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BLOG SERIES – WORKING IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (UAE) – PART 7

United Arab Emirates: Five-year Tourist Visa Scheme Announced

The UAE’s first multi-entry five-year tourist visa will encourage travellers to become ‘repeat visitors’ and spend more while they are in the Emirates, experts said.  Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, said the visa would be implemented in the next four months as part of a drive to establish the country as a ‘major global tourism destination’.  It will allow tourists multiple entries into the country over the five period, instead of having to apply for entry for each visit. It is not clear if there will be a visa application fee and no other details have yet been released.  At present, tourists can visit the UAE with a free multiple entry visa for up to 90 days, from the date of entry.

“Dubai will be on the radar as a longer term option especially in the winter months,” said Maggie Bootsman, general manager of Travel Counsellors UAE.  “This is a fantastic opportunity to allow people into the UAE for a longer period of time.”  Apart from tourists from India, Pakistan and the Philippines who can visit their family more frequently, it will attract visitors from Europe, Africa and South America who travel to the region.  “It gives tourists visiting the region a window of opportunity to experience all that Dubai and the UAE have to offer,” Ms Bootsman said.  “We have a lot of visitors from South Africa to the region. Australians too come here but for a very short period. Once they visit, they will understand there is more depth so they will be interested in staying longer.”

The new system will help streamline visa requirements. While South Africans apply before they arrive in the country and pay Dh380 for a 30-day visa, Australians are eligible for a free 30-day visa on arrival at the airport.  Citizens from nations including the US, UK, Canada, Japan and China do not require advance visas.  The Cabinet decision included a visa waiver for Mexican citizens that will be implemented along with the five-year visa in the first quarter of the year, according to Wam news agency.

While recent government figures show a drop off in numbers of Indian, British and Russian tourists, Dubai welcomed 12 million visitors in the first nine months of 2019.  The Cabinet decision could have wide-ranging benefits, Ms Bootsman said.  “When people know they can spend more time here, it could be an opportunity for them to look at holiday apartments in Dubai,” she said.  “This was blocked in the past because they couldn’t spend more time here but now they will be willing to invest more which will be a great boost.”

Premjit Bangara, general manager of Sharaf Travel in Dubai, said repeat visits would have a positive impact on the economy.  “The flexibility it provides is the defining change. It will encourage more travel. We are looking at people who will want to come again and again,” he said.  “After one visit, people now think that another visa costs too much. But a five-year visa will turn a first-timer into a second and third-timer.”  Longer visits will also prompt travellers to head to other emirates.  “When it’s a single entry, people visit another country. A multi-entry will draw people back again like a magnet,” Mr Bangara said.“  It’s not just Dubai and Abu Dhabi, tourists will have time to visit Fujairah and Al Ain as well.  They can space their visits out and get to know the country.”

Information about the visa fee and the duration of stay is awaited to analyse how the five-year tourist visa will stimulate tourism.  “It’s important for us to understand how long an individual will be allowed to stay in country,” said Marcin Kubarek, senior manager at Fragomen, an immigration services firm.  “After the Cabinet announcement, there will be a ministerial resolution issued giving the additional terms and conditions. Every facilitation of mobility into the country helps boost tourism, investment and business activity and this visit visa comes just at the right time.”  It would spark interest among visiting businessmen to return with family.  “As a tourism and business hub, Dubai and the UAE attracts people from South Asia, Africa, the Philippines,” Mr Kubarek said.  “This will open the markets of the UAE to potential partners doing business here who will want to spend their holidays in the country and explore the eastern and northern emirates.”

UAE Announced 5 Year Tourist Visa l Big News l For All Nationalities

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Australian Visas Designed To Assist Regional Employers And Regional Communities

Employ or sponsor someone

The Australian government is assisting regional employers and regional communities through providing access to a wide range of visas tailored to meet their needs.

The new regional provisional visas will add to existing programs that provide a range of migration options to employers in regional Australia and people nominated for visas in regional Australia.

There will also be greater incentives for regional employers to nominate skilled workers, additional points for points-tested migrants who want to settle in regional Australia, and faster processing of skilled people nominated by employers in regional areas.

Australia gives some visa holders permission to work in Australia. You can:

  • employ or sponsor skilled workers who are already in Australia and have a visa that allows them to work
  • employ or sponsor other skilled workers who may be in Australia on another type of visa which does not currently allow them to work
  • sponsor skilled workers to come to Australia to work for you

Existing visa holders who are allowed to work in Australia might have work restrictions on their visas such as:

  • working for a specific employer or in a certain place – these visa holders may already be sponsored and employed by an employer in Australia
  • restricted to working for a specific number of hours per week such as an existing Student visa holder
  • restrictions on how long they may work for a particular employer such as a Working Holiday visa holder

Contact us for a confidential discussion and refer family, friends and colleagues and be rewarded.

