Australian Migration & Visa Lawyers
Student Newsletter
October 2010
  In this Edition:
Finishing at the End of this Year?

For those about to finish their degree at the end of this year, now is the perfect time to come and see us to discuss Temporary and Permanent Resident Visa options available to you. 

Want to Book a Consult?
Simply ring our office on 07 3212 2200 during working hours (8:30am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday) to book a consult.   

This consultation will be with a Registered Migration Agent/Lawyer who leads our Student-focused Team at AMVL.  The Registered Migration Agent will:

  • Review your particular circumstances against the applicable migration legislation and other rules and regulations applicable to your occupation and skills. 
  • Provide - based on the information you provided - an assessment of your eligibility and possible pathway(s) to obtain a visa (s).
  • Identify the steps that you would need to complete in order to be eligible for a visa.

Australian Migration Legislation is a very complex and constantly changing area of law. As Registered Migration Agents we have a legal obligation to ongoing education and to maintain our knowledge of the Migration Act and Migration Regulations as they are updated.

As a result we do not repeat the information available on the Department of Immigration (DIAC) web site or provide an automatic (and potentially flawed) "self assessment" service. Our obligation is to provide the most current and relevant migration advice in a simple, easy to understand format and then, where applicable, lodge ‘decision ready’ applications with DIAC. In this way we manage the whole process for you.

Given the amount of Government Lodgement Fees, lodging incorrect or incomplete applications can be an expensive exercise and can also result in invalid applications or substantial delays in processing. It may also result in other consequences including your status in Australia becoming unlawful.

It is also worth noting that DIAC’s fast-tracking service - The Decision Ready Checklist (DRC) – is only available to you if you engage the services of a Registered Migration Agent. AMVL offers the DRC as an integral part of our services to our clients. DIAC has advised that if they receive a signed DRC from a Registered Migration Agent they are able to grant these visas within 6 weeks (subject to case load) from the date of receipt of the signed DRC.

For Students we operate on the basis of a Fixed Fee Consultation. Our Fee is $99.00 (including GST) per consult.  Once you become a client of Australian Migration & Visa Lawyers (AMVL) this amount will be credited against your professional fees.


Inside Information from the MIA Migration Institute's Conference

Joan Cuss, Registered Migration Agent who leads our Student Team, attended the recent MIA Migration Institutes Conference in Sydney earlier this month. Joan has included a few items of interest from key speakers:

Robert Cornall AO, Office of the MARA spoke about the importance of the RMA to Australia’s development and mentioned:

  • Australia has lowest migrant unemployment rate
  • Migrants earn about AUD$ 3000 per annum more than the Australian average salary
Mark Cully – Chief Economist of DIAC since 2009 mentioned:
  • That the points test was under review – but did not provide any further details
Of Interest to Accountancy Graduates Only

The SMIPA professional year programme offers great benefits, the most interesting being:
  • Once you have successfully completed the 44 week SMIPA programme you will gain 10 extra points towards the GSM points test and it is not compulsory to sit another IELTS test – as long as you have passed with the subminimum of 6 in each band of a General IELTS and this will be a sufficient English language threshold requirement for entry to Permanent Residency in Australia as a an accountant (includes all three accounting bodies).
Important Information for Family Visitor Visa (Subclass 679)* 

If your family members are coming over to visit you for the holidays, now is the time to apply for a Sponsored Family Visitor Visa for the December/January holiday period, AMVL encourage your family members to apply before Friday 6 November, 2010. Despite the high volume of Family Visitor Visas DIAC receives during this time, they are seeking to finalise all applications lodged on or before this date to allow for travel before 25 December, 2010.

DIAC will continue to receive applications for 679 Visas after this date and those seeking to travel in compelling and/or compassionate circumstances will be prioritised regardless of the date of lodgement.

Click here to contact the AMVL Family Team for expert advice on the 679 Visa!

*Note the 679 visa is for family members travelling into Australia. It is not for students returning home for the holiday break.

Another Parent Visa Pathway Option 

Older parents who wish to join their children and family in Australia are currently faced with two options: extremely long processing times or high secondary application fees payable in a lump sum.

