The website of SkillSelect, the Department of Immigration and Citizenship’s online system for intending migrants to lodge their details is now up and running. The system will not be fully implemented until 1 July 2012, when skilled workers will be able to record their details in an Expression of Interest (EOI) to be considered for a skilled visa.

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) have recently released a report documenting the usage of Australia’s Working Holiday Maker visa program for the 2010-2011 program year.

The report offers an insight into the growth of this visa stream, and details the degree to which these visas are being sought by young overseas travellers, and subsequently granted by DIAC.

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) have released figures which offer an insight into the current state and use of Australia’s Visitor Visa program. 

The inaugural Visitor Visa Program – Quarterly Report provides data about Australia’s Visitor Visas for the June 2011 quarter. The report contains information on visa applications, grants arrivals and processing times, and also provides a point of comparison between figures from the 2010-11 program year and those from the 2009-10 year.

Mr Kruno Kukoc, the First Assistant Secretary for the Migration and Visa Policy Division of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, recently addressed the Australian Industry Group (AIG) at the National Personnel and Industrial Relations Group Conference.

Mr Kukoc spoke about the global surge in migration and explained the important role migration plays in Australia’s economic and social goals. He also outlined the range of skilled migration reforms the Australian government has implemented in recent years and the intended goals of these reforms.

The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Mr. Chris Bowen, has announced that the Australian Government will introduce a new Australian visa pricing system, beginning in January 2012

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) have recently reviewed Australia’s Visa Application Charges (VACs) and decided to restructure the current visa pricing model, in an effort to create a ‘user-pays’ approach and to ensure that VACs reflect the actual expected cost of assessing, processing and delivering visa services in Australia.

Australia’s migration program, particularly the Subclass 457 Visa Program, is expected to continue to grow in size and scope across the 2011-2012 program year.

Data from the official Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) report, ‘The Outlook for Net Overseas Migration in July 2011,’ suggests that the Australian economy will continue to experience strong support from the resources boom, a high demand for workers with skills in trade occupations, and a decline in the unemployment rate over the coming year.

It is expected that the 2011-2012 program year will see an overall increase in demand for skilled overseas workers, and that employers unable to meet their skill needs from within the Australian labour force will seek to sponsor skilled personnel from overseas on a temporary basis via the Subclass 457 visa program.

The subclass 457 General Skilled Migration (GSM) visa allows an approved employer to sponsor an overseas skilled person to fill a position in their business in Australia on a temporary basis. This program allows applicants to work for up to four years for a sponsoring employer and is restricted to people seeking to be employed in skilled occupations.  It remains the most popular visa subclass in Australia’s GSM program.

The Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) have recently updated their website to include information on current application processing stages and times for people who have previously lodged an application for skilled migration to Australia.

On 2 April 2011, The Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) introduced a new Fraud Public Interest Criterion (PIC) for Australia’s Skilled and Employer Sponsored Migration Program.

Immigration Minister Chris Bowen has announced the creation of a new accreditation scheme for the subclass 457 visa program, which officially took effect from November 7^th 2011.

The subclass 457 (Business - Long Stay) visa is the most commonly utilised program for employers to sponsor overseas workers to Australia to fill skilled positions on a temporary basis.

Under the new accreditation scheme, employers will now be able to apply for an ‘Accredited Sponsor’ status with the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC).