so Far, and Buying Your Way Into Australia
Skills Select Statistics
We are now five months into DIAC’s new policy and we have seen some interesting results. As many of you will now be aware, on 1 July this year DIAC introduced Skills Select whereby applicants need to submit an expression of interest and wait for an invitation from DIAC before applying for a visa.
One of the advantages of this new policy is that the pass mark was lowered from 65 to 60, with those who are nominated by a State Government automatically getting an invitation to apply.
I thought now would be a good time to get a snapshot as to the progress and trends of those who are being invited to apply for a visa to Australia under the skills select program.
The first selection round took place in August where 100 applicants were selected. The lowest pass mark was 75 and the highest was 85 points. This confirmed my prediction that 75 points would be an ideal score to get if you are to be selected under the independent or family stream skilled migrant category. My initial feelings were that anyone who had a score of 70 or lower would have a better chance of applying through a state government to guarantee an invitation to apply.
The next two selection rounds on 1 September and 15 September saw those who scored 65 points and above given an invitation to apply. Not everybody who scored 65 points obtained an invitation as DIAC will only select a specific number of people in each round. If two applicants both scoring 65 points submit their expressions of interest the one submitting the expression of interest at an earlier point in time will be selected first.
Already these results have blown my theory out of the water and it appears that 65 points will be a very good score.
Moving on to the October results, namely 1 October and 15 October, we have seen applicants who have scored 60 points being invited to apply. This means that everyone who had 65, 70, 75 and above were given invitations to apply during this month. So my original theory has now been ripped up and thrown in the bin, and a better ability to forecast trends has been added to my Christmas wish list.
Whilst we have not yet had the results from November published, results from our clients have been positive where a number have been selected at 60 points and will continue to do so as the program begins to gather momentum.
In August only 100 applicants were selected however in November 3000 applicants were given an invitation to apply.
There have also been some interesting results through the state sponsorship program. Each state will have their own economic requirements and process applications for state sponsorship nomination through their own processes. State-sponsored applicants only need to score 60 points to get an invitation. Once your are state sponsored, you are given an invitation to apply for a visa, regardless of how many applicants score more than you.
In looking at the results of the States who are sponsoring skilled migrants, in the month of September:
- 503 skilled migrants were sponsored for permanent state sponsorship
- 73 were sponsored for provisional state sponsorship
- Western Australia was the state that sponsored the most with 388 nominations approved
- Victoria was second with 64 nominations approved
- Tasmania and Queensland were the least involved states with only 6 and 8 nominations approved respectively.
- Other states were ACT (46), Northern Territory (13), South Australia (22) and New South Wales (31).
- Victoria was the most active state in issuing business skills nominations with 50 approved, followed by Western Australia who issued 6 nomination approvals.
Does a difference in numbers mean that Western Australia wants more migrants than Tasmania? Or are more people applying to go to Western Australia than any other state?
If only it was so simple. State governments have their own specific requirements simply to ensure that they are attracting the type of skilled worker who will meet the needs of businesses within the state, and they also want to select those who are genuinely interested in remaining in the sponsoring state. Traditionally New South Wales and Victoria have been more popular because the two largest cities in Australia are located within these territories.
DIAC has issued 114,000 places for the skilled migrant programme. These places will include employer nomination, business skills and general skilled migrants. As you can see from the above figures, only 635 invitations were issued by state governments for sponsorship of any of the visas in the skilled category for the month of September. Under independent and family sponsored general skilled migration, 6100 invitations have been issued up to the end of November.
Each state is given a specific amount of nominations each year. This year, 27,000 places are available through state sponsorship. Given the above results, there are still plenty of places that need to be filled. We will expect the quotas to begin to fill up in the coming months. Also with only less than 7000 invitations issued so far for skilled and business migration, it seems that there are plenty and more invitations that are available for skilled migrants.
Given the fact that the number of occupational places available for state sponsored and independent migration is limited, one has to say that for different reasons, it makes more sense to be starting the process sooner rather than later.
I know I have mentioned this before but going on the above figures, there has never been a better time to migrate.
Significant Investor Category
On 24 November 2012, a new visa category has been implemented by DIAC. This is the significant investor category and is part of the business skills pathway for migration to Australia.
Certainly this visa is targeting those who have significant funds and are interested in investing in managed funds and businesses in Australia. For those of you who can spare $5 million, for a period of four years, and are willing to invest in Australia, then this visa is for you.
Like the other business skill categories, you will be given a provisional Visa in the first instance. Once you have proven that you have invested $5 million in complying investments in Australia over a four-year period, you can then apply for the permanent residency visa.
Unlike the investor visa category that requires you to invest large sum in a state treasury bond, you are able to take advantage of other investment opportunities where the return is much higher. There is also no age limit, meaning that you can migrate to Australia even if you are a centurion (100 years old).
There are also no language requirements. So if you are having trouble reading this article, your interpreter will be able to tell you that this is not going to be an issue.
One of the other advantages is that the investor only has to spend 40 days per year in Australia over the provisional four year period in order to meet the residency requirements.
It is fair to say that very few of us would fall into that category, but certainly this is an opportunity for those who have always been interested in moving to Australia but had not met any of the previous requirements such as Language ability, age, business history, etc. to take advantage of becoming a resident.
