The New Zealand Immigration Minister, Jonathan Coleman, has announced that the country’s business migration initiative has attracted over $416m investment capital to the economy. ‘’We developed a policy package that makes New Zealand very attractive to business migrants,’’ Dr Coleman says. ‘’The scheme has been operating for 16 months and already it’s attracted two and half times the amount of potential investment capital compared to the previous Government’s policy.’’
Currently there has already been £102m invested into the New Zealand economy via the Business Migrant Policy and another £133m has been approved to be transferred. There are a number of other applications still being processed that are worth up to $181m.
Dr Coleman said that the Government’s initiative sought to make New Zealand more attractive to investors while keeping the integrity of the immigration system.
‘We’re committed to policies that attract investment and make it easier to do business in New Zealand, and these figures reflect that. We’re now looking at whether we can make these policies even more attractive to investors.’
The business immigration policy is not only attracting investors’ wealth but also their highly regarded business skills and networks. A large number of businessmen and women are seeing the opportunities currently present in the country and providing significant opportunities to the economy as well as an influx of capital.
The New Zealand business immigration visa programme is continually being improved and it seems that the increase of investor opportunity and interest is set to continue over the next few years.
Source:http://www.emigrationgroup.co.uk/278/Business-Investment-Visas-Delivering-Money-to-New-Zealand
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Chinese keen to bring their riches to NZ
New Zealand has a strong appeal for rich Chinese people who want to move here as investor migrants.
Two have been granted conditional residencies after investing more than $10 million each in "approved investments" and 43 others - more than from any other country - are waiting to be granted approval or have received approval in principle to transfer more than $1.5 million each.
Acting head of Immigration Jan Clark says the department has also given approval to a third Chinese investor to transfer money.
Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman said the business migration scheme had attracted $416 million of potential investment capital to New Zealand.
So far, more than $102 million has been transferred and invested here and $133 million has been approved for funds transfer.
Applications worth another $181 million are being processed.
"We developed a policy package that makes New Zealand very attractive to business migrants, and they're staking their confidence in New Zealand at a time of difficult international financial conditions," Dr Coleman said.
When the scheme was introduced, many would-be investors from China claimed Immigration's recognition of money transfers only through the banking system was blocking them from investing in New Zealand because of China's strict money transfer rules.
A licensed immigration adviser said the two successful investor applicants had transferred their money through Hong Kong to get around the rules.
"Their nominated funds are in Hong Kong, and it is easy enough to use the Hong Kong banking system to transfer the money here," said the adviser, who did not want to be named.
He was advising his other Chinese clients to use similar means to move their money if they wanted to apply for New Zealand residency.
"It's a bit of a hassle and takes longer, it's a pathway they can use," he said.
"For example, the Chinese can buy properties in Hong Kong, liquidate the funds and then transfer the money over."
However, the New Zealand Association for Migration and Investment advocacy and policy chairman Jimmy Lee said New Zealand's business migration policy still discriminated against the Chinese.
The association has made a written submission to the Department of Labour, which oversees Immigration, asking it to review its business migration policies.
"From the Immigration figures, we know the Chinese hold the key to how successful the policy will be," Mr Lee said.
"There should be a total review of the business migration policies if the Government is serious about wanting more investor migrants."
Immigration adviser Ming Tiang, who runs Chiwi Immigration Services, says he has at least 10 Chinese clients, with between $1.5 million and $10 million to invest, who could not meet Immigration's "bank transfer only" requirement.
Source:http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10700091
Two have been granted conditional residencies after investing more than $10 million each in "approved investments" and 43 others - more than from any other country - are waiting to be granted approval or have received approval in principle to transfer more than $1.5 million each.
Acting head of Immigration Jan Clark says the department has also given approval to a third Chinese investor to transfer money.
Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman said the business migration scheme had attracted $416 million of potential investment capital to New Zealand.
So far, more than $102 million has been transferred and invested here and $133 million has been approved for funds transfer.
Applications worth another $181 million are being processed.
"We developed a policy package that makes New Zealand very attractive to business migrants, and they're staking their confidence in New Zealand at a time of difficult international financial conditions," Dr Coleman said.
