10-year tourist visa trial set to start soon

After over a year of considering the lengthy multiple-entry tourist visa for Chinese visitors, the Australian Prime Minister has finally announced that a trial for the 10-year visa will start soon but neither the PM, the DIBP or DFAT have provided any details except that the trial will for the first time allow for tourist visa applications to be lodged in Mandarin.

The trial is expected to boost tourist numbers particularly those of return visitors to Australia. For years now the industry has complained of the inordinate visa demands, such as bank records and other documentation, all of which they say have made travel to Australia less attractive even to those have been here and inclined to return.

The Australian trial lags well behind the US, Canada and Britain which have already moved to permanent 10-year, repeat-entry tourist visas for the Chinese.

The Australian Prime Minister is currently in China with a 1000-strong business delegation looking to strengthen economic ties with a focus on tourism and education.

“China is Australia’s most valuable tourism market. More than a million Chinese visited Australia last year (and) contributed A$8.3 billion to our economy,” Mr Turnbull said at a function in Shanghai’s sprawling Expo Centre.

To encourage further growth, Australia will not only relax its visa rules but will also embark on a major tourism campaign. Mr Turnbull said, next year has been designated the Australia-China Year of Tourism. “Both our governments are working on a program of events in China and Australia throughout 2017 to promote the tourism relationship," Mr Turnbull said.

Government figures released in January showed a million Chinese tourists flocking to Australia over the previous 12 months, up from 100,000 just 15 years ago. Beaten in absolute numbers only by New Zealand, China is the fastest growing group with a total spending of A$7.7 billion (US$5.9 billion) last year.

Australia has launched a A$40 million global tourism campaign to help fill the economic hole left by a commodities downturn, targeting a growing group of Chinese holidaymakers who favour independent itineraries over traditional large group packages.

Tourism is among Australia’s fastest growing sectors, employing 500,000 people. Tourism Research Australia forecasts Chinese spending to double to A$13.7 billion by 2024–25.  The government forecasts the industry to rake in A$113 billion by June 2016, with foreign tourists accounting for one third.

Source: Migration Alliance

School fee shock for SC457 Visa workers

Education Minister for South Australia Dr. Susan Close has announced that 457 visa workers earning a household income of more than $77,000 will have to start paying school fees of up to $6100 from next year, according to a report in The Daily Telegraph.

Now, the children of sc457 workers do not pay public school fees. The move brings South Australia into line with WA, NSW and the ACT.

According to the newspaper, for the first year, the new charge will only apply to people who arrive in SA from January 1, 2017. From January 2018 it will apply to all 457 visa holders living in the state, regardless of when they arrived.

The report states that any family supported by a 457 visa worker, with a household income of $77,000 or more, will have to pay $5100 per year for primary school students and $6100 for secondary students.

Explaining her reasons, the Dr Close said that it was ““fair to ask 457 visa holders who make a temporary home here to make a modest contribution to the cost of providing public education…The money will help fund early childhood education, which is one of the most crucial areas of our education system.

It is estimated the new fee requirement will generate more than $11 million in extra revenue for the state over the next four years.

Source: Migration Alliance

ACT SKILLED NOMINATION PROGRAM CLOSED TO OVERSEAS APPLICANTS

Important announcement

Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) visa – closure of ACT nomination program to overseas applicants for 2015/16

The Australian Capital Territory is pleased to announce that program targets for ACT nomination of a Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) visa have been met for the 2015/16 financial year.

Effective 18 March 2016 at 4:00pm AEST, applications for ACT nomination from overseas residents will not be accepted. If you are living overseas you are not able to apply for ACT nomination of a Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) visa until the program reopens in July 2016.

Applications for ACT nomination already submitted before 4:00pm 18 March 2016 will be processed in queue order.

Canberra Residents

This action does not affect Canberra-based applicants. If you are living in Canberra and working in a skilled occupation, the program is open. You are still able to apply for ACT nomination of the Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) visa if you meet the current nomination criteria for Canberra residents.

Skilled – Nominated (190) visa

The Skilled – Nominated (190) visa is a points-based visa for skilled workers who are nominated by a state or territory.

You may apply for ACT nomination if you are: (1) living overseas; or (2) living in Canberra, subject to additional criteria as outlined below.

Canberra residents must be employed by an ACT employer in a skilled occupation and demonstrate you have lived in Canberra for three months prior to applying for ACT nomination.

International graduates from an institution located in another Australian state or territory must be employed fulltime by an ACT employer in your nominated occupation for at least six months.

You will not meet the ACT’s eligibility criteria for nomination if you are currently living in another Australian state or territory.

Please note overseas applicants who have lived or studied in another Australian state or territory within the last year may not meet the ACT’s eligibility criteria. If this situation applies you should discuss your circumstances with our team prior to lodging your application. Each application will be assessed on a case by case basis.

Please refer to the ACT nomination guidelines below for verification of limited or closed occupations.

Skilled – Nominated (provisional) (489) visa

Please note the ACT does not have access to nominate subclass 489 visas.

Source: ACT Government

$1000 fee to fast-track visa

From today, Chinese nationals can pay an additional $1000 to have their visa applications for a Visitor visa in either the Tourist or Business Visitor stream, fast-tracked.

As part of a trial to speed-up visa-processing for those who need to travel to Australia on short-notice and can afford to pay for the priority-processing, the department of immigration has announced that it will start fast-tracking such applications but did not commit to a minimum processing timeframe.

The department of immigration says there is no regulatory requirement that the application be decided by a particular timeframe despite the promise of priority processing and accepting the payment of $1000.

“While the Department will endeavour to make a decision within a shortened timeframe, there is no guarantee of a faster outcome, as issues such as character and health matters may delay processing” noted the department’s explanatory statement for the Legislative Instrument – F2016L00295

If an application fails, the DIBP states that “No refund will be available unless the visa application charge is being refunded. Invalid requests for this priority service, for example applicants holding passports not specified under the Regulation, would receive full repayment of the AUD1,000 fee.”

The department said that processing times for Visitor visas, more generally, will not be affected by this service.

The instrument currently provides for passport holders from the People’s Republic of China who are applying for a Visitor visa in either the Tourist or Business Visitor stream. It may be extended to other countries. The Government’s White Paper on Developing Northern Australia recommended a number of key visa initiatives including this trial of a priority service for eligible Chinese nationals seeking to visit Australia.

Source: Migration Alliance