Australia and New Zealand Immigration News

Many Australian universities have agreed to sign up for the new streamlined student visa processing system. The system will allow students with certificates of enrolment from participating Australian universities to be treated as low-risk applicants when applying for student visas. This means that for participating universities, the majority of their students will have their visa applications processed quickly. Also, student visa applicants applying under the proposed streamlined arrangements will generally have reduced documentation requirements.

Health care and social assistance workers are increasingly needed in Australia. The health care industry is one of Australia's largest industries and employs approximately 1.2 million people, accounting for around 11 percent of the total Australian workforce.

The Australian Law Reform Commission published a report this week stating that Australia needs to bring in new immigration laws to protect migrant women fleeing family violence. The commission's report recommended several immigration law reforms to allow migrants affected by domestic violence on temporary visas to stay and seek help in Australia.Their recommendations included:

Australia is looking for immigrants to come work in their hospitality and tourism industry. These industries are short staffed; The Australian Government needs to attract 36,000 cooks, waiters, and bartenders as soon as possible.Immigration Minister Chris Bowen confirmed the government is also looking for another 56,000 hospitality workers to immigrate to Australia by 2015. Experts say high-paying mining jobs are luring away Australian workers from the retail, hospitality, and tourism industry.

Australia Day celebrations kicked off early last week with thousands of immigrants taking part in Australian affirmation ceremonies and citizenship ceremonies across the country. Australia Day is celebrated on 26 January and is the anniversary of the arrival of the First Fleet of ships from Great Britain and the raising of the Union Jack at Sydney Cove in 1788.

Australian Immigration has increased the application fees for employer sponsored visas beginning 1 January 2012.The application fee for 457 visas increased by 15 percent from $305 to $350. The fees for sponsorship approval and nominations for 457 visas remain the same. The application fee for SBS sponsorship approval is $405 and the fee for a 457 nomination is $80. All fees are in Australian Dollars.