If your are interested to know more about the new policies and migration trends, please register for one of our free seminars here.
Forthcoming trips to Singapore, Malaysia and South Africa
Singapore
Seminar: Saturday 1 December at 11am at the Concorde Hotel
Consultations: 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 December
Kuala Lumpur
Seminar: Saturday 8 December at 11am at the Le Meridian Hotel
Consultations: 9, 10 and 11 December
Johannesburg
Seminar: Thursday 7 February 2013 at 7pm at the Michelangelo Hotel
Consultations: 8, 9, 10, 18, 19, 20 February
Durban
Seminar: Monday 11 February 2013 at 7pm at the Endless Horizons Boutique Hotel
Consultations: 12 and 13 February
Cape Town
Seminar: Thursday 14 February 2013 at 7pm at the Commodore Hotel
Consultations: 15 and 16 February
To book please go to www.immagine-immigration.com/seminars/.
The seminars are free to attend however, there is a charge for consultations (if required).
From
The IMMagine Team
www.immagine-immigration.com
Australian Immigration Policy Update
This update covers recent policy changes including;
1. More occupations sponsored for Victoria and New South Wales and
2. Proposed changes to post study work visa arrangements for students and longer-term tourist visas for parents of Australian citizens.
New South Wales State Sponsorship List
More occupations added (total of 122) and some of the requirements for existing occupations have been lowered.
You can view a copy off the full list here
Victorian State Sponsorship List
Occupations added
o Carpenter and Joiner (331211)
o ICT Project Manager (135112)
You can view a complete list of occupations available for sponsorship in Victoria – here
Post study work visas
New post-study work visa arrangements are proposed for introduction in early 2013.
Graduates of an Australian Bachelor degree, Masters by coursework degree, Masters by
research degree or Doctoral degree will have access to the post-study work visa
Applicants do not need to nominate an occupation on the skilled occupations list to be eligible to apply for this visa ( this is a big change from current criteria)
Graduates who have completed a Bachelor degree or Masters by coursework degree in
Australia will be eligible to apply for a two year post-study work visa.
Graduates who have completed a Masters by research degree or a Doctoral degree in Australia will be eligible to apply for a post-study work visa for three or four years respectively.
Students not studying a degree level qualification in Australia will be subject to the status quo, in other words need to nominate an occupation on the skilled occupations list and obtain a positive skills assessment and then apply for the subclass 485 visa is a temporary visa that allows an 18 month stay to work iin Australia.
Longer Tourist visas for parents of Australians
Under current policy parents can visit Australia for only three months at the time. Many elderly parents would therefore have had to visit Australia for a period of three months, exit and then re-enter if they want to spend more time in Australia.
Towards the end of 2012, parents of Australian citizens and permanent residents will be able to apply for Tourist visas to visit Australia for longer periods.
The Department will be considering issuing, on a case-by-case basis:
• Tourist visas of up to five years' validity which provide a stay of up to 12 months on each entry to those parents who are outside Australia and are in the Parent (subclass 103) visa queue
• Tourist visas of up to three years' validity with 12 months' stay on each entry will be considered for parents who are outside Australia and are not in the Parent visa queue.
Parents will be expected to hold health insurance to cover any healthcare costs during their stay and will have a visa condition limiting applications for further visas while they are in Australia. They will also be expected to leave Australia for extended periods of time – details as to the amount of time that they would be expected to be out of Australia before reientering haven’t yet been released.
Forthcoming trips to Singapore, Malaysia and South Africa
Singapore
Seminar: Saturday 1 December at 11am at the Concorde Hotel
Consultations: 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 December
Kuala Lumpur
Seminar: Saturday 8 December at 11am at the Le Meridian Hotel
Consultations: 9, 10 and 11 December
Johannesburg
Seminar: Thursday 7 February 2013 at 7pm at the Michelangelo Hotel
Consultations: 8, 9, 10, 18, 19, 20 February
Durban
Seminar: Monday 11 February 2013 at 7pm at the Endless Horizons Boutique Hotel
Consultations: 12 and 13 February
Cape Town
Seminar: Thursday 14 February 2013 at 7pm at the Commodore Hotel
Consultations: 15 and 16 February
To book please go to www.immagine-immigration.com/seminars/.
The seminars are free to attend however, there is a charge for consultations (if required).
From
The IMMagine Team
www.immagine-immigration.com
Australia looks to Asia
Australia has recently announced a plan to further its trade and investment ties within the Asian region namely the white paper entitled Australia in the Asian Century which the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard recently unveiled. In this blog we examine the increased emphasis on ties and trade with Asia in terms of recent statistics relating to migration to Australia by certain Asian (and other) countries.
Australia’s economic performance has been admirable of late. It has remained recession free for 21 consecutive years, has an unemployment rate of 5.4% and has a forecast GDP growth of 3.5% for next year. However there are some storm clouds on the horizon. China’s slowing growth rate has accounted for lower mineral prices. That and the high Australian dollar are having a negative impact upon our mining / manufacturing sector. The white paper is a response to ensure Australia remains globally competitive.
The white paper covers topics from trade and investment, education, immigration, defence and corporate management.
