The Y-Axis Blog

Minister’s Announcement on Temporary suspension of certain General Skilled Migration (GSM) applications – 7 May 2010

The Australian Government has decided to temporarily suspend the acceptance of certain General Skilled Migration (GSM) visa applications. This temporary measure will begin on 8 May 2010 and is expected to remain in effect until the end of 30 June 2010.

This Temporary suspension is only on the visa applications that are to be lodged outside Australia (Offshore applications).

• Subclass 175 – Skilled Independent (Migrant) visa
• Subclass 176 – Skilled Sponsored (Migrant) visa
• Subclass 475 – Skilled Regional Sponsored (Provisional) visa.

The suspension has resulted due to the Pending GSM visa applications for the current assessment year crossed the available supply. This will also facilitate the transition from the current SOL to the New Proposed SOL which was released on 17th May 2010 to meet the current needs of Australian Labour market. (more…)

Australian government has made clear it will now filter Indians applying for immigration.

Immigration minister Chris Evans says the policy has been modified and immigration visas will be issued to what Australia terms quality immigrants like doctors and engineers. (more…)

 The Australian Department of Immigration has announced an increase in visa application fees  from 1 July 2009. The fees have increased by 20%.
 Here are details of some of the most common visa fee increases: (more…)

Australia’s economy is a tower of strength after two respected international reports confirmed it continued to lead the developed world.

The first from the International Monetary Fund added its weight to mounting evidence that Australia was powering ahead of its rivals during the worst downturn since the Great Depression. (more…)

Despite the current financial troubles plaguing the world, the Australian government continues to welcome business migrants who want to move to Australia to establish and operate a new business or purchase and operate an existing business. (more…)

While the media brouhaha continues over the attacks against Indian students in Australia, the Indians have to wake upto the fact that these attacks were not racially motivated. Yes they were disappointing, but it was the act of a handful of people who are the general miscreants lurking in the dark and have nothing to do with a particular ethnic race or group. (more…)

SYDNEY: Australia is reconsidering its seduction of skilled migrants as the jobless rate rises at home, yet analysts see sound economic reasons to keep the flow of workers coming and even opportunity in the firing frenzy abroad.

The tidal wave of global job shedding could be a rare opening for Australian recruiters to tap top talent and plug skill shortages that have plagued business here for years. (more…)