Migration cut in Abbott bid for upper hand

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott is poised to unveil a significant cut in Australia's annual migration intake as he tries to outflank Labor in the politically sensitive territory of boats and population.

Campaigning in Perth yesterday, Mr Abbott was playing up border protection in a state that is strong for the Liberal Party.

Standing beside West Australian Premier Colin Barnett, Mr Abbott announced a $93 million policy to widen cargo screening at shipping ports and airports.

The Liberals will announce their new policy in the next few days and it will include a cut in migration levels. Liberals immigration spokesman Scott Morrison has signalled the looming cut could be in the order of 100,000 a year.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has been trying to frame Labor's population debate without sparking a discussion about immigration levels, but that attempt has faced strong criticism in recent days.

Complicating the issue, business does not want either party to play populist politics by fiddling with the migration program that helps ensure a sufficient supply of workers to meet demand.

The Coalition has been citing a current annual immigration figure of about 300,000 but that number is inflated by foreign students; the current net number is lower.

Labor has criticised the opposition's use of the higher figure. The Liberal leader said yesterday the boom immigration period under the Howard government peaked at about 200,000.

Labor is under political pressure due to a steady increase in the number of boat arrivals over the past 12 months. Two have arrived during the campaign.

Polling shows the community has now linked population pressures with boats and immigration more generally.

Mr Abbott faced a number of questions at his Perth press conference about his intentions. He replied: ''We will have an announcement in the next few days and you will know exactly where we stand. What you won't get from us is the kind of fakery and fudging that you've had from the Prime Minister.

'She says she's conscious of population pressures but she won't do anything actually to reduce them,' Mr Abbott said.

He accused Ms Gillard of continuing Kevin Rudd's 'big Australia immigration program'' - and claimed migrant entries had risen during the term of the government despite the economy slowing.

'I think it's very important to ensure we don't think immigration is necessarily a solution to all our labour market problems,' he said.

Responding to the new investment in border security, Home Affairs Minister Brendan O'Connor said Labor had already invested heavily in the area.

'The Gillard Labor government has invested more than any previous government in strengthening Australia's border security,'' Mr O'Connor said.

'Over the past two budgets, federal Labor has committed more than $1.8 billion to strengthen border and aviation security.'

Source: SHM

Hysteria on growth threatens successful population strategy

It is just 61 years since the first Australian citizenship ceremony, in 1949, when seven men, from Czechoslovakia, Denmark, France, Greece, Norway, Spain and Yugoslavia, travelled to Canberra as representatives of the states and territories where they lived, and became symbols of the New Australia. The 2493 people from 35 countries who became citizens that year, reflecting postwar geopolitics, had emigrated mainly from Italy, Poland, Greece, Germany and Yugoslavia.

The new New Australia is very different. Those taking the pledge in 2008-09 came from 185 countries. More than a fifth emigrated from Britain but most others reflected current geopolitics and Australia's place in a changing world. Most came from India or China, followed by South Africa, New Zealand, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Iraq, Malaysia and Bangladesh.

At some point in the past decade Australians seemed to become less confident of having ''boundless plains to share'', even of the desirability of being big. The rates of immigration have varied only a little from year to year for decades, hovering just under the 1 per cent of the population that the minister for immigration, Arthur Caldwell, set as a target in 1945.

Yet in recent times political hysteria about a few thousand refugees has threatened to overwhelm a successful population strategy. Environmental concerns became a reason to stop arrivals rather than a reason to exercise imagination and ingenuity, and frustration about congestion gave way to despair about urban liveability.

The challenges of the next 40 years are crystallised in Treasury's recent Intergenerational Report, which analysed and predicted national demographics: the ageing population, declining productivity and the need to encourage participation.

As part of the analysis, the report predicted that current birth, death and immigration rates would increase the Australian population to 36 million by 2050.

The population prediction was one of the least important elements of the report but it captured the imagination of the baby boomer commentariat, who grew up when the population was less than half what is it today. It seemed that for many the jump was remarkable, rather than a predictable, incremental increase over time.

Business leaders cheered for growth; environmentalists suggested slowing down; almost no one put the prediction in the context of a corresponding global population of 9 billion.

Confusion with numbers prevailed.

Reports of a Lowy Institute poll about Australians' attitude towards population growth overwhelmingly favoured a population of 30 million or less, and asserted authoritatively that most Australians did not want the population to grow. This quickly became the received wisdom. Almost no one pointed out that the prediction of 36 million actually required a slower rate of growth of 1.2 per cent a year, just under the 1.4 per cent that has occurred for the past 40 years.

The Intergenerational Report's preoccupation was how to maintain a high standard of living with lower rates of population growth, a falling gross domestic product and an ageing population, within the limits prescribed by environmental capacity and climate change. It was not a document advocating unconstrained growth.

Population and settlement are uniquely responsive to rules and regulations. Who arrives and under what circumstances is indisputably a matter of policy, as is where we live and in what circumstances. There are economic, environmental and social factors to take into account but settlement does not happen without thought and planning, even in a market-driven economy. Knowing the population will grow provides a great opportunity to create the future. It is clear that there will be sufficient growth and scale to think imaginatively about how a bigger Australia might look and feel - about the mix of city size and style.

Despite the mythology, Australia has an urban history; most people have lived in the cities. The precise mix and nature of those cities now needs to be reconsidered. The logic of two major cities made sense with a population of 11 million, the mix of major and minor cities works (sort of) now that the population has doubled, but the best mix for a population of 36 million remains to be seen.

There are tentative signs that policymakers are looking to get a better mix between big, medium and small cities, to look at the capacity of smaller cities to grow into more interesting, yet still connected, places.

One of the biggest changes from earlier attempts at decentralisation is the presence of universities in most major regional centres. These already employ thousands of people and could be the hubs of regional economic and social innovation, reduce the gap of services and opportunities between the big and small cities, and, when combined with technology and transport, foster greater regional economic diversity in congenial environments.

Getting the balance of growth right is always a work in progress - and, as the Goss government in Queensland found in 1996, no political leader wants to be in a position where the electorate feels it must chose between koalas and roads.

Source: SMH.com

Immigration Needed if Australia Wants to Stay Competitive

Two key government advisers and the nation’s leading demographer have warned that the nation’s “big Australia” debate has now entered dangerous territory and pressed the case for higher immigration to keep the economy strong.

Peter McDonald, head of the Australian Demographic and Social Research Institute, said yesterday the current political discourse linking high immigration rates to inflated house prices and congestion in the big cities risked a damaging reversion to Hansonism.

Professor McDonald was backed by former key government adviser and population economist Glenn Withers, who said the tone of the debate had “the potential for becoming dangerous”, while Infrastructure Australia head Rod Eddington said he was in favour of a “robust immigration program”.

Business leaders yesterday warned of the risks of any move to use population pressures as a reason to scale back on immigration numbers, saying they were crucial to future economic growth.

Sir Rod, appointed by the Labor government to chair Infrastructure Australia, said: “I’m broadly in favour of a robust ongoing immigration program given that the hunt for talent is a global hunt and we want as many good people as we can sensibly fit in.

“(Migration has) been one of the reasons why Australia has succeeded in the past. We shouldn’t turn a blind eye to that fact.”

The full article is here, from The Australian.

Further Cuts To Immigration Quotas?

News reports today hint that Australia's New Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, will be breaking from her predecessor’s advocacy of a “Big Australia” flagging further cuts to immigration quotas.

In an interview with the Australian version of the Daily Telegraph News paper, Gillard said:

“Australia shouldn’t hurtle down the track towards a big population… We need to stop, take a breath and develop policies for a sustainable Australia.”

Gillard replaced Kevin Rudd last week after he recorded sharp falls in opinion polls ahead of a parliamentary election later this year. Rudd had rejoiced in the headcount growing at a rate four times China’s and double that of the United States.

With immigration running at 300,000 a year, the projections are that the continent would be home to 36 million by 2050, up from 22 million now.

As immigration accounts for over half of population growth, Gillard would have to cut back on annual quotas to halt runaway growth.

She said migrants could still come in to fill skill shortages but that she did not “want areas of Australia with 25 per cent youth unemployment because there are no jobs.”

Opposition Liberal Party leader Tony Abbott said Gillard, who arrived in Australia with her British parents at the age of 4, had fallen in behind Rudd’s “Big Australia” dictum just two months ago.

Abbott said the new Labor leader was adjusting her pronouncements to what opinion polling showed was popular. “She’ll give the public what they want to hear without giving them the policy to deliver it,” he said.

For every migrants sake, let’s hope that’s the case!

Migrants 'vital to recovery'

The Australian reported today that the Rudd Government has been told to resist pressure to slash Australia's permanent immigration intake in the face of lengthening dole queues, or risk stifling the nation's eventual economic recovery.

Leading demographer Peter McDonald has warned against short-sighted immigration decisions, saying overseas migrants will be the key drivers of economic growth over the next 40 years as millions of baby boomers move into retirement.

"At present, Australian labour force policy tends to be more a matter of reaction than of long-term planning," Professor McDonald wrote in a report presented to the Immigration Department this week.


"Labour shortages emerge, and attempts are made to plug them through training or immigration. This approach often leads to short cycles of under- and over-supply, as has been evident in the IT industry in recent years.

"In the short to medium term (the next 20 years), immigration is the only means available to meet large aggregate labour demand in Australia."

Professor McDonald, director of the Australian Demographic and Social Research Institute, said immigration levels tended to move behind the economic cycle: highest when peak economic activity tips over into recession, and savagely cut just at the time more workers were needed to help rebuild the economy.

When the 1974 recession hit, net overseas migration was 87,000. The following year it was cut to 13,500 and only returned to 1974 levels in 1980. In the 1982-83 recession, net migration fell from 123,000 in 1981 and 103,000 in 1982 to 55,000 in 1983, only returning to 1981 levels six years later.

"Immigration has a long lag-time," Professor McDonald said. "Targets are set well in advance, visa grants often take a long time, and then the immigrant has many months to actually take up the grant. We shouldn't let the numbers drop off as dramatically as they have in past recessions. We should be evening out the peaks and troughs."


Record numbers of migrants came to Australia last year and more than 200,000 are expected in 2008-09.

