Howard denies attacking multiculturalism

Prime Minister John Howard has again defended the change to the title of the Department of Immigration, saying it is not an attack on multiculturalism.

The department is now called the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, instead of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs.

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Serbian Jovicic faces deportation No. 2

Serbian Robert Jovicic has a week to convince incoming Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews to allow him to stay in Australia, where he has lived since he was two years old. Continue reading…»

Foreign students facing tougher tests

Australia will toughen up English-language requirements for foreign graduates after a report showed poor language skills among many overseas students.

The report by Melbourne’s Monash University found more than a third of overseas students were completing degrees with English so poor they should not have been admitted in the first place.

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Put foreign students to the talk test, says recruiter

Australia’s leading recruiter of overseas students is urging universities to introduce English tests at the start and end of all degrees for the good of students.

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IMMIGRATION PROCESSING ESTIMATES ON TIMING

Here are the dates the Department of Immigration issues to applicant-clients (independent and sponsored), as of this month, showing where the ASPC is in processing General Skilled Migration applications. These date are those given by Immigration itself. The actual length of time it takes to visa decision varies in practice on how well the application was presented and handled - both before and during application.

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For a visa 300 application to be successful, both parties (visa applicant and Australian sponsor) to the intended marriage must be free to marry, and at least one of the couple to the marriage must be of Australian marriageable age. Because Australian law does not Continue reading…»

What happens if a couple marries before a prospective Visa 300 is granted?

Under the migration regulations (which covers most situations), if, after a visa 300 application is validly made but before the visa 300 application is actually decided, the relevant parties change their plans and marry outside Australia, then visa 300 time of decision criteria cannot be satisfied. However, if the couple have properly notified immigration of their marriage sufficiently in advance of a decision,

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Applies if a couple intend on marrying before they enter Australia

An engaged party who intend to marry their prospective spouse outside Australia (i.e., before travelling to Australia to settle permanently) should generally apply for a Partner visa (309/100).

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This visa is for someone seeking entry to Australia:

• to marry, after their first entry to Australia, the Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen who is their prospective spouse (either party is also called ‘fiancé/e’) and

• with a view to remaining permanently

In immigration practice:

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Applicant: unless stated otherwise, means a person who has made a valid application, either by completing the prescribed form or by being listed (as an applicant) on that form. (In law, however, an applicant is a person who has made an application, whether valid or not.)

Main applicant: is the applicant in whose name the immigration form is completed (and who is sometimes called this on the form).

Certain migration program areas apply the terms “principal applicant” or “primary applicant”.

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