When the scheme was introduced, many would-be investors from China claimed Immigration's recognition of money transfers only through the banking system was blocking them from investing in New Zealand because of China's strict money transfer rules.
A licensed immigration adviser said the two successful investor applicants had transferred their money through Hong Kong to get around the rules.
"Their nominated funds are in Hong Kong, and it is easy enough to use the Hong Kong banking system to transfer the money here," said the adviser, who did not want to be named.
He was advising his other Chinese clients to use similar means to move their money if they wanted to apply for New Zealand residency.
"It's a bit of a hassle and takes longer, it's a pathway they can use," he said.
"For example, the Chinese can buy properties in Hong Kong, liquidate the funds and then transfer the money over."
However, the New Zealand Association for Migration and Investment advocacy and policy chairman Jimmy Lee said New Zealand's business migration policy still discriminated against the Chinese.
The association has made a written submission to the Department of Labour, which oversees Immigration, asking it to review its business migration policies.
"From the Immigration figures, we know the Chinese hold the key to how successful the policy will be," Mr Lee said.
"There should be a total review of the business migration policies if the Government is serious about wanting more investor migrants."
Immigration adviser Ming Tiang, who runs Chiwi Immigration Services, says he has at least 10 Chinese clients, with between $1.5 million and $10 million to invest, who could not meet Immigration's "bank transfer only" requirement.
Source:http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10700091
UK, New Zealanders migrate west
HE United Kingdom and New Zealand have topped the list of source countries of migrants to WA, according to latest figures from the immigration department.
In the Department of Immigration and Citizenship’s Settler Arrivals report, released today, showed the number of settler arrivals to WA decreased from 24,463 in 2008-09 to 20,976 in 2009-10.
The number of skilled migrants in WA for 2009-10 was 11,635.
``The number of WA settlers is predicted to rise this year with the improving economic situation and an increased proportion of skilled migrants in the 2010-11 migration program,'' a departmental spokesman said.
The UK was the largest source of migrants to WA for the 2010 financial year, accounting for 19.5 per cent of the total settler arrivals, followed by New Zealand at 11.9 per cent and South Africa at 11.5 per cent.
Nationally, the number of settler arrivals decreased 11 per cent in 2009-10 to 140,610, with New Zealand, China, India, the UK and South Africa the top five source countries.
The Australian government has previously announced it has budgeted a total of 168,700 places for migration for 2010-11, comprising of a total skill stream of 113,850 places, a total family stream of 54,550 places
``This will increase the proportion of skilled migrants to 67.5 per cent of the migration program to further address Australia's needs as the economic climate improves while still ensuring places for family migration and reunion,'' the spokesman said.
Source:http://www.perthnow.com.au/business/news/uk-new-zealanders-migrate-west/story-e6frg2qu-1225991878059
In the Department of Immigration and Citizenship’s Settler Arrivals report, released today, showed the number of settler arrivals to WA decreased from 24,463 in 2008-09 to 20,976 in 2009-10.
The number of skilled migrants in WA for 2009-10 was 11,635.
``The number of WA settlers is predicted to rise this year with the improving economic situation and an increased proportion of skilled migrants in the 2010-11 migration program,'' a departmental spokesman said.
The UK was the largest source of migrants to WA for the 2010 financial year, accounting for 19.5 per cent of the total settler arrivals, followed by New Zealand at 11.9 per cent and South Africa at 11.5 per cent.
Nationally, the number of settler arrivals decreased 11 per cent in 2009-10 to 140,610, with New Zealand, China, India, the UK and South Africa the top five source countries.
The Australian government has previously announced it has budgeted a total of 168,700 places for migration for 2010-11, comprising of a total skill stream of 113,850 places, a total family stream of 54,550 places
``This will increase the proportion of skilled migrants to 67.5 per cent of the migration program to further address Australia's needs as the economic climate improves while still ensuring places for family migration and reunion,'' the spokesman said.
