IIA South Africa

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2012-01-27T11:34:00.002+02:00

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We have started our own Facebook page and will also be posting comments from time to time on this social networking site, as well as on this blog. If you have any interesting items of news that you would like us to feature here or on our Facebook page, please let us know!

Australian clients

Due to substantial changes that will be occurring to Australian migration in July 2012, we urge all our existing Work-in-Progress clients to get your qualification assessment documents in to us BEFORE the end of February 2012. Please contact us if you are experiencing problems in this regard and we will do our best to help you.

What's in store for South Africans in 2012 - firstly, rolling blackouts

2012-01-10T14:56:00.004+02:00

From the The Star

Eskom cautions on rolling blackouts

January 10 2012 at 10:50am

Staff Reporter and Sapa

POWER utility Eskom has warned of a “very high” risk of rolling blackouts around the country.

“We are working very closely with our large customers to see if they can reduce their load… but the risk is very high. We are doing our utmost to avoid it,” spokeswoman Hilary Joffe said yesterday.

Power outages are a possibility because of planned maintenance, an increase in unplanned maintenance and an ever-increasing demand for power.

“Summer is always a time when we do maintenance and take advantage of lower demand. The maintenance is more this year than previous years as we are tackling a backlog,” Joffe said.

“We are experiencing quite a lot of unplanned maintenance. We are not getting performance from our generating plants. There are also quite a lot of technical problems, which are cutting supply further.”

This had forced Eskom to begin to use its “emergency reserves” – gas turbines which represent 5 percent of the total grid and are saved for emergencies due to being highly expensive to run.

Joffe warned that SA’s power supply would be tight until the completion of the Medupi and Kusile power stations.

From The Cape Argus

Blackout alert

January 10 2012 at 01:32pm

SIBUSISO NKOMO

Staff Reporter

HIGH electricity usage and scheduled maintenance may lead to load-shedding across South Africa over the next few weeks, says Eskom.

The power supplier said emergency reserves were running low and its bigger customers, including municipalities, have been asked to reduce use as 13 percent of units are under maintenance.

Eskom spokeswoman Hilary Joffe said “the risk to the system is high”.

“It doesn’t mean we are going to load-shed; we are trying our utmost to contain it. The system will be tight over the next few years with new units coming later. But we have been keeping lights on, while deferring maintenance. We must address the backlog particularly now in summer because demand is lower.

“Maintenance has reduced capacity and we are also having technical issues. People need to switch off wherever they can to help. We are not saying we are going to switch off,” she said.

Joffe said that at midday yesterday Eskom was using emergency reserves.

Joffe said alerts would be broadcast on TV and radio soon and towards the end of January Eskom intends making public what the state of supply is.

“We therefore request all South Africans to partner with us to keep the lights on by switching off all non-essential electrical equipment, particularly air-conditioning, geysers and swimming pool pumps.”

Tweeting about the issue, premier Helen Zille said: “Huge pressure on Eskom network. Must reduce demand or declare an emergency. Pls (sic) switch off all non essential appliances and equipment”.

The Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry said it was “deeply concerned about the lack of information and scenario planning from Eskom” on load-shedding.

Chamber president Michael Bagraim said Eskom had informed the organisation that there was the possibility of load-shedding from last night through to February.

“While we appreciate the fact that they contacted us so we could alert our members, we are not at all happy with the lack of information available.

“Basic scenario planning should be in place. For the country’s power supply to possibly be prejudiced in this way, at this time, and this economic climate, is just not acceptable,” he said.

Bagraim said the lack of power security is driving away investment.

“Government keeps demanding that business increase jobs. But how can we, when we are not in a position to operate our business in the first place?

“The fact that we are facing such an uncertain future calls for action. Let’s all pitch in where we can. We all know the fundamentals of energy saving. Let’s work together to help each other out.”

Thank yous

2011-12-14T10:26:00.001+02:00

Jp and myself would like to thank everyone at IIA for their incredible service, as well as all their patience and understanding towards all our questions during this process. We would highly recommend IIA to anybody out there who is considering relocation.

We could not have asked for a more efficient and friendly team !

Regards,

Mandy and JP

Announcement - FINANCIAL SERVICES ASSISTANCE

2011-12-12T13:14:00.004+02:00

IIA is pleased to announce that we have formed a professional relationship with a licensed financial services provider in South Africa, to assist our existing and future clients.

Key services offered:

termination of retirement annuities in South Africa
formal financial emigration solution
tax consulting and planning in South Africa
effective use of personal allowances in South Africa
opening of bank accounts in South Africa and offshore
repatriation of South African source inheritance and trust benefits

Please contact IIA for full details and an electronic pack of information.

Christmas Holidays

2011-11-03T12:25:00.003+02:00

Please make note that IIA will close for the annual holidays at 1200noon on Friday 23rd December 2011

and re-open again at 0830 am on Thursday, 5th January 2012

Another Canberra bound client says Thanks to IIA!

2011-10-26T11:26:00.001+02:00

Hi Hayzel,

How are you. I've been so busy since I received my visa, there's so much to do and every time I want to get on with things I realise that it's either too early for that or I need to do it in Australia.

I want to take the opportunity to officially thank you and your family for helping us achieve our visa's!

It was a long journey and our case was a particular challenge.

Which if it wasn't for the guidance, patience, advice and on most days just simple compassion, we might have given up.

The race is not over but I'm excited and more enthusiastic than ever.

Thank You.

CP (Johannesburg)

Settling in the UK and tips for your Resume

2011-10-25T11:09:00.001+02:00

We recently assisted a family migrate to the UK – they have moved to the Manchester area. They had reservations about the move over to England in the current economic climate - news reports on the web or on tv and in print media, were not very encouraging. Unemployment levels are the highest they’ve been for many years and many people have been retrenched in recent months from companies with a long track record of above average business performance.

We are very pleased to report that our clients have managed to secure good positions – and within a few weeks of arriving in Blightey. They have integrated easily into society, made friends and are now concentrating on their new jobs and building a life for themselves in England. This is very encouraging news for us, as migration agents.

We are often asked to advise on the job market in the UK and what a particular applicant’s chances are of securing gainful employment. In most cases, we do extensive job research on behalf of our clients, we also rework CV’s and Resumes to appeal to a UK employer. We do the same thing for people going to Australia and Canada. It is vitally important that new migrants understand the importance of the Internet with regards securing job interviews and marketing their skills. Make sure that your Resume is polished and well put together. Our client secured an interview purely on the Resume that she posted onto Gumtree.

Here are some tips to help with the compilation of your Resume:

· Keep your personal information to a minimum, concentrate on the basic facts – your age, date of birth, gender, place of birth. Put a good, clear, colour photo of yourself (head and shoulders) on your CV – make sure you are smiling but not grinning like an idiot!
· Contact information should be clear and easily visible on the document – your telephone numbers (landline and cellular), email address, postal/residential address
· If you have already obtained a visa entitling you to live and work in the UK, you need to include the details in a prominent place on your Resume.
· Make sure to list your current and previous work history in a clear manner – i.e.

Set the information out in chunks, clearly titled:

Dates of engagement (month/year from/to)

Company and your position

Brief two line description of your key role and duties.

You do not have to give lengthy reasons why you left a company.

· Briefly mention your education history – in tabulated format – do not go into reams and reams of detail about short courses that you have done.
· Set aside a short section to highlight your personal interests, hobbies and personal goals.
· Highlight your strengths (and weaknesses!) in a short tabulated section – again, don’t go into lengthy paragraphs outlining how wonderful you are. You should come across as humble, enthusiastic and ready for change in your Resume.
· If you have personal referees who can be contacted for reference purposes, then provide their names, contact telephone/email addresses, where appropriate. Or state that ‘referees are available on request’.

Remember that a Resume is a short-form version of your CV, it should be 2 pages maximum.

Some of this months Thank Yous

2011-09-22T12:02:00.002+02:00

Dear Allyson,

I just wanted to send through a quick "thank you" note for the wonderful news you gave me this morning. Can truly say that the level of professionalism, the efficiency and friendliness that I've experienced in my dealings with your company is remarkable to say the least.

Please accept my sincere thanks for making the visa application process much easier than I would have expected possible.

Best regards,

Ettienne

Hi Janice

First of all i would just like to thank you for all the help with my application. Im in the U.K. as we speak and loving every minute of it especially being back with my Hubby. ... Hope to hear from you soon and thank you again for everything you have done for me.
Elmarie

Hi Janice, we just want to let u know we were granted the visas & will

be flying out 2moro evening 2 the UK.

Thank u for all your help with the applications. We're so relieved.

Regards, Stacey & Charmaine

Official US Green Card Lottery - Diversity Visa Program

2011-09-21T14:40:00.010+02:00

The online registration period for the 2013 Diversity Visa Program (DV-2013) will begin on Tuesday, October 4, 2011, at noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4), and conclude on Saturday, November 5, 2011, at noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4).

Contact IIA today to prepare your application for the Green Card Lottery!!!

Note that certain eligibility criteria apply.