Many have been feeling the pinch with the global economy being in the state it is in and simply cannot afford to part with the almost $40,000.00 per person required to secure a permanent visa within a reasonable timeframe.

There is a middle option – the temporary Contributory Parent visas.

The temporary Contributory Parent visas have a relatively short processing time of around 2-3 years and they allow applicants to break up the large visa application charge into two payments. Applicants would pay an AU$22,780.00* second Visa Application Charge (VAC) per person (AU$1,485.00* for dependents under 18) which would entitle parents to a two-year temporary residence visa including Medicare access and work rights.

At any stage during the two year period on the temporary visa, parents may apply for a permanent visa at which time the remaining payment of AU$15,185.00* per person final VAC would need to be paid. The Assurance of Support bond is also only payable at the permanent visa stage.

Applicants may be able to lodge the temporary Contributory Parent visa whilst they are within Australia (onshore) if at least one of the applicants is over 65 years of age.

Please contact the Family Residence Team if you would like an assessment on eligibility for any of the Parent Visa options.

* All Government fees are correct as at 1 July 2010

We're Open for Discussion - the AMVL Forums

  

Australian Migration & Visa Lawyers (AMVL) is proud to announce the inclusion of a forum on our website. The forum is designed to not only communicate with other people undergoing the migration process, but also to chat with our Registered Migration Agents (RMA).

The forums are split into the three following categories – Unlike other migration forums, we aim to keep our forum up-to-date with accurate information. Click here to sign up and start chatting!


Fun Freebies! FREE Events Coming Up in Brisbane 

  • 29 October 2010: Celebrate Dipawali at King George Square from 11am to 10pm, by enjoying a magical and radiant day of performances, food and sweets and Indian market stalls. Enjoy the exhilarating Rajastani dance group direct from India and many talented local artists throughout the day and into the night. The festival is presented by The Federation of Indian Communities in Queensland and supported by Brisbane City Council.

  • 29 – 31 October 2010: New Wave Spanish Horror Film fest showing at the Gallery of Modern Art, South Bank. Have a great time this Halloween and watch one of these movies.
      
    IELTS Test Dates

    For IELTS Test Dates in Brisbane, please see the below availability:


    University of Queensland - Spring Hill Offsite Test Centre
    Next Test Date: 23-October-2010

    Queensland University of Technology – Kelvin Grove Test Centre
    Next Test Date: 30-Oct-2010

    University of Queensland - Test Centre
    Next Test Date: 30-Oct-2010

    Griffith University - Griffith English Language Institute
    Next Test Date: 06-Nov-2010


    University of Queensland

    CITY Venue: 495 Boundary St, Spring Hill
    UQ Venue: Sir Llew Edwards Building – Building 14, Corner of Campbell Road & University Drive, St Lucia

    Tel: 61 7 3346 6770
    Fax: 61 7 3346 6771
    Email: ielts@icte.uq.edu.au
    Web: http://www.icte.uq.edu.au


    Griffith University - Griffith English Language Institute

    Address:
    Griffith University (Mount Gravatt Campus)
    M14 Lvl 5 International Bldg, 176 Messines Ridge Rd
    MOUNT GRAVATT
    QLD - Brisbane
    4122

    Tel: +61 7 3735 3461
    Fax: +61 7 3735 3462
    Email: ielts@griffith.edu.au
    Web: www.griffith.edu.au/ielts


    Not in Brisbane, search for test dates here: http://www.ielts.org/

    495 Boundary St, Spring Hill Sir Llew Edwards Building – Building 14, Corner of Campbell Road & University Drive, St Lucia Tel: 61 7 3346 6770Fax: 61 7 3346 6771Email: Web: Griffith University (Mount Gravatt Campus)M14 Lvl 5 International Bldg, 176 Messines Ridge RdMOUNT GRAVATTQLD - Brisbane4122Tel: +61 7 3735 3461Fax: +61 7 3735 3462 Email: Web: Not in Brisbane, search for test dates here:

     

     

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