It seeks to increase Australia’s trade with Asia from 25% to 33% by 2025 and talks about:
1. Offering 12,000 scholarships to allow Asian students, researchers and professionals to study in Australia
2. Ensuring every student in Australia who graduates from high school will have a knowledge of Mandarin, Bahasa Indonesian and or Japanese.
3. Longer stays for visitors from Asia.
4. The paper also encourages companies to have an increased appreciation of Asia.
It has been described as a roadmap but also sending a political message to the Asian region that Australia is open for business and ready to meet the region’s growing needs for food, energy, minerals, education and tourism. It is a signal of intent, shifting the focus to Asia and ensuring that Australian business and our educational system make changes to allow for that shifting focus to occur.
Because immigration figures will inevitably lag behind political rhetoric, the effects of this change in focus will only likely be felt in years to come. Whilst Asia is increasingly becoming the focus of the Australian government, Australia has long since been an attractive immigration destination for Asian countries, however, the figures below evidence some interesting anomalies.
Skilled migration [consisting of general skilled migration visas, employer nomination scheme, regionally sponsored migration scheme and business visas] accounted for:
Migration year Total Skilled Migration
2010 – 2011 113,725
2009 – 2010 107,868
2008 – 2009 114,777
Given that skilled migration numbers appear to be fairly stable over the last three years it’s interesting to see the variations amongst a few of the source countries particularly as some of these are IMMagine Australia's markets.
Migration year Singapore
2010 – 2011 1172
2009 – 2010 1369
2008 – 2009 1635
Interesting to note that Singapore has experienced a decrease in annual migration over the past three years of approximately 16% however seminar attendance at IMMagine Australia's seminars in Singapore has never been higher. It could be that the increase in seminar attendance we have found during the 2012 year will only be evidenced in the migration figures for the year 2013 – 2012. It might also be that a greater percentage of migrant workers in Singapore are considering migration to Australia than Singaporean nationals however our experience indicates that there is an even spread. A tightening of Singapore immigration rules of late would be expected to increase migrant outflows from Singapore.
That is why the next country we have looked at is Philippines as the majority of the migrant labour force in Singapore is comprised of Philippine nationals.
Migration year Philippines
2010 – 2011 7849
2009 – 2010 6832
2008 – 2009 5789
Consistent with my comments above we can see that Philippines has been experiencing average annual migration increases of 16% over the past three years. This is consistent with our experience in the Singapore market. Although we don’t present seminars directly in the Philippines we do have increased exposure to Philippine nationals who are working in Singapore.
Migration year Malaysia
2010 – 2011 4192
2009 – 2010 4277
2008 – 2009 4089
Malaysian statistics indicate a consistent demand over the past three years with not much deviation in numbers.
Migration year South Africa
2010 – 2011 7595
2009 – 2010 9885
2008 – 2009 10,485
There was a relatively large fall in the number of people applying for permanent residence under skilled migration categories between the years 2010 and 2011. A drop in the order of 2290 people is significant in the context of total migration from South Africa to Australia. Things certainly haven’t improved in South Africa of late and my take on the drop in figures (given the fact that our audience size has been relatively stable over the past few years) is that South Africans are increasingly becoming economic prisoners of South Africa.
The falling exchange rate and an inability to realize assets such as the family home have meant that significant numbers have been shelving their migration decisions in the hope of an improved exchange rate and more buoyant property market. As evidenced by our healthy audience sizes in South Africa the perceived need for migration hasn’t lessened. The crippling exchange rate isn’t going to improve so why wait until the Rand reaches 15 Rand to the AU Dollar?
Migration year China
2010 – 2011 20,441
2009 – 2010 14,505
2008 – 2009 13,927
A staggering almost 6000 people increase in China over the last migration year tends to support the increased emphasis on China. If one keeps in mind that English language criteria also increased during this period the increase in migration is even more remarkable. In terms of the White papers influence it’s a case of watch this space.
Migration year United Kingdom
2010 – 2011 18,091
2009 – 2010 18,487
2008 – 2009 23,177
United Kingdom has long since been regarded as Australia’s traditional source country. Migration figures after the global financial crisis were understandably higher than present but for the last two years migration has been steady with no appreciable rise or decline. This is probably attributable to a more stable economy in the United Kingdom.
Conclusion
All countries (like businesses) would like a wealthy trading partner to buy their goods and services however creating a meaningful relationship with a trading partner whether it be a country or market for a businesses goods and services requires significant investment in time, money and effort. It requires an understanding as to the needs of the region and to make sure that the prospect of deeper relations with Australia has a distinct benefit for that particular country.
We (IMMagine Australia) have learnt that it has taken a significant amount of time and effort to reap the benefits of our investment in our Asian markets namely Singapore and Malaysia. We have been visiting these countries for at least 10 years every two months to present seminars and meet prospective clients thereby developing an understanding as to what life is like for our clients and what they are seeking to achieve in Australia.
The Australian government is going to have to invest time and effort not only in quantifying what Australia wants from the deal but what our Asian neighbours would like as well. Developing a relationship such as envisaged in the white paper is a two-way street and there has to be palpable benefits for our Asian neighbours as well.
