New Assessment Levels Announced for Student Visas
August 14, 2008 by Mira · Leave a Comment
Dear Colleague
New Assessment Levels have been announced for Student Visas.
These new levels will take effect from 1 September 2008.
There have been a significant number of changes;
- 43 countries across 118 education sectors have been moved to a lower assessment level rating
- 9 countries have moved to a higher assessment level.
Lower assessment levels have lower evidentiary requirements (eg financial requirements) and higher assessment levels of course have higher evidentiary requirements
For full announcement details, click these links:
Legislative instrument with new list
Had any experience with these changes yet? Tell us how they impacted your plans - just use the Comments box below…
| Here are some links to additional information on Australian Student Visas, and the Assessment process: …
All About Applications for Australian Student Visas - On your student visa, you are eligible to apply for packaged programs. If you are a citizen of assessment level 1 & 2 countries, you are allowed to convert a business or tourist visa in to a student visa. But citizens from country … Assessment Levels For Student Visas - Australia - You can find out your assessment level by looking up your nationality and visa subclass applied for in Form 1219i, Overseas Student Program - Assesment Levels or by visiting the DIAC website. Important: if you have an assessment level 2 … Visa Guidelines - Regardless of visa subclass or assessment level, there are a number of general requirements that international students must meet in order to be eligible for a student visa. These include requirements relating to: … how to get student Visa for Australia? - Once this information is received by the visa processing office, the preliminary assessment will be conducted. If the assessment is favourable, then the visa office will instruct the university to send the student an electronic … Student Visa Australia - Evidentiary Requirements - Your level of English Language Proficiency in relation to that required for your assessment level and education sector of study; The situation in your home country eg personal or financial commitments that may prompt you to return to … Australia Visa Information - Your application will be assessed according to your Assessment Level. Your Assessment Level is determined by the country of your nationality and the education sector for which you are seeking a student visa. |
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Immigrant Lifestyle In Australia
August 14, 2008 by Mira · Leave a Comment
The smallest continent on planet Earth, surrounded by the Pacific and the Indian Oceans, is number one on the list of places people want to relocate to when thinking of a full relocation.
Why here?
Australians are fiercely proud of their country, the wealth and infrastructure, the culture and the stability. As people they are helpful, friendly and have a great sense of humor. In Australia you will find deserts, mountains and, of course, the sea.
Australia is considered a place where one can live quietly, enjoy the wide open spaces and do something with one’s life in this land of opportunities. People are always on the lookout for a better, happier and more exciting lifestyle and today Australia is one of the most preferred locations to migrate to. The Australians are a friendly lot and theirs is a very rich and diverse culture. More languages are spoken in Sydney than in any other place. Australian industry has seen a phenomenal growth in the last decade or so, which has encouraged people to want to live, work and play in Australia.
Their educational institutions compare well with their counterparts across the globe and finding a job is not too difficult if you are able to speak reasonably good English. A minimum wage has been set by the government in each state and payment is as per those rules. The economy is growing in leaps and bounds and skilled professionals are very welcome.
Immigrants in Australia will find they are able to live their life the way they like to but of course you have to keep in mind that the rules and regulations that govern the Australians, govern you too. There are lots of things to do on the weekends like going to the beach which is a favorite Australian activity. Sports are yet another well developed industry, and you will find that all Australians love some sport or other.
Immigrants must keep in mind that Australians are very particular about the environment and they spend a lot of time preserving, cleaning and maintaining their surroundings. Damage to the environment or nature is attended to immediately. Law and order is very essential so you have to ensure that you don’t break the law.
For permanent residency in Australia, one has to be issued with a permanent residency visa which is just short of being a citizen of Australia. Applying for a permanent residency visa requires that skilled people are working in a metropolitan area for at least 2 years and then this is subject to the rules and regulations governing visas.
Once this visa is issued then the persons are eligible for subsidized or free legal help, education, health services etc. there are a lot of privileges that are extended to these visa holders similar to those of a proper citizen.
So living in Australia is a dream come true, most will agree. Everyone is welcome and you can choose the lifestyle you want to live. Can you really ask for more…
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Student Lifestyle In Australia
August 13, 2008 by Mira · Leave a Comment
Student lifestyle the world over is quite different from the rest of society. You have your own group of friends, places you like to go and your own routines. This is especially true if you are living away from home.
Australia is fast becoming a very popular destination for education. The main reasons for this are
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the highly competitive courses that can be undertaken
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the fees as compared to American or European courses
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living costs that are very affordable
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and last but not least, the myriad attractions that make Australia so perfect for students.
The country boasts a superb climate. The people are friendly, live in a safe and healthy environment and students from all over the world are welcomed. In Sydney there are many languages spoken thanks to its cultural diversity, and with over a hundred ethnic groups living in Australia no student will really feel out of place.
