Category Archives: AES Information

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Changes to acceptable English tests and minimum English language test scores for subclasses 457

Commencing from 18 April 2015, in addition to IELTS and OET, DIBP will also accept TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic and Cambridge CAE results Temporary Work (Skilled) visa Subclass 457 visa application purpose.

 

Furthermore, the Subclass 457 visa applicants (other than those requiring higher level of English language proficiency for grant of registration, licence or membership) will be allowed a lower English language test score to enable this visa to be more responsive to Australia’s labour market conditions. This change will allow applicants to apply with an overall minimum English language score and a minimum score for each of the four English test components.

 

Minimum required overall test score and the minimum required scores for each of the test components:

English test Minimum band score Minimum scores for English test components
Listening Reading Speaking Writing
IELTS test Overall band score 5.0 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.5
OET B B B B
TOEFL iBT Total band score 36 3 3 12 12
PTE Overall band score 36 30 30 30 30
CAE Overall band score 154 147 147 147 147

 


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Australians show overwhelming support for migration

9 in 10 Australians think immigrants improve Australian society and many think the migration levels should be increased or kept the same at least.

 

A poll of 1200 Australian adults in March this year has found that an overwhelming number of Australians believe that immigrants improve Australian society, according to a report in The Sydney Morning Herald today.

 

The figures from the annual poll conducted by the Australian National University also found that over 80 per cent of Australians think immigrants are good for the economy.

 

Less than a third thought immigrants take jobs away from people born here and a similar number felt immigrants increased crime levels.

 

The main area of objection is with illegal immigrants. Under half of those polled felt that the current measures against illegals are inadequate and agreed that Australia should take “stronger measures to exclude illegal immigrants”.

 

About a third however disagreed on the need for stronger measures.

 

The poll also asked questions about what it means to be Australian. People were actually quite flexible about this.

 

“Those polled thought that respecting Australian laws and political institutions (96 per cent), being able to speak English (92 per cent) and feeling Australian (87 per cent) were more important than being born in Australia. They also had notions of identity that went beyond the nation. While 90 per cent said they felt close to Australia, 48 per cent said they felt close to Asia/ Oceania” according to the report.

 

Despite looking to Asia, many Australians are also continuing to look to Great Britain, with 44 per cent of those polled saying the Queen and Royal Family are very or fairly important to Australia.

 

Support for a republic has dropped from 66 per cent before the referendum in 1999 to 54 per cent today.

 

Source: Migration Alliance


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What happens when the Australian Ambassador to Indonesia is withdrawn

Australia’s largest foreign mission is its embassy in Jakarta. That mission will soon be without an ambassador. Ministerial visits have also been suspended. With contact at the highest levels suspended how will it affect business and the thousands of travellers between the countries?

The Australian Government had hoped that “Indonesia would show mercy to the two young men, who have worked hard since their arrests to rehabilitate themselves and improve the lives of other prisoners,” according to a statement from the office of Foreign Minister Julie Bishop today.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran’s family and friends at this extremely difficult time” Ms Bishop said.

 

Ms Bishop confirmed that Australia, “will withdraw our Ambassador for consultations once the men’s bodies have been returned to the Chan and Sukumaran families…Ministerial visits will remain suspended” said Ms Bishop.

DFAT nor the DIBP have provided any information on how these measures will specifically affect business or travellers between the countries. However, according to various analysts, Australia’s reaction which as serious as it seems, will not affect the daily operations of the Australian consulates in Indonesia. It does not mean diplomatic relations have ended as the rest of the consulate will continue to operate and provide services.

DFAT’s smartraveller.gov.au website advice is to ‘exercise a high degree of caution’ on travel to Indonesia’ which is at the same overall level of advice prior to the announcement of the downgrading of diplomatic contact.

Source: Migration Alliance


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Good news for Subclass 457 Visa

The Government has made changes to the Temporary Skilled (Subclass 457) visas effective from 18 April 2015.  The Government:

 

  • has expanded the list of English language providers, to include test of English as a Foreign Language internet – based test (TOEFL IBT), Pearson Test of English (PTE); and Cambridge English Advanced (CAE) test (conducted on or after 1 January 2015);
  • will accept an overall test score with minimum scores of each test component (reading, writing, speaking and listening); and
  • will grant an exemption when an applicant can provide evidence of five cumulative years of study in English at the secondary or tertiary level, rather than proof of five years consecutive secondary or tertiary study in English.
  • has extended the term of standard business sponsorship to 5 years commencing from the date of approval.
  • has extended the sponsorship period for start-up businesses from twelve (12) months to eighteen (18) months.
  • has reduced the market salary exemption threshold from $250,000 to $180,000, this is now in line with the marginal tax rate.
  • has extended the notifiable period for sponsors from 10 working days to 28 calendar days.

 

For more detailed information on the changes please refer to the Department’s website at: www.immi.gov.au/Visas/Pages/457.aspx

 


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ACS changes to IELTS requirement for Professional Year Program

The Department of Immigration and Border Protection has made important changes to the 485 Temporary Graduate visa requirements.  Effective 18th April 2015, the following changes have been made to English language requirements;

  • an overall score of at least 6, with nothing below 5 in each of the four test components (speaking, reading, listening and writing) in an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test
  • a score of at least ‘B’ in each of the four test components (speaking, reading, listening and writing) of an Occupational English Test (OET)
  • a total score of at least 64, with nothing below 4 for listening, 4 for reading, 14 for writing and 14 for speaking, in a Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-based test (TOEFL iBT)
  • an overall score of at least 50 with nothing below 36 in each of the four test components (listening, reading, writing and speaking) in a Pearson Test of English Academic

an overall score of at least 169 with nothing below 154 in each of the four test components (listening, reading, writing and speaking) in a Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) test taken on or after 1 January 2015.

Accordingly, ACS will now accept an IELTS score of 6, with no band below 5 (or the above equivalents) for entry into the ACS IT Professional Year Program, effective immediately. 

For more details or any esquires, please feel free to call us for booking appointment with our migration consultants for free consultation.

AES hotline: 03 9654 3409

AES address: level 4, 258 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne 3000


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GOOD NEWS!Changes to minimum English language test scores for subclasses 476 and 485

Commencing from 18 April 2015, Temporary Graduate Subclass 485 and Skilled – Recognised Graduate Subclass 476  applicants will be allowed a lower English language test score to enable these visas to be more responsive to Australia’s labour market conditions. This change will allow applicants to apply with an overall minimum English language score and a minimum score for each of the four English test components.

Minimum required overall test score and the minimum required scores for each of the test components:

English test Minimum

overall Score

Total overall score Minimum scores for English test components
Listening Reading Speaking Writing
IELTS 6 5 5 5 5
OET B B B B B
TOEFL iBT 64 4 4 14 14
PTE Academic 50 36 36 36 36
Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) (taken on or after 1 January 2015) 169 154 154 154 154

If you have any esquires, please contact us for free consultation : 03 9654 3409. Or make appointment with our migration or education consultants.


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INTRODUCING DEAKIN COLLEGE – Deakin and Navitas rebrand successful pathway college

Deakin University and leading education provider Navitas are pleased to announce plans to extend their long and successful partnership by renaming the pathway college, the Melbourne Institute of Business and Technology (MIBT), to Deakin College.

 

Via MIBT, Navitas has successfully collaborated with Deakin University since 1996, providing pathway courses for both domestic and international students. In that time more than 14,000 students have successfully progressed to degree programs at Deakin.

 

Deakin College will integrate more closely with the University to enable further growth of international and domestic enrolments across Deakin University campuses in Melbourne and Geelong.

 

The refreshed physical context and teaching and learning approaches of the College will reflect recent developments in teaching and learning, physical spaces, digital technologies and course offerings at the University.

 

The new College will also provide an improved student experience and superior student outcomes as well as reflecting the enhanced standing and reputation of the University.

 

Deakin University and Navitas will transition to operation of the renewed Deakin College from July 2015.


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Chinese Travellers visitor visa extended to three years with multiple entrie

Minister Andrew Robb has announced that approved Chinese travellers will now be able to apply for online visitor visas with three-year validity and multiple entries. This extension follows the introduction of three year, multiple entry Chinese business visas in 2014.

This follows the success for the online visitor visa pilot for Chinese visitors.Further information form the announcement is available here  http://www.mia.org.au/documents/item/617


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DIBP closed 27 April 2015; TIS National unaffected

The Department will be closed on 27 April 2015 as agreed in their Enterprise Bargaining Agreement.

The Translation and Interpreting Service (TIS National) will still operate as usual on this date.


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