Immigration Minister Chris Evans has flagged cuts to the number of foreign workers allowed into the country in the wake of the global financial crisis, saying the Rudd Government is committed to protecting Australian jobs.

Professor McDonald said no immigration strategy could prevent a fall in labour supply in the 2020s as the population aged. His modelling found the optimum number of migrants to maintain a growing economy in coming decades in response to the changes in age structure was about 180,000 a year.

"Migrants do provide their own economic stimulus," Professor McDonald said. "They come into the country with money, they spend it to buy houses and set themselves up."

But immigrants create pressure on existing infrastructure, and housing supply is already a problem in the capital cities, particularly Sydney.

"A plan relating to Australia's future levels of immigration must be co-ordinated with policy for urban infrastructure, especially housing, transport, water and appropriate energy supply," Professor McDonald said.

Australia to cut number of migrants

Australia has accepted nearly 7 million immigrants since the end of World War II and as such is a nation of immigrants. About one in four of Australia's 21 million people were born overseas, and because it has been actively trying to attract skilled workers with immigration fairs targetting university graduates and people with trades in Europe, Britain and India, and a trial programme to bring in thousands of seasonal workers from Pacific island nations (to help farmers pick fruit crops in country areas that have suffered acute labour shortages) the last decade has seen a huge increase in new migrants.

However, Australia will cut its annual immigration intake for the first time in eight years due to the slowing economy and weakening demand for labour, Immigration Minister Chris Evans announced on Monday.

As six of Australia's major trading partners are now in recession, economic growth has stalled, and unemployment has started to rise - with the government expecting unemployment to hit 7.0 percent by mid-2010 from 4.8 percent currently. "I expect the numbers of our programme to drop next year... as a reaction to the economic circumstances," Evans told reporters.

Australia's planned immigration intake has increased every year since 1997 (although the number actually settling in Australia fell by about 20,000 in 2001-02). It set a target for 190,300 immigrants this year, up 20 percent on the 2007-08 financial year and higher than the post world war II record of 185,099 in 1969-70.

Evans said the final number of immigrants that Australia would accept has yet to be determined. The government would decide that in the lead-up to the national budget to be delivered on May 12. But he said the government would continue to target immigrants with skills for sectors where there is continued high demand, including the nursing and health sectors.

"We've been focused very much at the high-skill end over the years, and we will continue to be focused on the skills we need," he said.

Many people who had hoped to migrate to Australia may find their hope dashed with this news, including Irish workers with hopes of starting a new life down under. Up to 30,000 Irish people were tipped to emigrate to Australia this year, with the number of families applying for permanent residency visas rising dramatically.

Australia scores high in 'World's Friendliest Country'

Those in search of a fresh start might want to head to a country that has a reputation of being friendly and welcoming. You might look for a place that offers a relatively easy time in befriending locals, joining a local community group or learning the local language...

Look no further, Australia has it All!

Australia has come in 3rd in a poll conducted by HSBC Bank International's Expat Exploreer Survey. (Canada and Germany took 1st and 2nd places, respectively.) The study surveyed 2,155 expats in 48 countries, spanning four continents, between February and April 2008.

Respondents rated their country in four categories:

• ability to befriend locals
• number that joined a community group
• number that learned the language
• percentage that bought property
  

"We conducted this survey to better understand expatriate needs and get insight into the emotions of expats. The banking business is all about trust, especially with the recent credit crisis," says Martin Spurling, CEO of HSBC Bank International and Head of HSBC Global Offshore. "We want them to build a relationship with their wealth manager regardless of where they travel."

The results showed that in Australia 91% people befriended those living there.

Australia scored high in friendliness but ranked last when it came to joining a group. That's because expats in Australia tend to be younger, with 51% in the 18-34 age group, and may not need organized groups to facilitate meeting new people.

The United Arab Emirates was found to be the most difficult for expats; only 54% of those surveyed said they'd made friends with locals.

Man charged for Australian forest fire

A 39-year-old man has been charged in Australia, with starting one of the forest fires that ravaged the south of the country last week. Brendan Sokaluk is thought to have started one of the fires close to the town of Churchill, in Victoria. The subsequent blaze claimed the lives of 21 people and destroyed 30,000 hectares of forest.

Queen to make donation for Australia fire victims

Queen Elizabeth II will make a private donation in support of a fundraising appeal on behalf of victims of Australia's worst-ever wildfires, a royal spokeswoman said on Tuesday. Buckingham Palace declined to specify the size of the donation, which will go to the Victorian Bushfire Fund, launched by the Australian Red Cross along with the Victoria state premier and the federal government. Queen Elizabeth made similar contributions to fundraising appeals after the Asian tsunami in December 2004 and the July 2005 suicide bombings on London's public transport network.

Firefighters were on Tuesday still battling to save Australian communities threatened by the wildfires that have already claimed 181 lives, a toll that is expected to rise. In a statement on Sunday, the queen said: "I was shocked and saddened to learn of the terrible toll being exacted by the fires this weekend." She expressed "heartfelt condolences" to the families of those who died, "deep sympathy" to those who lost their homes, and tribute to the "extraordinary" efforts of the emergency services.