Forthcoming Seminars in Singapore, Malaysia and South Africa
Singapore
Seminar: Saturday 1 December at 11am at the Concorde Hotel
Consultations: 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 December
Kuala Lumpur
Seminar: Saturday 8 December at 11am at the Le Meridian Hotel
Consultations: 9, 10 and 11 December
Johannesburg
Seminar: Thursday 7 February 2013 at 7pm at the Michelangelo Hotel
Consultations: 8, 9, 10, 18, 19, 20 February
Durban
Seminar: Monday 11 February 2013 at 7pm at the Endless Horizons Boutique Hotel
Consultations: 12 and 13 February
Cape Town
Seminar: Thursday 14 February 2013 at 7pm at the Commodore Hotel
Consultations: 15 and 16 February
To book please go to www.immagine-immigration.com/seminars/
The seminars are free to attend, however, there is a charge for consultations (if required).
From
The IMMagine Team
www.immagine-immigration.com
The Reluctant Migrant
On my recent trip to South Africa I met several people who can only be described as "reluctant migrants". I have to say that this phenomenon is not unique to South Africa, I encounter these reluctant migrants in Singapore and Malaysia and elsewhere as well.
The reluctant migrant is one who perceives problems in the home country but is a patriot who loves their home country and remains in that country in the hope that things will improve. Their heart dictates remaining but their head cannot ignore the reality that things are on a downward spiral and that there must be a better alternative in another country that will provide them and their family with better opportunities.
This is the dilemma of the reluctant migrant and this article is for their reading.
Having grown up in Australia and also travelled to many other countries around the world, I can honestly say there is no better place to live. I have always enjoyed the freedom of walking in the streets without fear, playing sports with my friends after school without supervision, knowing that there is always an opportunity to progress through quality education and hard work, and to be able to enjoy a very comfortable lifestyle on a modest salary. I am sure that many of you will see Australians travelling overseas on holidays, or for business. The lifestyle that is provided in Australia, including minimum wages and an opportunity to succeed, enables all citizens to enjoy all things that life has to offer.
One could say that I am definitely parochial about my country and would never consider relinquishing my citizenship for another country. If it came down to a choice of living in another country but having to relinquish my Australian citizenship, or having to move back to Australia, I have no doubt as to which option I would choose.
But what if I could have both?
The Australian government allows its citizens to obtain citizenship of another country without having to give up their Australian citizenship. By virtue of my mother being born in the UK, I qualify for British citizenship. So if I ever decide to take up British citizenship, I will not have to forego my Australian citizenship to do so.
Some countries do not allow the benefits of dual citizenship.
For those of you who become residents of Australia, you may actually consider taking out Australian citizenship. If you come from Singapore or Malaysia, this will be a big decision for you as becoming an Australian citizen will mean giving up your Singaporean or Malaysian citizenship. The great thing about Australian citizenship is that it is a choice and not an obligation to become an Australian citizen. This simply means that you can live permanently in Australia and maintain your citizenship of your birth country. You must ensure, however, that you remain in Australia for at least two out of every five years to maintain your residency.
However, if you are from a country that allows dual citizenship, say South Africa, then becoming an Australian citizen has its benefits. First and foremost becoming an Australian citizen does not require you to relinquish your South African citizenship. I know South Africans love their country and like myself would never dream of giving up the citizenship of their birth country. Probably the most beneficial part of becoming a dual national would be the ability of choice as to where you live.
To clarify what I mean perhaps I should take a step back and recount some of my experiences as to the reasons why one would consider migrating to Australia
Many South Africans are ‘Gatvol’ of the various things that happen a daily basis. Declining service standards, the fear of being robbed in your own home or hijacked on the way to work, not been able to walk in certain areas, a perceived glass ceiling on your career prospects, affirmative employment policies, little or no opportunity for your children to have a prosperous career, uncertainty of the future, and a life expectancy rate of 49 years.
Despite all this, South Africans still love their country and remain very parochial about what it offers, its sporting teams, and the bragging rights of some of the most dangerous animals in the world. Many would never dream of thinking that another country would be better.
One of the things that saddens me is when I speak to people who thought about migrating 5 or 10 years ago but decided against it in the hope that things are going to be better in their country. Time passes and they realise that things don't get better and actually get worse. So now they have decided to make the move. However, unlike their situation 10 years ago, they no longer qualify for a variety of reasons such as being over the age limit or their skill sets are no longer in demand in Australia.
If we could wind back the clock to that period time, my specific advice would be to go ahead with the migration process while you qualify. With so many changes to the program, you never know when your eligibility will diminish, and if you suddenly become ineligible you never know when you'll be eligible again.
On my recent trip I consulted with a number of South African citizens who were contemplating the future in South Africa but were undecided on whether to make the move to Australia. The love of the country tends to make it difficult to sever any sort of tie.
So if you're thinking of migrating because of uncertainty of your future and you do qualify now, then why not start the process whilst you are still eligible? The chances are that with a constantly changing migration program you will not be guaranteed to be eligible in 1 year's time, 5 year’s time or 10 year’s time, or even next month. Skills lists are continually changing. Skilled Occupational Lists, State Sponsorship Lists and occupational ceilings all provide a constantly changing framework.