Please email Allyson at mailbox@immigrate.co.za or Telephone her on +27 11 021 9415/16/17

Local Fax: 086 636 4774 (South Africa)

Victoria State Migration Plan - changes to include IT professionals coming soon

2011-09-20T11:18:00.000+02:00

The Victorian Government is updating its occupation lists, which detail occupations eligible to apply for state sponsorship.
This year, Victoria is seeking to attract up to 6000 skilled migrants and dependants in a range of priority industries.
In 2010-11, Victoria attracted more than 4000 skilled migrants and their dependants, providing critical skills and experience to Victorian workplaces and communities.
All occupations on the new lists, including ICT occupations, will be open for sponsorship applications as soon as the lists are published.

JOB OPPORTUNITY - CANADA for Maintenance Managers

2011-09-06T14:07:00.003+02:00

We are on the lookout for specialised Maintenance Managers who have tertiary qualifications (graduate/technologist level) and hands-on experience in the maintenance of 200 ton (or larger) Haul Trucks - (similar to those used at Sishen Mine). Please send your CV (2 page maximum) to janice@immigrate.co.za or fax it to 086 636 4774

UK Announces Tier 1 Exceptional Talent Visa Category

2011-08-03T08:06:00.003+02:00

Following extract of information relating to the new Tier 1 Exceptional Talent Visa Category was taken from the UK Border Agency website:

20th July 2011
The government has today announced the way that it will encourage exceptionally talented leaders in the fields of science, humanities, engineering and the arts to come to the UK.

The new Tier 1 (Exceptional talent) category will open on 9 August 2011. This new category will facilitate not only those who have already been recognised but also those with the potential to be recognised as leaders in their respective fields. There is a limit of 1,000 places in the first year of operation. There will be 500 places available between the 9 August and 30 November and a further 500 places available from the 1 December to 31 March 2012. The number of places will be reviewed at the end of March 2012.

Tier 1 (Exceptional talent) will be overseen by world-renowned 'competent bodies', which will advise the UK Border Agency on these 'exceptionally talented' migrants to ensure that they are the brightest and best in their field:

the Royal Society, a fellowship of the world's most eminent scientists, will be able to nominate up to 300 places;

Arts Council England, the national development agency for the arts, will also be able to nominate up to 300 places;

the Royal Academy of Engineering, Britain’s national academy for engineering, will have up to 200 places to nominate; and

the British Academy, the national academy for the humanities and social sciences will be able to nominate up to 200 places.

Migrants seeking entry to the UK under Tier 1 (Exceptional talent) will not need to be sponsored by an employer, but will need to be recommended by one of the competent bodies.

New Announcement

2011-07-08T14:19:00.005+02:00

We are pleased to announce the launch of our sister blog - "Relocation Alliance - Asset Marketing"

We have set this blog up as an add-on service to all our South African clients who may need assistance in the marketing of either property or other valuable movable items, such as furniture, paintings, carpets etc. etc.

Let us know if we can help you!

United Kingdom - more changes to Student Visa route

2011-07-04T12:33:00.003+02:00

Further changes to student visa rules come into effect from today. This information is taken directly from the UK Border Agency website

On 31 March 2011 the UK Government issued a ‘statement of intent’ setting out how Tier 4 of the points-based system will operate following the changes to the student visa policy. The first set of changes was introduced on 21 April. The next set of changes have come into effect today (4 July).

The changes to Tier 4 that take effect from 4 July are:
Restricting work entitlements by only allowing those sponsored by higher education institutions (HEIs) and publicly funded further education colleges to work part-time during term time and full time during vacations.

Restricting sponsorship of dependants to those of students sponsored by HEIs on post-graduate courses lasting 12 months or longer and of government-sponsored students on courses lasting longer than 6 months.

Requiring institutions to confirm that any new courses represent genuine academic progression from the previous course studied in the UK.

A streamlined application process for low risk nationals sponsored by Highly Trusted Sponsors.

Further changes to Tier 4 (General) will come into effect in 2011 and in April 2012.

Please see the Tier 4 visa application guide for further details (link is to the UK Border Agency website).

British passport applications - changes

2011-06-28T12:04:00.003+02:00

From 1st July it is no longer possible to apply for or collect British passports 'in person' at the British High Commission/Consulate in Pretoria.

The only acceptable methods of applying for new or renewed passports is either:

BY POST British Passport Section, British Consulate, P O Box 13611, Hatfield, Pretoria, 0028 or;

BY COURIER British Passport Section, British Consulate, 256 Glyn Street, Hatfield, Pretoria 0083

For document requirements, forms and fees please go here

New Priority Occupation List released for Canada

2011-06-25T09:54:00.002+02:00

The much-anticipated release of the new POL for Canadian Federal Skilled applications has been released and is operational from 1st July 2011. The list is exactly the same as previously published, which is somewhat disappointing. In addition, the quota has been reduced from 1,000 applications per NOC to 500. See information below, taken from the Canadian government website:

Cap on the number of applications to be processed per year
A maximum of 10,000 new Federal Skilled Worker applications, without an offer of arranged employment, will be considered for processing each year.
Within the 10,000 cap, a maximum of 500 new Federal Skilled Worker applications per National Occupation Classification (NOC) code will be considered for processing each year.

In calculating the caps, applications will be considered in order of the date they are received. Applications received on the same date will be considered for processing having regard to routine office procedures.

For the unique purpose of calculating the caps, the cap year will begin on July 1, 2011 and end on June 30, 2012, unless otherwise indicated in a future Ministerial Instruction. Subsequent years will be calculated from July 1st to June 30th, unless otherwise indicated in a future Ministerial Instruction.

Applications from skilled workers with evidence of experience in the last ten years under one or more of the following National Occupation Classification (NOC) codes, not exceeding the identified caps:

• 0631 Restaurant and Food Service Managers
• 0811 Primary Production Managers (Except Agriculture)
• 1122 Professional Occupations in Business Services to Management
• 1233 Insurance Adjusters and Claims Examiners
• 2121 Biologists and Related Scientists
• 2151 Architects
• 3111 Specialist Physicians
• 3112 General Practitioners and Family Physicians
• 3113 Dentists
• 3131 Pharmacists
• 3142 Physiotherapists
• 3152 Registered Nurses
• 3215 Medical Radiation Technologists
• 3222 Dental Hygienists & Dental Therapists
• 3233 Licensed Practical Nurses
• 4151 Psychologists
• 4152 Social Workers
• 6241 Chefs
• 6242 Cooks
• 7215 Contractors and Supervisors, Carpentry Trades
• 7216 Contractors and Supervisors, Mechanic Trades
• 7241 Electricians (Except Industrial & Power System)
• 7242 Industrial Electricians
• 7251 Plumbers
• 7265 Welders & Related Machine Operators
• 7312 Heavy-Duty Equipment Mechanics
• 7371 Crane Operators
• 7372 Drillers & Blasters — Surface Mining, Quarrying & Construction
• 8222 Supervisors, Oil and Gas Drilling and Service

English language testing for UK visa applications - important points to bear in mind.

2011-06-13T15:51:00.005+02:00

We receive many calls on a daily basis relating to the new requirements for English language testing for most UK visa categories. Note that we do not give out information on the Test centres, or procedures / instructions for booking the English tests unless you are an existing client of ours.

Please note that it is now compulsory for all Spouses of UK citizens who are applying for a Settlement visa to produce evidence of English language ability. If you have studied a Degree in English, you may be exempt from producing an English language test result, however please contact IIA to evaluate your individual case.

Please also note that most of the VAC's (Visa Application Centres) are not equipped to offer migration advice and in the majority of cases will not comment on whether you need to provide an English language test or not, or where you must do the test. It is therefore imperative that you check these requirements before you lodge your visa application. Otherwise, you may find that your application is declined and you have to pay for the government fees again!

If you have been in the unfortunate position of having a visa application declined by the British High Commission, for whatever grounds, please contact us to advise if we can assist you in preparing a new application and what the process, timeframe and fees will be.

Australian Migration Policy Changes - effective July 1st 2011

2011-06-09T15:39:00.004+02:00

The following changes have been published by DIAC (the Department of Immigration and Citizenship) relating to changes that will be applicable to the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) from July 1st 2011

Additions
These occupations will be added to the SOL. 234914 Medical Physicist
251311 Environmental Health Officer
251312 Occupational Health and Safety Adviser
251511 Hospital Pharmacists
251513 Retail Pharmacists
271111 Barrister
271311 Solicitor
323211 Fitter (General)
323212 Fitter and Turner
323213 Fitter-Welder
323214 Metal Machinist (First Class)
399111 Boat Builder and Repairer
399112 Shipwright

Removals
These occupations will be removed from the SOL. 251411 Optometrist
251412 Orthoptist
324111 Panel Beater
324311 Vehicle Painter

We will be making more posts in coming days, relating to the changes as they apply to separate aspects of the new migration policy.

New proposals to UK migration law on the cards

2011-06-09T14:42:00.002+02:00

The following report is taken directly from the UKBorder Agency website:

UK Government sets out proposals for breaking the link between temporary and permanent migration

09 June 2011
The UK welcomes the brightest and the best migrants coming to work in the UK but believes that net migration needs to be sustainable. The UK Government today (9 June 2011) launched a consultation on proposals to break the link between temporary employment-related migration and settlement, as well as reforms to Tier 5, and overseas domestic worker routes.