Watch the latest videos on YouTube.com

Victoria towns destroyed by devastating fires

The Queen has expressed her "shock and sadness" at the death toll in the Australian bush fires.
At least 108 people have died in the fires in southern Australia, the worst in the country's history. She also expressed her admiration for the work of the emergency services to contain the situation.

In a statement issued by Buckingham Palace the Queen said: "I was shocked and saddened to learn of the terrible toll being exacted by the fires this weekend. I send my heartfelt condolences to the families of all those who have died and my deep sympathy to the many who have lost their homes in this disaster on so dreadful an occasion as this for Australia. The fire fighters and other emergency services have been making extraordinary efforts to contain the situation and tend to those who have been injured. Please also convey to them my renewed admiration for all that they are doing."A Number 10 spokesman said prime minister, Gordon Brown, spoke to Kevin Rudd on Sunday morning to extend sympathies to the Australian people. A spokesman said: "He praised Kevin Rudd's leadership at this very difficult time, and said the UK stood ready to provide any assistance that the Australian government wanted."

Five benefits of living in Australia

In an article that highlights Australia as a prime destination for British migrants, The Scotsman states that the five benefits of living in Australia are:

1 Climate: The average temperature in Sydney ranges from a pleasant 16 degrees in winter to a sunny 26 degrees in summer.

2 Cost of living: A three-bedroom detached villa with a pool in Brisbane costs the same as a two-bedroom flat in Leith, Edinburgh. Food is also generally much cheaper too.

3 Sport: Australia is probably the most sporty place in the world and children tend to grow up fit and healthy because they do so much of it.

4 Natural wonders: There is the Great Barrier Reef, tropical rain forests, the extraordinary Uluru (Ayers Rock), vast deserts and mountains to ski on.

5 People: They are largely warm, friendly, irreverent of authority and meritocratic.

In fact, according to a survey published yesterday, record numbers of Brits are emigrating to Australia.

The Move Monitor Survey, which was commissioned by the removal firm Pickfords, found a 31 per cent increase in the number of individuals and families who moved to Australia in 2008, compared with 2007. A massive 40,000 Brits moved to Australia in 2007, with about 23,000 saying they were staying permanently.

So is it just the effects of the credit crunch creating this latest wave of British emigration or is there more to it?

Do you dream of living in Australia? Contact Bridge Migration right now and see how we can help you!

20% discount on our Australian visa services!

We think Australia is such a great place to live; we want to share it with you! How’s this for an offer you can’t refuse!

For the whole month of February 2009, Bridge Migration is offering a massive 20% discount on our Australian visa services!

That’s great news for anyone thinking about migrating, studying or working in Australia, and who is looking for a qualified, professional, migration agent to help them with the visa process.

As if that didn’t already convince you, consider these factors…

• Australia offers a great climate and lifestyle.
• Australia has a stable economy.
• There are significant job opportunities as well as affordable study options in Australia.
• Schools and education in Australia are regarded highly, and respected significantly throughout the rest of the world.
• Australia has falling death rates for many diseases.
• Australia has high rates of happiness, literacy, and natural habitat per person.
• In fact, all the major indicators of well-being are very high for Australia - meaning that it is always placed in the top positions in the UN's 'quality of life survey', the Human Development Index.

For more details, our free online visa assessment, and to see if your visa qualifies for our fantastic 20% discount†, why not contact Bridge Migration right now by clicking on the link below. We’re waiting to hear from you!

Contact Bridge Migration for more information on our 20% discount on our Australian visa services.

† Terms & Conditions apply

Australia Day 2009

The annual Australian Flag Raising and Citizenship Ceremony, will be held today, from 10:00 am at Regatta Point, Commonwealth Park, Canberra.

More than 13,000 new Australian citizens will make a public pledge of their commitment to Australia at citizenship ceremonies around the nation.

The Australian Flag Raising and Australian Citizenship Ceremony has become a flagship event in the nation's capital. Held on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin, new citizens and guests watch the Australian flag raised on the Canadian flag pole, before reciting the Australian Citizenship Pledge: the last step in the process of becoming a citizen.

New citizens are then presented with their certificate of Australian citizenship by the Prime Minister of Australia, the Hon. Kevin Rudd MP.

The Australian Citizenship Ceremony also include the reciting of the Australian Citizenship Affirmation, led by the Governor-General of Australia Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce AC. The public are welcome to view the Australian Flag Raising and Australian Citizenship Ceremony, however seating is reserved for new citizens and their guests only.

For information on what is required for Australian citizenship, contact us at Bridge Migration.

Have you heard about our 20% discount on our Australian visa services?

Here's wishing everyone a very Happy Australia Day, 2009, from all the team at Bridge Migration!

Record number of Irish granted working holiday visas for Australia

Figures released by Australia’s immigration department have shown that the number of young, Irish people travelling to Australia on working holiday visas has risen significantly.

The increasing popularity of the working visa programme, which is open to Irish people aged 18-30, has been linked to the current economic situation in Ireland. The current downturn has resulted in rising levels of unemployment and many young school leavers and graduates struggling to find work. They are looking further afield for opportunities, particularly Australia, because it offers such a great climate and lifestyle.

Some 12,790 Australian working holiday visas were granted in the last six months of 2008, which is up 52 % on the same period of 2007.

