Hot News and Events
23-07-2008 - How safe are houses down under?
27-06-2008 - Thinking of applying to emigrate without an agent?
23-06-2008 - News on the impending return of Pathway D for TRA skills assessments
06-06-2008 - Britain is the Number 1 source of migrants to Australia...
29-05-2008 - Changes to the MODL
28-05-2008 - Plumbers urgently required for Calgary, Alberta, Canada
06-03-2008 - Should construction workers be looking to build a new life overseas?
04-03-2008 - Canada rated Top of the Table
29-02-2008 - Britain's "brain drain" v elsewhere's "brain gain"
04-02-2008 - Changes to Skilled Migrant Category in New Zealand
30-01-08 - Business & Skilled Migrants just can't get enough of Western Australia (PDF)
11-01-2008 - Alberta crying out for Nurses
04-01-2008 - Demand to Emigrate shows no sign of letting up
19-10-2007 - Speed up your move to Alberta and British Columbia
18-09-2007 - The 476 'Recognised Graduate' Visa for Australia
31-08-2007 - Alberta Oils the Wheels For Fast Emigration
31-08-2007 - * UPDATED * Australia wants you! * UPDATED *
02-08-2007 - Changes to the Australian MODL
07-06-2007 - RBA Leave Interest Rates On Hold
15-05-2007 - Australian Immigration changes
17-01-2007 - The latest EOI selection for NZ has taken place
17-11-2006 - Australian Real Estate Newsletter
Hello from Melbourne
Construction workers wanted in Alberta, Canada
Canada Tax News
Canadian 2006 Intercity Comparison of Taxes and Household Charges
New Skills Assessing authority for Teachers emigrating to Australia
The latest EOI selection for NZ has taken place...
The latest Expression of Interest (EOI) selection has taken place.....
- 661 EOI's were selected that had a points total of 140 or more
- 165 EOI's were selected that had a points total of 100 or more but less than 140 & had an offer of skilled employment
- A total of 826 EOIs were selected in total.
For more information please visit the Immigration New Zealand's website
Australian Real Estate Newsletter
The latest edition of the Australian Real Estate newsletter is now available, please click the link below to view it.
Hello from Melbourne
If seeing is believing, you had better believe Shellee and Nathan Hobbs who recently sent Four Corners these hearty greetings from Melbourne, Victoria:
"I can't believe we've been here almost two years already - the time has just flown by and we're still loving it every bit as much as when we first arrived here. We've now moved into the suburbs (about 15 minutes from the city) and love having the space. We have also added to our family with two very gorgeous puppies who really make us feel at home.
We had our first trip back to the UK for two family weddings. It was nice to visit and re-confirm why we left. Returning to Melbourne really felt like coming home. We'll be applying for our citizenship in February 2007 and will start to look into buying a house now that we've decided which area we want to live in.
As for holidays - trust me, Australia is keeping us more than busy! So many fantastic yet different places to explore, and all in our own country. We are also planning a trip to Samoa next year with some friends. With what's here and the islands that surround us, I think we'll be kept busy for many holidays to come."
One of the weddings the Hobbs' attended was that of Shellee's sister. Naturally, she simply had to honeymoon Down Under so that she could see for herself what made Shellee so happy. Should anyone be left in any doubt (as if) here's a digital snap to prove it.
Relevant Links: Melbourne City, Melbourne City Life
Are you looking for fast-tracking to Alberta or Saskatchewan, Canada?
Do any of these scenarios apply to you?
- Has the extended processing period for a Canadian residency visa put you off applying?
- Are you ready to go and wanting to be there within 12 months?
- Do you not meet the current pass mark and need a job offer for those all important extra points?
Readily available are employment opportunities across Alberta or Saskatchewan for the following skilled occupations:
- Skilled Construction Trades
- carpenters
- kitchen fitters
- cabinetmakers
- bricklayers
- cement finishers
- electricians
- Metalworking Trades
- fitters
- plant mechanics
- welders
- tool & die makers
Another great advantage is that we are based here in the UK; you do not have to call Canada to find out more!!!
Interested?? Don't waste any more time, compete the full assessment form on this website that enables us to determine what we can provide for you, thereafter you can meet with one of our consultants in a regional centre such as Manchester, Newcastle, Bristol or London.
For more information, please visit www.immi.gov.au
Canada Tax News
The Canadian Budget for 2006 contains a cracking piece of news: a reduction of 1% in GST/HST (goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax) on most goods and services consumed in Canada.
As of July 2006, these tax rates will be reduced to 6% and 14% respectively. If you want to find out how this will impact on the property you are thinking to purchase, visit Canada Revenue on www.cra-arc.gc.ca and follow the Budget link.
Relevant official weblinks for the news, Canada Customs: www.cra-arc.gc.ca
New Skills Assessing authority for Teachers emigrating to Australia
From the 1st of November 2006 all applications for the assessment of teaching qualifications for migration will be processed by the organisation, Teaching Australia.
Any applications received by the current assessing body, NOOSR, after the 31st of October 2006 will be returned to the applicant. Relevant links: www.immi.gov.au
RBA Leave Interest Rates On Hold
Australia's central bank held interest rates unchanged at 6.25 percent on Wednesday the 6th of June, a decision widely expected by investors given the slowdown in inflation seen in the last two quarters. Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Glenn Stevens announced their decision in Sydney on Wednesday 6th of June and because the decision was to leave rates unchanged, an accompanying statement was not issued.
Despite stable borrowing costs buoying consumer confidence and fuelling a housing recovery that could stoke a 16-year economic expansion, the current interest rate was deemed high enough to curb potential inflation pressure. The economy grew at the fastest pace in more than three years in the first quarter, the government said, which may ignite inflation and prompt an interest-rate increase in early 2008.
In the near term, rates are likely hold because inflation is unlikely to rise materially. Having said that, experts expect growth in domestic demand to be very strong, and a rate increase could be likely in the first half of 2008.
For a UK migrant heading to Australia, increased inflation will mean that the cost of living increases as goods and services get more expensive, this is yet another reason why it is so important to implement a finance plan before exiting the U.K. and be fully aware how to get the most out of your Sterling when exchanging to the Australian dollar.
Migration currency specialists HiFX have made the whole financial aspect of your migration as simply as possible, right the way through to opening bank accounts for you on arrival.
When transferring your assets from Sterling to Australian dollars, interest rates and the inflation outlook impact the currency markets and will therefore have a direct impact on a migrants future wealth. But how can you protect yourself if your funds are tied up in your property for example?
Even if you do not have all the funds available, you can buy currency with a forward contract. This is when you fix the rate of exchange at the time with a 10% deposit, but do not have to pay the remaining 90% until you need or have the money available. Rates can be fixed for up to 2 years and a forward contract is flexible to allow for changing time scales. By locking into an exchange rate, you are guaranteeing your future wealth or securing the cost of any purchases in both dollars and sterling.
There is no need to put your self under pressure to change your money in one transaction and many people chose to spread the risk of currency movements by changing their money in tranches. To discuss your requirements in more detail and for a free currency consultation please contact the Migration Team at HIFX plc on 01753 859 159 or by emailing us at migration@hifx.co.uk
Changes to the Australian MODL
The Australian Department of Immigration has recently added more skilled occupations to its Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL). These are as follows:
- Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Avionics)
- Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Mechanical)
- Architect
- Computing Professional specialising in Sybase SQL
- External Auditor
- Furniture Finisher
- Locksmith
- Optical Mechanic
- Painter & Decorator
- Quantity surveyor
It is important to note that after September 1st 2007 all migrant claiming the 15 points for being on the MODL will have to demonstrate at least 12 months experience in that occupation or one that is regarded as 'closely related'.
Applicants nominating a MODL occupation will continue to receive priority processing by DIAC.
* UPDATED * Australia wants you!