Launching the consultation, the UK Immigration Minister Damian Green set out proposals to re-classify visas as either ‘temporary’ or ‘permanent’ and introduce stricter criteria for those who want to stay.

Immigration Minister Damian Green said:
“The proposals I am making today are aimed at breaking the link between temporary and permanent migration.
“Settlement has become almost automatic for those who choose to stay. This needs to change. The immigration system has got to be made to work properly.
“We want the brightest and best workers to come to the UK, make a strong contribution to our economy while they are here, and then return home.”

The UK Government has already implemented new settlement requirements for skilled workers entering under Tiers 1 and 2 of the points-based system, which require applicants to demonstrate English-language proficiency, continue to meet the salary requirements and to pass a new criminality test.

The consultation will also look at the overseas domestic workers routes. The UK Government believes that it is not right that low-skilled workers have a route to settlement when it is looking to remove that right from more skilled workers.

Key proposals under consideration in the 12 week consultation are as follows:

Re-branding Tier 2 (the skilled worker route) as temporary, ending the assumption that settlement will be available for those who enter on this route.

Allowing certain categories of Tier 2 migrant, for example those earning over £150,000 or occupations of a specific economic or social value to the UK, to retain an automatic route to settlement.

Creating a new category into which, after three years in the UK, the most exceptional Tier 2 migrants may switch and go on to apply for settlement.

Allowing Tier 2 migrants who do not switch into a settlement route to stay for a maximum of five years with the expectation that they and any dependants will leave at the end of that time.

Introducing an English language requirement for adult dependants of Tier 2 migrants applying to switch into a route to settlement.

Restricting the maximum period of leave for Tier 5 Temporary Workers to 12 months.
Closing or reforming routes for overseas domestic workers.

Damian Green added:
“A small number of exceptional migrants will be able to stay permanently but for the majority coming to the UK to work will not lead automatically to settlement.”

The UK Government has committed to reforming all routes of entry to the UK in order to bring immigration levels under control. The settlement reforms will work alongside the annual limit, the new student visa reforms and changes to the family route planned for later this year.

THANKS from a recently settled Canberra migrant

2011-06-06T08:34:00.002+02:00

Hi

We are here and settling down in Canberra! Very cold, so warn any people coming out in the next few months to pack winter woolies - coldest winter in 40 years apparently.

We have been really busy finding our feet here, we have travelled Canberra flat, and have decided to look for a house in the Gungahlin area, lovely area, new development, so modern houses with lots of space but smallish gardens - Amaroo, Forde, Harrison and Casey seem to be lovely areas. Good primary schools in the area are The Good Shepard (private school, Amaroo public school and Harrison public school - Nicole is going to go to The Good Shepard. Again some info for people coming over, but obviously it depends on personal taste. The highest rated primary schools are in the middle of Canberra and very hard to get into - Brindabella Christian College, Canberra Grammar and Garran Primary - waiting lists. We decided not to send Nicole to Brindabella as it would be too far from where we are wanting to stay and friends would be minimal that go to the same school.

Also finalising cars at the moment, and the car salesman is going to have a braai soon as he says the last four sales he has done are all to South Africans, so we are waiting for that to be arranged. I met with Andrew from CSS, very efficient and nice person who has assisted me alot, he was recommended by the Welcome to Canberra Team.

But thanks so much for all your hardwork, committment and putting up with my constant questions/queries over the time we worked on the visa.
You have really made a huge difference in our lives!

Hopefully we will chat again soon.

Julia

English Language ability for UK visa applications

2011-06-03T11:58:00.002+02:00

Students

Students wishing to study a course below degree level (Tier 4 General student), you must be able to prove that you have competent English language ability. This would mean that you need to obtain a pass in an approved English test equivalent to Level B1 of the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference). In South Africa, you can do the language test at either the British Council or the Language Lab (Johannesburg and Cape Town only). The English test is called the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and you must aim for a passmark of:

You should endeavour to get a pass equivalent to Level B1 in all 4 components – which is equivalent to the following scores of the IELTS test:

Overall bandscore – 4.0
Listening – 4.0
Speaking – 4.0
Reading – 4.0
Writing – 4.0

You have to obtain a minimum score of 4.0 in ALL four parts/bands of the IELTS test. The overall score is not as important as the individual scores.

Students wishing to study a course at level 6 (undergraduate) must be able to prove a competence at Level B2 (CEFR) in all 4 components, which is equivalent to the following scores of the IELTS test:

Overall bandscore – 5.5
Listening – 5.5
Speaking – 5.5
Reading – 5.5
Writing – 5.5

Husbands, Wives and Partners

Persons applying to Settle in the UK as a husband/wife or partner of a British citizen, who do not possess a tertiary qualification such as a degree, taught in English*, must provide a result equivalent to Level A1 of the CEFR in an approved English test - especially in the speaking and listening sections. This is a basic level. In South Africa, if you do the IELTS, you will automatically achieve the minimum result if you get above 4.0 or higher, in each of the four components of the General test.
Note that you only need to the General training test (not the Academic level).

*Degree taught in English:
(A) have obtained an academic qualification (not a professional or vocational qualification), which is deemed by UK NARIC (the National Recognition Information Centre for the UK) to meet the recognised standard of a Bachelor’s degree in the UK, from an educational establishment in one of the following countries: Antigua and Barbuda; Australia; the Bahamas; Barbados; Belize; Dominica; Grenada; Guyana; Ireland; Jamaica; New Zealand; St Kitts and Nevis; St Lucia; St Vincent and the Grenadines; Trinidad and Tobago; the UK; the USA; and provides the specified documents;
(B) or have obtained an academic qualification (not a professional or vocational qualification) which is deemed by UK NARIC to meet the recognised standard of a Bachelor's degree in the UK, and (1) provides the specified evidence to show he has the qualification, and (2) UK NARIC has confirmed that the academic qualification was taught or researched in English, or
(C) or have obtained an academic qualification (not a professional or vocational qualification) which is deemed by UK NARIC to meet the recognised standard of a Bachelor's degree in the UK, and provides the specified evidence to show: (1) s/he has the qualification, and (2) that the qualification was taught or researched in English

The new English requirement does not apply to the following groups of applicants:
• spouse or partner of Tier 1 and Tier 2 visa applicants
• spouse or partner of a student
• visitors
• refugees or spouses of refugees applying on the basis of family reunion
• dependent children
• spouse or partner of an EEA national
• spouse or partner of a member of the armed forces applying under Part
7 of the Immigration Rules
• applicants for indefinite leave to remain

We hope the above condensation of the English language requirements for certain visa categories to the UK is helpful. Please let us know if you have any additional comments or queries in this regard.

UK Settlement visas

2011-05-31T15:24:00.004+02:00

We receive many enquiries from potential clients in South Africa who are looking to migrate to the UK.

Substantial changes have occurred in the past six months and more changes are in the pipeline to the major categories of visas to enter Great Britain. Notably, the English requirements have been tightened up considerably and it is now compulsory to do an English test if you are the Spouse/Defacto or Same Sex partner of person who has the right to live permanently in the UK.

Many people attempt to lodge Spouse visa applications without the English test and this is only possible if you have a Degree from a recognised University. Having an MBA, Masters or even a PhD, for example, does not mean that you are excluded from doing the English test. Please check with IIA!

We have been assisting many people with their visa applications to the British High Commission for over 12 years and have a high success rate. Note also that merely providing the minimum documents listed on any checklist, is not always sufficient to meet the visa officers' strict guidelines - it is often a case of penny-wise, pound foolish if you attempt to compile an application yourself, without the assistance of a professional migration consultant. We put together a very comprehensive application, making sure that there are no 'holes' or grey areas and you will see that the time and effort we put into your case, is well worth the fee.

In our next post, we will attempt to give an update on the English language requirements and where you can do the test, for all visa subclasses to the UK, as this information has recently been updated.

Australia - got the visa, now what? - things to do when you get there.

2011-03-22T11:41:00.003+02:00

Second post in our series of articles aimed at making your move over to Oz easy as pie.

Tax File Number application: You cannot receive any income in Australia unless you have a Tax File Number (TFN). To receive this number you need to fill up an application form. This form can be delivered to you as you make the phone call to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and request the same. Alternatively, you may apply for TFN at the ATO website, which is easily accessible 24*7. Another option is to collect it from the ATO offices or Centrelink shop-fronts, which is listed in the White Pages telephone book.

Medicare registration: Medicare Australia is responsible for administration of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and medical expenses reimbursement. To register, you must present your passport, travel documents and permanent visa to the nearest Medicare office. This must be done within 7-10 days of your first arrival in Australia. If all registration requirements are found to be in order, Medicare will then allocate a Medicare card number to you. The Medicare card is normally delivered to you by post, within 3-4 weeks of your successful registration. In case of a medical emergency, you can register with Medicare without waiting for 7-10 days and request issuance of an interim number.

Opening a bank account: Being a newly landed immigrant, you can open a bank account against the presentation of the passport, provided you do so within 6 weeks of your arrival. If you fail to open the bank account within six weeks, you will have to provide additional documentation requirements.

