Thursday 5 May 2011

Evalutation of Complex Case Support - DIAC

About Complex Case Support services - Department of Immigration & Citizenship

Complex Case Support (CCS) delivers specialised and intensive case management services to humanitarian entrants with exceptional needs. CCS is specifically targeted at supporting clients whose needs extend beyond the scope of core settlement services. It is designed to work in partnership with settlement and mainstream services to address the often significant barriers these clients face in settling in Australia.

Humanitarian Services Panel

CCS services are delivered nationally through the Humanitarian Services Panel. The panel comprises 38 organisations which have demonstrated experience in providing case management services to humanitarian entrants and are able to provide services on a needs basis.
Through the Humanitarian Services Panel, some of the most vulnerable people in our community are helped to overcome the extreme difficulties they face in settling into a new country.

CCS has three main client groups:
  • Refugee entrants
  • Special Humanitarian Program entrants
  • Protection visa holders and persons who hold or have held a Temporary Protection visa.
Clients are eligible for services for up to five years after their arrival in Australia. Flexibility may be shown to this timeframe in exceptional circumstances.

The Findings

Overall, there is a high level of support for the CCS program for providing intensive, flexible and client focused services to clients whose needs go beyond the capacity of other settlement services to respond. There is strong support for retention of the program for meeting a demonstrated need, delivering services effectively and filling a gap in service provision. While the fundamentals of the program are supported, issues have been identified for further refinement or adjustment of the program as it moves forward.
It is anticipated that the improvements in service provision being implemented in the Humanitarian Settlement Services (HSS), particularly stronger case management, will have an impact on referral rates to CCS. However, it is likely to take some time before this causes a substantial decline in referrals to CCS. In view of this, it is recommended that the CCS program be continued with adjustments recommended in this report. CCS should next be evaluated in coordination with any future evaluation of the HSS program.

Thursday 28 April 2011

Important tips for Spouse Visa Australia Applications

Spouse Visa to Australia, Part 1
Immigration Law - Spouse Visa Part 1

Under the Immigration Act of Australia there are a number of visas that facilitate the migration of 'spouses of permanent residents of Australia and citizens. In the category of "spouse visa" there are three different types of visas: -
Spouse Visa
a. When the sponsor is married to a foreign national.
Prospective spouse visa
a. When the sponsor  is dedicated to a foreign national.
De Facto Visa
a. When the sponsor (the Australian citizen or permanent resident) and foreign nationals have been in a de facto relationship for at least 12 months.

Although there are slight differences between the three different types of visas are not required behind each one and that is that there is a genuine and continuing relationship between the applicant and the sponsor of the visa to the exclusion of all others.
To determine whether a genuine and continued staring there from the Department of Immigration to the 4 factors of the relationship: -
1. Financial aspect;
2. Aspect of the home;
3. Social aspect, and
4. Commitment.

If you request one of the above visas is important to demonstrate that all the evidence you have (which covers the four aspects of the relationship) the case officer will meet you and your partner are in a genuine and permanent .

Where can I be when I file a visa for spouse?
There are a variety of factors that determine where you can submit a visa for a spouse, for example: -
- If you are applying for a prospective spouse visa must apply on the high seas;
- You can apply for the approval of both spouses and de facto visa within and outside Australia;
- If you can present your spouse or a de facto visa from within Australia is determined by the visa is held at the time of lodging. If you have a visa from a 8503 "No More Stay" condition, then you must be submit the application Out Side of Australia.

For more informaiton on Spouse Visa's, visit www.firstchoicemigration.com.au

Tuesday 26 April 2011

Department of Immigration intend on creating a simpler frame work for Entry into Australia

In June 2010, the Australian Government annouced it will be simplifying and streamlining Australia’s complex visa system.

Specifically, the Australian Government committed to reduce approximately 50 per cent the number of temporary working visas by 2012 and to target 50 per cent reduction in the total number of visa subclasses by 2015.
The Visitor visa phase of the simplification and deregulation process commences with the release of the Simpler Visas: Making Visitor Visas Simpler discussion paper for public consultation. This discussion paper builds on earlier papers and seeks views on the deregulation of the Visitor visa group which is proposed to be implemented by September 2012.
See: Simpler Visas—Making Visitor Visas Simpler Discussion Paper – April 2011 (361KB PDF file

www.firstchoicemigration.com.au

Friday 15 April 2011

Skilled Migration to Western Australia

According to the WA Resources industry, Australia urgently needs skilled migrants to fill up to 34,000 additional jobs by the end of next year, ABC Radio Australia reports.

The ten year forecast of labor and infrastructure needs within the state's mining, oil and gas sectors was released by the Chamber of Minerals and Energy who has joined the wider business community in requesting the government to substantially boost the skilled migration intake in next month's budget.

First Choice Australian Migration

Zoey Pereira, an Immigration Agent based in Perth, Western Australia has also joined the fight to increase skilled migration. "Looking at Western Australia in particular, if you look at natural population growth and current migration levels, we will find a shortage of around 150,000 skilled workers in the next six years" says Mrs Pereira. "While the Australian government is prioritising training opportunities for domestic workers to help address skills shortages, targeted migration will be very important in boosting its skilled labour needs".

To help with the burden of the forecasted skills shortage, First Choice Australian Migration will be allowing applicants to conduct a free eligibility assessment. By doing so, First Choice Migration aim to attracted those skilled prospect future Australia's who cannot or do not want to pay for immigration advice.