Source:http://www.perthnow.com.au/business/news/uk-new-zealanders-migrate-west/story-e6frg2qu-1225991878059
Australian education market faces hard years
Australian immigration department has forecast tough times ahead for its multi-billion dollar international education sector as it said the student enrollments in the country, including from India, would drop more than half by 2014. Overseas student arrivals would drop more than half from early
2010 levels by June 2014, the department briefing in the Red Book suggested.
The Red Book attributed the decline to a new points test, tougher immigration checks, assaults on students, a stronger dollar, quality audits of education providers, and a fresh US campaign for Indian students.
Local universities and colleges dependent on overseas students will be forced to compete for a reduced pool of 64,500 overseas student arrivals in 2013-14, compared with 134,700 in March last year, a briefing for incoming Immigration Minister Chris Bowen, released this week, said.
The fall would "more than offset the projected increase in net overseas migration from a continued economic recovery", The Australian reported.
The number of offshore student visa applications approved in 2009-10 plummeted by almost a third from the previous year to 158,240, while rejections rose by almost a quarter to 31,726.
"Indications are that grant numbers will fall further in 2010-11," the Red Book said.
The hardest hit international education market was indicated for Victoria where the downturn has stripped tens of millions of dollars of revenue from individual universities and forced some, such as Monash, to make up the shortfall with voluntary redundancies.
Last month, the government announced a review of the student visa program, along with extra support for the international education sector, in response to the precipitous fall in student numbers.
Earlier, the Immigration Department had said unsustainable growth in international student numbers had put the country's international education and skilled migration programmes at risk.
"The risk is that low-quality education providers become 'visa factories', selling a migration outcome they had no right to offer, gaining an advantage over genuine educators," the briefing said.
It slammed the industry as one "characterised by many low-quality and fraudulent operators, with many students seeking permanent residence rather than Australian qualifications".
Even after the government's earlier reforms, the student visa programme remained subject to "integrity" problems, it noted.
The education sector is Australia's fourth-largest export earner, contributing more than 17 billion Australian dollars last year.
The Red Book also noted that the government was facing a backlash from tens of thousands of overseas students caught by the government's reforms to international education visa programs who were facing a blowout in the overseas student queue for permanent visas and likely rejection, despite grandfathering provisions aimed at smoothing the adjustment.
In addition to the processing backlog of 140,000 applications in the general skilled migration category, there were 29,000 people seeking processing for partner places under the family reunion programme.
The department warned the backlogs could spark legal action from disaffected people awaiting processing as, under the Migration Act, a person who lodged a valid application was entitled to a decision.
"The use of priority processing directions in recent years, so as to selectively target applications for skilled migration, in combination with high applicant numbers, has meant that some people are persistently at the bottom of the queue with their application unprocessed," the brief said.
source:http://www.hindustantimes.com/Australian-education-market-faces-hard-years/Article1-648918.aspx
2010 levels by June 2014, the department briefing in the Red Book suggested.
The Red Book attributed the decline to a new points test, tougher immigration checks, assaults on students, a stronger dollar, quality audits of education providers, and a fresh US campaign for Indian students.
Local universities and colleges dependent on overseas students will be forced to compete for a reduced pool of 64,500 overseas student arrivals in 2013-14, compared with 134,700 in March last year, a briefing for incoming Immigration Minister Chris Bowen, released this week, said.
The fall would "more than offset the projected increase in net overseas migration from a continued economic recovery", The Australian reported.
The number of offshore student visa applications approved in 2009-10 plummeted by almost a third from the previous year to 158,240, while rejections rose by almost a quarter to 31,726.
"Indications are that grant numbers will fall further in 2010-11," the Red Book said.
The hardest hit international education market was indicated for Victoria where the downturn has stripped tens of millions of dollars of revenue from individual universities and forced some, such as Monash, to make up the shortfall with voluntary redundancies.
Last month, the government announced a review of the student visa program, along with extra support for the international education sector, in response to the precipitous fall in student numbers.
Earlier, the Immigration Department had said unsustainable growth in international student numbers had put the country's international education and skilled migration programmes at risk.
"The risk is that low-quality education providers become 'visa factories', selling a migration outcome they had no right to offer, gaining an advantage over genuine educators," the briefing said.
It slammed the industry as one "characterised by many low-quality and fraudulent operators, with many students seeking permanent residence rather than Australian qualifications".
Even after the government's earlier reforms, the student visa programme remained subject to "integrity" problems, it noted.
The education sector is Australia's fourth-largest export earner, contributing more than 17 billion Australian dollars last year.
The Red Book also noted that the government was facing a backlash from tens of thousands of overseas students caught by the government's reforms to international education visa programs who were facing a blowout in the overseas student queue for permanent visas and likely rejection, despite grandfathering provisions aimed at smoothing the adjustment.
In addition to the processing backlog of 140,000 applications in the general skilled migration category, there were 29,000 people seeking processing for partner places under the family reunion programme.
The department warned the backlogs could spark legal action from disaffected people awaiting processing as, under the Migration Act, a person who lodged a valid application was entitled to a decision.
"The use of priority processing directions in recent years, so as to selectively target applications for skilled migration, in combination with high applicant numbers, has meant that some people are persistently at the bottom of the queue with their application unprocessed," the brief said.
source:http://www.hindustantimes.com/Australian-education-market-faces-hard-years/Article1-648918.aspx
Australia pressured to speed up skilled migrant applications
More than 140,000 skilled workers hoping to migrate to Australia are caught up in a departmental backlog going back over two years.
Immigration minister Chris Bowen was informed of the backlog in a secret briefing with Australia's Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) late last year, but the details of the briefing have only just been made public.
The backlog has been widely criticised by businessmen who believe that the number of skilled migrants in Australia needs to be swiftly increased in order to help the country ride out the economic crisis.
Australia's rapid recovery from the worldwide economic problems of the past few years has led to what business leaders say is a shortage of workers in many sectors, including engineering, construction and health care, and a consequent risk of inflated wages.
Graham Kraehe, director of the Reserve Bank of Australia, told The Australian: ”I think skills shortages are a major problem and if we don’t increase the amount of skilled migration then we are going to have some real pressure on wages.
“Two things are critical: one is some measures to improve productivity, which has been very poor in the last three or four years and declining; and the second is to increase the skilled immigration quotas so we can address what is already a shortage and something that is putting pressure on project costs and more broadly will put pressure on wages costs in the community.”
Source:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/offshorefinance/8246329/Australia-pressured-to-speed-up-skilled-migrant-applications.html
Immigration minister Chris Bowen was informed of the backlog in a secret briefing with Australia's Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) late last year, but the details of the briefing have only just been made public.
The backlog has been widely criticised by businessmen who believe that the number of skilled migrants in Australia needs to be swiftly increased in order to help the country ride out the economic crisis.
Australia's rapid recovery from the worldwide economic problems of the past few years has led to what business leaders say is a shortage of workers in many sectors, including engineering, construction and health care, and a consequent risk of inflated wages.
Graham Kraehe, director of the Reserve Bank of Australia, told The Australian: ”I think skills shortages are a major problem and if we don’t increase the amount of skilled migration then we are going to have some real pressure on wages.
“Two things are critical: one is some measures to improve productivity, which has been very poor in the last three or four years and declining; and the second is to increase the skilled immigration quotas so we can address what is already a shortage and something that is putting pressure on project costs and more broadly will put pressure on wages costs in the community.”
Source:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/offshorefinance/8246329/Australia-pressured-to-speed-up-skilled-migrant-applications.html
Australia Immigration Boost Essential
There have been a number of calls for the Federal Government of Australia to boost their migration intake to prevent rising inflation and wage competition.
Since 2009 the Australian economy has been restricted by slowing population growth and this could continue for years ahead, putting increasing pressure on the Department of Immigration.
The economy is predicted to grow at around 3-4 per cent for the next two years and ANZ head of property research Paul Braddick believes that migration needs to be lifted if the economy grows beyond the 3 per cent level:
"Where net migration numbers are heading in the next year or so, that [growth] will probably reduce to something like 2.5 to 3 per cent".
With a growing economy the demand for labour is expected to increase significantly. With the flooding disaster still being dealt with and a mining boom currently underway, companies are beginning to compete with each other on salary to keep their workforce.
