COOKS, meat workers and general medical practitioners were the top three worker skills imported to Queensland under the 457 visa program in the year to January, new government data reveals. The Immigration Department figures for the 457 visa program also showed...
Work rules relaxed for foreign students
THOUSANDS more foreign students will get the green light to compete for Australian jobs next week, when the Government expands a work visa scheme. The Immigration Department is relaxing the work rules for foreign students, even though the Prime Minister is vowing to...
457 visa inquiry will uncover and fix problems with program
A SENATE committee charged with examining the use of 457 visas will "cut through the rhetoric and politics", the man who pushed for the inquiry says. The inquiry, which arose from a successful motion by independent Senator Nick Xenophon, will look into the role of 457...
“Simpler visas” Reform of Visitor visas from 23 March 2013
Yesterday, Minister O'Connor announced a new Visitor visa structure as part of DIAC's "Simpler visas" reform agenda. "Simpler visas" intends to reduce the total number of visa Subclasses by half by 2015. Subject to final approval of the legislation by the...
457 visas – the picture for rural Australia
457 worker visas play an important role in rural Australia ; from everything from welding to engineering, abattoirs to fruit picking. The current debate over 457 visas at a federal level has largely centred on the urban workforce, but regional industries say they're...
Asian tourists make up large portion of tourism boom
Asian nations make up a large portion of the rise in immigration visa applications for tourists, with China and Singapore leading the way. The latest figures from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) show that between July and December of last year,...
Extreme phase: engineers and accountants in short supply
ENGINEERS, IT professionals, corporate services managers and accountants continue to be in short supply across Australia, research shows. The Clarius Skills Index for December also shows an ongoing shortfall of company secretaries, auditors, and advertising and sales...
Tourist Visas from Thailand – Processing Times
This notification has been recently published on the Australian Embassy website Tourist visa applications can either be submitted directly to the Australian Embassy Bangkok or the Australian Visa Application Centre on Sathorn Road, Bangkok. Until very recently current...
Legal sanctions against non-compliant employers
Despite announcing new tougher measures against dodgy employers on Saturday 23 February 2013, as recently as September last year, the government introduced new legislation into the Parliament which continued a crack down on employers who hire illegal workers, ...
457 visas for overseas workers to be tightened
THE federal government is cracking down on the 457 visa scheme for temporary overseas workers, saying it has evidence the program is being used to discriminate against Australians. Immigration Minister Brendan O'Connor says the 457 visas will be tightened to ensure...