As many readers will be aware the Federal Government’s response to the recommendation of the committee tasked with reviewing the operation of the Temporary Work (Skilled) visa (subclass 457) scheme has been eagerly awaited. The announcement on 18 March 2015 gives little solid guidance to business, beyond an indication that Sponsorship approvals will last 5 [...]
Over 40% of 457 visa holders convert to permanent residency A review of Department of Immigration statistics 2008-2014 regarding the 457 visa program reveals some interesting trends: 1. Over the 7 year period visa grants have run at approximately 90% of visa applications 2. The exception was 2014 when more visas were granted [...]
Following the Reserve Bank decision last Tuesday to lower the Cash Rate by 0.25% to 2.25% we reflect on some implications for potential property purchasers. One consequence is to make it more advantageous to accelerate purchase decisions to get the benefit of lower interest rates in the early part of the loan life. The next move in [...]
Many readers will be aware the cost of housing in Sydney has increased rapidly in recent times. Despite a 17% increase in median house prices in Sydney in the year to September 2014, growth in capital value over the ten years since September 2004 is “only“ 6% per year. From 2004 to 2010 prices only [...]
Organisations need a mobile workforce for many reasons, including filling skills gaps, meeting temporary staffing needs and employee development. In designing domestic relocation policies, major considerations include: • What are the costs that employees and their families will face? • How can the employer attract candidates to accept roles that involve relocation to higher cost [...]
“We should have done this years ago” According to Dennis Ellis, Village Manager, Belrose Country Club, “if I had $100 for every time a new resident says that to me , I would be a wealthy man”! . His view is that “our fierce independence is a problem”, as is our unwillingness to face up [...]
This webinar, produced in conjunction with our Asia Pacific joint venture Reloc8 Asia Pacific (www.reloc8asia.com) provides a 45 minute digest of key aspects of relocating to Malaysia – including some of the cultural surprises that new arrivals often experience https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/942447886
Review of the 457 visa system In a speech on 14 March 2014 the Minister for Immigration announced “an independent review of the integrity of the 457 system”. This is expected to target some of the restrictions introduced during 2013 by the previous Government that resulted in a considerable blow-out in application processing times. The [...]
Significant changes to 457 visa requirements introduced in mid-2013 continue to affect Visa processing times by the Department of Immigration. This remains as a legacy of measures to address budget issues, as well as labour union assertions that low-paid foreign workers have been displacing Australians in the workforce. Visa processing times Multiple changes to visa [...]
With effect from late-March 2013, a new visa category has been introduced – the Temporary work (Short Stay Activity) visa subclass 400. The Department of Immigration & Citizenship hopes that this short-term work visa option will reduce the prevalence of unauthorized work activities being performed by business visa holders. It replaces the work entitlements of [...]
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