visa
The Migration Advisory Committee’s latest report on Brexit
The Migration Advisory Committee's latest report on Brexit
The Migration Advisory Committee (“MAC”) recently published their much awaited report on the Australian-style Points-based system as a model for the UK’s future immigration system. To many immigration lawyers, the report came as a surprise as it suggests no significant changes to the existing Points-based system that has been in place since 2008.
This 2020 MAC report builds on their 2018 report dealing with EU migration. In the 2018 report the MAC made radical recommendations to relax the overall requirements for a work visa under the Tier 2 (General) route, for example: abolishing the annual cap on work visas, eliminating the resident labour market test and reducing the job skills threshold. The 2020 MAC report makes it even easier for employers to sponsor highly-skilled and medium-skilled migrants by proposing to reduce the minimum salary threshold from £30,000 per year to £25,600 per year.
Having said the above, there are many important issues still to be addressed before the end of this year:
1) Employers contemplating hiring EU nationals from outside the UK from 1 January 2021 (after the end of the Brexit transition period) will require a sponsor licence, unless the Home Office introduces a new system which is streamlined and user friendly. This is likely to create a surge in demand for licences, which will create more delays due to capacity issues within the Home Office.
2) Employers seeking to recruit new workers from the EU from 1 January 2021 will face significant cost pressures as a typical Tier 2 (General) work visa valid for three years for a large company will cost approximately £5,000 in Government fees alone.
3) There is very little discussion surrounding low-skilled workers. The December 2018 White Paper published under Theresa May’s government describes a separate visa category to allow low-skilled workers from low risk countries with strict conditions (e.g. 12 months maximum duration with a cooling-off period of 12 months). The 2020 MAC report unfortunately does not shed any more light on what this route will look like and whether there will be any special requirements to qualify.
4) The proposed £25,600 minimum salary threshold is still too high for some sectors, such as the retail and consumer industry. Many franchise restaurants, for example, may not be able to pay this level of salary for their chefs. Whilst the 2020 MAC report does not suggest a variation in the minimum salary threshold across different sectors in the UK economy, the Government may need to consider this in order to address the acute shortage of workers in some sectors.
5) Businesses only have 11 months to prepare for the new Immigration Rules to take effect. As with the previous introduction of new rules, we foresee confusion and inconsistencies in the decision-making process by the Home Office. This is likely to cause more delays and frustration on the part of businesses and workers.
Whilst the new 2020 MAC report provides important information, there remains a substantial number of issues to be resolved in order to create a better immigration system that benefits employers and protects our resources (e.g. medical care, roads and social services) from being overwhelmed.
Given that this 2020 MAC report may not go far enough in the eyes of the Government, it is certainly possible for Mr Johnson to go beyond their recommendation. However, the administrative machinery of the Home Office may not be able to incorporate such drastic changes by the end of this year. We await the discussion of the 2020 MAC report amongst Cabinet ministers next month and it is expected that a new White Paper on the future of business immigration policy will be published shortly thereafter.
Employers are advised to remain vigilant for further updates.
Will the UK have a points-based system for entry?
‘We need all hands on deck’: Backpackers called in to bushfire recovery effort
The new visa system details are now becoming clear
Backpackers are being brought in as reinforcements for the bushfire recovery effort under a new plan by the federal government. The visa system will be overhauled so backpackers are incentivised to help farmers and communities rebuild after the crisis.
Acting Immigration Minister Alan Tudge has announced three major changes following a recommendation from the National Bushfire Recovery Agency as follows:
- Backpackers can work for an employer for 12 months instead of six months
- Construction work is now included as part of the designated activities backpackers are allowed to participate in
- Up to three months of voluntary work will now count towards backpackers’ eligibility for a second-year visa
Mr Tudge said the response to the announcement has been significant and overwhelmingly positive.
“They’re very practical measures just to get more people on the ground. “Going right now because we need all hands on deck.”
As this initiative unfolds we will keep you informed however we suggest you get in early to take advantage of this opportunity so Contact us for a confidential discussion and refer family, friends and colleagues and be rewarded.