Braddick went on to say that the strain that this increased workload is putting on the economy could be detrimental to the country. Boosting the migration will allow migrants to fill up the extra job spaces and the economy would continue its growth comfortably.
While there is a shortage of housing in Australia’s biggest cities, Braddick doesn’t believe that an increase in migration will cause problems for the housing market: "In a sense it is a double-edged sword in that one of the restrictions that we see on new dwelling construction is a lack of available labour."
"While training programs are to be supported over the next couple of years, in the short term the only way we are going to really deal with the demands on the construction industry is to import that labour."
The unemployment rate in Australia has been falling since the country recovered from recession and it is expected to fall further when new data is made available. With the unemployment rate reaching the lowest point for years it seems that skilled migrants will be needed to fill labour shortages.
Source:http://www.emigrationgroup.co.uk/282/Australia-Immigration-Boost-Essential
Since 2009 the Australian economy has been restricted by slowing population growth and this could continue for years ahead, putting increasing pressure on the Department of Immigration.
The economy is predicted to grow at around 3-4 per cent for the next two years and ANZ head of property research Paul Braddick believes that migration needs to be lifted if the economy grows beyond the 3 per cent level:
"Where net migration numbers are heading in the next year or so, that [growth] will probably reduce to something like 2.5 to 3 per cent".
With a growing economy the demand for labour is expected to increase significantly. With the flooding disaster still being dealt with and a mining boom currently underway, companies are beginning to compete with each other on salary to keep their workforce.
Braddick went on to say that the strain that this increased workload is putting on the economy could be detrimental to the country. Boosting the migration will allow migrants to fill up the extra job spaces and the economy would continue its growth comfortably.
While there is a shortage of housing in Australia’s biggest cities, Braddick doesn’t believe that an increase in migration will cause problems for the housing market: "In a sense it is a double-edged sword in that one of the restrictions that we see on new dwelling construction is a lack of available labour."
"While training programs are to be supported over the next couple of years, in the short term the only way we are going to really deal with the demands on the construction industry is to import that labour."
The unemployment rate in Australia has been falling since the country recovered from recession and it is expected to fall further when new data is made available. With the unemployment rate reaching the lowest point for years it seems that skilled migrants will be needed to fill labour shortages.
Source:http://www.emigrationgroup.co.uk/282/Australia-Immigration-Boost-Essential
Engineers skilled migration to Australia
If you want to migrate to Australia and require an engineering skills assessment, please contact us.
Current assessment turnaround time
Current assessment turnaround time
As long as your submission is complete and correct:
- Non-accredited qualifications – turnaround is currently about 16 weeks from the date of receipt. Note this time can be highly variable depending on numbers of incoming applications
- Accredited Australian and Accord qualifications – up to 3 weeks.
Note: This advice supersedes that given on pages 7 and 25 of the MSA Booklet for the foreseeable future.
Do you have a non-recognised qualifications
The Summary Statement tables below will assist you in preparing your CDR. Choose the one relevant to your occupational category and complete it after you have written your three Career Episodes. Then print your Summary Statement and include it with your application.
- Summary Statement of Professional Engineer (DOC 44kb)
- Summary Statement of Engineering Technologist (DOC 47kb)
- Summary Statement of Engineering Associate (DOC 46kb)
- Summary Statement of Engineering Manager (DOC 20kb)
Do you have an accredited qualification?
- Australian Engineering Qualifications
- Professional Engineering Qualifications (Washington Accord)
- Engineering Technologist Qualifications (Sydney Accord)
VETASSESS trade skills assessment process specified countries
VETASSESS conducts trade skills assessments under the General Skilled Migration Program (GSM) for people with trade skills intending to migrate to Australia from specified countries. From the 5 December 2010 this service is expanding to include additional countries and occupations.
Am I eligible?
