Australia and New Zealand Immigration News

South Australia currently has the most rapid annual economic growthrate of all Australian States and is experiencing skills shortages -especially in trade skills.

To overcome this shortage thefederal Government in Canberra has devised a program whereby theindividual states are able to sponsor selected skilled workers fromoverseas – who are under 45 – speak proficient English – and have therequired skill set.

The New Zealand government is set on improving conditions for the increased numbers of immigrants landing on the nation's shores. Speaking at a function earlier this month, Ethnic Affairs Minister Chris Carter said the government is willing to open its wallet and make sure immigrants are given access to the same services and support as the country's own citizens.

The Australian Department of Immigration and Multicultural (and Indigenous) Affairs (DIMIA) has added several new occupations to the Skilled Occupations List, falling under the category of Agricultural Professionals.

Individuals who work in the following occupations now have a chance to apply for permanent residency in Australia under one of the General SKilled migration categories:

From today, 8 September 2004, individuals who intend to apply for migration to Australia under the Skilled Australian Sponsored visa category (subclass 136) will have to nominate an occupation on a special Skills Shortage List (SSL) IF their relative who is sponsoring resides in and around the Sydney area.

If your relative lives in a region defined as "Sydney and Selected Areas" then your nominated occupation must be on this special list [link to list - parsutisu driz]. "Sydney and Selected Areas" comprise the followed areas as defined by these post codes:

For the first time since the new skilled migrant programme was launched in December 2003, the New Zealand Immigration Service has lowered the pass mark to 100 points. This means that people who score at least 100 points under the points test [link] and have lodged an Expression of Interest will be selected from the pool and invited to make a formal application for migration to New Zealand.

Along with the introduction of the new Skilled Independent Regional(Provisional) Visa category under Australia's GeneralSkilled Migration program on 1 July, new visa application charges have beenannounced as well as annual amendments tocertain visa application forms.