The annual target figure for skilled workers has been increased from 97,000 to 102,500 with the following occupations being in particular demand:
- Teachers
- Doctors
- Accountants
- Plumbers
- Nurses
- Carpenters
- Dentists
- IT Managers
- English language test - extra points awarded for passing the English test
- Family sponsorship - the overall pass mark required has been reduced
- Work experience - requirements have been simplified
- MODL - it will be easier to get points for an Australian job offer
- Australian experience / education - extra points awarded for those who have Australian work experience / Australian qualifications
- Skilled Independent Regional Visas - the overall pass mark required has been reduced and extra points are available for nominations by the state government
Four Corners, as one of the UK's leading emigration specialists, has already helped thousands of people every step of the way. So if you want to take advantage of these changes, please either call us now on 0161 608 1608 or complete our Free Online Eligibility Check
Alberta Oils the Wheels For Fast Emigration
Starting to a new life across the globe can often be a lengthy, protracted process but thanks to the discovery of vast oil sands reserves in Alberta province in Canada, UK citizens are now emigrating to vibrant cities such as Calgary in less than four months.
Calgary has experienced a prolonged period of sustained economic growth which many Brits are now also enjoying. According to the North West's leading emigration experts, Four Corners Emigration who have been helping people migrate to Canada for the past ten years, Calgary currently offers fantastic opportunities to a wide range of skilled and semi-skilled workers and their families.
Skills in demand include bricklayers, carpenters, plumbers and gas fitters, burglar alarm installers, glaziers, sheet metal workers, vehicle mechanics, panel beaters, vehicle paint sprayers, floor layers and there are even multiple vacancies for window and door factory assembly workers.
David Roberts, Client Services Manager, Four Corners Emigration explains:
"Calgary is a real boom town. Employment opportunities are abundant and employers will hold a job vacancy for you whilst you undertake the eight month process to get a work permit".
"Those workers who do not have qualifications other than UK secondary school but have many years of trade expertise to offer are invariably not eligible to emigrate. However the job offer completely reverses that situation making them a very attractive proposition to Canadian employers"
Four Corners provides access to many employment vacancies and can handle the whole process of applying for a work permit that will allow relocation to start the job in just four months followed by the process to apply for permanent residency.
For further advice contact us on 0161 608 1608
The 476 'Recognised Graduate' Visa for Australia
Have you graduated recently with an engineering degree from any of the UK Universities listed below? If so you could well qualify for the 476 visa which gives you 18 months in Australia with complete freedom to work or study. This visa does not carry the restrictions associated with the 1 - year working holiday visa (WHV)
Once in Australia you can then be working toward permanent residency through any of the following routes:
- employer sponsorship
- meeting the skilled visa criteria
- regional sponsorship
Recognised UK Universities:
Imperial College
University of Leeds
University of Nottingham
University of Birmingham
University of Portsmouth
University of Southampton
University of Manchester
Camborne School of Mines
Speed up your move to Alberta and British Columbia
The process to emigrate to British Columbia and Alberta was streamlined thanks to improvements to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). The TFWP allows employers to hire foreign workers when sufficient numbers of Canadian workers are not readily available.
The initial 12-month pilot project, titled E-LMO, standing for Expedited Labour Market Opinion, has been developed as a response to regional labour and skill shortages. An LMO gives Canadian employers the right to hire foreign nationals and thanks to this initiative, its processing time will be reduced from five months to 3-5 days. Further measures have also been put in place to strengthen protection for foreign workers e.g. to ensure they benefit from prevailing wage rates.
The specific occupations affected are:
- Carpenters
- Crane Operators
- Hotel & Hospitality Room Attendants
- Hotel Front Desk Clerks
- Food & Beverage Servers
- Food Counter Attendants
- Tour & Travel Guides
- Registered Nurses
- Dental Technicians
- Pharmacists
- Snowboard and Ski Instructors
- Retail Sales Persons and Sales Clerks
So if you work in one of the above occupations, and you fancy following suit then please either call us now on 0161 608 1608 or complete our Free Online Eligibility Check. We will then send you a Four Corners Information Pack which tells you more about us, how we can help you and details our simple and straightforward 5-step process to starting your new life abroad. As the program is only running for twelve months, you should act now to take advantage of this great initiative.
Demand to Emigrate shows no sign of letting up
It comes as little surprise that the latest figures from the Office of National Statistics show that the numbers leaving the UK to enjoy new and exciting lives overseas are strong as ever and according to the figures, commuter towns in the south and the northwest are the country's emigration hotspots.