NB: You can open a bank account with Commonwealth Bank from within South Africa, give us a call to send you relevant contact information if you get stuck.

Centrelink registration: Centerlink is the designated Government agency. This agency extends a helping hand to jobseekers and is responsible for screening and approving demands for social security payments and other government assistance.
Contact the Health Undertaking Service: This requirement is applicable only to the newly arriving residents who have signed a Health Undertaking under the Form 815, at the request of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC). When you contact them, the Health Undertaking Service will advise you about the nearest Health Authority Clinic where you can have your follow-up medical checks.

Enrol your children in a school: Under the Australian law, it is mandatory for children between the age group of 5 and 15 years to attend school. School education is normally free. Newly arriving residents should enrol their children in a school as soon as possible.

Apply for a driver’s licence: A newly arriving resident, having an international license from the originating country is permitted to drive for first 3 months after arrival. After this time period, it is essential to have the appropriate Australian driver’s licence. For this, you are normally required to pass a knowledge test, a practical driving test, and an eyesight test. In Australia, driver’s licences are issued by state and territory governments. Those not holding a licence from another country will need to pass a Driver’s Knowledge Test to get a learner’s permit.

We welcome comment from our clients or other interested people - if you have any specific questions you would like answering, let us know!

MEDICARE

2011-03-16T09:16:00.002+02:00

This post is the first in a series of articles that we will publish in an effort to address topics of general interest raised by our existing clients.

We are constantly asked for information relating to Australia's Health Care system and particularly how Medicare works.

Medicare is Australia’s universal health care system introduced in 1984 to provide eligible Australian residents with affordable, accessible and high-quality health care.

Medicare was established based on the understanding that all Australians should contribute to the cost of health care according to their ability to pay. It is financed through progressive income tax and an income-related Medicare levy.

Medicare provides access to:

* free treatment as a public (Medicare) patient in a public hospital, and
* free or subsidised treatment by medical practitioners including general practitioners, specialists, participating optometrists or dentists (for specified services only)

What does Medicare cover?

The benefits you receive from Medicare are based on a Schedule of fees set by the Australian Government. Doctors may choose to charge more than the Schedule fee. The Medicare Benefits Schedule lists all the Medicare item numbers.

Medicare provides benefits for:

* consultation fees for doctors, including specialists
* tests and examinations by doctors needed to treat illnesses, including X-rays and pathology tests
* eye tests performed by optometrists
* most surgical and other therapeutic procedures performed by doctors
* some surgical procedures performed by approved dentists
* specified items under the Cleft Lip and Palate Scheme
* specified items for allied health services as part of the Chronic Disease Management program

You can choose the doctor who treats you for out-of-hospital services.

In-hospital services
Public Patient

If you choose to be admitted as a public (Medicare) patient in a public hospital, you will receive treatment by doctors and specialists nominated by the hospital. You will not be charged for care and treatment, or after-care by the treating doctor.
Private Patient

If you are a private patient in a public or private hospital, you will have a choice of doctor to treat you. Medicare will pay 75 per cent of the Medicare Schedule fee for services and procedures provided by the treating doctor. If you have private health insurance some or all of the outstanding balance can be covered.

You will be charged for hospital accommodation and items such as theatre fees and medicines. These costs can also be covered by private health insurance.

What's not covered by Medicare?

Medicare does not cover such things as:

* private patient hospital costs (for example, theatre fees or accommodation)
* dental examinations and treatment (except specified items introduced for allied health services as part of the Chronic Disease Management (CDM) program
* ambulance services
* home nursing
* physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, eye therapy, chiropractic services, podiatry or psychology (except specified items introduced for allied health services as part of the Chronic Disease Management (CDM) program
* acupuncture (unless part of a doctor's consultation)
* glasses and contact lenses
* hearing aids and other appliances
* the cost of prostheses (except External Breast Prostheses covered by the External Breast Prostheses Reimbursement Program)
* medicines (except for the subsidy on medicines covered by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme)
* medical and hospital costs incurred overseas
* medical costs for which someone else is responsible (for example a compensation insurer, an employer, a government or government authority)
* medical services which are not clinically necessary
* surgery solely for cosmetic reasons
* examinations for life insurance, superannuation or membership of a friendly society
* eye therapy

You can arrange private health insurance to cover many of these services.

Most Australians opt to also have their own private health insurance and there are a plethora of privately managed health insurance companies in Australia.

Information in this post is gleaned from the Medicare website

Congratulations

2011-03-08T11:22:00.001+02:00

To all our clients who received visa grants since January this year - we have had a LOT of visas granted, which is really wonderful for us. It is always so nice to get the visas through painlessly with not too long a wait - one of our clients was granted a visa this week and he only lodged his main residence application at the end of December last year, so that is completely amazing!

I have to share a thank you i received today from one of my fave clients (obviously i have withheld her name and edited some personal info out) but this is the gist of what she said - and what makes our job so worthwhile! :)

Dear Janice

THANK YOU!!!!!! Your phone call last week to tell me that we had indeed been awarded our visa was so special! My husband was actually away sailing and the kids were at school so I really was delighted to have a voice on the line to share my joy and excitement! I guess its like winning the lottery or something!

We are slowly coming to earth, and rapidly realizing the enormity of the task ahead to get all our ducks in a row before we actually get on the plane and go! We have decided to go to Australia in the July holidays mostly for the kids to have a “look see” and also to look at schools and register for University etc for them. We have decided that we will then move at the end of the year, probably in January 2012.

So, once again, thank you so much for your wonderful, friendly and efficient service, and for facilitating our new adventure, from me and all our family! Well done on an excellent job, for endless patience at panicked questions, and for always being available! YOU ARE A STAR!

Kindest regards
B G and family

New South Wales + SMP released

2011-03-07T15:43:00.000+02:00

The new State Migration Plan for Sydney has been released, please contact IIA for an update.

A New Year Greeting

2011-01-27T15:03:00.002+02:00

We are almost at the end of January, unbelievable how time has flown by.

To all our successful December and January permanent residence visa recipients, we would like to take this opportunity of wishing you and your family all the very best for the future - may your dreams all come true!

If you were happy with our service (and so far we don't know of any of our clients who feel the opposite), please don't forget to send us a short email or card with a brief thank you, so that we can post it up here on our blog - it will be much appreciated!

To all our already settled new migrants reading this blog, if you have any interesting stories that you would like to pass on, please email me (janice@immigrate.co.za)

We are aware of substantial changes to Australian migration that will be legislated after July 1 this year - we will post all relevant information once this has been sent through to us as and when it happens.

Here's to another successful year for all our clients and us at IIA!

Season's Greetings

2010-12-15T12:23:00.001+02:00

We would like to wish all our clients (old and new), the very best of holidays. Please take care on the roads and elsewhere. Have a safe, fun-filled New Year celebration and we look forward to being of assistance to you and your friends/family in the New Year.

Remember that we are closed from 12 noon on the 21st December and re-open on Tuesday the 4th January 2011.

Best wishes from Hayzel, Janice and Allyson

and from "Charley" our new office assistant :)

Western Australia - State Migration Plans

2010-12-14T16:00:00.001+02:00

The State of Western Australia have also released their latest State Migration Plans - please contact IIA for an update on your eligibility to apply to this state for State sponsorship.

Queensland State Migration Plans released today

2010-12-08T08:48:00.001+02:00

The State of Queensland have released their SMP and list of occupations that they will consider sponsoring under the Subclass 176 (State sponsored). Clients wishing to evaluate their eligibility to apply for sponsorship to this State, should contact IIA as soon as possible.

Changes to United Kingdom migration

2010-12-01T08:50:00.000+02:00

The UK government has announced the closure of the Tier 1 General migrant category (formerly known as the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme) - with effect from the beginning of April 2011.

Anyone who believes they are eligible to apply under this category should start the process as soon as possible, otherwise they will not have this option in the future.

United Kingdom visa fee increases

2010-11-22T13:38:00.001+02:00

Please note that all UK government visa fees will increase with effect from today.
The new fees are posted here

English testing compulsory from 29th November for UK visa applications

2010-11-17T16:36:00.002+02:00

From 29 November 2010 English language testing will now be compulsory for applicants applying for leave to enter or remain in the UK under Part 8 of the Immigration Rules as the the spouse, civil partner, same-sex partner or unmarried partner of a sponsor who is British or is present and settled in the UK.

Certain exceptions apply - however, you should make sure to clarify the requirements prior to lodging a UK Spouse visa. The IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is an approved test and applicants should aim for a pass of 6.5 in each of the four components of the General test (minimum requirement).

Australian Migration - substantial changes on the way

2010-11-11T15:29:00.003+02:00

Current debate and discussion is underway relating to changes to Australian migration policy.

It would appear that the bulk of the changes will benefit people who have a high level of education and English ability, as well as substantial work experience.

None of the changes that are being mooted at present (and discussed on the DIAC website) are in force.

We will not be drawn into discussion around the intended changes to the points system until all the clauses have been legislated by the Australian government in July 2011.

