Partner visa refusal is on the increase according to migration industry insiders. Australian Immigration Department crackdown on fake or ‘sham’ marriages and ‘contrived relationships’ has resulted in some innocent and genuine couples being caught up in the drag net. This is a deeply troubling consequence of recently implemented measures to clamp down on migration fraud[…]
Visa Refusal and Rules of Evidence – The fine line between visa grant and refusal A recent client case has come across my desk and has reminded me of how a genuine visa applicant can be refused by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection because of a simple lack of evidence to support their[…]
In all my years of dealing with the Department of Immigration and Border Protection there is one thing I have learned. THEY DON’T LIKE GIVING MONEY BACK! Visa application fee refunds are available to visa applicants on a limited set of circumstances. The Department assessing requests for visa application fee refunds against relevant provisions in the[…]
Recent legislative changes introduced through the Parliament now make it a criminal offence for a sponsor to be paid by a visa applicant for a 457 visa sponsorship. The change to the legislation was introduced as a recommendation of the recently concluded independent review of the integrity of the subclass 457 programme. The government was very keen[…]
Strata managers are experiencing increasing demand in Sydney and Melbourne as a result of an unprecedented building boom. Strata experts internationally are now being sourced to meet the short term fall in supply of skilled workers in this industry. For further information read a recent post on our partner website: http://www.jobs.sponsor-connect.com.au/strata-managers-needed-ens-opportunities/ The strata industry has[…]
ATO Data Matching Temporary Visa Holders Beware The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has recently published new protocols on data matching between Commonwealth Departments and Agencies. Introduction of the new protocols is expected to dramatically increase fraud detection. Possible non-compliance and fraudulent activities of up to 1 million temporary visa holders are to be scrutinized. The period[…]
Delays in 457 visa processing are being experienced, according to industry analysts. Delays in 457 visa processing are a result of combined factors of changes to 457 visa program and internal reorganisation. The Department is restructuring in readiness for the abolition of the 457 visa to be replaced by the short term and medium term[…]