Working and living in Australia requires you to hold a visa and remain lawful whilst in the country.
Immigration compliance officers located 15 illegal workers on a construction site in Sydney today.
In 2008-09, the department located almost 11 500 people who had either overstayed their visa or were in breach of their visa conditions, including almost 1000 people who were working illegally.
The main industries where people were found to working illegally were agricultural (29.8 per cent), hospitality (16.1 per cent) and construction (14.7 per cent) sectors.
Employers convicted under Commonwealth legislation face fines of up to $13 200 and two years’ imprisonment while companies face fines of up to $66 000 per illegal worker.
People with information about illegal workers or visa overstayers should call the Immigration Dob-In Line on 1800 009 623.
Lamont Migration offers free on-line assessments for all visa types. Visit www.lamontmigration.com.au and view our assessments. Once you submit your information a member of the Lamont Migration team will respond to you within 48 hours and begin the process of making your dream to live in Australia a reality.
Australia is home to unique wildlife - including Koalas
Australia is a multi cultural country with just over 20 million people. Australia is the driest continent on earth and the geography is varied, with desert in the middle and beautiful beaches and coastlines surrounding the edge. Australia host’s unique wildlife including koalas, kangaroos & wallabies, crocodiles, snakes and beautiful birds.
The weather ranges from tropical in the north to temperate in the south. You can ski in the winter and frolic at the beach in the summer.
Map of Australia (click image for larger size)
The new citizenship test is scheduled to roll out on October 19, 2009.
The new test will contain 20 multiple-choice questions and will take up to 45 minutes to complete. The pass mark will rise from 60 per cent to 75 per cent. The test is designed to assess whether applicants have a basic knowledge of the English language and will be conducted in English only.
Unlike the current test, the new test will not contain mandatory questions. The questions will all focus on the important concepts contained in the Australian Citizenship Pledge, rather than general knowledge about Australia.
The Pledge of Commitment:
‘From this time forward, (under God*)
I pledge my loyalty to Australia and its people
Whose democratic beliefs I share,
Whose rights and liberties I respect, and
Whose laws I will uphold and obey.’
*A person may choose whether or not to use the words ‘under God’.
Today 4,000 migrants became Australian Citizens on Citizenship Day 2009. It has been 60 years this year since Australia started granting citizenship. Congratulations and welcome to all new Australian Citizens.
DIAC’s Family & Health Policy Branch has advised the following new arrangements in relation to Partner and Child category visas: assessment of PIC 4016/4018 – requirement for sponsor to provide National Police Check
Measures already in place to protect children who are sponsored for a visa are:
When an applicant under the age of 18 is included in an application for one of the visas listed below, the sponsor will be required to provide a national police check:
The requirement is to apply to all relevant applications received but not finally determined by Wednesday 16 September 2009 and to all relevant applications received on or after that date.
The information in the NPC will provide the Department with more comprehensive and reliable information for use in determining whether PIC 4016/4018 is met.
Regarding partner visa applications, section 48 is where an applicant is ineligible to apply for any further visas onshore if they have been refused or had a visa cancelled onshore.
From 14 September 2009, an application for an onshore partner visa is exempt from s48 if the following circumstances exist:
"Thank you so much for turning my application around so quickly. You made the whole process incredibly straightforward and stress-free and to have my visa granted within 24hours was simply unbelievable!"
Claire
Lamont Migration Agency (LMA) is a full service migration law agency based in Melbourne, Australia. We specialise in all migration issues including; Student, Family, skilled and permanent migration and Australian Citizenship.
Lamont Migration Agency
279 Canterbury Road
Heathmont, Victoria
Australia 3135
Phone in Australia: (03) 8802-0290
International: +61 3 8802-0290
Fax: (03) 8802-0290
E-mail: enquires@lamontmigration.com.au
MARA registration #0959437
Principal member of the Migration Institute of Australia
Please take our free assessment to find out about the different visa types and which visa is right for you.