Australian Immigration News Video December 2019 - Changes 491 visa & 494 visa Regional Rush & more!

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Australian Skilled Occupation Lists To Change – Eligibility for Certain Visas Also Likely To Change

The new Skilled Migration Occupation Lists are expected to be released in March 2020

The Australian government has released a bulletin identifying the list of occupations that are under consideration for a change in status on the Skilled Migration Occupation Lists, which are lists used to determine eligibility for the country’s skilled visa programs.

Following the government’s review, certain occupations may be removed or moved between these lists, which would impact employers’ ability to utilise the employer-based temporary and permanent visa programs.

Specifically as it relates to the Temporary Skill Shortage visa program, occupations that are moved to the Short-term Skilled Occupation List are subject to more restrictive grant periods, and importantly, do not provide visa holders with a pathway to permanent residency.

The next steps of the review include a formal submission period for commentary that will open February 2020, and the publication of the lists in March 2020.

The Australian Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business has released a bulletin identifying the list of occupations that are under consideration for a change in status on the:

  • Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL)
  • Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) and
  • Regional Occupation List (ROL)

Which are lists used to determine eligibility for Australia’s skilled visa programs.

Highlights of possible changes set out in the bulletin include:

Move of Geologist category. The Geologist category would move from the STSOL to the ROL – Recognition by the Department that the shortages in industries such as resources and oil and gas, which are primarily located in regional areas, are facing a real shortage of skilled labour in this category.

Move of Sales and Marketing Manager categories. The Sales and Marketing Manager categories would move from the STSOL to the MLTSSL, with a salary requirement of at least AUD 120,000 per year. This will improve the ability to attract and retain highly specialised Sales and Marketing Managers.

Move of data-related categories. New and emerging occupations such as Blockchain Manager and Data Scientists, by identifying the appropriate Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) occupations (Information and Communications Technology Project Manager and Information and Organisation Professionals respectively) to move to the MLTSSL with a salary requirement of at least AUD 90,000.

Move of care categories. Aged or Disabled Carer, Nursing Support Worker and Personal Care Assistant, previously off-list, to be added to the STSOL in recognition of the growing need for labour in the aged care sector.

Following the government’s review of the proposed changes, the addition, removal or movement of occupations between these lists impacts employers’ ability to utilise the employer-based temporary and permanent visa programs.

Specifically as it relates to the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa program, occupations that are moved to the STSOL are subject to more restrictive grant periods, and importantly, do not provide visa holders with a pathway to permanent residency.

The publication of the bulletin is the most recent step in the review of the Skilled Migration Occupation lists that was announced in September 2019.

During the review a number of occupations were put forward to the Department as part of the consultation process, including Mechanical Engineering Technician, Geologist, Sales and Marketing Manager, Retail Buyer as well as emerging roles associated with Data Science and Data Analysis.

Further, written submissions were submitted that presented empirical data and evidence to support claims of skills shortages in the relevant occupations.  A number of those occupations have now been flagged in the bulletin.

The Department will review the Skilled Migration Occupation Lists to ensure they are responsive to the skills needs across Australia. A formal submission period for commentary on the lists will open February 2020.

The new Skilled Migration Occupation Lists are expected to be released in March 2020. 

We will keep you informed of the changes and likely impacts and please feel free to Contact us for a confidential discussion and refer family, friends and colleagues and be rewarded.

Australian Immigration News Video December 2019 - Changes 491 visa & 494 visa Regional Rush & more!

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Visa options for South Africans wanting to migrate to Australia

There are some good options, but navigating the system is complex and can be frustrating

We will explore some of the ways you can gain permanent residency and citizenship for you and your family in Australia.  But be warned it can be difficult to know where to start and which visa to apply for.

There are generally three visa streams available for South Africans that want to migrate to Australia:

  • the family stream
  • the work stream and
  • the business or investment stream

These streams have many different visa subclasses for specific immigration situations.  It’s not a one size fits all approach.  The best advice is to get advice from someone who knows how to navigate the process and provide the best advice.  So here we go.

