News and Updates from the World of Australian and Canadian Immigration
January 11, 2017:
Canada #ExpressEntry update:
January 11, 2017 saw a record number of 3,334 invitations being extended by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Canada (#IRCC) for their Express Entry program. The lowest cut off score on the Comprehensive Ranking System (#CRS) this time around being 459.
All those invited have 90 days from the the date of invitation to make a valid visa application.
13.01.2016:
13th January 2016 saw the second round of invitation for the Express Entry system of Canada for 2016, invite 1518 candidates with the lowest score being 453.
13.12.2015
On 14 December 2015, new criminal and civil penalties and visa cancellation provisions were introduced by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection, as part of a 'paying for visa sponsorship' framework that allows for sanctions to be imposed on a person who asks for, receives, offers or provides a benefit in return for visa sponsorship or employment (that requires visa sponsorship). For the full text click here.
19.09.2015:
The seventeenth draw of Express Entry took place on the 18th of September 2015. It saw 1545 candidates getting an invitation to apply. This was a new record as CIC has issued to invitation to candidates with CRS scores as low as 450.
01.07.2014:
UPDATE: Changes to the Skilled Occupation List and the Consolidated Skilled Occupation List for independent skilled migration applicants are now available on the departments new website here: http://bit.ly/1LVMZhs. The new website from 1 July 2015 is www.border.gov.au.
16.06.2014:
Changes to Consolidated Sponsored Occupation List (CSOL) and Skilled Occupation List (SOL)
Skilled Occupation List (SOL) - The SOL is relevant for applicants for:
Consolidated Sponsored Occupation List (CSOL) - The CSOL is relevant for applicants for:
The following changes will apply to applications made for the above visas on or after 1 July 2014.
Occupations added to the SOL - The following occupations will be added to the SOL:
Occupations added to the CSOL - The following occupations will be added to the CSOL:
Changes to occupation titles - The following titles will be changed:
Changes to assessing authorities - For new applications for the above visas made on or after 1 July 2014, new assessing authorities will be specified for the following occupations:
Canada #ExpressEntry update:
January 11, 2017 saw a record number of 3,334 invitations being extended by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Canada (#IRCC) for their Express Entry program. The lowest cut off score on the Comprehensive Ranking System (#CRS) this time around being 459.
All those invited have 90 days from the the date of invitation to make a valid visa application.
13.01.2016:
13th January 2016 saw the second round of invitation for the Express Entry system of Canada for 2016, invite 1518 candidates with the lowest score being 453.
13.12.2015
On 14 December 2015, new criminal and civil penalties and visa cancellation provisions were introduced by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection, as part of a 'paying for visa sponsorship' framework that allows for sanctions to be imposed on a person who asks for, receives, offers or provides a benefit in return for visa sponsorship or employment (that requires visa sponsorship). For the full text click here.
19.09.2015:
The seventeenth draw of Express Entry took place on the 18th of September 2015. It saw 1545 candidates getting an invitation to apply. This was a new record as CIC has issued to invitation to candidates with CRS scores as low as 450.
01.07.2014:
UPDATE: Changes to the Skilled Occupation List and the Consolidated Skilled Occupation List for independent skilled migration applicants are now available on the departments new website here: http://bit.ly/1LVMZhs. The new website from 1 July 2015 is www.border.gov.au.
16.06.2014:
Changes to Consolidated Sponsored Occupation List (CSOL) and Skilled Occupation List (SOL)
Skilled Occupation List (SOL) - The SOL is relevant for applicants for:
- independent points-based skilled migration who are not nominated by a state or territory government agency
- a Family Sponsored points-based skilled visa
- Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) - Graduate Work stream.
Consolidated Sponsored Occupation List (CSOL) - The CSOL is relevant for applicants for:
- points-based skilled migration who are nominated by a state or territory government agency under a State Migration Plan
- the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS), who must have been nominated by an Australian employer to fill a position in an occupation that appears in the CSOL
- the Temporary Work (Skilled) visa (subclass 457)
- the Training and Research visa (subclass 402).
The following changes will apply to applications made for the above visas on or after 1 July 2014.
