Tag Archives: 457

476 visa for recent engineering graduates

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476 visa for recent engineering graduates

If you’ve recently graduated with an engineering degree and would like to expand your geographical horizons, you may want to consider applying for a Recognised Graduate (Temporary) Visa – Subclass 476.

Discussing this and other immigration visas that might work for you with a registered migration agent is a good idea, but here’s a quick run-down of this visa to slake your interest.

The 476 visa allows recent graduates from particular overseas universities to gain valuable work and life experience in Australia.

This visa is specifically designed for people who are trained in occupations that Australia regards as “in demand”. You got it – engineering is one of those occupations!

You need to have completed your engineering degree within the last two years and you must have attended a “recognised university” to be eligible.

You can live and work in Australia for up to 18 months on the 476 visa.

With this visa in your hand, you can also submit a permanent residency application “at any time you are able to meet the passmark on the General Skilled Migration points test,” according to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.

For more information about your visa options as an engineer, get in touch with one of Australia’s many registered migration agents today!

Labor strikes compromise 457 visa crackdown deal with crossbench MPs

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Labor strikes compromise 457 visa crackdown deal with crossbench MPs
By chief political correspondent Emma Griffiths, staff
Updated 1 hour 33 minutes ago
The Federal Government has struck a compromise deal with crucial crossbench MPs for its crackdown on the 457 foreign worker visa scheme.

The Immigration Minister secured the vote of Independent Tony Windsor by making changes to the labour market testing rules.

The Coalition says the changes make the bill worse and they voted against the amendments.

But Labor had enough crossbench votes for the amendments to pass the House of Representatives, which also passed the Gonski school funding reforms today.

A crackdown on 457 visas was announced by Prime Minister Julia Gillard during a week-long mini-campaign in Western Sydney in March.

The new laws will force employers to do local labour market testing to prove they cannot find an Australian citizen to do the job before sponsoring an overseas worker on a 457 visa.

Employers will also have to spend a percentage of their total payroll on training local staff and 457 visa holders.

Fair Work inspectors will be empowered to investigate potential breaches of the system.

The Government says the laws will safeguard Australian jobs and ensure overseas workers are not exploited.

It had been negotiating with crossbench MPs about potential amendments in a bid to have them passed before Parliament rises on Thursday.

In March, Ms Gillard said the visa program was “out of control” and has stated that jobs should be given to Australians first.

Immigration Minister Brendan O’Connor has claimed there have been more than 10,000 instances of rorting by employers – a claim he later said was an estimate.

The crackdown has been criticised by business as an unwarranted measure and by the Greens and Opposition as having tinges of xenophobia.

It has also been the source of internal friction within the Labor party, with some MPs calling for more details on the rorting and others saying the scheme should be scrapped altogether.

Unions have been pushing for the tighter regulations to ensure workers under the visa scheme have more workplace protections.

Federal Budget: Fee Hike for sc457 visas

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Federal Budget: Fee Hike for sc457 visas
Application fees for Temporary Work (Skilled) – Subclass 457 visas are nearly doubling.

As of 1 July this year, fees will increase to $900, earning the Government an extra 47 million dollars for the coming financial year.

The permanent Australian Migration Program is being maintained at 190,000 in 2013-14.

“This shows the government recognises the genuine skills shortages in Australia and the critical gaps the Migration Program fills,” said MIA CEO Maurene Horder.

While the Skilled Migration Program will be reduced by 700 places, those places will be added to the annual Family Migration Program.

“The MIA has long agitated for a more robust Family Program recognising its importance to social connectivity and healthy communities,” said Ms Horder.

The Government also intends to heavily invest in a number of measures to strengthen regional and international cooperation on Irregular Maritime Arrivals, with $8.1 billion projected to be spent over the next four years.