People who are citizens in one of the following countries can apply to VETASSESS:
* India
* Sri Lanka
* United Kingdom
* South Africa
* Philippines
* China
* Ireland
* Korea (Sth)
* United Arab Emirates
The nominated ANZSCO trades are:
* Bricklayer (331111)
* Carpenter (331212)
* Joiner (331213)
* Carpenter and Joiner (331211)
* Electrician (General) (341111)
* Plumber (General) (334111)
* Motor Mechanic (General) (321211)
* Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic (342111)
* Diesel Motor Mechanic (Heavy Vehicle) (321212)
* Electronic Equipment Trades Worker (342313)
* Metal Fabricator (322311)
* Sheetmetal Trades Worker (322211)
* Vehicle Painter (324311)
* Welder (First Class) (322313)
The skills assessment is one part of the visa application. Another requirement is:
* a minimum International English Language Testing score outcome of 6 each.
More information
Meet the criteria above? Find out what is involved in the VETASSESS trade skills assessment process Australia.
Source: www.vetassess.com.au
Am I eligible?
People who are citizens in one of the following countries can apply to VETASSESS:
* India
* Sri Lanka
* United Kingdom
* South Africa
* Philippines
* China
* Ireland
* Korea (Sth)
* United Arab Emirates
The nominated ANZSCO trades are:
* Bricklayer (331111)
* Carpenter (331212)
* Joiner (331213)
* Carpenter and Joiner (331211)
* Electrician (General) (341111)
* Plumber (General) (334111)
* Motor Mechanic (General) (321211)
* Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic (342111)
* Diesel Motor Mechanic (Heavy Vehicle) (321212)
* Electronic Equipment Trades Worker (342313)
* Metal Fabricator (322311)
* Sheetmetal Trades Worker (322211)
* Vehicle Painter (324311)
* Welder (First Class) (322313)
The skills assessment is one part of the visa application. Another requirement is:
* a minimum International English Language Testing score outcome of 6 each.
More information
Meet the criteria above? Find out what is involved in the VETASSESS trade skills assessment process Australia.
Source: www.vetassess.com.au
Closure of IT Applications under Victorian State Migration
The Victorian Government now has a formal agreement with the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship, concerning the state sponsorship of skilled migrants to Victoria under the Skilled - Sponsored (176 and 886) and Skilled - Regional Sponsored (475 and 487) visas. This agreement is called the State Migration Plan.
Under the agreement, the number of skilled migrants that the Victorian Government can sponsor against each occupation listed on the State Sponsorship Eligibility Lists is limited by a quota, and by an overall cap on the total number of applications that can be sponsored each year. This limit is set by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.
For 2010-11 Victoria’s cap is 4,500 visa grants, which includes primary and secondary applicants.
To inform you when the limit has been reached for an occupation, advice will be placed against the relevant occupation/s on the State Sponsorship Eligibility Lists stating that applications are not currently being accepted for that occupation.
We are writing to inform you that no further applications for ICT occupations will be accepted after 30 January 2011 as places remaining are limited. All applications currently in process, and received prior to this date, will be assessed against current guidelines and the availability of places under the annual occupational quotas. An outcome will be provided in due course.
Visa applications based on Victorian Government sponsorship will not be affected by this closure. Applications for all other occupations eligible for Victorian Government sponsorship remain open, unless otherwise indicated on the State Sponsorship Eligibility Lists
Under the agreement, the number of skilled migrants that the Victorian Government can sponsor against each occupation listed on the State Sponsorship Eligibility Lists is limited by a quota, and by an overall cap on the total number of applications that can be sponsored each year. This limit is set by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.
For 2010-11 Victoria’s cap is 4,500 visa grants, which includes primary and secondary applicants.
To inform you when the limit has been reached for an occupation, advice will be placed against the relevant occupation/s on the State Sponsorship Eligibility Lists stating that applications are not currently being accepted for that occupation.
We are writing to inform you that no further applications for ICT occupations will be accepted after 30 January 2011 as places remaining are limited. All applications currently in process, and received prior to this date, will be assessed against current guidelines and the availability of places under the annual occupational quotas. An outcome will be provided in due course.
Visa applications based on Victorian Government sponsorship will not be affected by this closure. Applications for all other occupations eligible for Victorian Government sponsorship remain open, unless otherwise indicated on the State Sponsorship Eligibility Lists
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