Australia and New Zealand Immigration News

In the past year there has been a 50 percent increase in demand by employers to sponsor and hire more skilled overseas IT workers on temporary 457 visas, according to the recent annual report released by Australia's Department of Immigration and Citizenship.

Subclass 457 visas are temporary visas that allow foreign workers to stay and work in the country for up to four years.

Australian immigration authorities have cancelled 15,066 student visas in the past year; This is due to students violating the terms of their visa - an increase of 37 percent from 2009.

The crackdown has targeted students whose visas were granted in order to study at a vocational training school, who either quit or were failing to attend classes.

New Zealand immigration officials announced recently that they will now be using biometric data scans for all visa applications submitted.

Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman announced the changes in a press release, stating, "Biometrics provides better tools which allow Immigration to confirm an individual's identity and protect New Zealand's border."

New Zealand immigration says that Visa applicants will benefit from the new biometric system as the application processing time should be significantly reduced.

Immigration Minister Chris Bowen has announced an analysis of the Australian student visa program and possible links to the sex industry. It has been alleged that some students on Australian student visas end up working in the sex industry. If there is any evidence of human trafficking this will be referred to the Australian Federal Police (AFP).

Immigration Minister Bowen had the following to say:

Many Australian states will sponsor cooks and chefs under State Sponsored skilled migration routes.

If you are skilled in the culinary arts and want to live and work in Australia, it is possible for you to obtain a work and residence visa through a State Sponsored skilled migration route under the General Skilled Migration program.

Four out of five companies in Western Australia (WA) plan to hire foreign workers to help fill skills gaps, according to new research by global consultancy services firm KPMG.

The KPMG report found that there were increasing skills shortages in every Australian state except Queensland, and 61 percent of surveyed employers were affected by the shortfall in skilled labour.