State Migration Plans - Australian Capital Territory

2010-11-08T08:10:00.004+02:00

MEDIA RELEASE from Jon Stanhope MLA
CHIEF MINISTER the ACT

COMMENCEMENT OF ACT STATE MIGRATION PLAN
Federal Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Bowen MP, and Australian Capital Territory Chief Minister, Jon Stanhope, today announced the commencement of the ACT State Migration Plan.
“State Migration Plans are part of the Gillard Government’s continued commitment to supporting the Australian economy by attracting skilled migrants who can positively contribute to our workforce,” Mr Bowen said.
“The implementation of State Migration Plans will provide flexibility for state and territory governments to nominate skilled migrants in a broader range of occupations than are currently offered on the Skilled Occupation List.”
“The ACT has amongst the strongest economy of any jurisdiction in Australia with extremely low unemployment,” Mr Stanhope said.
“This has led to skills shortages in some areas and the State Migration Plan will complement ACT Government initiatives to help alleviate these shortages.”
State Migration Plans are agreements between individual states and territories with the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship. The agreements specify an overall number of applicants that each state and territory can nominate and what occupations they can nominate skilled migrants to work in.
While state and territory governments have always had the capacity to nominate applicants for the purposes of the General Skilled Migration Program, the introduction of these plans is intended to improve the targeting of this part of the program.
The Victorian State Migration plan has already commenced. Further State Migration Plans are expected to be finalised over the coming weeks.

Release ends

Please contact IIA as soon as possible for an update on your eligibility to apply to Canberra for State sponsorship!

State Migration Plans - Victoria

2010-11-01T16:00:00.002+02:00

We are pleased to let you know that Victoria are the FIRST State in Australia to officially release their long-awaited State Migration Plans (SMP's).
Please contact IIA for an update and to assess whether your occupation and skills fall into the new lists
Victoria do not charge a government fee to process State sponsorship applications.

Visit from our Australian associate

2010-10-15T11:15:00.001+02:00

James Cagney is currently in South Africa. He will be holding a property seminar on the 30th October in Bedfordview, so if you are interested in attending, please give Allyson a call on 011 021 9415. Seating is limited, so we need heads up if you would like to come and how many seats you will need.

James will touch on the delays that have occurred in migration over the past year, as well as info on the lifestyle in OZ and property opportunities for people who are interested in investing in this lucrative market.

The seminar will run for about an hour - hope to see you there!

For a change_ something to make you smile!

2010-10-15T11:11:00.001+02:00

Interested in making money in the Australian Property Market?

2010-09-30T14:10:00.001+02:00

The Australian residential property market is one of the most stable and profitable markets in the world today. South Africans have a great opportunity to invest in this SAFE HAVEN. Why not protect your hard earned money by investing in the Australian real estate market, which has a positive long term future? It is not as difficult as you think!

James Cagney of Australia Hot Property in conjunction with Jayde Financial Services will be visiting South Africa in October through November 2010. He will be conducting seminars on HOW TO INVEST IN AUSTRALIAN PROPERTY in Gauteng, Pretoria, Pietersburg, Nelspruit, Rustenburg, Potchefstroom, Welkom, Bloemfontein, Kimberley, Cape Town, Knysna, East London, Port Elizabeth, Durban, Richards Bay and Pietermaritzburg. Many South Africans are not aware of the legalities, procedures and the foreign exchange laws which allow them to invest off-shore. James will give you valuable insight how international investors are taking advantage of the Australian property market and making excellent returns on their investment.

If you are interested in making money through Australian property, which is easy to do and will make you heaps of money offshore, please email James at jfc@jamescagney.com.au

Be quick to respond because seating will be at a premium

State sponsorship - Australia - South Australia and ACT

2010-09-28T12:08:00.001+02:00

South Australia have released an INTERIM sponsorship list, which is valid until the new State Migration Plans are released later on this year. Please contact IIA for further information, if you are interested in applying to this State for sponsorship.

The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Skilled team are contacting all previously sponsored applicants who are not yet onshore (in Australia) to confirm that they are still interested in taking up their obligations to live and work in the ACT for two years (following visa grant) and that they have researched the job market in Canberra and can see good prospects for their future employment in that State. All our ACT sponsored clients must note that there is nothing sinister in these requests!

US Green Card

2010-08-17T15:05:00.000+02:00

UK visa applicants - husbands, wives and partners

2010-08-17T14:02:00.003+02:00

In June 2010 the UK government announced plans to introduce compulsory English language tests for all non-European migrants applying to come to the UK to join or marry their settled partner.

These plans will be implemented from 29 November 2010. From this date, any migrant who wants to enter or remain in the UK as the partner of a British citizen or a person settled here will need to show that they can speak and understand English, by taking an English language test with one of our approved test providers.

In South Africa, the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) may be taken by applicants at either the Language Lab (Johannesburg) or the British Council.

Who will the requirement affect?
Non EEA nationals applying to come to or stay in the UK as a: spouse or civil partner fiancé or proposed civil partner unmarried partner or same sex partner
of a British citizen or non-EEA national settled in the UK.

What will spouses need to do to meet this requirement?
Spouses will need to demonstrate competence in English language speaking and listening at a basic level (Common European Framework of Reference, level A1).

How will an assessment be made whether a spouse has the required level of English?
A spouse will need to provide evidence to the UK Border Agency with their visa application that they have passed an English language test with one of the UK Border Agency’s approved test providers

What is level A1 of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) for language?
Level A1 is equivalent to ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) Entry level or National Curriculum level 1 year 1 to 2.
Someone assessed at level A1 can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases. They will be able to interact in a simple way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help.

In-country Applicants Applying for Leave to Remain
Will the new English language requirement for spouses apply to in-country applications as well?
Yes. It will also apply to in-country applications for leave to remain.

Will the test for pre-entry and in-country applicants be the same?
The test will vary according to the test provider, but the requirement for visa and in-country applicants will be the same (i.e. to hold an English language speaking and listening qualification at A1 level).

Will spouses still have to take the Life in the UK Test?
Yes. Spouses applying for indefinite leave to remain after completing their two-year period of temporary residence will still need to fulfil the knowledge of life and language in the UK requirement. They may do this either by taking the LitUK Test, or if their English is not yet at that level (ESOL Entry Level 3/CEFR B1) they may take an ESOL with Citizenship qualification and demonstrate progression from one ESOL level to the next.

Will an in-country applicant who fails the English language test be able to stay in the UK?
Meeting the English language requirement will be a condition for obtaining leave to remain as a spouse under the Immigration Rules. Applicants who fail to meet this requirement will be refused leave and expected to leave the UK, subject of course to observing our international and humanitarian obligations.

How long before a spouse can apply for settlement/ILR and then citizenship?
In general, a spouse may apply for indefinite leave to remain in the UK after he/she has spent two years here.

If you are uncertain about any of the points relating to the new English language requirements for UK visa applications, please contact IIA immediately.

UK visa applicants - Students - new English requirements

2010-08-12T12:49:00.002+02:00

Mandatory secure English language testing comes into effect today (12 August 2010) for Tier 4 (General) applicants wishing to study a course below degree level (excluding foundation degrees).

Students applying for these courses will need to demonstrate from today, through an approved test, that they have the required level of English language competence to apply to study in the UK. Only approved test providers will be able to deliver these secure tests.

The requirement to take a test will not apply to English language courses.

In South Africa, applicants will be asked to sit the test through the British Council or the Language Lab who are both IELTS (International English Language Testing System) test centres. The minimum English test results are:

Listening – 4.0
Reading – 4.0
Writing – 4.0
Speaking – 4.0

A guideline was put up today by the UK Border Agency to help applicants understand whether they do or do not need to apply for a secure language test.

Type of course I am applying for? Do I need a secure English language test?
NQF Level 6 / Degree course No
Foundation Degree / SQA HND’s No
English language courses below degree level No*
NQF Level 3 / A-Level (for applicants over 18) Yes
Pre-sessional course linked to a degree No
Pre-sessional course not linked to a degree Yes*
NQF Level 4/5 course linked to pre-sessional course Yes
Pre-sessional course not linked to NQF 4/5 Yes*
Child student course No
Student visitor courses up to 6 months No

* denotes that the UK Border Agency is not accepting applications for English language courses in North India, South China, Nepal and Bangladesh.

Update from the MIA

2010-07-27T11:18:00.003+02:00

New Priority Processing Arrangements for GSM Visas

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) has announced new General Skilled Migration (GSM) processing priorities:

1. Applications from people who are employer sponsored under the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) and the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS);

2. Applications from people who are nominated by a state or territory government agency with a nominated occupation that is specified on that state or territory’s state migration plan:
- Applications which have already been nominated by a state or territory government with an occupation that is subsequently specified in their nominating state or territory’s state migration plan will receive Priority 2 processing.

3. Applications from people who have nominated an occupation on the new Skilled Occupation List (SOL) - Schedule 3 in effect from 1 July 2010:
- This includes all applicants with a nominated occupation of Accountant, except those already in Priority 1 or 2; and

4. All other applications are to be processed in the order in which they are received:
- Existing applicants with a nominated occupation of Computing Professional (nec), Hospital Pharmacist and Retail Pharmacist who already have a case officer will be contacted by the case officer about their processing arrangements:
- DIAC advises that priority 4 applicants will have “a long wait”.

