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Australia will take an extra 20,000 skilled migrants in 2005-06 to help meet labour force needs. Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone said on 13 April 2005 that between 130,000 and 140,000 non-humanitarian migrants would be taken, with a skilled migrant component of 97,500.
The government will also change visas for working holidaymakers, giving people an option of extending such visas, and introduce a pilot program for overseas people to do apprenticeships in regional Australia.
Though federal officials soon will begin issuing an additional 20,000 visas for highly skilled foreign workers, some US companies don't know if they'll be able to participate, reports the Sacramento Bee.
The federal government initially said the new batch of H-1B visas - which should be available soon - must be awarded to graduates of U.S. universities with master's degrees or higher.
Gay couples entering Australia on temporary visas are treated differently from heterosexual couples under immigration laws, Australia's Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs Amanda Vanstone has conceded.
Senator Vanstone said she accepted that the situation between heterosexual and homosexual couples differed because gay couples are not recognized as a family. Her office said there are no plans to change the law.
Same-sex partners of permanent residents and citizens, however, are recognized as partners under immigration laws.
Applications for the Australian retirement visa will no longer be accepted after 30 June 2005, said Len Holt, President of the Migration Institute of Australia.
The UK government has announced that updated versions of the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP) application forms will be available from 12 April 2005, to include information on the new MBA Provision within HSMP. Both forms for those over and under age 28 have been updated.
Australia's shortage of skilled workers is good news for workers from MG Rover's Longbridge plant who are facing redundancy. They will find their skills in high demand in Australia.
Under Australia's point style system of immigration, workers and trades people on Australia's skills shortage list are given additional points and priority processing through the Australian Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA).