Wilson Migration

30/01/2024

POSITION VACANT

Administration Assistant
Full Time
Wilson Migration Services
$70,000 to $80,000 + super
Home Office – Wakerley, Qld, 4154

• Administration support
• Compliance and audits
• Assist Registered Migration Agent with enquiries, collection of documents, drafting, data checking, preparation of visa applications
• Prepare Skills Assessments, Sponsorship, Nomination and Visa applications;
• Carry out research using available sources when required
• General clerical duties, such as collecting, scanning and electronic filing of documents
• Basic accounts using xero Accounting system (invoices, quotes, reconciliation of payments)
• Ensuring client databases information/records are kept up-to-date and accurate by maintaining client folder as per compliance standards
• Liaise with clients over the phone, email and in-person, assist with their enquiries and provide updates on their applications
• Screen phone calls, book enquiries and appointments for existing and new clients
• Liaise with external organisations/stakeholders as and when required
• Draft and manage emails
• Assist the Registered Migration Agent with follow-ups of action items
• Effectively coordinate and manage the day to day work
• Attend any training sessions provided by the RMA or the organisation, to brush up on job-skills
• Acknowledge internal communication in a timely manner
• High calibre work ethic and customer service to be upheld at all times while performing the above tasks

This is a fast paced, high volume position and you will need high level administration skills across all computer systems & programs and strong attention to detail.

Please email your resume to [email protected]

21/12/2023

417 visa & 462 visa – condition 8547 – 6 month rule
.. The Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs has made the decision to continue the previous exemption process relating to visa condition 8547, from 1 January 2024, while consultation on the Working Holiday program settings and reform process is underway in line with the recently released Migration Strategy.

The upcoming discussion paper will look at all settings in relation to the Working Holiday program, including eligibility, visa conditions and specified work requirements. More information on the reform process will be available in early 2024.

I can advise that the following arrangements will apply from 1 January 2024 until further government decisions are made as part of the WHM reform work:

Working Holiday Makers can work for the same employer in Australia for more than 6 months without asking permission if the work is:
• in different locations and work in any one location does not exceed 6 months
• in plant and animal cultivation anywhere in Australia
• in certain industries, including aged care and disability services, fishing and pearling, tree farming and felling, construction and mining, in northern Australia only (see website for a definition of Northern Australia)
• from 17 February 2020, natural disaster recovery work
• from 4 April 2020, in critical sectors, including agriculture, food processing, health, aged and disability care and childcare, anywhere in Australia
• from 8 May 2021, in the critical sector of tourism and hospitality anywhere in Australia

For any other situations not covered above, Working Holiday Makers must ask for our permission to work longer than 6 months with one employer.

How to apply for Condition 8547 extensions
The new webform to apply for these extensions is expected to be operational tomorrow 22 December 2023.

In the meantime Home Affairs has confirmed that it will action any applications made using the policy in Legend.

Requests for permission should:
• be made at least two weeks before the expiry of the six month work period; and
• be in writing, preferably using Form 1445 Request permission to work with an employer beyond six months on a Working Holiday or Work and Holiday visa (form will download)
or
• or by emailing the Department and
• specify when they commenced working with their employer and when the six month period will end; and
• give full details of the ‘limited circumstances’ in which they are seeking permission to work longer than six months; and
• specify how long they wish to continue working for their employer; and
• provide supporting documentation from the employer, for example, a one-page letter on company letterhead outlining the exceptional circumstances.

For those who have already submitted a request for approval to work for longer than 6 months for the same employer, they can continue working for the same employer until they receive a written outcome of their request.

28/11/2023

Now in effect - Pathways to permanent residency for temporary skilled workers - Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil announced in April 2023 that all temporary skilled workers would have a pathway to permanent residency by the end of 2023.

As of 25 November 2023, these changes have been implemented through the Migration Amendment (Expanding Access to Temporary Residence Transition Stream) Regulations 2023.

186 Temporary Residency eligibility
Eligible skilled workers holding Temporary Skills Shortage (TSS) visas in the Short-Term stream can now access a pathway to permanent residency via the Employer Nominated Scheme (subclass 186) visa in the Temporary Residence Transition stream (186 TRT).

This pathway was previously only available to TSS visa holders in the Medium-Term Stream.

Changes:
1. TSS visa holders are eligible even if their occupation is not on the Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List, as long as they meet all other 186 TRT criteria;
2. The period of required employment on a TSS visa has been reduced from three years to two years, enabling workers to transition to permanent residency more quickly;
3. The limitation on the number of onshore renewals of TSS short term visas has been removed.
4. 482 visa holders under Labour Agreements can also apply for 186 TRT stream, excluding ANZSCO 070499, 482 visa holders who require access to concessions under the Labour Agreement (age, salary, skills, English) and On-Hire Labour Agreement 482 visa holders

Plesae contact me if you would like to review your eligibility.

