News

For the first time in its history, Australia has accepted more Chinese than British migrants in any one year.

The Federal Government has announced the Migration Program Planning Levels for 2011-2012, as part of its annual Federal budget. The 2011-12 Migration Program planning level is set at 185,000. This is an increase of 16,300 places from 2010-11 planning levels.

DIAC’s Parramatta office is experiencing an overload in applications for the Employer Nomination and Regional Skilled Migration Schemes (ENS & RSMS), according to the Director of Program Delivery.

Recently, some applicants for certain skilled migration visas (for example, subclasses 136, 138 and 139) have received “cap and cease” letters from DIAC, stating that their particular visa category has been capped and that consideration of their applications will cease.

The Migration Amendment (Visa Capping) Bill 2010 has been introduced to give the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship power to cap and terminate visa applications on the basis of certain characteristics.

The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship has set new processing priorities for certain skilled migration visa applications.