Raging Australian wildfires force residents to water's edge
Backpackers Invited To Help Australia Rebuild In Wake Of Bushfires
Come Help Us Rebuild Our Country
Backpackers are being invited to help Australian farmers and communities rebuild after devastating bushfires, with visa changes designed to encourage them to join the effort. Under the changes, backpackers will be able to count volunteering as work when applying to extend their working holiday visas, and those in bushfire zones can stay with the same employer for a year instead of six months.
Construction work in disaster zones will also count as work under the new rules designed to support farmers and regional businesses. The changes were announced by Acting Immigration Minister Alan Tudge in regional Victoria yesterday. Mr Tudge said the working holidaymakers would be able to help farmers and businesses with demolition and land clearing on properties, as well as repairing dams, roads and railways.
“These hardworking Australians have been hit by the recent bushfires, but from today they can employ backpackers for six months longer, helping them at a critical time in the recovery effort,” he told the newspaper. “This recovery will be driven locally, by local workers and communities. “But this will be a massive recovery effort and we want businesses and charitable organisations to have as many boots on the ground as they need.”
The visa rule changes follow recommendations from the National Bushfire Recovery Agency.
Contact us for a confidential discussion and refer family, friends and colleagues and be rewarded.
Aerial footage captures devastating aftermath of Mallacoota bushfires
Australian-style UK Visa Points-Based System By End Of 2020
Full details of the new system have yet to be announced
During his time as London Mayor, and upon becoming Prime Minister, Boris Johnson has called for an immigration system similar to Australia’s, in the UK. Now UK Home Secretary, Priti Patel, is pushing for Britain’s Australian-style, points-based UK visa and immigration system to be in place by the end of 2020, two years earlier than originally planned. Now it seems Johnson’s Home Secretary is keen to implement an Australian-style system to coincide with the UK’s transition period with the European Union (EU).
The push for a points-based UK visa and immigration system has been a matter of confusion because the UK’s highly skilled, Tier 2 visa category already operates under a points-based system, with applicants currently needing a minimum of 40 points to be eligible for a UK visa.
At this stage, it’s unclear what an Australian-style, points-based immigration system in the UK will look like, leaving many businesses worried about how they will hire foreign staff, when Britain leaves the EU. The government has been very vague about the plans, but has made it clear that low-skilled immigration will be heavily restricted.
The news of Priti Patel’s push for an Australian-style immigration system in the UK by the end of 2020 comes amid comments made by Prime Minister Boris Johnson at the UK-Africa investment summit on 20 January. Johnson said: “The UK should be the investment partner of choice for Africa and my government will put people before passports. Change is coming and our system is becoming fairer and more equal between all our global friends and partners, treating people the same, wherever they come from.” “By putting people before passports, we will be able to attract the best talent from around the world, wherever they may be,” Johnson added.
Patel’s push for the new immigration system to be introduced by the end of 2020 has been met with heavy criticism. Under existing UK visa and immigration plans, outlined by former Prime Minister Theresa May, there is a temporary extension of EU rules in place following Brexit, which comes to an end on 31 December, 2020. A Confederation of British Industry (CBI) statement said: “Priti Patel’s plans could seriously impact British businesses. Companies will need at least two years to adapt to any new immigration system.”
The UK’s shadow Home Secretary, Diane Abbott, said: “This is an ill-informed and reactionary policy that will damage us all, damaging to everything from the NHS to other public services and some of our key private sector industries.” “Ministers talk about ending uncontrolled migration when they have been in office for 10 years. In reality this is just a new twist in the long Tory campaign against migrants, scapegoating them for the terrible effects of Tory policies,” Abbott added.
Meanwhile Christine Jardine, Home Affairs spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats, described Patel’s plans as a ‘national embarrassment’, saying that such a decision makes it very obvious that the Conservative government has no intention of ending its hostile environment policy. Jardine said: “For business and our economy, such draconian changes to immigration rules is utterly unworkable. To think the Home Office could implement the changes in the time given is a joke.”
