ACT closes their door for this financial year.

The ACT have announced their skilled migration is closed for overseas applicants for the year.

This action does not affect Canberra-based applicants. If you are living in Canberra and working in a skilled occupation, the program is open. You are still able to apply for ACT nomination of the Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) visa if you meet the current nomination criteria for Canberra residents.

“Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) visa – closure of ACT nomination program to overseas applicants for 2015/16

The Australian Capital Territory is pleased to announce that program targets for ACT nomination of a Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) visa have been met for the 2015/16 financial year.

Effective 18 March 2016 at 4:00pm AEST, applications for ACT nomination from overseas residents will not be accepted. If you are living overseas you are not able to apply for ACT nomination of a Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) visa until the program reopens in July 2016.

Applications for ACT nomination already submitted before 4:00pm 18 March 2016 will be processed in queue order.”

To find out more go to the ACT website.

Australia & Hungary sign a Work & Holiday Agreement

On 24 February 2016, Australia and Hungary signed a Work and Holiday Memorandum of Understanding, establishing a reciprocal Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462) arrangement between the two countries.

This arrangement will allow up to 200 young adults from Hungary and up to 200 young adults from Australia to enjoy a holiday in each other’s country, during which they can undertake short term work and study.

When a commencement date has been announced, eligible young adults from Hungary and Australia will be able to apply for this visa.

In the coming months, Australia and Hungary will work closely together to implement the necessary legal and administrative processes to bring this visa into effect. The work and holiday arrangement will not commence until a start date has been agreed by both countries.

More information on the Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462) is available.

Being asked to pay your employer to get sponsored is illegal

The DIBP has made it illegal to pay to be sponsored, so now it’s not only immoral, unethical, and exploitative, it’s also illegal.

“On 14 December 2015, new criminal and civil penalties and visa cancellation provisions were introduced as part of a ‘paying for visa sponsorship ‘ framework that allows for sanctions to be imposed on a person who asks for, receives, offers or provides a benefit in return for visa sponsorship or employment (that requires visa sponsorship).

‘Paying for visa sponsorship’ conduct is considered unacceptable by the Australian Government as it undermines the integrity of the skilled work programmes, which are designed to address genuine skill shortages in the Australian labour market by making employees available from outside Australia.

It is not acceptable for sponsors, nominators, employers or other third parties to make a personal gain from their position in a ‘paying for visa sponsorship’ arrangement, nor is it acceptable for current or prospective visa holders to obtain permanent residence in Australia, or have the opportunity to work in Australia by providing a benefit to an employer for a job.

To further strengthen this framework, sponsors, nominators and visa applicants will be required to, as part of the application process, state whether or not they have actively participated in conduct that contravenes the new ‘paying for visa sponsorship’ laws.”

https://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Work/Work-1