Welcome to Parish Patience Immigration Lawyers
Australia's premier immigration law
specialists
Parish Patience Immigration provide a full range of immigration and visa services.
Managing partner David Bitel is
accredited as Specialists in Immigration Law by the Law
Society of New South Wales.
Our professionals provide expert assistance with:
- Onshore & offshore applications
- Temporary & permanent residence
- Skilled, employment & business
- Students, visitors, holidaymakers
- Family, partner & spouse
- Sportspersons & distinguished talent
- Refugees & asylum seekers
- Visa cancellation
- Detention & deportation
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- Health or character matters
- Migration Review Tribunal (MRT)
- Refugee Review Tribunal (RRT)
- Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT)
- Appeals to Federal Magistrates Service, Federal Court & High
Court
- Citizenship
- All other visas & immigration related matters
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Visa application charge exemptions for students affected by an education provider closure
On 9 November 2009, the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship announced that under new changes, international students affected by the closure of their education provider in 2009 will be eligible to apply for a refund of their visa application charge. The new changes will apply to affected students who need to apply for a further Student visa to complete their studies at a new institution.
It is also proposed to introduce a visa application charge exemption for students affected by the closure of their education provider from 1 January 2010.
Proposed changes to student visa living costs and evidence of funds
The Government has also announced that Regulation changes are being proposed to increase the living cost requirement from $12,000 per year to $18,000 per year for the Student and for family members. There will also be other significant changes. Subject to approval by Parliament and the Governor-General, these changes will come into effect from 1 January 2010.
See the following for more information:
On 7 October 2009 South Australia made new changes to their sponsorship occupation list and requirements. The most significant change effecting Australian graduates student is the inclusion of popular trade occupations such as cooks, pastry cooks, bakers and hairdressers in both the permanent and temporary visa categories. For the full list please refer to (http://www.migration.sa.gov.au/public/download.jsp?id=6604)
To be eligible applicants must also meet the minimum DIAC visa application criteria for the visa sought, as well as having minimum work experience. Applicants must have worked for remuneration in any skilled occupation on the SOL for at least one year minimum 20 hours a week for temporary sponsorship, or one year in the nominated occupation for permanent visa sponsorship.
Vocational English (IELTS individual band 5.0 or more) is still applicable for recent Australian graduates with trade occupations who apply before 1 January 2010.
1. Other changes relating to the professional and associate professional occupations are the increase in the required IELTS score to individual components of 6.5 or 7.0 in some occupations. Minimum score of 7.0 in IELTS and 3 years of relevant work experience are still applicable to accountants.
2. The removal of most business professional from the eligible list of occupation.
Please contact Jack Li in our office should you require further information.
The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship recently announced new priority processing arrangements for certain Skilled Migration visas effective as of 23 September 2009.
Under the new direction, ENS and RSMS applications are given first priority, State Sponsored applicants with Critical Skills List (CSL) occupations receive second priority, family sponsored with CSL third, independent applicants with CSL fourth, state sponsored without CSL fifth, applicants with MODL occupations sixth, and the remaining applications will be processed in order in which they are received.
For Subclass 485 Graduate temporary visas – applicants with an Australia PhD receives top priority processing, CSL occupations second, applicants with both an Australian bachelor and master degrees third, Australian bachelor with honours forth, Australian bachelor degree only fifth, and the remaining applications are then processed in the order in which they are received.
Subclass476 – Recognised Graduate, Subclass 883 Designated Area - Sponsored and Subclass 887 – Regional are exempt from priority processing and will be processed in the order in which they are received.
The current estimated processing time for occupations on the CSL is 12 months from the date of lodgement. For an offshore GSM applicaion in an occupation not on the CSL, DIAC advices it is unlikely that the application will be finalised before the end of year 2012. For onshore GSM applications it is unlikely they will be finalised before end of the year 2011.
We also refer you to the following information on the DIAC website - www.immi.gov.au
This is relevant only to pre- 1 September 2007 GSM applicants
The South Australian Government Financing Authority (SAFA) has announced that from 31 October 2009 it will not accept any further applications from General Skilled Migration (GSM) applicants who wish to lodge a capital investment to gain 5 bonus points. This may affect any applicant for a Skilled Migration Visa lodged before 1 September 2007.
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) says it has contacted all applicants whose cases had been assessed and who indicated they intended to lodge a capital investment. Applicants who wish to lodge a capital investment, but have not yet done so, must therefore finalise their capital investment before the scheme is closed. DIAC advise that no additional time will be given to applicants to make a capital investment.
This also affect applicants who have pending appeals to the Migration Review Tribunal (MRT) and to applicants currently seeking judicial review.
Further information can be found in DIAC’s Frequently Asked Questions - Capital Investment Scheme
DIAC policy allows investments to be made from lawfully borrowed funds.
If you wish our assistance to help you make the Capital Investment please contact our Mr David Bitel.
The UWS IELTS Test Administration Centre has opened in Westmead on 3 August 2008. As a new centre they have test dates available from late September through to December 2009. Places will fill fast so early registration is recommended.
The UWS IELTS Administration Centre is open Monday to Thursday 10 am to 4 pm and is conveniently located within a short stroll from Westmead railway station.
For more info visit their website or contact them on (02) – 9685 9785
To view the UWS IELTS Test Centre brochure please click here
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