Explaining how the points-based immigration system in Australia works, Dr Alan Gamlen of Monash University in Melbourne said: “It’s a general skilled migration programme, where immigrants applying for a visa are typically selected based on ‘economically relevant characteristics’ like education, language skills and work experience.” Dr Gamlen outlined that the exact way points are allocated is dependent on immigration policy and the state of the labour market, but generally an applicant will select a skilled occupation from a set list and must score a minimum number of points.
In the run up to the UK general election, Boris Johnson said that an Australian-style, points-based system in the UK would limit the number of lower-skilled immigrants allowed into the country. Johnson said that lower-skilled immigrants would only be eligible for UK entry if there was a specific skills shortage.
UK: Britain to introduce points-based immigration system - Home Secretary
BLOG SERIES – WORKING IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (UAE) – PART 11
How to get a visit visa to the UAE?
Tourism is a big part of the UAE’s economy, with the industry expected to boom to Dh116.1 billion by 2027. Here is a breakdown of all that you need to know about the regulations and costs related to visit visas. There is a slight difference between tourist visas and visit visas, wherein a visit visa can later be converted (before expiry) into an employment visa or a residence visa without the need to exit the country upon payment of a fee.
Visit Visa:
Can be of 30 days or 90 days with two extensions possible of a maximum of 90 days each. Visit visas can be broken down into the following categories:
- 30-day single entry visa
- 30-day multiple entry visa
- 90-day single entry visa
- 90-day multiple entry visa
There are also options available for two-days, four-days or 14-days visa but they are considered transit or service/business visas and have different regulations around them.
To apply for a visit visa, you need to provide the following documents:
- Completed application form.
- Passport-sized photograph with a white background.
- Passport copy, with the passport valid for at least six months at the time of travel.
It is advisable to also have other official documents with you in case you are travelling with family members. You may be asked to submit your marriage certificate if you are travelling with your spouse, birth certificates of your children, if they are travelling with you as well as your parents’ documents showing proof of relationship, if they are above 60.
A tourist/visit visa can be applied for by any of the following UAE-based agencies:
- Airline
- Hotel
- Travel agency
- Individuals
What is the process?
There are certain requirements for each of these organisations if you would like to apply for a visa through them. UAE-based airlines – Emirates, Etihad, Air Arabia and FlyDubai – offer tourist visa services. Airlines or hotels would require you to book your travel or stay with them in order for them to process your visit visa.
If you are booking with a travel agent, you would need to book the tour package with the agency. However, always check whether the travel agencies are registered before sending them your official travel and identification documents. You can do so by contacting the UAE embassy in your country.
If a trusted friend or family member lives in the UAE, he or she can also apply for your tourist visa through any of the approved platforms:
- The Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA)
- General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA)
- Mobile apps
- GDRFA Dubai’s mobile app – available on Apple and Android
- DubaiNow – available on Apple and Android
- Typing centres
- Amer centres in Dubai
It is important to note that the cost of the visa can vary based on which agency you have approached and which emirate you are applying from.
For residents applying for a visit visa for a family member or a friend, they may also need to make a deposit. You could also get a discount on the visa from agencies if you are making a group booking. Find out more by speaking to people and agencies before you make the final decision. The cost for visit visa and tourist visa are different.
These are the costs for the visit visa, if you apply through Amer centres:
- 30-day single entry visa – Dh393
- 30-day multiple entry visa -Dh653
- 90-day single entry visa – Dh793
- 90-day multiple entry visa – Dh1,653
These are the costs for a tourist visa, if you apply through Amer centres:
- 30-day single entry visa – Dh253
- 30-day multiple entry visa -Dh553
- 90-day single entry visa – Dh603
- 90-day multiple entry visa – Dh1,553
However, applying through Amer centres requires a security deposit which is refunded when the sponsored exit the country.
Do I need to carry the visa copy with me?
With the automation drive in the UAE, visas are now issued online and at the immigration, you should be able to go through based on the e-visa associated with your passport. However, it is always advisable to carry a copy of all necessary documents while travelling.
Can I extend my visa?
All types of visit and tourist visas can be extended for 30 days twice, upon renewal without the need to leave the country:
- To renew your visa for 30 days, you would need to pay approximately Dh1,450
- To extend your visa for 90 days, you would need to pay approximately Dh2,000
This cost, too, can vary based on your agent and the emirate you are applying from. If you overstay your visa, you will have to pay a fine of Dh100 for each day of the overstay, calculated from 10 days after the visa expiry. However, the new rule for extension does not apply on the following categories:
- visitors and tourists who are residents in GCC countries
- residents accompanying GCC nationals
- those on special entry permits
- those on 96-hour permit for special missions.
- Visa on arrival
Nationals from 59 countries can get visa on arrival in the UAE. The list of the countries can be found here. However, the duration of the visa as well as provision of extension can vary based on which country you are from.
- a visit visa issued by the USA or
- a green card issued by the USA or
- a residence visa issued by the UK or
- a residence visa issued by the EU
They can obtain a visa on arrival for a maximum stay of 14 days provided that the visas or the green card is valid for at least six months from the date of arrival into the UAE.
Should I get travel insurance?
It is always recommended that you get travel insurance when visiting a country. While the amount might seem like a lot, it protects tourists and visitors from extreme expenses in case of medical emergencies.
Contact us for a confidential discussion and refer family, friends and colleagues and be rewarded.
Types of Visa in the UAE. Moving to Dubai
Australia’s Tradie Rich List
Australia’s Highest Paid Trades
The 2018 Financial Year was a sumptuously fruitful one for many Aussie tradies. Thanks to a recent survey conducted by ServiceSeeking.com.au, trades workers from across the country have been compiled into an eye-popping ‘rich list’, in which we see a definite climb in hourly rates received. Australia’s top earning tradie, according to the findings, was a Melbourne-based builder, who took away a staggering $372 000, which saw him fit quite comfortably amongst the nation’s highest earners.
Rising Rates
Charge out rates are definitely on the way up across the country, which is music to the ears of hard-working tradies. Some of the largest average charge out rate increases were Gardeners at 8.5% ($44.40 to $48.18), Painters at 9.25% ($42.06 to $45.95), and Handymen at 11.97% ($50.67 to $56.73), whilst the highest charge was with removalists at $93.24 (a 3.04% increase from 2017’s $90.49). Some big numbers.
The Top Ten
There was some variation across the country, but with Removalists’ average charge out rate being so high, they have taken a stronghold on the Top Ten lists, holding 50% of the coveted positions:
- NSW Removalists at $95.21 per hour
- SA Removalists at $94.83 per hour
- WA Plumber at $92.22 per hour
- NSW Plumber at $90.83 per hour
- WA Removalist at $90.35 per hour
- QLD Builder at $88.63 per hour
- QLD Removalist at $87.77 per hour
- WA Electrician at $85.23 per hour
- VIC Removalist at $84.50 per hour
- VIC Plumber at $82.95 per hour
Tradies of the Future
As with most things in life, these general increases in hourly rates across the trades industries are likely to be due to a myriad of factors (licensing, insurance premiums, etc.). It is likely safe to say one of the largest factors is the current labour shortage gripping the states across Australia.
This shortage is increasing on a daily basis with the continuing natural disaster events across the country including bush fires, floods and cyclones. Australia is facing the real challenge of having to rebuild entire towns, communities and houses which are in the thousands. Never before has there been a better opportunity for tradies in Australia.
Next years “tradie rich list” is likely to see even higher increases as competition for trade skills increases beyond the current levels. If you are a tradie and interested in a new life adventure in Australia then Contact us for a confidential discussion and refer family, friends and colleagues and be rewarded.
Today Channel 9 Interview ServiceSeeking Tradie Rich List
BLOG SERIES – WORKING IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (UAE) – PART 10
How to apply for your family's visa in the UAE?
Let’s start with Dubai.