The following GSM subclasses are subject to priority processing:

175; 176; 475; 487; 495; 496; 497; 861; 862; 863; 880; 881; 882; 885; and 886.

These priority processing arrangements apply to applications already lodged with DIAC, as well as to future applications. Case officers do not have any discretion to exempt applications from priority processing. See DIAC’s Frequently Asked Questions sheet for further information.

Compulsory English Language Testing for UK Spouse visas in the pipeline

2010-07-27T11:11:00.001+02:00

In June 2010 the British government announced plans to introduce compulsory English language tests for all non-European migrants applying to come to the UK to join or marry their settled partner.

Today the UK Border Agency announced that these plans will be implemented from 29 November 2010. From this date, any migrant who wants to enter or remain in the UK as the partner of a British citizen or a person settled here will need to show that they can speak and understand English, by taking an English language test with one of our approved test providers.

The new rules will apply to anyone applying as the husband, wife, civil partner, unmarried partner, same-sex partner, fiance(e) or proposed civil partner of a British citizen or a person settled in this country. They will be compulsory for people applying from within the UK as well as visa applicants from overseas.

The list of approved service providers and minimum scores will be released before November 29th - we will update this blog accordingly.

Settling in - Australia

2010-07-06T08:50:00.002+02:00

One of our clients, who recently settled into the Northern Territory, sent me this beautiful piece on her experience moving over to Oz and I'd like to share it with our readers:

My Australian experience

It is exactly 6 months since we arrived in Australia. I am sure you are asking,” Is it what we expected?” Well it has been and much more. Let me tell you about my experience.

I arrived with my family on the 6th January 2010.We had heard that Darwin is as hot as hell and we were mad to be going there, however as a family we had decided that the Northern Territory( NT) was the place to be because of the skills shortage and the good salaries that they pay. My husband and I are both in our mid forties and couldn’t afford to waste time.

I managed to line up an interview with a school before we arrived and to our surprise I was offered a permanent teaching position at a top school in Darwin with an excellent salary. My husband took about a month to secure a job for himself. My son was offered an apprenticeship as a car mechanic by a reputable car dealership and my daughter had no problem finding employment at a child care centre. We were all settled with jobs within the first 2 months. Yes, there are many jobs available and if you have the right qualifications and the correct attitude and work ethics you will have no problem.

We have been told that living in the NT is very different to living in the rest of Australia; however we prefer the relaxed atmosphere that the NT has to offer .If you love fishing and do not mind the heat then this is the place to be. The wet (which is summer here) is very hot and humid and there are downpours of rain practically everyday .The dry (which is our winter) are absolutely beautiful. Many tourists come to Darwin at this time because of the lovely weather. NT stands for “Not Today” and the saying,” No worries mate”, is applicable. People are very friendly and go out of their way to help you.

The next question is, were we able to cope financially? Yes, because we were able to secure jobs we were able to find a place to rent for a reasonable amount. We are paying $495 per week for a three bed roomed house in a very good area. We had to fill in an application form to rent and made sure that we bought over from South Africa a rental referral from the previous agent that we rented from as well paid a months rent upfront.

We had to write a theory test and do a practical driving test in order to get our NT drivers licence. We were all very nervous but once we had done it, we realised it wasn’t so bad. My husband and I have both bought a car through a dealer and are able to pay the cars quite comfortably on our salaries. A car in Australia is affordable in proportion to other costs. If you want to buy a new car you need a NT drivers licence, an international or SA licence is not accepted.

The next important point is crime. Since we have been here we have not been affected by crime in anyway. We still lock our cars and houses at night and I am sure it is something we will always do having lived like that in SA for all our lives. There is crime in the NT and throughout Australia, but it is not the violent crime that occurs in SA daily. I do feel save and do not feel scared to drive around at night. The police are very vigilant and what I like is that rules apply. If you are caught drinking and driving you loose points on your licence and pay a fine. When we first arrived our children were sitting in the back seat of the car and did not have their safety-belts on. My husband was fined $800(R 5 600).Well we learnt a very hard but good lesson. Rules mean something!

There are many times that we will feel lonely and miss our family and friends but looking at the quality of life that we lead, we know that we have made the right decision to emigrate. As they say “Oi Oi Oi Ozzie Ozzie Ozzie!”

Thank you for this little article Leanne!

Release of the new Skilled Occupation List - Schedules 3 & 4

2010-07-01T09:45:00.002+02:00

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) have today released the official SOL Schedule 3, as well as the new Schedule 4, which is the full list of occupations that can be sponsored by a State under Subclass 176 or 475 - which are mainly the two subclasses that are of interest to our clients in South Africa. A Subclass 176 application is full permanent residence, however an applicant has to live and work in the State offering sponsorship for a period of two years. A subclass 475 visa is a Regional Sponsored (Provisional) visa.

The new SOL Schedule 4 has a large number of occupations on it - as we at IIA suspected it would have! However, the individual States in Australia have not yet released their updated skills in demand lists. As soon as the individual States start releasing their updated lists, we will be able to ascertain which of our clients can look at a State sponsored application, if their occupation no longer sits on the SOL Schedule 3.

The full SOL lists are found here.

Please contact IIA for more information.

Changes to the Priority Occupation List for Canada

2010-06-28T09:30:00.006+02:00

The new Priority Occupation List (POL) for Canadian Federal Skilled Migration was released on Saturday. The list has been reduced from 39 to 29 occupations - several key occupations, such as Accountants, Financial Managers, Computer and Information Systems Managers, College Lecturers etc. have been removed.

The new list comprises the following occupations:

• 0631 Restaurant and Food Service Managers

• 0811 Primary Production Managers (Except Agriculture)

• 1122 Professional Occupations in Business Services to Management

• 1233 Insurance Adjusters and Claims Examiners

• 2121 Biologists and Related Scientists

• 2151 Architects

• 3111 Specialist Physicians

• 3112 General Practitioners and Family Physicians

• 3113 Dentists

• 3131 Pharmacists

• 3142 Physiotherapists

• 3152 Registered Nurses

• 3215 Medical Radiation Technologists

• 3222 Dental Hygienists & Dental Therapists

• 3233 Licensed Practical Nurses

• 4151 Psychologists

• 4152 Social Workers

• 6241 Chefs

• 6242 Cooks

• 7215 Contractors and Supervisors, Carpentry Trades

• 7216 Contractors and Supervisors, Mechanic Trades

• 7241 Electricians (Except Industrial & Power System)

• 7242 Industrial Electricians

• 7251 Plumbers

• 7265 Welders & Related Machine Operators

• 7312 Heavy-Duty Equipment Mechanics

• 7371 Crane Operators

• 7372 Drillers & Blasters - Surface Mining, Quarrying & Construction

• 8222 Supervisors, Oil and Gas Drilling and Service

NOTE: the occupations above are all Skill Type 0 (managerial occupations) or Skill Level A (professional occupations) or B (technical occupations and skilled trades) on the Canadian National Occupational Classification list.

In addition to the release of the new POL, changes have been made to processing.
Notably:

1. POL applications are capped at 20,000 per year.
2. Within the 20,000 cap, a maximum of 1,000 application per eligible occupation will be considered for processing each year.
3. The first year is calculated from 26th June 2010 to 30th June 2011 - thereafter the years will be calculated from July 1st to June 30th.
4. Applications now have to be submitted IN FULL to the Central Intake Office in Sydney, Nova Scotia - this means that all police clearances, birth/marriage/passport, employment references, evidence of funds etc. etc. have to be presented on submission.
5. All primary applicants have to submit an adequate IELTS result with their submission documents. In addition, where additional points are being claimed for Partner skills, the partner/spouse would also have to submit a completed and adequate IELTS result on submission.

These changes will not affect applications that are currently in process - those applications will be processed under the old legislation.

There is no cap on Arranged Employment Opinion category applications.

Contact IIA for a full evaluation of your current eligibility to migrate to Canada

Cost of living comparisons

2010-06-04T15:39:00.003+02:00

A very useful website we discovered this week is www.numbeo.com
This website is useful for doing basic comparisons of various services, products, salaries etc.

