DIBP Credit Card Surcharge Fees Now in Effect

The Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) credit card surcharge fees now in effect from 19 April 2014.

The purpose of the surcharge fees enables DIBP to recover credit card merchant fees from applicants using credit card payments with the exception of payments made in Singapore or New Zealand.

This surcharge will apply to all clients (both in Australia and outside Australia) who pay by credit card for any Australian visa application charge and other related DIBP fees both online and at a departmental office.

Any additional information regarding credit card surcharge fees will be published once made available by DIBP.

If you are interested in Australian visas, contact our immigration team for more information and advice on which visa is best suited to you. 

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Sports visa Australia

Sport visas are available to sportspeople (amateur and professional), judges and adjudicators who want to compete or train in Australia.

Sport visas are not always the most appropriate visa option for sportspeople, with business or other short-stay visas sometimes more appropriate and easier to get. Our expert immigration lawyers can advise you on which visa option is most appropriate for you.

Before applying for a sport visa, you must first secure sponsorship from an approved sport visa sponsor. Approved sport visa sponsors include government agencies and Australian organisations who administer or promote sports events in Australia.

There are a number of eligibility requirements that must be met to establish eligibility for a sports visa. The eligibility requirements are complex and vary depending on why you are coming to Australia.

Sport visas are usually subject to work restrictions that limit what you can do in Australia. It is very important that you understand these restrictions before applying for a sport visa.

Obligations are also imposed on the sponsoring organisation. Non-compliance with these obligations can result in the organisation being fined or having restrictions placed on its ability to sponsor sportspeople in the future.

Please contact Ryan Curtis-Griffiths at Nevett Ford Lawyers if you have any questions or queries (telephone: +61 3 9614 7111 or via email: rcurtisgriffiths@nevettford.com.au)

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Distinguished Talent visa - Australia

The Distinguished Talent visa is a unique path to migrate to Australia and is available to individuals who have outstanding achievements in a profession, the arts, sport or academia.

To be considered for a distinguished talent visa, the applicant must be regarded as a leader in his/her field and demonstrate that the applicant will be an asset and will make a contribution to Australia. Having a successful career is usually not enough.

Our immigration lawyers have assisted prominent business people and sports people obtain distinguished talent visas.

Please contact Ryan Curtis-Griffiths at Nevett Ford Lawyers if you have any questions or queries (telephone: +61 3 9614 7111 or via email: rcurtisgriffiths@nevettford.com.au)

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Entertainment Visa - Australia (subclass 420)

Entertainment visas may be available if you work in film, television and/or live production and want to work in the Australian entertainment industry on either a paid or voluntary basis.

Before applying for an entertainment visa, you must secure sponsorship from an approved entertainment sponsor (e.g. a government agency) and with other interested parties, such as the relevant Australian unions.

To obtain an entertainment visa the applicant must show that their placement will not jeopardise the employment of Australians working in the entertainment industry. The Department often requires considerable evidence from a range of parties.

Other eligibility criteria for an entertainment visa include financial and health insurance requirements. If your application is approved, you will be required to meet a number of continuing obligations, including taxation obligations, whilst residing in Australia.

Please contact Ryan Curtis-Griffiths at Nevett Ford Lawyers if you have any questions or queries (telephone: +61 3 9614 7111 or via email: rcurtisgriffiths@nevettford.com.au)

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ACT Government suspends visa nominations until July 2014

The ACT Government has advised that they have met their program targets for the Skilled- Nominated (Subclass 190) visa for the 2013/14 financial year.

Accordingly, no further application for ACT nominaton from overseas residents will be accepted effective from 25 March 2014. The program will reopen, most likely with a revised list of occupations, in July 2014.

Persons living in Canberra and working in a skilled occupation are still able to apply for ACT nomination providing they meet the current nomination criteria.

Applications for ACT nomination already submitted before COB on 25 March 2014 will continue to be processed in queue order.

The ACT Government has also noted that they received a large number of applications prior to the changes they made to their Occupations List in February this year. As a result, the processing time for applications lodged from late February onwards may be as long as 4 to 6 months.

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DIBP surcharge to commence 22 March 2014

From 22 March 2014, the Department is implementing changes to enable the recovery of credit card merchant fees from clients via a surcharge on credit card payments for visa application charges (VACs) and other fees and charges. The surcharge will be applied to all clients who pay VACs and other fees and charges online and those who opt to pay at a departmental office by credit card.

The surcharge will be applied to all onshore and offshore applicants.

Full details of the surcharge will be communicated on the Department's website and at counters from 22 March.

All application forms have been updated for the new surcharge arrangements and will be available from 22 March.

Nevett Ford will provide updates once more information is made available on 22 March 2014.

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Skilled migration, Labor's attacks on skilled migrants, Operation Sovereign Borders, Manus Island

Interview with David Speers, Sky News, Canberra

David Speers: The Immigration Minister Scott Morrison is with me this afternoon. Thank you for your time. I want to start on the 457 visas. Unions have been expressing concern today about a loophole they say has been reopened that is going to allow more foreign workers in at a time when unemployment is rising. Explain to me exactly what the government has done here.

Minister Morrison: Well it is quite a minor change. What it involves is that when someone has already been approved to be a sponsor of 457s rather than having to go back and fill out all the paperwork again to have that renewed when they have reached a certain number of employees they can continue to do it but every single 457 employee who has been employed must satisfy all the tests that are currently required for finding an Australian do the job first. So there is no change to that.

Read full article here

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