For those of you are not aware of what it means to become a permanent resident of Australia, you should all know that you will obtain a visa that is valid for five years. It is important to note that this five year period relates to the authority to enter Australia, however your right to remain in Australia is indefinite. To ensure that your right to residency remains and you continue to travel overseas you will need to renew your travel authority for another five years. To qualify for this you simply need to remain in Australia for two of the previous five years prior to making the application. If you do not spend at least two years in Australia you can extend your authority by a further 12 months if you can prove substantial ties to Australia.
By going through this process you have made the decision that you are going to move to Australia. However, situations do change and if things have improved in your lifestyle or your country, you may wish to change your mind and never take up the option for residency. However, given that it is valid for five years, you have given yourself a substantial amount of time to make that decision.
Once you become a resident, if you are citizen of a country that allows dual citizenship, such as South Africa, I would suggest that you spend the four years it takes to become a citizen of Australia and obtain your Australian passport. This will give you two passports and the ability to live and work in either country. In fact you'll also have the right to work and live in New Zealand for as long as you like as the holder and Australian passport.
Once you become an Australian citizen and you miss the sight of Table Mountain at your back window, running with the lions in the game parks, surfing with the sharks in Durban, or just the thrill of being robbed in the middle of the night while sleeping, you can move back to South Africa without any problem in the world because you are still a South African citizen.
In 10 year’s time when it becomes impossible for your kids to prosper in the current climate, or you see no future for yourself in South Africa, you can then move back to Australia without going through all the eligibility criteria simply because you are an Australian citizen. Once an Australian citizen you can live outside Australia for as long as you like and then return whenever you like to live and work.
The investment you make in the migration process is an investment in your future. Uncertainty has been prevalent in South African society for many years and whilst it may improve in the future, no one knows exactly when it will be. Imagine giving yourselves and your family the gift of opportunity, the freedom to walk the streets alone, enjoy quality education from a young age, ability to progress in a wonderful career, and the chance for your children to live life as a child should.
This can be done without having to relinquish your citizenship of your birth country. You do not have to completely sever ties with your birth country and, to borrow another Afrikaans word, we can all live with a Soutpiel.
Becoming an Australian resident is becoming more complex and more unpredictable in terms of eligibility and I don't really want you to be one of those in 10 year’s time consulting with me saying I wish I made the move 10 years ago when I qualified.
The UK has effectively tightened its policies with regards to South African citizens. Australia is still part of the Commonwealth and I would hate to think that anyone would miss out simply because they decided to wait for things to improve in their own country.
Many of you who are contemplating migrating are looking for an alternative, and sometimes an insurance policy for the future. However, a choice of where to live when life in a country becomes difficult is invaluable. Perhaps the best time to buy an insurance policy is when you don't need to use it.
Our next round of seminars will be held as follows :
Singapore :
Saturday 8 September at 11am at the Holiday Inn Orchard City Centre.
Consultation days will be on 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 September
To book go to : http://www.immagine-immigration.com/seminars/singapore/
South Africa
Johannesburg : Thursday 11 October at 7pm at the Michelangelo Hotel
Consulting days will be 12, 13, 14, 22, 23 and 24 October
Durban : Monday 15 October at 7pm at the Endless Horizons Boutique Hotel
Consulting days will be 16 and 17 October
Cape Town : Thursday 18 October at the Newlands Southern Sun Hotel
Consulting days will be on 19 and 20 October.
To book for South African seminars go to : http://www.immagine-immigration.com/seminars/south-africa/
ACT Needs Skills
ACT Releases State Sponsorship List
The Australian Capital Territory recently released their state sponsorship list and it's gratifying to see the vast array of occupations being sponsored by this territory.
We've been saying for some time now that state sponsorship is going to be playing an increasingly important role in the post-one July general skilled migration visa policy and it's gratifying to see state and territory governments in Australia embracing the concept of state sponsorship by producing a greater variety of occupations that these state governments are prepared to sponsor.
People in certain occupations need state sponsorship by virtue the fact that they are on the consolidated skilled occupations list and not the skilled occupations list however another advantage of obtaining state sponsorship is certainty of outcome with regard to the points score one needs to achieve namely 60 points.
The alternative to a state-sponsored general skilled migration visa is the independent visa. This is in theory possible for those people with occupations on the skilled occupations list [not the consolidated skilled occupations list] and who meet the pass mark.
The pass mark has been announced at 60 points for state-sponsored applications however independent applications and family sponsored applications will have to face competing point scores from others who have submitted expressions of interest. The department of immigration and citizenship will announce pass marks for independence and family sponsored applications commensurate with the number of applicants that they seek to withdraw from the pool every month. Not so state-sponsored applicants who face a defined pass mark of 60 points.
State sponsorship also adds points to an applicants score. Certain applicants rely upon these additional points to meet the pass mark however in more and more cases we are recommending state sponsorship, not because applicants need the points rather because of the prospect of a definite pass mark of 60 points.
State-sponsored applications fall under two distinct groups namely those that are regionally sponsored provisional visas and those that grant five-year unconditional permanent residence visas.
The state-sponsored provisional visas to come with conditions that one needs to live and in a regional part of the sponsoring state for a period of two years [and work for at least 12 months of full-time employment] but the unconditional permanent residence visa requires the applicant to settle in the sponsoring state for a period of two years.