We have done a couple of comparisons and converted the base figures into South African Rands - here's an example - Vancouver and Melbourne cost of living comparisons:

CANADA
BRITISH COLUMBIA - VANCOUVER:
Restaurants
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant 116.73 R
Meal for 2, Mid-range Restaurant 451.00 R
Combo Meal at McDonalds or Similar 57.24 R
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter draught) 37.76 R
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle) 41.50 R
Coke/Pepsi (0.33 liter bottle) 13.75 R
Water (0.33 liter bottle) 16.70 R

Markets
Milk (regular), 1 liter 9.93 R
Loaf of Fresh Bread 17.42 R
Eggs (12) 19.04 R
Fresh Cheese (1kg) 74.78 R
Water (1.5 liter bottle) 21.69 R
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) 148.37 R
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) 23.19 R
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle) 27.91 R
Pack of Cigarettes (Marlboro) 65.36 R

Transportation
One-way Ticket (local transport) 22.05 R
Monthly Pass 631.31 R
Taxi (5km within center) 107.60 R
Gasoline (1 liter) 8.07 R

Utilities (Monthly)
Basic (Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) 1,641.38 R
Mobile Phone 100 Minutes Call 148.42 R
Internet (2 Mbps ADSL flat) 281.80 R

Sports And Leisure
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult 546.07 R
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat 87.37 R

Rent Per Month
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre 11,491.76 R
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre 9,646.74 R
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre 21,367.60 R
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre 15,223.88 R

Buy Apartment Price
Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment in City Centre 51,927.95 R
Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre 41,942.39 R

Salaries And Financing
Median Monthly Disposable Salary (After Tax) 22,654.68 R
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentanges (%), Yearly For USD / EUR 4.50

AUSTRALIA

VICTORIA - MELBOURNE:
Restaurants
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant 92.83 R
Meal for 2, Mid-range Restaurant 423.77 R
Combo Meal at McDonalds or Similar 46.97 R
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter draught) 39.19 R
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle) 44.89 R
Coke/Pepsi (0.33 liter bottle) 15.09 R
Water (0.33 liter bottle) 14.68 R

Markets
Milk (regular), 1 liter 11.17 R
Loaf of Fresh Bread 20.15 R
Eggs (12) 29.13 R
Fresh Cheese (1kg) 69.27 R
Water (1.5 liter bottle) 15.72 R
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) 85.57 R
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) 22.51 R
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle) 27.34 R
Pack of Cigarettes (Marlboro) 85.42 R

Transportation
One-way Ticket (local transport) 20.05 R
Monthly Pass 659.38 R
Taxi (5km within center) 93.40 R
Gasoline (1 liter) 8.49 R

Utilities (Monthly)
Basic (Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) 847.15 R
Mobile Phone 100 Minutes Call 319.62 R
Internet (2 Mbps ADSL flat) 311.83 R

Sports And Leisure
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult 617.83 R
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) 210.94 R
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat 120.02 R

Rent Per Month
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre 8,393.90 R
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre 5,571.63 R
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre 12,923.43 R
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre 10,952.37 R

Buy Apartment Price
Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment in City Centre 45,833.27 R
Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre 28,763.93 R

Salaries And Financing
Median Monthly Disposable Salary (After Tax) 29,786.72 R
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentanges (%), Yearly For USD / EUR 6.64

Release of the new Skilled Occupation List (SOL) - Australia

2010-05-17T15:01:00.004+02:00

On 17 May 2010 the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, announced a list of occupations that will form a new Skilled Occupation List (SOL). The Minister will be recommending that the Governor-General in Council make amendments to the Migration Regulations 1994 to give effect to the framework in which this new list would be applied. The new SOL is proposed to commence on 1 July 2010.
If you find that you are not able to apply for general skilled migration (GSM) once the new SOL is implemented, you may be able to apply for other visas provided you meet all the relevant legislative criteria.

New List of Skilled Occupations

It is intended that this list of occupations will form the new Skilled Occupation List, proposed to come into effect from 1 July 2010.
ANZSCO Code - Corresponding occupation

133111 Construction project manager
133112 Project builder
133211 Engineering manager
134111 Child Care centre manager
134211 Medical administrator
134212 Nursing clinical director
134213 Primary health organisation manager
134214 Welfare centre manager
221111 Accountant (general)
221112 Management accountant
221113 Taxation accountant
221213 External auditor
221214 Internal auditor
224111 Actuary
224511 Land economist
224512 Valuer
231212 Ship's engineer
231213 Ship's master
231214 Ship's officer
232111 Architect
232112 Landscape architect
232211 Cartographer
232212 Surveyor
232611 Urban and regional planner
233111 Chemical engineer
233112 Materials engineer
233211 Civil engineer
233212 Geotechnical engineer
233213 Quantity surveyor
233214 Structural engineer
233215 Transport engineer
233311 Electrical engineer
233411 Electronics engineer
233511 Industrial engineer
233512 Mechanical engineer
233513 Production or plant engineer
233611 Mining engineer (excluding petroleum)
233612 Petroleum engineer
233911 Aeronautical engineer
233912 Agricultural engineer
233913 Biomedical engineer
233914 Engineering technologist
233915 Environmental engineer
233916 Naval architect
234111 Agricultural consultant
234112 Agricultural scientist
234113 Forester
234211 Chemist
234611 Medical laboratory scientist
234711 Veterinarian
241111 Early childhood (pre-primary school) teacher
241411 Secondary school teacher
241511 Special needs teacher
241512 Teacher of the hearing impaired
241513 Teacher of the sight impaired
241599 Special education teachers nec
251211 Medical diagnostic radiographer
251212 Medical radiation therapist
251213 Nuclear medicine technologist
251214 Sonographer
251411 Optometrist
251412 Orthoptist
252111 Chiropractor
252112 Osteopath
252311 Dental specialist
252312 Dentist
252411 Occupational therapist
252511 Physiotherapist
252611 Podiatrist
252711 Audiologist
252712 Speech pathologist
253111 General medical practitioner
253211 Anaesthetist
253311 Specialist physician
253312 Cardiologist
253313 Clinical haematologist
253314 Clinical oncologist
253315 Endocrinologist
253316 Gastroenterologist
253317 Intensive care specialist
253318 Neurologist
253321 Paediatrician
253322 Renal medicine specialist
253323 Rheumatologist
253324 Thoracic medicine specialist
253399 Internal medicine specialist nec
253411 Psychiatrist
253511 Surgeon (general)
253512 Cardiothoracic surgeon
253513 Neurosurgeon
253514 Orthopaedic surgeon
253515 Otorhinolaryngologist
253516 Paediatric surgeon
253517 Plastic and reconstructive surgeon
253518 Urologist
253521 Vascular surgeon
253911 Dermatologist
253912 Emergency medicine specialist
253913 Obstetrician and Gynaecologist
253914 Ophthalmologist
253915 Pathologist
253916 Radiologist
253999 Medical practitioners nec
254111 Midwife
254411 Nurse Practitioner
254412 Registered nurse (aged care)
254413 Registered nurse (Child and Family Health)
254414 Registered nurse (community health)
254415 Registered nurse (critical care and emergency)
254416 Registered nurse (development disability)
254417 Registered nurse (disability and rehabilitation)
254418 Registered nurse (medical)
254421 Registered nurse (medical practice)
254422 Registered nurse (mental health)
254423 Registered nurse (perioperative)
254424 Registered nurse (surgical)
254499 Registered nurse
261111 ICT business analyst
261112 Systems analyst
261311 Analyst programmer
261312 Developer programmer
261313 Software engineer
263311 Telecommunications engineer
263312 Telecommunications network engineer
272311 Clinical psychologist
272312 Educational psychologist
272313 Organisational psychologist
272314 Psychotherapist
272399 Psychologists nec
272511 Social worker
312211 Civil engineer draftsperson
312212 Civil engineer technician
312311 Electrical engineer draftperson
312312 Electrical engineer technician
313211 Radiocommunications technician
313212 Telecommunications field engineer
313213 Telecommunications network planner
313214 Telecommunications technical officer or technologist
321111 Automotive electrician
321211 Motor mechanic (general)
321212 Diesel motor mechanic
321213 Motorcycle mechanic
321214 Small engine mechanic
322211 Sheetmetal trades worker
322311 Metal Fabricator
322312 Pressure Welder
322313 Welder (first class)
323111 Aircraft maintenance engineer (avionics)
323112 Aircraft maintenance engineer (mechanical)
323113 Aircraft maintenance engineer (structures)
323313 Locksmith
324111 Panelbeater
324311 Vehicle painter
331111 Bricklayer
331112 Stonemason
331211 Carpenter and Joiner
331212 Carpenter
331213 Joiner
332211 Painting trades workers
333111 Glazier
333211 Fibrous plasterer
333212 Solid plasterer
333411 Wall and floor tiler
334111 Plumber (general)
334112 Airconditioning and mechanical services plumber
334113 Drainer
334114 Gasfitter
334115 Roof plumber
341111 Electrician (general)
341112 Electrician (special class)
341113 Lift mechanic
342111 Airconditioning and refrigeration mechanic
342211 Electrical linesworker
342212 Technical cable jointer
342313 Electronic equipment trades worker
342314 Electronic instrument trades worker (general)
342315 Electronic instrument trades worker (special class)
411211 Dental Hygienist
411212 Dental Prosthetist
411213 Dental technician
411214 Dental therapist

We will be contacting all our prospective clients who have qualification assessments in process and who have not yet lodged their main residence applications with DIAC (the Department of immigration and Citizenship in Australia) in due course, to advise whether the changes affect them (negatively or otherwise) - please be patient.

Please note that the changes to the SOL DO NOT AFFECT already lodged applications!!!

Suspension of Offshore General Skilled Migration

2010-05-07T09:20:00.000+02:00

Please note the following press release received this morning from the MIA

The Minister has today announced a temporary suspension of certain general skilled migration visas. The move hopes to ensure that all offshore general skilled applications made after today are in accordance with the occupations included on the new Skilled Occupation List (SOL), to be released later this month. The Minister has not indicated when the suspension will be lifted, however it will be no earlier than the announcement of the new SOL.