Family stream

If your family member is an Australian citizen or permanent resident, you could join them on a family-stream permanent residence visa. Here are two common visa categories in this stream:

Partner visas

These visas allow partners and spouses of Australian citizens and permanent residents to live in Australia permanently.  They’re separated into two categories for applying from within Australia (subclasses 820 and 801) and for applying from outside Australia (subclasses 309 and 100).  Each category has a temporary and a permanent visa, but you apply for both at the same time.

 

Parent visas

There several different subclasses of parent visas covering the spectrum of temporary and permanent stay in the country. The permanent options require you to pass the balance of family test, meaning that more than half of your children need to be Australian citizens or permanent residents.

One visa that doesn’t hinge on this requirement and has relatively low processing times compared to permanent visas is the Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 870). This allows parents of Australian citizens or permanent residents to visit for up to five years at a time, but unfortunately won’t lead to permanent residence.  There’s also the option of applying for one of the permanent visas and staying in Australia on a bridging visa while you wait for approval.

 

 

Work stream

If you’re looking to live and work in Australia permanently, you can do so with a work visa.

 

Employer-sponsored visas

This category of visas allows an Australian employer to sponsor you to work in the country. The Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186) requires you to have an occupation on the list of eligible skilled occupations.  There’s also a Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482) for jobs on the skilled shortage list. This can potentially lead to permanent residence.

 

Skilled visas

The Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) is a popular route that lets you live and work anywhere in Australia. You don’t need job offer for this visa – eligibility works on a points system. If you can get enough points based on age, work experience and education level, you can apply.

If you fall short of the requirements of the independent visa, you may still be eligible for the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190). You’ll need a nomination from an Australian state or territory, which you can get by having an occupation in demand for that region.

A third option for recent engineering graduates is the Skilled—Recognised Graduate visa (subclass 476). You’ll need to be under 31 and have completed your engineering degree within the past two years.

 

 

Business or investment stream

Setting up a business or investing in Australia is an excellent way to gain permanent residency if you have the means to do so.  The Business Talent visa (subclass 132) is perfect for business owners, investors or property developers looking to gain permanent residency in Australia. A popular route is to form or join a property development company in the country to qualify.

Other options include the Business Innovation and Investment visas (subclasses 188 and 888). There are various streams that fall under this category, depending on if you’re investing a large sum or you’re an entrepreneur.

 

Other options

If you don’t qualify for any of the various permanent residence visas on offer in the family, work or business visa streams, there are some other ways to qualify for permanent residency. These include the new skilled regional temporary visa, or the Distinguished Talent visa (subclass 491 and 858).

The Distinguished Talent visa is granted in the case of internationally recognised, exceptional and outstanding achievement in eligible fields, including the arts, academia, research, sport or a profession.

 

The path to an Australian passport

Once you’ve been in Australia for a while, you may be eligible to become an Australian citizen if you meet all the requirements.  You must have spent four years in Australia on a valid visa and have held permanent residency for 12 months before applying. There’s also a “good character” assessment and a citizenship test with an English language requirement. This route is called citizenship by conferral.

If your parent is or was an Australian citizen and you weren’t born in the country, you can gain citizenship by descent.

We work closely with competent visa lawyers and other value chain partners so Contact us for a confidential discussion and refer family, friends and colleagues and be rewarded.

The 10 Best Places To Live In Australia | Study, Job Opportunities

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What’s Happening With Immigration In New Zealand For 2020

What can we expect to see regarding immigration in the year to come in New Zealand?

One of the first immigration announcements is expected to be the government’s new two-year residence programme. It already lowered the target band of new residents to 50-60,000 and that may be changed again – and a cabinet paper suggests that it’s looking at prioritising certain categories, possibly such as skilled migrants, and capping others – such as partnership visas.

The government is also rolling out new employer-assisted work visas and regional workforce planning. The government wants to find ways of getting industry to attract New Zealanders into those jobs immigrants are doing, in return for a streamlined visa process. The first negotiations to make that happen are expected to be with the residential care and meat processing sectors, as industries that employ many immigrants.

Another change we will see this year is the refugee quota increasing to 1500 in July. Six new settlement areas have been to the existing ones for refugees – Ashburton, Blenheim, Levin, Masterton, Timaru and Whanganui – and a lot of work is going on there in increasing housing supply in those areas, and with the community and health sectors.  Tackling worker and student exploitation and possible changes to Pacific immigration policies might also be looked at.

And apart from policy changes?

There’s a lot of operational challenges too: while the politicians may be focused on the future, the here and now will always raise its head. Last year it was the debacle of partnership visas, and visa processing delays caused by international branch closures.

How important a role will immigration play in this year’s election?