We receive many inquiries asking us whether these sponsorship obligations need to be honoured in the light of the fact that the unconditional state-sponsored visa is exactly that, unconditional. The short answer is that we would not submit any state sponsorship application for a client of ours that wasn't sincere in choosing that particular state as a state in which they would like to settle and honouring the obligations to that particular state.
If you would like to read more about the diverse range of occupations sponsored by ACT please click on the following link –
http://www.canberrayourfuture.com.au/workspace/uploads/documents/act-occupation-list-2012-13.pdf
So far six states or territory's have produced their state sponsorship lists and we only await the lists of Northern and Tasmania.
Australia Lowers Pass Marks - Who Wins?
Australia Lowers Pass Mark -- Who's Likely to Win?
Last week we sent all of you an update as to two important developments with regard to the post 1 July General Skilled Migration visa policy namely that the pass mark is going to fall from 65 points to 60 points and the "recent work experience" will no longer form a part of policy. We have received a large response from that blog from people that may have consulted with us in the last three years inquiring as to how those developments alter their eligibility. We have found in the past week that these developments have made a big difference in turning previous marginal candidates into good candidates under post one July policy. The purpose of this blog is to provide a few examples to better illustrate how these changes impact upon applicants.
Example 1
Ronald a 36-year-old Singaporean Motor Mechanic with 12 years of work experience closely related to the occupation of Motor Mechanic sits the International English Language Testing System test [IELTS] three times and on each attempt narrowly misses obtaining a minimum band score of seven on each of the four modules of the general training test [usually by .5 on one of the bands]. He has, according to immigration policy, "competent English". He has obtained a positive skills assessment as a Motor Mechanic and his occupation appears on the state sponsorship list of Western Australia. He scores the following points:
Age -- 25 points
Qualifications -- 10 points for a trade certificate
Work experience -- 15 points, maximum points for 8 of the past 10 years of work experience closely related to the nominated occupation
English language ability -- 0. The minimum of six or more on each of the four bands of the general training version is sufficient to lodge a general skilled migration visa but doesn't entitle one to any points. A minimum of 7 on each of the four modules entitles an applicant to 10 points.
State sponsorship -- 5 or 10 points depending upon the type of visa applied for. His occupation of Motor Mechanic does appear on the State Sponsorship list of Western Australia. He is eligible for 5 points if he obtains state sponsorship for a state sponsored 176 visa and 10 points if he applies for a provisional regionally sponsored 475 visa.
The difference between the two visas is essentially that the 176 visa is a five-year unconditional visa allowing you to live anywhere in Australia but as per the agreement that Ronald signs with Western Australia he agrees to spend at least two years in Western Australia but can live and work anywhere in the state of Western Australia, including Metropolitan Perth.
The 475 visa is a three year provisional visa requiring Ronald to spend two years in regional Western Australia and work for at least one of these two years before he can apply for permanent residence. Regional Australia excludes Metropolitan Perth. Ronald does not need to work for a year as a Motor Mechanic and his wife Evelyn could even satisfy the condition by working for one year. In the unlikely event that he isn't able to find employment in regional Western Australia his visa does not preclude him from satisfying the 475 visa conditions in another part of regional Australia.
The 475 visa is an important stepping stone to acquiring permanent residence because it does give Ronald and his wife full work rights and allows his children to attend school. It does not cover him for state-funded healthcare [Medicare] but he can obtain his own private medical aid until such time as he obtains permanent residence.
Under pre 1 July policy Ronald needs to obtain a minimum and score of 7 on the IELTS test in order to be eligible for the 176 visa but after 1 July, even with a minimum band score of 6 on the IELTS test he is eligible to apply for a 475 visa.
Example 2
Fred is a 49-year-old divorced Sales and Marketing Manager in South Africa with "superior" English language ability [defined in policy as scoring a minimum of 8 in each of the four bands of the general training version of the IELTS test] and has a Bachelor of Commerce degree.
He scores the following points:
Age -- 0 points [the cutoff age for a general skilled migration visa is 50 years of age]
Qualifications -- 15 points for a Bachelors degree qualification recognized in Australia
Work experience -- 15 points
English language ability -- 20 points
State sponsorship for the 475 visa -- 10 points. His occupation appears on a number of state sponsorship lists.
Total potential score 60 points and therefore eligible for the 475 visa.
Example 3
Faisal is a 40-year-old Engineer with a Bachelor of Engineering degree. He's married to Aisha who used to work as a Human Resources Adviser in Kuala Lumpur but quit the workforce 4 years ago to raise their young children. Faisal has proficient English language ability described as being able to score a minimum of 7 on each of the four modules of the IELTS test but not 8. He scores the following points:
Age -- 15 points
Qualification -- 15 points
Work experience -- 15 points
English language ability -- 10 points
Partners points -- 5
Total potential score = 60 points and therefore eligible to apply for the 175 independent visa. Prior to one July Aisha's lack of "recent work experience" [not having at least 12 months of the past 24 months work experience in any occupation on the skilled occupations list] precluded her from adding 5 points to Faisal's score.