The study ranked local authority areas according to net international emigration i.e. the number of people moving abroad less those coming into the UK from 2001 to 2006 inclusive. The top three local authorities where net emigration is greatest were as follows:
- Wirral - 7,500 moved overseas and only 4,200 immigrated to the UK
- Poole - 6,200 moved overseas and only 3,400 moved to the UK
- Stockport - 8,500 moved overseas and only 6,300 arrived
Amongst the many reasons cited for wanting to move abroad, a universal response is the desire for a better quality of life. This is particularly prevalent amongst young families whilst those who are slightly older often wish to cash in on the UK's high house prices and benefit from getting more house for less money elsewhere. Other motivations include the desire for a better climate, a better work/life balance, better employment opportunities and improved health & education systems.
The Institute for Public Policy Research estimated in 2007 that 5.5m Britons have already moved abroad and that another 1m will do so by 2011. The top destination is Australia with Canada and New Zealand falling shortly behind.
If you want to enjoy all the benefits of living overseas, like so many have done before you, please call us on 0161 608 1608 or complete our Free Online Eligibility Check. We will then send you a Four Corners Information Pack which tells you more about us, how we can help you and details our simple and straightforward 5-step process to starting your new life abroad.
Alberta crying out for Nurses
Such is the extent of Alberta's shortage of nurses, that the Canadian government is making an investment of over half a million Canadian dollars to test an innovative off-shore assessment programme for nurses from overseas emigrating to Canada.
According to Canada's Ministry for Health, Tony Clement, "Projects such as this will help to alleviate Canada's nursing shortage, which in turn will lead to improved care and a reduction in wait times. This is a ground-breaking initiative, in which the Government of Canada is proud to take part"
"Canada has a skills shortage and skilled immigrants want to contribute to our country by working in the fields for which they've been trained. We want to help them do that and one of the best ways is to help them get their credentials assessed before they enter the country so that when they arrive, they can find work faster in their fields" said Diane Finley, Canada's Minister for Citizenship and Immigration.
Thanks to this new pilot project, 36 nurses will be assessed overseas, with their language, knowledge and competencies measured against Registered Nurse (RN) competency standards. In the event that supplementary learning is required, the candidates will be informed in advance. In the past, overseas nurses wanting to work in Alberta have had to travel to Mount Royal College in Calgary to undertake the assessment exams.
Essentially, the project aims to speed up the process of recruitment by enabling international nurses to undergo their assessment before they immigrate to Canada. Assessments are scheduled to take place in London, Dublin, Dubai, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. The initiative will enable overseas nurses to put their skills to work more quickly once they arrive in Canada, and it will also mean that any areas where further learning is required are identified and rectified earlier in the process.
"I am thrilled that this project is taking place here in Alberta," said Lee Richardson, MP for Calgary. And no doubt that if this project proves successful, it will be extended to cover other jurisdictions who are also considering offshore assessment processes.
If you are a nurse, fancy a life-changing experience in this land of opportunity and want to benefit from this exciting programme, please call us on 0161 608 1608 or complete our Free Online Eligibility Check. We will then send you a Four Corners Information Pack which tells you more about us, how we can help you and details our simple and straightforward 5-step process to starting your new life abroad.
Changes to Skilled Migrant Category in New Zealand
The changes affect how New Zealand assesses whether an applicant's current job in New Zealand or their job offer, if they are applying from outside New Zealand, is considered 'skilled employment'.
Immigration authorities will also adjust which qualifications are eligible for the points-based system currently in place. Applicants require at least 100 points to be entered into the pool of potential migrants. Every fortnight, a number of individuals from the pool are selected by the authorities. Those scoring at least 140 points are automatically selected and then those scoring between 100 and 140 points and are either currently employed in New Zealand or have a valid job offer in New Zealand are also selected, until the quota is reached for that selection round.
Skilled Employment
The new Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) will be used as the basis for assessing whether an applicant's job or job offer is skilled employment. The ANZSCO is a list of occupations with a description of the core tasks involved for each job, the work experience needed to do the job, and a numerical 'skill level'. The skill level is scored between one and five, with one being the highest.
New Zealand immigration authorities will consider skill levels one to three as 'skilled employment'. Applicants will be required to show that their job offer is consistent with ANZSCO's description of the occupation, and that they have the required qualifications and/or work experience. In some cases, there will be a minimum salary requirement.