New Zealand has historically not had highly polarised debates about immigration.

Immigration came up at the 2017 election, after concerns that it was exacerbating housing supply and infrastructure problems.  New Zealand First and Labour to a lesser extent campaigned then on lowering immigration. Whether they delivered on that – and whether voters liked how they did it – may be crucial.  It can depend on how you cut the numbers – new resident numbers are the lowest since the turn of the century, while work visa numbers are higher than they have ever been, and net migration is still at historically high levels.

Labour may hope it can point to its work in tackling immigrant exploitation and reforming work visas. National has criticised the government on its record, including problems that visa processing delays have caused for the economy and businesses.  If last year is anything to go by, New Zealand First will continue to press on with immigration as a key way to help bring home the vote.  It claimed credit for high income restrictions introduced on immigrants’ parents and a tougher line on partnership applications.  NZ First Minister Shane Jones recently suggested it may consider a population policy, after getting into a war of words with the Indian community.

“I’m on incredibly fertile ground for the party I represent,” he told RNZ.  He said he was saddened by the “levels of verbiage that the Indian communal leadership have thrown at the party.”

If you are interested in migrating to New Zealand Contact us for a confidential discussion and refer family, friends and colleagues and be rewarded.

Visa changes to help end exploitation - Immigration Minister

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BLOG SERIES – WORKING IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (UAE) – PART 6

You can hold a full-time and part-time job together with the right permit

Since 2010, the UAE’s Labour Law has made provisions, which allow an employee to have a part-time job along with a full-time one subject to certain conditions. The employee can work part-time after getting the work permit from Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE).

Cost – The fee for part-time work permit includes an application fee of Dh100 and an approval fee of Dh500.

Law – As per Federal Decree Law No. 2 of 2007, if an expatriate is caught working for another company without an official permit, then a fine of Dh50,000 will be applied to the hiring company, in addition to other penalties in case of repeating the offence.

For people on an existing work permit – Emiratis, other GCC nationals and expatriate employees who are living in the UAE on a work visa, can take up a second job, upon getting a part-time work permit from MoHRE, which is valid for one year.

Part-time work permit holders are allowed to work in another company at the same time as working in the current company on a part-time basis for less than eight hours per day.

For people on a dependent visa – Those who live in the UAE on a family visa can take up a second job after getting a part-time work permit with a No Objection Certificate from the sponsor. Such work permits can be issued to men and women between 18 and 65 years of age.

Temporary/Part-time work permit – It is a service provided by the Ministry to recruit a national or expatriate worker residing in the UAE to carry out a certain work within a period not exceeding six months.

Required Documents

  • A copy of both establishments’ trade licences (the current establishment and the application applying establishment).
  • A colour photograph with a white background of the applicant.
  • A copy of the applicant’s passport.
  • If academic qualification is required (post-secondary diploma, university degree or equivalent), a copy thereof which should be authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall be attached.
  • A letter of approval issued by the competent authority shall be attached if so required (doctor, pharmacist, nurse, and teacher).
  • A copy of the contract.
  • No objection certificate from the first sponsor.
  • A copy of the applicant’s visa that includes (the sponsor or establishment name) that is valid for more than six months.
  • Terms and Conditions.

Workers who are registered in the Ministry, under following conditions:

  • The permit and residency visa shall be valid for more than six months
  • The permit’s period shall not exceed six months or the current permit expiry date, whichever is earlier.
  • Approval of those authorised signatory of the current and applying establishments shall be submitted.

Workers not registered at the Ministry:

  • Government employees.
  • Students of both genders (from the age of 18 years) who are under the sponsorship of their relatives, schools, or universities. On the condition that the visa profession is (student).
  • Females (from the age of 18 years) who are under the sponsorship of their relatives.
  • Husbands of UAE national women.
  • Children of UAE national women.

Under the following condition:

  • The worker and his/her non-national relatives shall have a valid residence visa stamped in the passport.
  • The guardians approval.
  • This permit shall be valid for six months.
  • Submitting approval of the profession related authority (Ministry of Affairs – Ministry of Health – Ministry of Education – Sports, Youth, Community Development Authority).
  • Exceptions
  • The Ministry may approve to grant a temporary work permit, without satisfying the condition related to the former employer’s approval and the validity of the card and residence visa, in the following cases:
  • A labour complaint that is referred by the Ministry to a court of law.
  • If it is confirmed that the employer failed to pay wages for a period exceeding two months according to the wages protection office report or the labour relation offices report.