The Minister has announced that his Department will not accept applications for the following visa subclasses from 8 May 2010 until further notice:

Subclass 175 – Skilled Independent;
Subclass 176 – Skilled Sponsored; and
Subclass 475 – Skilled Regional Sponsored.
Therefore, any applications received by the Department after 8 May 2010 for one of the above visa subclasses will be returned and the visa application charge refunded.

Please note that this suspension does not affect onshore general skilled migration visas.

Australia - Update on announcement of New Skilled Occupations List

2010-05-04T08:19:00.002+02:00

According to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship:
The Government is considering the report from Skills Australia containing their Skilled Occupation List. An announcement and publication of the new Skilled Occupation List for Migration purposes will be made in May.
Previously, the Department had expected the new SOL would be announced 30 April 2010.

New Skilled Occupation List (SOL) Will NOT BE Released 30 April 2010

State sponsorship lists

2010-04-29T14:54:00.000+02:00

The Australian Capital Territory have released new Skills in demand lists this week.
South Australia's lists are due to change on the 14th May this year.

The changes to the State Skills Shortages Lists do NOT affect clients whose applications have already been lodged with the Department of Immigration and Citizenship in Australia (DIAC).

Power restored

2010-04-28T15:20:00.001+02:00

The power to our area was restored just after 3pm today - so we are back up and running!
Apologies for any inconvenience.

Important Communication

2010-04-28T09:31:00.001+02:00

Please note that a pylon blew up and problems have occurred with the substation in our area - this happened on Tuesday morning. The power outage has affected the entire Greenstone Hill area and parts of Johannesburg and other areas in Gauteng. We do not know when power will be restored to this area and as a result can not communicate via internet or email with any of our clients or associates. We can receive calls on our landline 011 021 9415
We apologise for this inconvenience which is entirely out of our control.

ANZAC Day

2010-04-23T10:30:00.001+02:00

We'd like to wish all our Australian clients, as well as our associates who are based in Queensland, all the very best for Australia Day, which is happening on Monday.

Have a lovely ANZAC Day!

Today marks the official launch of our blog

2010-04-23T08:52:00.004+02:00

For the past couple of months we have been testing a blog and it has now been moved to its own home here on the worldwideweb. We hope to be able to post regular updates on migration policies for countries such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the UK. If you are interested in migrating to any of these countries, please give us a call or pop us an email and we will provide you with a full assessment of your eligibility.

At the end of this month the Priority Occupation List (POL) for Federal Skilled migration to Canada will be changed - so there is a lot of scrambling to get many applications lodged before this date. We will post an in depth update on the changes as soon as possible after they have been released to us.

Migration policy in Australia is also under substantial review - major changes are anticipated to the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) - these changes were first mooted to be happening at the end of April, we now hear that it could be July or even as late as August. it is a huge endeavour to change the SOL - no mean task. Again, we will notify all our clients (current and prospective) of any changes that occur to Australian migration as soon as possible after we have had a chance to absorb the changes.

For our existing clients, it is encouraged that you check in on our blog regularly from time to time, as we will post all updates here, instead of sending out emailed Newsletters.

Please feel free to comment, ask a question about migration - we welcome any constructive advice or criticism but obviously because we are human animals, much prefer praises .... :)

Another toot of the horn

2010-04-06T20:54:00.000+02:00

Re: Thank-you

Dear Janice,

I would like to take this opportunity to thank-you and your team for all the hard work and time that went into assisting us in the granting of our Australian visas.

As you are aware we have been going through the visa process for over 2 years with your company and have been very impressed by the experience and attention to detail that you and your team have shown. Even though there were frustrating times that we went through during the legislation changes, we always felt that we were being well looked after and given the best possible advice and service at the time.

Again I wanted to let you know that we really have appreciated your help and support over the entire process.

Yours sincerely,

Neil and Jacqui (surname withheld by blogger)

Canadian Permanent Residence applications - processing update

2010-03-18T20:53:00.000+02:00

The Canadian High Commission in Pretoria are currently working on files that were lodged in February 2005.

(These are files that were lodged under the old legislation)

Tooting our horn

2010-03-16T20:52:00.000+02:00

Janice,

We received our passports back today! Thank you so much for all the effort the past 2 years. You have no idea how much it meant to send you a mail and to get a friendly response the same day. If I have to start all over again, I will definitely make use of an agent again and without a doubt, it will be you guys. Everybody at the office were always friendly and they knew exactly who was phoning, like we are all family.

During this whole process, you go through so many emotions and the staff at IIA were always there with a supporting answer. Thanks so much for all your hard work and commitment to our immigration. We hope to stay in contact once we arrive in Australia. To Janice especially, thank you for your patience with all my "silly" questions. You were always prepared to help and give a reassuring answer. Does not matter how many times I would bug her with the most unimportant question, Janice had a reply.

To all at IIA, thank you is not enough, but it comes from our hearts.

Regards
G & M, Newcastle

Australian Economy Growing

2010-03-15T20:51:00.000+02:00

The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics figures released last week show that GDP grew 0.9% in the December quarter 2009, after growing 0.3% in the September quarter.

Growth in the expenditure measure of GDP was driven by a 3.5% increase in private investment , a 10.2% increase in public investment and a 0.7% increase in household expenditure. Offsetting these increases was a fall in net exports. The fall in net exports was due to imports (up 7.7%) growing faster than exports (up 1.7%).

The industries that provided the main contribution to growth in the production measure of GDP in the December quarter were manufacturing with a 5.1% increase in seasonally adjusted volume terms and wholesale trade with a 3.6% increase in seasonally adjusted volume terms.

Source: ABS

A comparison

In February, Australia’s unemployment rate was at 5.3 percent.
Compared to South Africa's staggering 24,3% in the 4th Quarter 2009

Canadian Federal Skilled Migration

2010-02-26T21:50:00.000+02:00

On February 27th 2008, substantial changes were made to the Federal Skilled Migration programme for Canada. Various visa options have resulted from this and in particular, applications lodged where a client's occupation falls into the list of Priority Occupations (POL) are being processed far quicker than was the norm, prior to 2008.

For example:

1. An applicant who is a Computer & Information Systems Manager had his file lodged at the Central Intake Office in Sydney, Nova Scotia in April 2009. The application was preapproved by the CIO in May and the file was transferred to Pretoria. A full document submission was sent to Pretoria at the beginning of August and the file was approved, pending submission of medicals and payment of the Right of Permanent Residence Fee this month. Making 10 months from start to finish. There were six members of this application and no additional documentation was requested by Pretoria.

2. An applicant who is a University Professor and Lecturer had his file lodged in March 2008 at the CIO. The application was provisionally accepted by the CIO in August 2008. File was transferred to Pretoria and a full document submission was sent in May 2009. The file was approved, pending medicals and payment of the Right of permanent Residence fee in September 2009. There were only two people in this application, however they were both very slow to provide documents, hence this file taking longer to finish than example number 1. In any event, their visa was approved 16 months from lodgement.

3. An applicant who is a Financial Accountant had her file lodged in February 2009 at the CIO. The application was provisionally accepted by the CIO and file transferred to Pretoria in May 2009. Application was approved pending medicals and payment of Right of Permanent Residence Fee in January this year. This visa application therefore took just over one year to finalise.

Under the old system, applications were put into the system and left to languish there for up to 6 years. We still have a number of files in process under the old system that will not see visa grant for a few more years. So, if you qualify under the new legislation, then the route into Canada is very quick.

Contact us for a full assessment of your eligibility to migrate to Canada, as there could be several options available to you.

Changes to Australian Migration

2010-02-25T21:49:00.000+02:00

Changes to Australian Skilled Migration

At the beginning of February this year, the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, announced changes to the GSM program:

* the outcomes of a review of the Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL)
* the replacement of the current Skilled Occupation List (SOL) in the second half of 2010
* offshore GSM visas made before 1 September 2007 would be capped and ceased
* priority processing arrangements
* skills assessment requirements for GSM applicants nominating a trade occupation.

Effectively, this has meant that the Migration Occupation In Demand (MODL) list has been scrapped with immediate effect and it is no longer possible to claim the 15 points under the Occupation in Demand category.

On the 15th February, a Discussion Paper on the proposed changes to the Points Test was posted onto the DIAC website - you can download it from this page

Until changes are officially legislated, we at International Immigration Alliance will not be drawn into speculation on how the prospective changes may effect existing Skilled Migration applications

Welcome

2010-02-24T21:48:00.000+02:00

Welcome

We decided to create this blog in order to post regular updates on migration policy changes and other items of general interest relating to migration for all our clients and prospective clients located across the globe.

We welcome stories from those many families we have successfully migrated to various countries, please feel free to submit your "settling in" story in email format to mailbox@immigrate.co.za ... try to include a few photos (in jpeg format is always best)

In coming months, we will feature a variety of in depth and informative articles on topics ranging from:

got the visa - now what?
where to start searching for jobs in your field
moving your household - what to take, what to leave behind
and what about Fido? ... we'll have a guest article focussing
on moving your beloved Pet to another country.
Tax clearance, moving your money to another country

Let us know if there are any specific topics you would like us to deal with and we will include them for you.

All for now
The IIA Team