Citizenship test ‘may up class costs’

The introduction of the Australian citizenship test may increase migrants’ demand for taxpayer-funded English lessons, the immigration department says.

The new citizenship test, to be implemented later this year, will require migrants to possess a higher level of English language ability than in previous years.

At present, most migrants to Australia are eligible for a maximum of 510 hours of English tuition to help them settle into their new country.

Refugee and humanitarian entrants under 25 with low levels of schooling are eligible for up to 910 hours of English classes, while those over 25 can receive up to 610 hours.Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) first assistant secretary Kate Pope told a Senate estimates hearing that humanitarian entrants to Australia last year averaged 422 hours of English lessons, family migrants 366 hours and dependents of skilled migrants 377 hours.

Asked by Labor senator Annette Hurley if the citizenship test’s higher English requirement would prompt migrants to stay in their classes for longer, Ms Pope said: ‘That’s possible, senator.’

But she was confident the department could meet any increase in demand for English lessons.

‘It can be handled in the same way as any other increase in demand,’ Ms Pope told the hearing.

‘If people were to seek additional hours and they’re eligible clients, then the appropriation will expand to meet that requirement.’

Senator Hurley asked if the spike in demand for English lessons would increase the overall average hours of language classes migrants undertook.

‘If the overall expenditure increases and the number of clients stays steady but they access more hours, then you’d expect that average to go up,’ Ms Pope said.

The immigration department would alert the Finance Department if it overran its budget for the Adult Migrant English Program, she said.

Labor has criticised the program and believes it is failing some migrants, particularly African refugees with no existing written language skills.

The federal government budgeted $154 million for the English program in 2006-07.-Sydney Morning Herald

People applying for Australian citizenship will only have to pay a fee once, even if they fail the new citizenship test numerous times.

The computer-based test will require citizenship applicants to pass an exam testing their knowledge of Australian history, geography, culture and traditions, along with an English language requirement.

The government announced in the budget it was doubling the cost of applying for Australian citizenship, from $120 to $240, to pay for the test, which will be introduced closer to the election.

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Disease screens obsolete, absent, PM told

Life-threatening illnesses could be let loose in Australia because the guidelines for disease screening are often out-of-date and, in some cases, do not even exist.

That is the damning conclusion of a national audit report into immigration procedures that comes as the Government reviews immigration measures for HIV-positive people.

The review was ordered by Prime Minister John Howard following the high-profile cases of three men who are alleged to have knowingly infected others with the virus. But the Australian National Audit Office report released yesterday raises questions about how other — more infectious — diseases are monitored and contained.

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Skilled migrants highly employed: survey

Unemployment among permanent, skilled migrants is just three per cent within 18 months of their arrival in Australia, figures show.

The immigration department’s third longitudinal survey of migrants shows newly arrived skilled migrants have stronger job prospects than the country as a whole.

After a year-and-a-half in Australia, skilled migrants have an employment rate of 97 per cent, according to the statistics released on Thursday by Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews.

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Better screening of TB needed: report

The immigration department needs to improve health screening of visa applicants to ensure Australia is not at risk from tuberculosis, a report says.

The Australian National Audit Office report, released on Thursday, identifies inconsistencies preventing the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) from knowing the effectiveness of its health screening program.

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Visa deal for migrant meat workers

The government has officially resumed the class-457 visa program for temporary skilled migrants working in the meat industry, following complaints of labour shortages in Western Australia and Queensland.

Last year, while denying there was an official freeze on the visas, former immigration minister Amanda Vanstone stopped issuing class-457 visas for the meat industry amid concerns that some foreign workers were being exploited.

The visas allow Australian employers to import skilled foreign workers to fill temporary vacancies in areas of need.

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General Skill Migration:
Independent and Sponsored

From 01 September 2007, the revised skilled migration regulations.

APPLICANTS OFFSHORE

Skilled (Migrant) (Class VE)

For this new permanent Class there are now three new subclasses of visa.

1. Independent Subclass 175 (replaces 136 and 861). Pass mark is 120.
2. Sponsored Subclass 176 (replaces 137, 138, and 862). Pass mark is 100.

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The Accord, the recognition of Equivalency of Engineering Education Course/Programs Leading to the Accredited Engineering Degree, was first signed on the 30 November 1988 in Washington DC.

The current participating counties are Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, United Kingdom and USA.

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Aged Parent (Residence) (Class BP) Visa

On May 7 2007, the Australian Immigration Department under s85 of the Migration Act set the maximum number of Aged Parent (Residence) (Class BP) visas worldwide for the Australian migration program year at 305 parent visas.

Parent (Migrant) (Class AX) Visas

And, the the maximum number of Parent (Migrant) (Class AX) visas that may be granted in this financial year worldwide - are to be 695 parent visas.
Date took effect, May 7 2007.

Parent Visa and Migration update:

Other

• Standard Parent visas remain ‘capped’ at 1000 for the migration program year
• 17,123 non-contributory parent visas are currently in the queue
• Contributory Parent visa are capped at 3,500 for the migration program year
• According to local Department of Immigration: process timing for Contributory parent visas is about twelve months*
• The Govt estimate varies depending on how the Visa Application was/is prepared, government service standards. (Client parent visa claims have been approved in much less time than this projected time. Each parent visa matter is different)

MIGRANTS from Britain and New Zealand are being lured to Queensland and Western Australia by the prospect of a sun-drenched lifestyle and lucrative jobs in booming mining economies. But settlers from India and China are still snubbing the resource-rich states and overwhelmingly preferring to head for the traditional migrant magnets of Sydney and Melbourne.

The United Kingdom and New Zealand have long been Australia’s top two source countries for permanent migrants, accounting together for almost a third of those who arrived between July and December last year.

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