The above examples do come with the proviso that there are other factors that are important in order to determine one's eligibility such as factors surrounding one's ability to secure a positive skills assessment for the nominated occupation [a basic requirement of general skilled migration visas] as well as state sponsorship requirements [if necessary], health and character to name but a few.
Perhaps the most significant and subtle announcement was not the fact that the pass mark was reduced to 60 points but the statements below that accompanied the announcement. They indicate a recognition of the importance of general skilled migration visas and the fact that the previous pass mark was not going to give Australia sufficient numbers of skilled migrants under current immigration policy. General Skilled Migration visas reward skilled migrants with residence visas or pathways to obtaining permanent residence visas and don't necessarily rely upon migrants to find offers of employment in Australia as a pathway to obtaining permanent residence.
"The previous pass mark was appropriate in the context of the skilled migration reforms, with a greater emphasis on employer-sponsored skilled migration and managing a growing pipeline of unsponsored skilled migration applications."
"The pass mark for the new SkillSelect visas will encourage a broader range of people with the skills and attributes needed in Australia to register their interest in migration"
For more information relating to our series of free immigration seminars in Singapore, South Africa and Malaysia in July please click on the following link --http://immagine-immigration.com/seminars/seminar-calendar/
Regards
The IMMagine Team
2012 - Seminars, Policy and Tennis...
Happy New Year and can I take this opportunity of wishing you all the very best for 2012. The year has started off with a bang for us here in Melbourne – the world appears to have itchy feet, particularly in Europe and South Africa.
My team and I will be giving a series of seminars over the next few weeks at which we will be outlining the big changes coming to Australian immigration policy. For friends or family that wish to attend, dare I say this is a not to be missed opportunity.
Johannesburg - 15 February - Click here to register >>
Durban - 20 February - Click here to register >>
Cape Town - 23 February - Click here to register >>
Singapore - 3 March - Click here to register>>
Malaysia - 10 March - Click here to register>>
Although my school days are far behind me I remember the first week back at school. Invariably we had to do an essay in English on "what I did on my school holidays".
Because I spent a great deal of last year on planes, trains and automobiles presenting seminars in Singapore and South Africa I did absolutely nothing during my holidays apart from over indulge in the things that I love most; good food, good wine and good company - Melbourne abounds with all of that.
I find that South African businesses tend to close earlier in December than those in Australia. Probably because the school term ends earlier in South Africa (around 7 December) whereas the Australian school term ends approximately 20 December.
As a result most people in Australia tend to take their holidays shortly before Christmas or else in January. Businesses tend to become fully operational in Australia much later than Singapore and South Africa.
Although the Singapore school term finishes in mid-November, because of the expected work ethic I'm not sure how many of my Singapore clients manage to have a decent vacation. I think that a lunch break is the most that many can hope for.
The best weather in Victoria generally arrives in January rather than November and December and this acts as a further inducement to have one's annual break in January rather than December.
A big part of summer in this city is the Australian Tennis Open. With the onset of the Tournament and the heat of the beautiful summer Melbourne acquires a festival atmosphere. The mixed bag of weather we can get pre Christmas is replaced by long hot sunny days and the city comes alive. The trams and trains are filled with tennis fans from a multitude of nations.
However because cities like Sydney and Melbourne are so multicultural player support does not have to originate from abroad.
Juan Martin del Potro complained to the umpire about rowdy crowd behaviour in his loss to Marcos Baghdatis in Sydney. Australia has large Greek and Cypriot communities that have traditionally supported Baghdatis. Del Potro is reported to have said the following to the umpire:
"I don't know where Cyprus is, if it's close to Australia or not," Del Potro told reporters. "But many guys come to here to see his game and follow his tennis”.
Cyprus you may be aware is not particularly close to Australia.
Melbourne is reported to have the largest Greek community outside of Athens and every time Baghdatis plays in Melbourne it's like a home crowd for him.
In a wonderful two weeks Melburnians from all walks of life come out to celebrate this marvellous game.
I'm passionate about tennis and January in Melbourne is always about the heat and Australian Open time for me.
On a more back to work note there are major changes on the immigration horizon here in Australia.
There are two potential migrants need to be aware of.
State Sponsorship lists have been released and these have seen many occupations added (and a few subtracted) from the states of Queensland, Australian Capital Territory and South Australia. The ACT lists released this week were due out in July 2011. Better late than never I guess…..
These changes have resulted for example in trades being added by Queensland which open up the possibility of emigrating to Australia without needing a job offer first.
Welcome news indeed.
If you wish to read the lists you can do so by selecting the states below:
- Australian Capital Territory – because the ACT website will only be updated later this week, if you would like a copy of the list please email me: myer@immagine-immigration.com
- Queensland - 176 (Residence Visa)
- Queensland - 475 (Temporary Visa)
A significant policy change that will occur later this year (expected to be 1 July) is a change from the current fixed pass mark of 65 points for points tested general skilled migration visas (those that don't require offers of employment) to a floating pass mark system with variable pass marks depending upon the demand for an applicant’s nominated occupation. Those familiar with New Zealand policy settings will see a convergence here!
This system will apply to all applicants who submit residence visas after 1 July.
We are advising all of our clients, wherever possible, to submit their residence visa applications prior to 1 July because inevitably when policy changes there will be winners and losers.