Recognised Qualifications
New Zealand awards points for qualifications based on the NZQA's 'Register of Quality Assured Qualifications'. Qualifications are ranked from one (Certificates) to 10 (Doctorates).
Under these new changes, qualifications at level four (certificates for specified acceptable trades) will only earn points under this category if they are also National Qualifications Framework qualifications or assessed as comparable to a New Zealand National Certificate by the NZQA. Only some level three qualifications, listed in the Register of Quality Assured Qualifications as exceptions, will be recognized for the award of points.
Further details about the changes can be found at www.immigration.govt.nz
If you are considering starting a new life in New Zealand, please call us on 0161 608 1608 or complete our Free Online Eligibility Check. We will then send you a Four Corners Information Pack which tells you more about us, how we can help you and details our simple and straightforward 5-step process to starting your new life overseas.
Britain's "brain drain" v elsewhere's "brain gain"
The report, by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, highlights that Britain is experiencing the worst "brain drain" of any country as more and more highly qualified professionals settle abroad.
There are now over 3.2 million British-born people living abroad, of whom more than 1.1 million are highly-skilled university graduates. Moreover, more than three quarters of these professionals have settled abroad for more than 10 years. The figures, based on official records of more than 220 countries, show that other than Mexico, no other nation is losing so many qualified people - a particular worry when considering the cost to the taxpayer of educating graduates. The cost, for example, of training a junior doctor, is £250,000.
The most popular destinations are English-speaking countries such as Australia, America, Canada and New Zealand and holiday areas including France and Spain.
The report, a statistical analysis, does not study the motivation for leaving Britain, although it will come as no surprise that high house prices and taxes along with our poor climate are frequently cited. Many British people also see opportunities to move and work abroad as part of their personal development.
The OECD found that more than 27% of those emigrating had health or education qualifications, 37% had humanities or social science degrees and 29% were scientists or engineers. Britain has a shortage of graduates in many of these fields and universities have long warned that many are being lost to higher salaries abroad. In comparison, around 62% of the worlds top scientists live in the US, for the most part due to the efforts to attract them made by American research institutes.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics last year, suggested that 207,000 Britons - one every three minutes - left in 2006. The emigration rate is at its highest since just after the Second World War so it's just as well that although we have lost substantial numbers of people, we have attracted more than a million skilled immigrants to replace them.
If you want to find out more about the lifestyle benefits of living overseas, please call us on 0161 608 1608 or complete our Free Online Eligibility Check. We will then send you a Four Corners Information Pack which tells you more about us, how we can help you and details our simple and straightforward 5-step process to starting your new life overseas.
Canada rated Top of the Table
The report, undertaken by the NatWest in conjunction with the Centre for Future Studies surveyed British expats throughout the world. It reveals that a better way of life is the strongest reason for wanting to escape Britain, followed closely by standard and cost of living.
The figures speak for themselves:
- 90% feel they have a better quality of live overseas
- 87% say their life abroad is better than expected
- 60% do not intend to return to the UK
- 81% have a greater sense of wellbeing
Overall the report reinforced the widely held belief that British expats are healthier, wealthier and happier, regardless of where they move to. Also, the motivation to leave stems not only from dissatisfaction with the UK but also the prospects to be enjoyed abroad.
The study also revealed that the number seeking to move overseas is likely to grow in the future, not helped by a naturally ageing population and an increasing number of Britons wishing to retire abroad.
If you want to find out more about the lifestyle benefits of living overseas, please call us on 0161 608 1608 or complete our Free Online Eligibility Check. We will then send you a Four Corners Information Pack which tells you more about us, how we can help you and details our simple and straightforward 5-step process to starting your new life overseas.
Should construction workers be looking to build a new life overseas?
In fact, according to the Times, bricklayers, carpenters and plasterers may soon face wage cuts of up to 10%. Skilled labourers in parts of the Midlands and the North of England will be hardest hit. Some of Britain's largest housebuilders in these parts have already started to slow down the rate of construction on existing sites.
Neil Fitzsimmons, chief executive of housebuilder Redrow, has reportedly started talks with his suppliers to cut costs from between 2% and 10%, ranging from worker contracts to the price of carpets and curtains. Barratt, the UK's second-largest builder, is forecast to sell 18,300 new homes by June this year' considerably less than the 21,500 homes sold in the same period last year.