More information about Zoey Pereira, acting director of First Choice Australian Migration can be found at http://www.firstchoicemigration.com.au. First Choice Australian Migration provide advice on all visa types, from Spouse Visa to Prospective Marriage Visa to Skilled Migration, they can answer all of your Australian Immigration questions

Friday 25 March 2011

Australian Asylum Seeker Facts

Taken from: http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/04/17/asylum-seekers-the-facts-in-figures/
  • Number of refugees* around the world: 37.4 million — UNHCR
  • Current quota for refugees coming into Australia: 12,000  — Myths and Facts about Refugees
  • Number of requests for asylum received by European countries in the past two decades: 6.3 million  —  Myths and Facts about Refugees
  • Number of requests for asylum received by Australia, New Zealand and Japan in the past two decades: 107,000  —  Myths and Facts about Refugees
  • Number of refugee boats intercepted this year coming to Australia: 6  —  The Brisbane Times
  • Amount to be spent on detention operations, including $85.8 million for new detention contracts in 2008 — 09: $120 million  — Refugee Council
  • Amount spent on detention in 07-08: $142 million
  • Number of people granted refugee status in Australia in 2007-08, out of a total of 13, 014 humanitarian visas granted: 6004  —  Australian Human Rights Commission
  • Number of asylum applications registered in 2008 for industrialized countries according to the United Nations: 383,000  —  UNHCR
  • Number of asylum seekers who arrived last year: 4750  —  Malcolm Farr, The Daily Telegraph
  • Number who arrived by boat: 179 — Malcolm Farr, The Daily Telegraph
  • Asylum seekers found at sea off Australia so far this year: 221 — The Daily Tele
  • Percentage of asylum seekers who arrive by air: more than 95% — Malcolm Farr, The Daily Telegraph
  • Amount of money spent on the Pacific Solution over five years: More than $1 billion  — SMH
  • Cost per person to be processed in Nauru, Manus and Christmas Island: more than $500,000  —  SMH
  • The cost of holding asylum seekers on the mainland as a percentage of the running costs of the Pacific Solution, based on Department of Immigration estimates: 3.5 per cent. — SMH
  • Percentage increase in the number of asylum applications worldwide between 2007 and 2008: 12%  —  UNHCR
  • Increase in the number of asylum applications in Australia between 2007 and 2008: 19%  —  The Australian
  • Increase in the number of asylum applications in Finland between 2007 and 2008: 181% — The Australian
  • Asylum applications submitted by Afghans in 2008: 18,500 — UNHCR
  • Number of asylum applications submitted by Afghans in 2002: 29,400  —  UNHCR
  • Percentage increase in the number of asylum applications worldwide from Afghanistan in 2008: 85%  —  UNHCR
  • Asylum applications originating in Iraq in 2008: 11%  —  UNHCR
  • Average number of new asylum claims lodged by Iraqis between 2000 and 2002: 50,000  —  UNHCR
  • Number of new asylum claims lodged by Iraqis in 2008: 40,500  —  UNHCR
  • Asylum seekers who made it to Australian shores at the height of the Vietnam crisis in the late 70s: 1000  —  Daily Telegraph
  • Number of refugees accepted into Australia in the early 1980s: 20,000  —  Myths and facts about Refugees
  • Cost of detainment per person, per day on Christmas Island (as of 2007): $1830  — SMH
  • Cost of detainment per person, per day at Sydney’s Villawood detention centre (as of 2007): $238  —  SMH
  • Number of people who overstayed their visas as of 30 June 05: 47,800  —  Immigration Department
  • Places offered for resettlement of Iraqis in 08-09 who have assisted the Australian military (at a cost to Australia of $42 million over four years) — up to 600  — Refugee Council
  • Number of persons in immigration detention at some time during 2006-2007: 5485  —  HREOC
  • Total number of persons in immigration detention in Australia as of 12 September 2008: 274  —  HREOC
  • Number of these detained people who were unauthorized boat arrivals: 6  —  HREOC
  • Number of these detained people who were unauthorized air arrivals: 40  —  HREOC
  • Number of refugees in Colombia due to conflict between government and illegal armed groups and drug traffickers) (2007): 1.8-3.5 million  —  CIA
  • Year when the United Nations High Commission for Refugees became operational: 1951 — HREOC

Monday 21 March 2011

Australian Prospective Marriage Visa (subclass 300)



A Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300) is designed for you to come to Australia for the intention of marrying your spouse.

You must genuinely intend to marry your fiancé. You must also genuinely intend to live with your fiancé as husband and wife. The Department of Immigration will assess your relationship to be genuine based on the questions within the application.
There is an application charge for this visa. This will usually not be refunded if your application is unsuccessful, or if you decide to withdraw your application after you have lodged it. The application charge is $1,735 at time of writing. Fees may be subject to adjustment at any time. Visa Application Charges may be subject to adjustment on 1 July each year. This may increase the cost of a visa.. The Visa Application Charge must accompany your application and is generally not refunded if the application is unsuccessful.
Generally processing time for this Visa is about 3- 6 months (except for those on the African continent - you can expect to wait between 9-12months).


With this visa, you:
  • must enter Australia before you marry your fiancé
  • may leave and re-enter Australia as many times as you wish before your visa ceases (nine months after visa grant)
  • can work in Australia
  • can apply for a Partner visa in Australia after you marry your fiancé
  • can study, but you will not have access to government funding
  • may use Australia's medical expenses and hospital care assistance scheme, Medicare, but only if
Note: The subclass 300 visa is designed for those whose Fiancé’s are overseas - you prospective husband or wife MUST be overseas when this visa is granted.

Thursday 17 March 2011

To Be Sure To Be Sure

To all the fellow Guinness Lovers out there today, Happy St Patrick's Day.  

If you out in Perth like me, I'm sure I'll see you down at Rosie O'Gradys.