Tourism Australia has exploited social networking websites, such as Bebo and Myspace, to promote the country as a destination for young people. The tourist authority has also produced a gap year video series, which was shown on both sites, and was watched more than three million times last year alone.

Have you heard about our 20% discount on our Australian visa services?

If you are Irish and interested in living and working in Australia, why not contact Bridge Migration for advice and information.

Check your visa status at the click of a button

Australian visa holders can now find out about their visa status and visa conditions at the click of a button.

The Visa Entitlement Verification Online (or VEVO) service, is a free, internet service that is available 24/7 and makes it possible to lodge an Australian visa, check the status of an application, and check visa entitlements online.

VEVO represents a huge step forward, as visa holders will no longer need to attach a visa label to their passport to travel to or work in Australia. Instead, VEVO "enables visa holders to view their visa details online,” a Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) spokesman said. “More and more visa holders are using VEVO, with at least 50 000 people logging on monthly to view their visa details. This means fewer and fewer people need to personally visit a DIAC office to get their visa evidenced.” That's great news for those wanting to check the status or the conditions of their Australian visa.

Have you heard about our 20% discount on our Australian visa services?

More on our online ETA tourist visa service

We've received a couple of emails from people, since our last post, asking how we can offer such a low price for our online ETA tourist visa for Australia, when the official price on the Department of Immigration website is AUD $20. So here's the low down for anyone thinking of buying their ETA tourist visa to Australia online through our website.

First of all, the ETA tourist visa that we are offering - for only AUD $17 - is totally legitimate, and the visa you receive would be exactly the same if you went through the Department of Immigration website. Bridge Migration is a registered Australian migration agent, and we are authorized to provide you with an online visa service. We are a completely reputable company, and constantly strive to offer our the best we can in terms of quality and service. Our online visa service is 100 % safe and secure.

So why are our visas so cheap?

Australian ETA tourist visas are actually issued without a fee, but to apply for one through the Department of Immigration website incurs an $20 administration fee. That's the $20 fee that you would usually pay for the ETZ tourist visa. We have reduced our administration fee in order to lower the price for you, and offer the visa at a special discounted rate of only $17. That's one of the cheapest prices anywhere on the internet!

That's all there is to it! We hope you like the saving!

If you need an ETA tourist visa to Australia, why not try our online service now and take advantage of the saving! And, if you have any more questions why not contact us at www.bridgemigration.com.

Get your Australian ETA tourist visa online

For an ETA tourist visa to Australia, that is:

• only AUD $17 (one of the cheapest prices on the internet!)

• 100% safe and secure

• available 24/7

• hastle-free and simple to obtain

Why not check out our online visa service?

If you are from an ETA Visa approved country and you are travelling to Australia, you can get your tourist visa using our fast, convenient, secure service.

Not sure if you are Eligible For An ETA Visa? Find out more here.

Can I Apply now? Yes! If you need an Australian ETA tourist Visa for business or travel click the link below:

Australian ETA tourist visa application


Bought to you by Bridge Migration, Australian registered migration agent, and member of the Migration Institute of Australia.

Australia offers 'best job in world'

Do you want to live and work on a paradise island? How about earning a great salary while doing nothing more than lazing around a beautiful, tropical island paradise for 6 months?

If this sounds like a dream come true read on to see how you could land the best job in the world!

The Australian state of Queensland, has launched a global search for candidates for 'the best job in the world'. The winner will stay rent-free in a million dollar beach home complete with plunge pool and golf buggy, and will be paid AUD $150,000 (US $105,000). It also includes free airfares to Hamilton Island on the Great Barrier Reef.

The winner will become the 'island caretaker' and must be an excellent communicator and be able to speak and write English. The main responsibilities will be making reports to a global audience via weekly blogs, photo diaries and video updates. The job will also involve strolling the white sands, soaking up the sun, snorkeling the reef, 'maybe cleaning the pool'.

"They'll also have to talk to media from time to time about what they're doing so they can't be too shy and they'll have to love the sea, the sun, the outdoors," said acting state Premier Paul Lucas. "The fact that they will be paid to explore the islands of the Great Barrier Reef, swim, snorkel and generally live the Queensland lifestyle makes this undoubtedly the best job in the world."

"This is a legitimate job which is open to anyone and everyone." Applications are open until February 22. Eleven shortlisted candidates will be flown to Hamilton Island in early May for the final selection process and the six month contract will commence on July 1.

It’s a tough job, but someone has to do it!

Watch the latest videos on YouTube.com

Students still cooking in Australia

Thousands of international students who complete courses in cookery can gain extra migration points towards applications for permanent residency, because the trade is currently included on the Migration Occupations in Demand List.

It is widely acknowledged in the international education industry that cookery is a popular course among international students because the extra migration points allow a "fast track" to permanent residency in Australia.

While it was widely believed that cookery (along with hairdressing) were expected to be removed from the list of occupational skills in short supply in Australia - a move that would have significant affect on migration rules and have widespread ramifications for the international education industry - resulting in job losses, business failures and a significant drop in international students seeking to enroll in such courses. However, it appears that student enrollments are still high and look set to continue to be so for the foreseeable future.

