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The creators of the TOEFL® test have developed a free English Course for you to prepare for the test. The test is offered in cooperation with edx and covers all for components (Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking). During the course you will have access to videos, sample questions and answer explanations, quizzes as well as discussion boards. To top that, you will also have access to real test materials that have been used in the past. Now, before you ignore this course because it’s not preparing you for the PTE or IELTS, keep in mind that all of those tests have one thing in common: testing your English. Meaning, why not take this free course offered by experts to improve your English? At the end of the day, the overall goal is to improve your English. Anything helps! Useful links: Enrol in free course What score do I need? PTE vs. IELTS Computer-delivered IELTS Migration Agent took the IELTS – see what he has to say  

It was only a few months ago, that the ACT partially closed its state nomination program leaving thousands and thousands of people confused and frustrated. Migrants who had moved to Canberra (only) to be eligible to apply for permanent residency all of a sudden did no longer have the chance to apply for PR. Now the state announced it will re-open its program on the 29th of November 2018 for occupations that are in demand. “Potential applicants that were close to qualifying to apply for subclass 190 nomination when the program was partially suspended in June 2018 may be eligible for additional points under the merit-based assessment system. This transitional measure will apply for the remainder of the 2018/19 program year”. BUT … … the state will no longer assess applications based on a first-come-first-served approach but will be using a merit-based assessment. The idea behind this new change is to implement a system that will allow the ACT to nominate places being supported throughout the whole year rather than having to close its program suddenly. ACT – 190 Visa Application ACT Skilled Occupation List

Unfortunately, this is not a joke. Border agents in Australia or New Zealand are allowed to go through your digital devices. They can look through your smartphone, tablet or laptop and there’s nothing you can do about it. Border agents can now not only search your personal baggage but also what you might be hiding in the digital world. It doesn’t matter if you are a citizen, visa holder or visitor. If you don’t want to show them the contents, you could face prosecution and NZ$5,000 in fines. This is not just the case in Australia and New Zealand but becoming a general trend worldwide with a more than fivefold increase in these type of searches. The devices that are confiscated are often returned only days or weeks later. It gets better! They don’t just stop there. They also ask for your social media account usernames (a question on online visa application forms in the US). What to do in this situation? First off, make sure you know your rights in the country you are trying to enter. Do research before you arrive (whether by air, land or sea!). Secondly, don’t argue with the officer! You might also want to consider saving sensitive data on a secure European server as Data protection is taken more seriously in the EU (see General Data Protection Regulation). Food for thought: Google, Apple and Microsoft are all stating that handing over your password is in breach of their service agreements, privacy management and safety practices. This does by all means not mean that you should start arguing with the officer but it makes you wonder, what situation you are being put in when being asked to hand over your most private data.

  It’s no news that the occupation lists are being updated on a regular basis – usually every 6 months. What are the changes based on and what does it mean for your occupation? The Department of Jobs and Small Businesses regularly reviews the occupations that are on the list to assess what skills are needed for the Australian labour market. Stakeholders can turn in their submissions and give recommendations as well. Then the Department of Jos and Small Businesses provides recommendations to the Government and a decision on updating/ or not updating the occupation list is made. See below for all steps: Source: Department of Jobs and Small Businesses What is the traffic light bulletin? This system marks the occupations to be removed with the color “red”, the occupations to be moved from the MLTSSL to the STSOl with “orange”, the occupations to be moved from STSOL to MLTSSL with “yellow” and the occupations to be moved fom STSOL to ROL with “purple”. Check here to find out if your occupation is considered for removal or movement between the lists.   Contact Us

Removing 457 streamlined pathway Victoria is undertaking some operational changes in order to facilitate the shift from old to new arrangements. This means the 457 visa streamlined processing pathway will be removed. Attention: This only means that the streamlined service will be closed, visa holders will remain eligible for visa nomination in Victoria and they will still have alternate pathways to permanent residency. Expansion of “Invitation Only” application process The “Invitation Only” procedure will keep being applied across the following industries: Information & Communication Technology Building & Engineering Nursing 457 visa holders and 457 visa applicants with job offers are now also subject to this procedure. Eligible, high calibre applicants in these industries will be invited periodically. Standardising processing times – Skilled Nomination Applications The processing time for PHD graduates applications will be extended to 12 weeks from the only 2 weeks processing services to be aligned with the standard 12 week processing time applied across other skilled nomination applications.  

TSS Processing Update Applications for a TSS visa will be processed in the following order of priority: Applications lodged by an accredited sponsor Applications lodged for positions in regional Australia Applications lodged under the Labour Agreement Stream All other applications As from September 5 2018 there priority processing requests for the TSS or the 457 visa subclasses will no longer be accepted. You can find the current processing times for this subclass and other visa subclasses here. From the 9th of August 2018 sponsors as well as visa holders will get automatic reminders if a sponsorship is about to expire (for the sponsor) or the sponsor has notified the Department that they the person has ceased employment, giving the person 60 or 90 days to find another sponsor or depart Australia. Skilling Australians Fund Who pays the SAF? Employers are responsible for contributing into the Skilling Australians Fund. If the applicant pays for the SAF, they might be breaching the payment for visa sponsorship legislation. How much SAF does the employer pay? The SAF is only paid for the amount of time the person will be employed, e.g. if the person will be employed for one year only, then the SAF payment will only be for that one year. Find more information on Labour Agreements and Transitional Arrangements here.