Ultimatey, there is less trade on the sites - a slowdown in build rates. This reduces demand - and therefore wages. Although the basic minimum wage agreed by the construction industry for skilled craftsmen is £9.72 per hour, bricklayers regularly command more. Add in overtime and bonuses, and many experienced skilled labourers have been able to comfortably gross at least £50,000 a year for several years.
In recent weeks, many construction employers have seen a surge in calls from contractors worried about their work flow. These calls will most likely continue whilst the sector remains dampened and wages squeezed.
If you are affected by this slow-down, perhaps now is the time to seriously consider the abundant work opportunities and fantastic lifestyle benefits to be enjoyed overseas? Please call us on 0161 608 1608 or complete our Free Online Eligibility Check. We will then send you a Four Corners Information Pack which tells you more about us, how we can help you and details our simple and straightforward 5-step process to starting your new life overseas.
Plumbers urgently required for Calgary, Alberta, Canada
We are looking to fill some 35 vacancies for plumbers across numerous construction companies in Calgary. These roles will ideally suit general plumbers with good experience of either new build installations or general domestic repair/renewal. Candidates MUST have good City & Guilds qualifications in plumbing. 6 years post qualification experience in general plumbing is required. Typical rates of pay are Ca$35 per hour.
Relocation to Calgary within 6-8 months is readily possible under a temporary work permit, with full work rights for your spouse/partner and schooling for your children.
Only seriously interested applicants are invited to apply; please e-mail a CV to info@fourcorners.net with 'Plumber for Canada' in the subject line. You will be responded to within 48 hours. Interviews will be held in Newcastle, Manchester, Bristol and London.
Changes to the MODL
The following occupations have been added to the Migration Occupations in Demand List:
- Engineering Manager
- Computing Professional - spec. in Data Warehousing
- Computing Professional - spec. in Linux
- Computing Professional - spec. in .Net technologies
- Computing Professional - spec. in Solaris
- Computing Professional - spec. in Unix
- Electronics Engineer
- Optometrist
- Dental Technican
- Binder and Finisher
- Landscape Gardener
- Tree Surgeon
An IT specialist occupation has been removed:
Computing Professional - spec. in Sybase SQL Server
The source of migrants to Australia
During the 2006/07 migration year, Britain was the number one source for migrants to Australia. In total 23,906 Brits migrated 'down under' attracted by the warmer climate, lower cost of living and lower crime levels.
In total, Britain has lost around 83,000 members of its population to Australia in the past decade. In the last 5 years alone, emigration to Australia by the British has seen a rise of 300 per cent. It is estimated that there are around 1,300,000 Brits currently enjoying the Australian way of life. This number is set to increase further with Australia's Department of Immigration increasing the number of visas available by 31,000.
Almost a third of all Brits leaving the country headed to Australia and New Zealand; the most popular destination being the state of Western Australia with well over 7000 British emigrants making it their new home last year.
Australia has enjoyed an increasingly healthy economy in recent years; during the last 15 years, the standard of living has consistently increased and in 2006 surpassed all Group of Eight countries, except the US. Inflation is low, jobs are aplenty and demand for the country's mineral resources show no sign of letting up. Western Australia, in particular, is enjoying the biggest mining-led surge in its history.
Still, you get far more for your pound down under as the figures below reveal:
| UK | Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| Average weekly earnings | £439 | £523 |
| Average home price | £213,330 | £197,000 |
| Weekly housing costs | £143 | £85 |
| Petrol | £1.04 | 70p |
| Private medical insurance | £145 | £64 |
| Tax on purchases | 17.5% (VAT) | 10% (GST) |
If you feel drawn by the lure of Oz, please call us on 0161 608 1608 or complete our Free Online Eligibility Check. We will then send you a Four Corners Information Pack which tells you more about us, how we can help you and details our simple and straightforward 5-step process to starting your new life overseas.
News on the impending return of Pathway D for TRA skills assessments
The Migration Institute of Australia (MIA) has issued the following bulletin in respect of the return of Pathway D for TRA skills assessments:
"The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations have finally responded to lobbying from the MIA in relation to a replacement for 'Pathway D'.