Occupations added to the SOL - The following occupations will be added to the SOL:
- Chef (Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) 351311)
- Bricklayer (ANZSCO 331111)
- Wall and Floor Tiler (ANZSCO 333411)
Occupations added to the CSOL - The following occupations will be added to the CSOL:
- Hydrogeologist (ANZSCO 234413)
- Exercise Physiologist (ANZSCO 234915)
Changes to occupation titles - The following titles will be changed:
- Ship's Surveyor will be titled Marine Surveyor (ANZSCO 231215)
- General Medical Practitioner will be titled General Practitioner (ANZSCO 253111)
Changes to assessing authorities - For new applications for the above visas made on or after 1 July 2014, new assessing authorities will be specified for the following occupations:
- Nurse Manager (ANZSCO 254311): Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC)
- Nurse Educator (ANZSCO 254211): ANMAC
- Nurse Researcher (ANZSCO 254212): ANMAC.
- Marine Transport Professional not elsewhere classified (ANZSCO 231299): Vocational Education and Training Assessment Services (VETASSESS)
03.06.2014:
Migration builds Australia’s economy and supports the labour market. 128,550 places have been allocated for skilled migration in 2014–15 in the following categories.
Migration builds Australia’s economy and supports the labour market. 128,550 places have been allocated for skilled migration in 2014–15 in the following categories.
09.05.2014:
From 1 July 2015, the Department of Immigration and Border Protection and the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service will be consolidated into a single department. These changes do not have any immediate effect on visa or citizenship applications or processes—your existing application or any new application will continue to be processed in accordance with the service standards available on our website. For updates see:www.immi.gov.au/About/Pages/australian-border-force.aspx
21.02.2014:
The department granted 74 020 visas in the 2012–13 points-tested skilled migration stream. Visa grants in the skilled independent category comprised 59.8 per cent of the points tested skilled migration program. The skilled—state/territory category made up a further 29.2 per cent, with the remainder from the points-tested skilled regional category.
In 2012–13, the five major source countries for points-tested skilled migration were India, the People's Republic of China, the United Kingdom, Sri Lanka and Malaysia.
For more information please refer this link: http://www.immi.gov.au/about/reports/annual/2012-13/html/performance/outcome_1/economic_migration.htm
29.10.2013:
Did you know the student visa changes announced on 29 October 2013 will benefit overseas students and international education providers? This package of measures will simplify student visas through:
- a refined assessment level (AL) framework
- the extension of streamlined visa processing to certain non-university degree providers.
Simplifying the AL framework will benefit students from countries such as China and India and will assist vocational education and training students.
Assessment levels will reduce from five levels to three, while financial evidence for AL3 students will reduce from 18 to 12 months—provided funds are from a close relative of the student visa applicant. Both these changes are subject to the legislative change process, so they are proposed changes until formally recognised in legislation from March 2014. If the proposed changes do go through the legislative process as intended, students from many countries will be able to apply for a student visa with up to A$40 000 less in the bank.
14.10.2013: Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) name changed to Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP)
Following the swearing-in of the new ministry led by Prime Minister Tony Abbott on September 18, there have been machinery of government changes that affect the department and the immigration portfolio.
- The department will be renamed the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP).
- The department will manage entry, stay and departure arrangements for non-citizens, border immigration control, citizenship, ethnic affairs and customs and border control other than quarantine and inspection.
- Settlement and multicultural affairs functions will transfer to the renamed Department of Social Services and the Adult Migrant English Programme will move to the Department of Industry.
- The Australian Customs and Border Protection Service is now a portfolio agency under the immigration and border protection portfolio.
Transition to the new arrangements is under-way and may take some months to come into effect.
The department will also contribute to Operation Sovereign Borders and the joint agency task force that has been established to combat people smuggling and protect Australia's borders.
The department will continue to contribute to Australia through the management of its migration, humanitarian and citizenship policy and programmes.
11.09.2013: Update in the Visa Application Charges
Beginning 1st of September 2013, the Visa Application Charges for most categories of visas have been increased. This comes shortly after the recent change in the format of charging Visa Application Fees from individual application fees to a per applicant fee. This means that as against the one single fee payable initially, now a family travelling on a visa together has to bear an additional cost per applicant, depending on their age (above or below 18). With the recent change the most impacted will be those travelling with spouse and kids, who were already impacted with the recent change mentioned above. For the new the updated Visa Application fees as per the categories, please refer to the document below.
| visa-pricing-table_1_sep_2013.pdf |