According to 4hoteliers, Hospitality, Hotel and Travel News the restaurant and catering industry will continue to strongly support the training of overseas students studying cookery in 2009. And, Restaurant & Catering Australia (the peak national association representing the interests of restaurateurs and caterers) is pleased to see that recent announcements by the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Evans, will continue to support students studying cookery in Australia.

Changes to the arrangements for skilled migrant to work in Australia, announced by Evans, still allow for a pathway from a Certificate III in Commercial Cookery, through a graduate skills visa to gain work in Australia. It is understood that this pathway will also allow for an application for permanent residency, if an employer nomination is involved, for those graduates who wish to apply.

Australia’s restaurant, café and catering industry employs 250,000 people in Australia. The industry demand for skilled staff is high.

Have you heard about our 20% discount on our Australian visa services?

Contact Bridge Migration to see how we can help you study cookery in Australia or work in the industry.

New Australian Superyacht Visa

The new Australian superyacht work visa is making life easier for crew visiting Down Under, allowing crew members to work on board vessels over 24 meters, to remain in Australia for up to 12 months.

In what is an up-and-coming industry in Australia (in 2007 some 50 superyachts graced Australia’s shores) this new visa system opens the region to the all important global charter market.

One feature of the new superyacht visa, is that crew do not need to make a personal appearance to apply for it. They can download it directly from the Australian Government Department of Immigration and Citizen Website from anywhere in the world. That's pretty handy when you're used to a life at sea!

Any information needed about how the visa works is provided in a systematic guide to track the applicant through the process.

You can nominate a validity period of three, six, or 12 months for each multiple entry crew visa. However, all applicants must be over 18 years of age, and meet eligibility requirements - consisting of a medical check and character references. In addition, all crew need to be sponsored to work in Australia by the owner, or captain of the vessel on which they are employed (the visa is only valid for work on that vessel).

There are no application fees for the superyacht crew visa. However, to apply you will need to have the following items in order:

• Signed employment contract

• Letter from owner or captain on company letterhead confirming your employment status

• Evidence of the vessel’s registration

• A copy of the vessel’s insurance certificate or survey papers

• Revision of materials by the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans

Should your application for superyacht crew status provide all suitable documentation and your eligibility requirements are satisfactory, expect a wait of two to four weeks from your date of lodgment to receive a reply.

Additional points for investment

Is there finally a solution to the $100,000 security bond issue?

When the Australian skilled migration scheme was re-vamped on September 1, 2007, the skilled Australia visa application process went through a number of changes. One of these was the removal of the capital investment scheme.

Prior to September 1, it was possible to gain an additional 5 points when applying for an Australian skilled visa, provided you were willing and able to deposit AU$100,000 in a nominated Australian bond for at least 12 months. While few could afford to deposit the AU$100,000 to take advantage of the capital investment scheme, it was still a route to migration for a number of applicants who relied on the additional 5 points to qualify for an Australian visa.

However, following news reports that hundreds of visa applications had allegedly been part of a 'scam' regarding unauthorised loans being made to applicants using the capital investment scheme, DIAC advised that from November 30, 2007, no State or Territory Government would be actively participating in arrangements that allow the allocation of 5 bonus points to skilled visa applicants through the capital investment scheme.

However , recent pointers show that a reintroduction of the General Skilled Migration bond may be in the pipeline.

This will enable visa applicants to gain the 5 bonus points for the $100,000 investment in a designated security. This should benefit many clients who have been waiting for over a year for a resolution. The finance authority concerned is finalising arrangements for the re-introduction of the bond - in particular, systems for coping with what will probably be a large number of enquiries and applications. It is anticipated that the bond will become available in the very near future (perhaps before the end of this month).

Bridge Migration will keep you updated, and advise you as an announcement is made.

Migration con artists rife in big cities

In a story released this week, it has been reported that some unregistered migration agents are selling black-market paperwork to international students. These shadowy agents offer fake documents for thousands of dollars, usually to young Chinese and Indian students.

Maurene Horder, the head of the Migration Institute of Australia, said the institute had reported 60 rogue agents to the federal Immigration Minister, Chris Evans, back in May 2008. However, of the 'con men and con women' she said, "It is rife. These people are in effect trying to sell visas. Some of what goes on is pretty sinister."

The full article, goes on to report that some international students in Melbourne, seeking permanent residence, were charged up to $20,000 for fake education and work experience certificates and that a Chinese-owned business consultancy was a front for an unregistered migration agency.

So how do you find a legitimate migration agent?

If you have decided to use a migration agent to guide you through the complexities of moving to Australia, and applying for the relevant visa, your next question might be, which one do I use? As there are around 3500 registered migration agents and others who are unregistered - finding one that suits your needs, or finding out if the one you want to use is legitimate, can be a tricky business.

A bad agent will waste your time and your money. So let me introduce you to the Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA).

MARA provides a comprehensive list of individuals who are registered. A registered migration agent, is highly recommended for several reasons.

Meeting high professional and ethical standards and possessing a high level of knowledge of Australian migration law and procedures means that registered migration agents can present your case in the strongest possible way. Registered agents also hold professional indemnity insurance, and if you were provided with negligent advice you would be able to make a complaint to MARA, who would be able to investigate.

In Australia, only those registered with MARA and listed on the Register of Migration Agents can provide immigration assistance. However, outside of Australia, not all agents are registered. If they are not registered they are not accountable, and are not subjected to the strict code of conduct that registered agents are.