Accommodation
There are lots of accommodation choices open to you. Besides living on campus there are other options like renting rooms, home-stay with/without meals, or shared rental accommodation. More often than not students live their own lives in shared apartments where you do your own cooking. This often is the most economical option too.
Recreation
There is a lot of scope for students to strike the right balance between study, relaxation and other activities. There is so much to do and see in Australia that you just might run out of time. There are plenty of cafes and restaurants to eat in, there is surfing open to all and there are lots of beaches, lakes and rivers for those who love the water. There are international festivals celebrated that are a must-see for students and others alike.
There are lots of sports facilities and art and culture are catered for too, with galleries, museums, live arts and music etc. There are markets aplenty and shopping is always a fun experience. Probably the best attractions in Australia are its bush land and the wildlife, the outback and the rainforests. Students who have an adventurous streak will enjoy all that Australia has to offer.
Work while you study
If you have a student visa you are allowed to work on a casual basis although it’s wise to remember that the job cannot be a means to fund your education as you need to devote enough time to your studies and exams. This easy earn-while-you-learn option makes Australia very attractive to students as a part time job can fund hobbies and interests leaving the money you and your family saved for course fees to pay the fees.
Student lifestyle in Australia offers the best of both worlds: you get to study in some of the best institutions in the world, you can work to gain experience, and you can learn about the Australian way of life first-hand. There are so many activities to choose from and the overall experience of living in Australia is one, you are not likely to forget in a hurry.
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Increases to the Minimum Salary Level
August 12, 2008 by Mira · Leave a Comment
The Australian government announced increases to the minimum salary level (MSL) paid to temporary migrant workers from August 2008. The increase will be paid to all holders of a 457 visa including those already working in the country.
These increases are part of a reform package intended to strengthen the temporary skilled migration (457 visa) program.
Some of the Key Features of the Reforms:
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increases the safety net for skilled migrant workers
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protects them from unscrupulous employers who may wish to exploit them
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if a prescribed salary level is higher than the MSL, then it must be paid
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there will be an information campaign to ensure existing visa holders are aware of the changes
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the 457 visa scheme is important to the Australian economy and the community is encouraged to support it
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strong monitoring of the processes and penalties for employers failing to do the right thing
There are rights and responsibilities on both 457 visa holders and employers and it is important that everyone plays their part. The Department for Immigration and Citizenship plans a comprehensive information strategy to ensure everyone knows what they should be doing. So there will be no excuse for those who get it wrong.
The salary increases are only part of the reform package which aims to strengthen the Australian economy with the help of sponsor employers and skilled migrant workers.
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Australian Immigration - General Skills Migration Program
August 11, 2008 by Mira · Leave a Comment
If you possess the work skills Australia requires to fill vacancies in their labor force then the GSM Program is for you.
If you wish to live, work and play in Australia but are not sponsored by an employer then GSM is the way to go. GSM stands for General Skilled Migration. It is an excellent program and a very successful one.
If your skills match those on Australia’s Skilled Occupation List (SOL) and you have a good command of English, then you have more chance of success.
Prerequisites for Australia’s GSM Program:
There are various prerequisites for applying the program. They are:
- Age: you must be over 18 years of age and below 45 years of age.
- Language: you must be able to speak English well. This is the main prerequisite for anyone applying for this program.
- Skill-set: you must possess skills in the areas of shortage with qualifications and recent experience in the field in which you are applying.
The qualifications and experience needed for an occupation can be cross checked in the Australia’s Skilled Occupation List - SOL for short.
Recent Changes
Significant changes were made to the GSM program in September 2007. These include:
- a greater proficiency in English will be required, with 25 points going to those who score well in the testing system
- a greater emphasis is now put on skills experience, with bonus points only being awarded if you have 12 months experience in your nominated occupation
- there will be a new temporary work visa for graduates to enable them to increase their work experience
- the GSM visa structure was simplified, instead of 15 subclasses there are now only 9: 5 for Onshore applications and 4 for Offshore applications. This should make it easier to identify which visa subclass will work best for you
GSM Categories:
There are two basic categories for those applying through the GSM program: Onshore for those already on Australian territory with current visas, and Offshore for those applying from abroad.
There are four sub-catgories in each: sponsored, independent, Regional sponsored (provisional) and graduate, with the Onshore having the additional category of a permanent Regional sponsored visa.
Applicants can be sponsored by an Australian relation or an Australian state or territory government. Independent applications are from those with the right skills and experience required. A graduate visa is for those from recognised foreign universities whose skills are required by Australia. In each case there are certain requirements that must be met and you should check each carefully.
The evaluation of applications for Australia’s General Skilled Migration Program is generally done using a points based system. To qualify, you must score the appropriate level of points set by the system. If you score a little less than required, your application may, in some cases, be placed in a reserve pool and may be considered at some future point.
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