General conditions for the above:

  • The applying establishment trade licence should be valid.
  • The new labour profession should be suitable with the establishment activity.
  • The labour should not be below 18 years of age.
  • Payment

Request for initial approval of a new electronic work permit (Part-time)

  • 1st Category: AED 100
  • 2nd Category: Level (A) AED 100 – Level (B) AED 100 – Level (C) AED 100
  • 3rd Category: AED 100

Initial approval of a new electronic work permit (Part-time) six-month period

  • 1st Category: AED 500
  • 2nd Category: Level (A) AED 500 – Level (B) AED 500 – Level (C) AED 500
  • 3rd Category: AED 500

Contact us for a confidential discussion and refer family, friends and colleagues and be rewarded.

The Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship website

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So If I Emigrate To Australia Can My Parents Emigrate As Well

Visa Options For Parents To Reside In Australia

Leaving your parents when you move overseas is always concerning. One option is for them to emigrate as well.  So let’s explore the possibility of this occurring if you emigrate to Australia.  

Visitor visas

There are three- six- and twelve-month visitor visas available.  As a short term option, it may be worthwhile investigating getting your parents over to Australia on a visitor visa.  This will provide the opportunity to gauge whether it will be a good move for all parties concerned.

Permanent residence for parents of children in Australia

The only visa that will give a parent or parents permanent residence is the:

Contributory Parent Visa – The requirements for this visa are:

  • Half or more than half of the applicant’s children are resident in Australia as citizens or permanent residents
  • The sponsoring child is ‘settled’ in Australia

The 870 – Sponsored Parent Visa

This recently-added visa will require adequate health insurance and will allow up to a maximum of ten years of cumulative stay permitted (3+3 or 5+5 years).  The parent or parents must leave Australia for 90 consecutive days before making the second application. People are not allowed to work on this visa.

The fine print

The parent must be sponsored by their child who is an Australian citizen or a permanent resident who has been usually resident in Australia for four years. Only two parents can be sponsored at any one time. The sponsor must have a minimum household taxable income threshold of $83,454.80 per annum.

No balance of family test will be applied, and no sponsorship bond will be required. The sponsored parents will be required to maintain adequate health insurance for the duration of their stay in Australia. The sponsors will be required to pay in full any outstanding public health debts incurred by their parent.

Are you ready to take the next step? By completing the free online visa assessment on the Migrate2Oz website, you will receive free advice on your visa eligibility, visa options and the next key steps.

Contact us for a confidential discussion and refer family, friends and colleagues and be rewarded.

The new Temporary Parent Visa (subclass 870)

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Foreign Tradies Are Flocking To Australia

Foreign tradies are flocking to Australia to take thousands of jobs construction bosses can't get locals to fill

  • Visas for mechanics, chefs, carpenters and electricians rose by 34 per cent
  • The figure comes after the Government vowed to give locals first pick of all jobs
  • Immigration Minister Alan Tudge said there aren’t enough locals to fill positions

Foreign workers are flooding into Australia to take thousands of jobs construction bosses can’t get locals to fill.  New figures reveal the number of Australians taking up trades has declined over the past six years, while more temporary skilled worker visas are being handed out than ever before. 

Visas granted for mechanics, chefs, welders, carpenters and electricians rose from  7,200 to 9,200 nationally from 2018 to 2019.  In Queensland, that figure rose from 880 to nearly 1,200 in the same time period.  The statistics come after the government revamped foreign worker visas and vowed to give Australians first pick of all available jobs.

Opposition immigration spokeswoman Kristina Keneally asked why the Coalition were letting the number of people on foreign worker visas grow – particularly in Queensland. 

‘It’s clear the Morrison Government’s changes to the 457 visa system two years ago were an attempt to cover up their failure to train Queensland workers for Queensland jobs,’ she said. 

Labor education spokeswoman Tanya Plibersek said the Coalition had created a ‘serious tradie shortage’ in the state. 

‘Scott Morrison’s cuts to TAFE mean Queenslanders aren’t being trained in these critical trades,’ she said. 

Other members of the Labor party said the Coalition Government ‘failed to train Queenslanders’.

But acting Immigration Minister Alan Tudge maintained bosses only hire foreign workers when they can’t find locals to do the job. 

‘We don’t want to hold up major projects in Australia because of lack of qualified people,’ he said.  

The number of foreign tradies being accepted into the country was much higher than other jobs including managers, community workers, administration and sales. 

Contact us for a confidential discussion and refer family, friends and colleagues and be rewarded.

Australia faces skills shortage due to failed training

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