I will be updating readers further of the 1 July policy change as and when more information becomes available.
I have always thought of New Zealand and Australia as complementary immigration destinations. New Zealanders and Australians like to exaggerate the differences between the two countries but to an ex-South African (and a New Zealander) like myself there are lots of similarities between the two cultures and I tend to regard Kiwi’s and Aussies as cousins. My business partner, Iain MacLeod from Immagine New Zealand would like to believe distant cousins (along the lines of Cro-Magnon v Neanderthal) but I am not so sure.
The Kiwis have a joke- ‘What do you call cultured Australian?”
A New Zealander…
Nothwithstanding the joke, many potential migrants to the two countries also consider them complementary destinations and would consider settling in either depending upon which one gives permanent residence with the least amount of grief.
Many people have false preconceptions as to the ease of migrating to Australia and New Zealand and I'm often asked the question as to which country is easier to get into.
The short answer some people will be eligible for one but not the other. It depends on so many factors but the beautiful thing from the perspective of Immagine Australia and Immagine New Zealand is we can now help you identify which and then help make it happen for you.
This is because I have spent the last quarter of 2011 schooling my colleagues in our Auckland office on Australian General Skilled Migration. This is vital to many of you who wish to live there but otherwise require job offers to get into New Zealand. Many people will qualify for Australia without needing the job and once you have your permanent residence in Australia you can land with your residence visa in Australia, get on the next plane, fly to New Zealand and you are automatically granted permanent residence there. All without filing a formal residence visa application to New Zealand.
Those Kiwis are nothing if not cheeky – using Australia as a back door!
Feel free to e-mail us if you would like an assessment of your immigration options on myer@immagine-immigration.com
From Myer Lipschitz - IMMagine Australia
Love and Migration
Perhaps I'm showing my age but for many of my generation the movie "Green Card" was the ultimate migration movie.
I'm sure you know the plot but if not, the character played by Gerard Depardieu wants to stay in the United States and enters into a marriage of convenience with the character played by Andy McDowell to secure a Green Card to enable him to commence a job that he's been offered. She enters into the marriage to be able to keep her apartment [which is for married couples only].
Gerard’s character has his comeuppance during his interview with Immigration and Naturalization Service when he cannot identify her brand of cold cream.
You could be forgiven for thinking that the moral of the story is if you are thinking of a partner visa to spend some time studying your partners cosmetic cabinets in more detail but the actual point is don't use fraudulent means to apply for visas. I'm sure a good migration lawyer could have secured the appropriate visa by legitimate means. Perhaps it's time that scriptwriters wrote in a storyline for a Brad Pitt type migration lawyer. Not that I have any resemblance to BP or am considering a career change.
With a more selective immigration policy and tougher student/permanent residence pathways partner visas [relationship-based visas] have never been more popular. In fact the Australian Federal Government has set aside 44,000 places [as many as the independent General Skilled Migration category] for partner visas in the recent budget announcement.
Partner visas include applicants who are engaged, formally married, in a de facto relationship [same-sex or heterosexual] with an Australian citizen or permanent resident.
The term "de facto" is unfamiliar to many of our readers but generally means a common-law marriage where the partners have been living together for 12 months or more in a genuine stable relationship which is likely to endure.
Partner visas generally fall into one of the following categories:
Prospective marriage -- also known as the fiancée visa. This visa is for a person who is engaged but not yet married to Australian citizen or permanent resident. This is the "try before you buy" concept that allows overseas migrants to enter Australia for the purposes of marrying their Australian fiancé's. The marriage must take place within nine months.
Spouse [provisional] -- this visa is for a person who is married to, or in a de facto relationship with an Australian citizen. The visa is provisional and can lead to permanent residence, generally once the Department of Immigration and Citizenship are satisfied that the couple is living together in a genuine stable relationship after two years.
Spouse -- this is a permanent visa for a person who is married to or in a de facto relationship with an Australian citizen permanent resident.
The tighter migration laws referred to above together with the fact that the "relationship register" operated in many States in Australia [which means that de facto couples who register their relationship don't even have to live together for 12 months before they can apply] have meant that a greater degree of vigilance is required on the part of Australian citizens/permanent residents.
The following are some warning signs for the unwary Australian/permanent resident:
- Although you could have been blessed with good genes if the migrant finds you irresistible and she is half your age, beware;
- If you met on the internet on any site with the terms “Russian Brides” in the URL, beware;
- If your paramour is a student about to finish a course of study in Australia who uttered the words “oh damn” on 8 February last year (when the student policy changed), beware;
- If she suddenly decides to open a joint bank account, sign a joint lease, cancel her postal box and have all of her mail directed to your common address, suggests joint travel or any of the other evidence required to support a de facto partnership application beware, you could be set up.
Relationship visas might be seen as the ultimate "shortcut" to securing permanent residence in Australia but immigration officers are not naïve. Relationship visas have amongst the highest decline rate of all visa applications in Australia. Approximately 40% are declined and not simply because applicants neglected to check her brand of cold cream!
We ensure that our clients apply for relationship visas for the right reasons. Not for the purposes of a "quick fix" in terms of immigration policy but rather because there is a genuine desire on the part of both parties to enter into a long-term relationship with migration to Australia being a by product of the relationship.