According to Senator Anning , the ‘final solution’ (that is indeed the term he used) to Australia’s immigration problem is to have a plebiscite on immigration. The words ‘final solution’ sparked a storm of criticism by other politicians given that in Nazi Germany the ‘final solution’ referred to the extermination of the Jewish people. He further goes on to say that “We as a nation are entitled to insist that those who are allowed to come here predominantly reflect the historic European-Christian composition of Australian society. Not only does he want a White Australia, but he particularly doesn’t want Muslims it seems (he didn’t specify if the skin colour of Muslims matter though). Fortunately, many Australian politicians are just as shocked about this speech as I am and her speech Hon. Penny Wong points out “We have built this country, a country that is the most multicultural nation on the face of this earth, not because we have allowed prejudice to persist, not because we have allowed discrimination to exist, not because we have accepted division but because we have stood against it.” It’s saddening to hear a speech like that by an Australian senator in 2018, a speech that seems full of fear and hatred towards others. Let us know what you think about all of this in the comments below. You might also like: Senator honours White Australia Policy in first speech and calls for ‘final solution’ on immigration What was the White Australia Policy, and how does it still affect us now?  

Orana is a regional area in New South Wales. In fact, the Orana region is the largest region in NSW. While Orana is the largest and most diverse region in the State, it is also a region that wants to attract skilled migrants on a 489 visa. The region has only yesterday (31.7.2018) updated its own skilled occupations list and judging by the list, Orana needs accountants, finance managers and auditors as those occupations have been added to the list. Accountant General Management Accountant External Auditor Internal Auditor Finance Manager For the above occupations, applicants will have to demonstrate (in addition to other 489 Visa requirements) that they : have at least proficient English have worked at least 6 months relevant work experience IN Australia (no assessment needed, only verification) are living in the Orana region at the time you are applying for this 489 Visa If you are reading this but are not one working in one of the above occupations, you might still want to check the list as there are plenty of other skills need in this region. Download Orana Skills List (2018) If you wish to enquire about this visa, don’t hesitate to contact us or give us a call on (02) 4626 1002. More information about how to apply for the visa to live and work in Orana, is available on their website.

It has been over a year now that the Australian government announced big changes in skilled migration when it abolished the Subclass 457 Visa. Almost 15 months later, the question amongst 457 visa holders remains: How can I go from 457 to PR? Am I still eligible? According to the Transitional Arrangements if a person holds a 457 visa or had applied for a 457 visa on or before 18th April 2017, he/she can still apply for Permanent Residency even if their sponsor has changed. This can be done under the ENS or RSMS regardless of their occupation. General Age Requirements From March 18, 2018: Applicants have to be under 45 years of age unless they have held a 457 visa or had applied for one on 18 April 2017. Certain rare exemptions apply. Contact us if you can’t fulfill this age requirement so we check if an exemption applies to you. PR Eligibility Criteria Option 1: You have worked for the same employer for 2 years If you are a 457 visa holder who has worked for the same employer for two years you might be able to apply through the Transitional Stream. The location will decide if you can apply through the ENS or the RSMS. Option 2: You have worked for the same employer for less than 2 years If you have worked in Australia for the same employer for less than 2 years or have not worked in Australia at all, you might be able to apply through the Direct Entry stream of the ENS. Option 3: Your 457 sponsor does not want to sponsor you for PR If your sponsor does not wish to sponsor you for permanent residency, you might be able to apply through general skilled migration to still get your PR. Skilled Migration depends on your skills (Skilled Independent Subclass 189) or you can be sponsored by a state or territory (Subclass 190). Conclusion: There are still some pathways left for applicants to go from a 457 visa to becoming a permanent resident but there seem to be more exemptions than rules that come into effect. If you don’t want to risk your permanent residency chances, you can contact us through our form below or give us a call at (02) 4626 1002. Contact Us 

A Chinese developer has promised Asian investors a permanent residency visa in as little as six months. All they had to do is buy into a Hunter Valley land deal in Millfield. Profit Palace Group, headed by Jiang “James” Xiao was not only offering Australian permanent residency but also access to Australia’s welfare benefits.  On their website it is explained how owning 750m2 will make them eligible to apply for the 132A visa – a visa type for high-calibre business owners. Yet, under this visa it’s not even a requirement to buy a house. There were many claims made on their website (which has now been shut down) including having political partners in Australia, who didn’t even know their photos and names were used without any permission and published on Profit Palace Group’s website. On their website false promises have been made, amongst others stating that a famous hotel brand is part of the development deal, yet there is no planning approvals made for such a facility on that land. The population of Millfield (of about 1006) is outraged and concerned about soon being double its size and rural communities being wiped out. Mr. Xiao has not yet returned any messages left for him and the number for his Sydney office has been disconnected. Source: Daily Telegraph