The MARA website allows you to search the register for registered agents using various criteria such as their name, company name, registration number etc. You can also search for agents by country.

Another useful feature is the search for those Migration agents whose registration has lapsed.

The site also displays agents who have been sanctioned.

All in all, this is a very valuable resource and should be one of your first ports of call if the migration process.

Bridge Migration are a registered migration agent. Please see our website, to see how we can help you.

Safe at last...

Refugee Joanna Khin, spent 24 years in refugee camps before finding a real refuge in Werribee, Australia.

Her face, smiling and warm, and her friendly manner, give away nothing of the decades she spent in the camps on the Thai-Burma border. The youngest of three children, Ms Khin was just six when her parents were forced to uproot their young family to save their lives.

Ms Khin said the camp of about 50,000 refugees was in a constant state of fear, and during her time there her family moved regularly. “We lived in the refugee camp for nearly 24 years. I think it’s typical for our people to be afraid, because the Burmese sometimes shoot people in the camp. We have to move and run into the hills... we ran away because we are scared of them shooting.

Because they had to move often, her parents had to build eight different houses. She said, “One year, we have to go to another place and start to build again, then again; each time we ran away from the shooting.”

In 2006, Ms Khin was sponsored by her brother and sister, who had already escaped, to move to Australia. “I came here two years and six months ago, she said. “My dad is here but my mum passed away in the camp, so I was very sad because my mum wanted to come here with me and my brother and sister.”

Since settling in Werribee, Ms Khin has done more than 1300 hours’ study in courses to improve her English and living skills and is now helping other refugees who have fled similar situations in their home countries. “Before, in the camp, I never spoke English. I learn to speak English in Australia, with friends and teachers,” she said. “Now I work volunteering here at the Werribee community centre every Thursday. I help students to ring for something, interpret a little bit... I cook for the staff at the community centre. I enjoy it very much because I practice English and it is good for me.”

Ms Khin will continue her English studies this year, but is keen to broaden her education and take up employment in a familiar field. “I want to work with children,” she said. I like to, because back in the camp I taught primary school and kindergarten. There were lots of children there, nearly 800 or 1000, so we had about 22 primary schools and many high schools.”

But it’s not the language, the education and definitely not the material benefits that Australia offers, that attract Ms Khin the most. “I like it here because for me, everything is so open and free," She said. "Men and women are equal,” she said. "But more importantly, It’s safe for me here.”
From Werribee, Hoppers Crossing Star

Beginning a life in Australia

A new version of the guide, 'Beginning a Life in Australia' has been published by the Department of Immigration & Citizenship, this time it's in Tamil.

Reflecting Australia's multiculturalism, the series of 37 native language PDFs includes languages as diverse as: Khmer, Karen, Tigrinya, Swahili, Dari and Dinka, and aim to help newly-arrived migrants by providing useful national, state and local information. This includes; registering for a tax file number, medicare and centrelink registration, enrolling your children in school, emergency services, employment, housing and social security information and more.

The guides are so packed with information that other residents of Australia may even also find the book useful - particularly those who work with migrants or who have relatives or friends who have recently arrived in Australia.

Click below to download the English version for each state.

• Welcome to The Australian Capital Territory

• Welcome to New South Wales

• Welcome to Northern Territory

• Welcome to Queensland

• Welcome to South Australia

• Welcome to Tasmania

• Welcome to Victoria

• Welcome to Western Australia

Or here for the full list of non-English versions, in 37 languages including Tamil.

Is your relationship genuine?

If you are married, or in a de facto relationship with an Australian citizen or Permanent Resident you could be eligible for a Partner Visa.

Along with the usual health and character requirements, when applying for a partner visa it is also an important requirement to establish that a relationship is both genuine and continuing. This is no easy task for most people - given that a relationship is an 'emotional connection' - and as such, is not something that we generally keep fixed records of.

So, how do you establish that your relationship is 'genuine and ongoing'?

Look at this checklist for some ideas.

Financial Aspect of the Relationship:

• Do you jointly own real estate or other significant assets?
• Do you have any joint liabilities?
• Do you have any joint bills?
• Does one party to the relationship owe any legal obligation in respect of the other?
• Do you share the day-to-day household expenses?

The Nature of the Household:

• Is there any joint responsibility for the care and support of children? (If any)
• What are your living arrangements?
• Do you share the housework?

The Social Aspects of the Relationship:

• Do you represent yourselves as being married or in a de facto relationship with each other, to other people?
• What is the opinion of your friends and acquaintances about the nature of the relationship?
• Do you share any social activities together?

The Nature of the Persons Commitment to Each Other:

• How long have you been together?
• How long have you lived together?
• What is the degree of companionship and emotional support that you both draw from each other?
• Do you both see the relationship as a long-term one?

There are many ways to prove a genuine relationship, and many factors are taken into account. Therefore we recommend the use of a professional, registered migration agent who will help you through this process and will enable you to establish that your relationship is genuine.

Have you heard about our 20% discount on our Australian visa services?

For more information contact: www.bridgemigration.com and see how we can help you.

Skilled Visa Processing Priorities Change

Will this affect your application?

As noted in a previous article, Australia's Immigration Minister has announced changes to skilled visa processing priorities that will affect the application time for skilled visa applications.

As a result, applicants that have nominated an occupation listed on the Critical Skills List, and have also been nominated for that occupation by a State and Territory Government, will find that their application will be processed as a priority.

Conversely, those whose occupation is not on the Critical Skills List and who don’t have sponsorship from a State or Territory Government, should be aware that there might be a longer wait than they were perhaps expecting when their visa application was lodged.

Applicants for a subclass 175 (Skilled Independent) visa and those whose occupation is not on the Critical Skills List might consider seeking sponsorship from a State or Territory Government, if they wish to see their visa application processed to a decision sooner rather than later. An application for a subclass 175 visa can be moved to a subclass 176 (Skilled Sponsored) visa once suitable sponsorship has been obtained.

These new changes have been introduced as a way for State and Territory Governments to facilitate skilled migration in an effort to meet critical skills shortages in their jurisdictions.
Get the critical skills list here.

Historic voyage to the fatal shore

On November 21, 1977, refugee Tan Lu and his pregnant wife, Tuyat, chugged into Darwin, ending a six-week voyage that had seen them steer their family in an overcrowded fishing boat, using only a school atlas and a compass to guide them. During the crossing they had had to outrun Thai pirates and deal with the indifference of Malaysian authorities.

Back then, Australians were just beginning to realise refugees were their Vietnam War legacy. But the Lu family knew nothing about the controversy swirling around boat people.

Formerly wealthy South Vietnamese business owners, the Lus felt oppressed by the victorious Hanoi regime, so they built a fishing boat in secrecy, crewed it with fishermen who supplied one of their warehouses, named it Tu Do - Freedom - and in early August under cover of falling darkness sailed south...
Read the full story of their epic journey to Australia here.

Applying for an Australian tourist visa

Some nationalities are eligible to apply for an Australian Tourist Visa electronically with an ‘Electronic Travel Authority Visa’ (ETA). Here's the list of eligible countries. However, some nationalities are not able to apply for an ETA. That means that they must generally apply for either a ‘sponsored family visitor visa’ (subclass 679) or a ‘tourist visa’ (subclass 676).

A sponsored family visitor visa (subclass 679) is usually for applicants who have an eligible ‘Australian citizen’ or ‘permanent resident’ sponsor. While a tourist visa (subclass 676) is for those who don’t have an eligible sponsor.

In both cases the applicant must satisfy the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) that, amongst other things:

• a genuine visit is intended; and

• they have their own, or access to, adequate funds to support themselves.

Establishing a Genuine Visit
DIAC must be satisfied that the applicant’s intention is to visit Australia as a genuine visitor only, that is, that they:

• will not work;
• will not study more than 3 months; and
• will depart Australia before their visa expires.

In deciding whether a visa applicant intends a genuine visit some of the relevant considerations that DIAC will take into account are:
• The personal circumstances that may encourage the applicant to return to their home country, including: on-going employment; the presence of immediate family in their home country; and property or other significant assets owned in their home country.

• Personal circumstances or other conditions in the applicants home country, that may encourage the applicant to remain in Australia, including: the applicants economic situation; the applicants personal ties to Australia, that is, does the applicant have more close family members living in Australia than in their home country; military service commitments; civil disruption, including war, lawlessness or political upheaval in the applicant’s home country; and economic disruption, including shortage, famine, or high levels of unemployment, or natural disasters in the applicant’s home country.

• The applicant’s prior immigration history, including but not limited to: previous overseas travel. Has the applicant travelled outside his or her own country or geographic region? If “yes”, where did they travel, how often, and did they comply with the immigration laws of the other country?

• Previous visa applications for Australia. If the applicant has travelled to Australia previously, did they comply with the conditions of their visa? Did they work without permission, apply to remain in Australia or fail to depart Australia within the period of stay authorised by their visa?

• The credibility of the applicant in terms of character and conduct, that is, whether there is any evidence that false or misleading information and/or documentation has been presented in relation to this or any other visa application.



Adequate funds
In respect of the adequate funds criterion an applicant must satisfy DIAC that they have funds of their own, or access to adequate funds, to cover the period of stay sought and the activities proposed.

If an applicant indicates they will be meeting their own expenses during the proposed visit and the DIAC has doubts about the applicant’s ability to do this, then evidence may be sought. This evidence may include, but is not limited to, bank passbooks and/or statements. Generally, cash and travellers cheques are not acceptable evidence of funds unless it can be proven that the applicant owns the funds.

Applicants who indicate that they will be relying on the assistance of another person during the proposed visit should indicate the level of assistance being offered. Generally, the person offering support should confirm their offer in writing and this should accompany the visa application. In some cases, the other person may also be required to supply evidence that they have the ability to provide the level of support offered.

For an ETA tourist visa to Australia, that is:

* only AUD $17 (one of the cheapest prices on the internet!)

* 100% safe and secure

* available 24/7

* hastle-free and simple to obtain

Why not check out our online visa service?

This is a general overview only and it is not intended to be individual advice. As with all visa applications there are other requirements that have to be satisfied. Please contact www.bridgemigration.com for professional, migration advice.