The exact nature of the new pathway has not yet been determined and the MIA will be formally consulted next week as DEEWR is working to a tight timetable that aims to have the new pathway introduced from 1 August 2008.
I will report to members after those consultations but I am would be very surprised if the new arrangements continued to place heavy emphasis on evidence of skills based on employer references. I expect that the consultation will focus on practical issues around a new pathway that might give recognition to prior learning, formal qualifications, guild membership, trade licences, government or educational institutional recognition of skills, etc.
The MIA will put forward suggestions about how trade skill recognition could be broadened so that Australia resumes accepting skilled tradespeople whose expertise is based on their experience. This will include suggesting that such applicants be given the option of demonstrating their skills through a skill-testing arrangement.
In short, there are good prospects for a new pathway soon but it is likely to be one that is quite different from the previous 'Pathway D'."
Further details on the replacement of pathway D will be posted as they are received.
Thinking of applying to emigrate without an agent?
If you're thinking of emigrating overseas and contemplating doing so without the help of a Registered Migration Agent, there are a number of reasons why you should reconsider and avoid doing it yourself:
It is believed that in excess of 25% of applications fall at the very first hurdle by making errors on the initial application forms. With a clear shift towards 'on-line' applications this number is only expected to increase. One cannot re-write history and if an initial application has been declined by the government it is difficult to assemble a fresh application with a new 'twist'.
The process to emigrate is lengthy and involves a number of keystone stages. Being unable to understand and interpret what is required at each stage of the process leads to frustration for the would be 'do-it-yourself' migrant. The anxiety and frustration arising from not understanding what is required leads to them dropping out of the process with their dreams of a new life juddering to a close - not to mention the lost application fees. If you look for help to the government departments handling immigration applications you will be sadly disappointed; they are too busy to connect with your needs and will definitely not provide step by step advice on what to do and when. Government web sites only describe a process to be followed, not what factors are pertinent to your occupational or family circumstances.
The message is very clear; in economic times like these when every pound of the family budget counts, investing wisely is the only rule to follow. The price of a new life overseas is comparable with a decent new kitchen so make sure you are going to get what you want - seek proper advice from a Registered Migration Agent with a track record that boasts experience in breadth and depth of differing occupational and family circumstances. Moreover that advice is best sought face to face - if you believe a short telephone conversation or exchange of e-mails is the way forward you are not respecting the migration process. You must make sure the agent is given every opportunity to analyse diligently any problems that may crop up en route to that visa.
How safe are houses down under?
For most migrants, finding a place to call a home is top of the list of things to do upon arrival. To hear that the Melbourne property market has come to a screaming halt, the Brisbane market is sluggish or the Sydney market flat may give investors an ulcer but is music to the ear of a prospective migrant.
The current instability of global economic conditions has also burst the Australian housing bubble. Whilst many Australian real estate experts think house prices to have been inflated for some time, consistently high demand and an equally consistent shortage of new construction have now combined with a hike in mortgage interest rate and put affordability at risk. If house prices were four times the annual household income ten years ago, they are now six to eight times.
Investors are preparing for stagnation in the property market but expect Sydney to recover first (it has the lowest rate of home building in the nation) closely followed by Brisbane whose exceptional economic performance has brought wealth into the region and affordability even at current rates.
But prospective migrants would ear-mark Perth for a place to call a home. It is anything but investors' favourite: it has seen a lot of building activity of late, north and south of the city, and the huge price rises of recent months are deemed unlikely to persist. City of Culture Melbourne and Family Favourite Adelaide, too, are expected to remain sluggish for a good while.
Anyone heading Down Under within the next year should therefore keep a close eye on the property market by regularly visiting www.homepriceguide.com.au, the website of the Australian Property Monitor, a supplier of online property price information to the financial markets and professional real estate agents.
| Ave. house price | Vacancy rate | Rents p/w | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adelaide | $362,100 | 1.7% | $270 |
| Brisbane | $416,500 | 2.2% | $320 |
| Melbourne | $362,100 | 1.6% | $280 |
| Perth | $460,000 | 1.4% | $335 |
| Sydney | $554,000 | 1.0% | $320 |
