Immigration - Expat Network

Government Plans To Strengthen Visa Sponsorship Compliance

Just how broken is Australia’s migration system? One of the government’s focus areas in 2023 has been to address worker exploitation in the migration system, as recently seen in an increase in sponsorship audit requests of sponsor companies. Written by Sheila Woods (MARN: 0533879) of Interstaff 2 November As the government strengthens Australia’s visa system, it’s important that employers…

What To Consider When The 408 Pandemic Event Visa Closes In 2024

The Subclass 408 Pandemic Event Visa will close on 1 February 2024, signifying the normalisation of the migration program after years of pandemic recovery efforts. The 408 Visa was originally intended to allow temporary visa holders to extend their stay for work in Australia if they had ‘critical skills’ or if their travel arrangements had…

Permanent Resident Pathways For Subclass 482 TSS Visa Holders To Change From 25th November 2023

The Department of Home Affairs has revealed that employer-sponsored Permanent Residence (PR) pathways for Subclass 482 Temporary Skills Shortage (TSS) Visa Holders will change from 25 November 2023, subject to the approval of regulation changes. Written by Sheila Woods (MARN: 0533879) of Interstaff 2 November Which Visas Will Be Impacted? What Will Be Changing? Changes to the Subclass 482 TSS…

Saint Lucia Citizenship: A Caribbean Dream Come True

Saint Lucia, a marvelous Caribbean island, is renowned for its brilliant landscapes, exquisite beauty, and vibrant culture. In addition, its strong economy, connectivity to the rest of the world, and strong investment platform add to its charm. This is the reason why many people from all corners of the world want to come and reside…

Labour Market Testing For UK And Other Passport Holders | International Trade Obligations

Navigating visa changes in Australia can be complex, and mobility provisions under International Trade Agreements can make it even more difficult for employers to understand when Labour Market Testing is required. Written by Sheila Woods (MARN: 0533879) of Interstaff 3 August, 2023 As you may know, LMT refers to the process of advertising locally for a position before a…

Trade Agreements Result In New Visa Benefits For UK And Indian Passport Holders

UK and Indian passport holders are set to benefit from new visa and mobility arrangements that have been recently negotiated in Australia’s Trade Agreements. The Australia – UK Free Trade Agreement (A-UKFTA) came into effect on 31 May 2023 and will soon allow UK passport holders up to the age of 35 to come to Australia on…

Government Focus On Parent Visa Grants To Continue In 2023/24

Australia allocated almost double the amount of placements to Parent Visas in 2022/23 (8,500 placements) compared to the previous year (4,500 placements), and another 8,500 places have again been allocated in 2023/24. Written by Sheila Woods (MARN: 0533879) of Interstaff 15 June, 2023 But although the Government is continuing to focus on granting Parent Visas, unfortunately applicants are still…

Aged Care Labour Agreement Australia | Greater Flexibility To Sponsor Visa Holders

The Australian Government has made an industry-specific Aged Care Labour Agreement immediately available to aged care providers across Australia. Written by Sheila Woods (MARN: 0533879) of Interstaff 15 June, 2023 Recognising that the aged care sector is an essential industry experiencing persistent skills shortages, it allows aged care providers to sponsor overseas workers with greater flexibility for these direct…

Portugal’s Golden Visa: The Door Remains Open (Sort Of)

The Portuguese government announced – rather unexpectedly – that its Golden Visa (GV) programme was to be completely closed with immediate effect on 17 February. ‘Immediate’ in Portugal doesn’t typically mean the same as in other countries. Indeed, a further announcement was made shortly after, which stated that applications for GVs would continue to be…

A Quick Guide To Portugal’s ‘D’ Visas

Portugal has become an increasingly popular destination for expats over the past few years, and it’s not hard to see why. It’s a beautiful country with property tending to be available at a price cheaper than the average of the UK or US equivalents. The cost of living is also cheaper than the majority of…