Regards
Melanie

02/11/2023

Implementation of employer-sponsored permanent residency reforms are proposed for 25 November 2023

The Department of Home Affairs has announced an implementation date for the proposed expansion to the employer-sponsored permanent residency program. The reforms are part of the Government’s long-term strategy to transform and strengthen the skilled migration program. The implementation date for the ENS reforms is expected to be 25 November 2023.

Previous Announcements
Further to Minister Clare O’Neil’s media address on 27 April 2023 regarding the Government’s strategy to reform the Australian skilled migration program, the Department of Home Affairs has committed to the expansion of eligibility criteria under the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) subclass 186 visa program.

Pathway to permanent residency for short-term TSS visa holders
Once the ENS reforms have been implemented, short-term Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa holders will gain access to permanent residency under the Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream of the ENS visa program.

Eligible occupations will not be limited to the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills list.

The following criteria will need to be met by visa applicants:
• continue to work in the nominated occupation specified on their TSS visa;
• demonstrate a period of employment for 2 years with the sponsoring employer (reduced from 3 years); and
• all other nomination and visa requirements under the TRT stream of the ENS visa program must also be met.

Further information to follow
 As soon as we have the legislation with regulations and the implementation date we will advise.
 This will determine if you apply for 3 or 4 year 482 visa application for your nominee if they are considering Permanent Visa options with your business
o (this will determine the amount of Skilling Australia Fund (SAF) payments if only nominating for 3 years this will reduce this cost)

After we have the legislation confirmed we can book consultations to discuss your specific case.

31/08/2023

408 COVID visa closure - this visa subclass will be closed from 02 September 2023 unless you hold a current 408 visa and you will be able to apply until Feb 2024 if you have less than 28 days visa expiry and the Home Affairs charge will be $405 for primary applicant + charges for family members. You will only be granted 6 month visa.

If you have a visa expiry within next 90 days you can apply for 408 visa until 02 September 2023 which will provide a 12 month visa and cost $0.

Contact me with any questions.

09/08/2023

Australian Border Force are monitoring 482 Business Sponsors and undertaking compliance visits. Ensure you are compliant with your sponsorship obligations.
https://www.abf.gov.au/newsroom-subsite/Pages/Perth-automotive-business-fined-after-ABF-uncovers-migrant-worker-exploitation-26-07-2023.aspx?fbclid=IwAR1dnVTF0aYTixliXrlaVgSFiz70ef7Nt3sb8rhymd5xYA3G7nKixm25BB8

Our mission is to protect Australia’s border and enable legitimate travel and trade.

05/06/2023

UK passport working holiday visa, 417 visa.

With the Australia-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement (A-UKFTA) entered into force, new arrangements under Australia’s Working Holiday Maker (WHM) program and the UK’s Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) will commence.

For UK passport holders who apply for Australia’s Working Holiday visa, the new arrangements will see an increase in the eligible age range and removal of specified work requirements.

From 1 July 2023, UK passport holders will be able to apply for a Working Holiday visa between the ages of 18 and 35 years inclusive. This is a five year increase from the current maximum age of 30 years inclusive.

From 1 July 2024, UK passport holders will be eligible to be granted Working Holiday visas up to a total of three years without having to meet any specified work requirements.

09/05/2023

Increase in Fees and Charges – Budget May 2023
Home Affairs will increase Visa Application Charges (VACs) from 1 July 2023.
Visa Application Charges will rise by between 6% and 40%, typically 15% across Visitor, Working Holiday, temporary work, training visas, 6% across other visa subclasses.

08/05/2023

Further to last weeks announcements for Skilled Migration Review, permanent pathways for short term occupations should be announced by the end of 2023.

08/05/2023

Further to last weeks announcement of TSMIT increase effective 01 July 2023, we have been advised this will effect only New 482 & 494 nominations lodged ON or AFTER that date will be required to meet the new TSMIT of $70,000 or the annual market salary rate, whichever is higher.
Applications lodged BEFORE 1 July 2023 will not be affected.

01/05/2023

Last week Clare O'Neil, Minister for Home Affairs released the Review of the Migration System
 View the full report - Review of the Migration System https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/reports-and-pubs/files/review-migration-system-final-report.pdf?fbclid=IwAR3ZrlTdh1dP4lcy3V5nGqSjN_Hrl3WpTBYjUXVF8l1pkbuNtR11GrDSFwA

Key points from the Review
• Increase the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) to $70,000 from $53,900 per annum from 01 July 2023 (482, 494, 186 visa programs)
• New points system for skilled migration programs
• Permanent Residency pathways for all temporary visa holders
• Labour Market Testing requirement to be removed
• changes to Parent visa program processing to avoid further backlogs.
• Review of a more attractive temporary Parent visa
• Students visa program to be revised
• Changes to Temporary Graduate visa product after studies are completed

22/04/2023

More than 300,000 New Zealand citizens currently residing in Australia will have direct access to apply for Australian citizenship by conferral from 1 July 2023.

This change reflects the long-standing, close and special bilateral relationship between our two nations.

Learn more: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/entering-and-leaving-australia/new-zealand-citizens/overview