Dubai
Whether your family is already in the country on a visit visa or in another country, here is a step-by-step process of all you need to know and do to apply for their visa.
The visa process is managed by Amer services, by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA). Once your Dubai employment visa is stamped, make sure you have the following documents and certificates:
Step 1 – Required Documents:
- For sponsoring your spouse you require your marriage certificate attested by your home country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- For sponsoring your children, original birth certificates of children attested by the relevant authorities.
- Copy of valid passport of family members – The passport needs to be valid for at least 6 months.
- Passport-sized photograph. NOTE: For visa and Emirates ID applications, the photograph needs to be taken on a white background, with ears, forehead to chin completely visible.
- A copy of your registered tenancy contract.
For applicants who were already residents of the UAE and are simply changing jobs, it is important to keep old Emirates IDs that were issued to your family members as well.
Step 2 – Visit An Amer Centre:
Once you have all the documents in place, visit an Amer service centre with your (sponsor’s) original Emirates ID. Branches of the Amer service centres can be found across the emirate, with many shopping malls also having centres that provide all the necessary information.
You can also access the services online via www.amer247.com, which is run by a semi-government organisation, providing services related to visa, Emirates ID and medical testing applications. There is also an app for ‘Amer GDRFAD’ on Apple appstore and the Google Playstore. If you have any questions related to Amer services, you can call the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs on 8005111.
Once the process is initiated by Amer services, it takes 48 hours to receive an e-visa, which will be sent to your registered email address. Once the e-visa has been processed, there are three ways in which you can apply for your family’s residence visa.
If your family is not in the country, the normal e-visa will be issued and your family can enter the country on the e-visa. If they are already in the country, either on a visit visa or an old residence visa, you will need to exit the country and enter it using the e-visa. Alternatively, you could place a request at the Amer centre for change of visa without exit.
Charges:
- File opening charges – Dh269.
- Normal e-visa (when the family is outside the UAE) – Dh500 entry permit.
- If your family is in the country, entry permit is for Dh1,170 for each member you are sponsoring.
- If you choose the third option, you will need to pay an additional fee of Dh670 per person for ‘change of status’.
Step 3 – Submit To A Medical Test:
When requesting the medical test application at the Amer centre, advise which Dubai Health Authority (DHA) medical fitness centre is closest to your home, or most convenient for you to visit as this will be mentioned in the application. Take the application to the DHA health centre, where you will need to first get your blood test and x-ray done. Applicants are tested for HIV, tuberculosis, Hepatits B and in some occupations syphilis.
Charges:
- Regular application – Dh320 (where the medical test results come within five working days).
- Urgent – Dh410 (where the medical test results come within 48 hours).
- VIP – Dh750 (where the medical test results come within four hours).
Once the medical test results are in, you will be notified via email on your registered email address. For any medical test related queries, you can call the Dubai Health Authority on 800 342
Step 4 – Get the Emirates ID:
Take the Emirates ID application, which was typed at the Amer centre, to a Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship centre.
Take the following documents with you:
- Emirates ID application of the family members.
- Your original Emirates ID.
- Photograph of your family members.
If you have never had your Emirates ID made, you will need to provide biometric data like your finger print and an iris scan. This is only applicable for people 18 years and above.
Charges:
- Dh270- for two year
- And Dh370 for three years
Step 5 – Get Health Insurance:
Health insurance is mandatory in Dubai and family members need to get at least a basic health cover – referred to in Dubai as the Essential Benefits Plan.
Step 6 – Get Visa Stamped:
The final step is to get your visa stamped on the passport. For it, you will need to visit the Amer centre with the following documents:
- Medical fitness report.
- Emirates ID application.
- Original passport of the family members.
- Health insurance papers.
- Your (sponsor’s) original Emirates ID.
Charges:
- Regular – Dh460 (You will get the passport with the stamped visa in three to four working days).
- Urgent – Dh560 (Same day stamping, but the sponsor will need to go to the Immigration service).
Once an application is complete the applicant will receive a call from the authorised courier service – Zajel – for collection. You will also receive an SMS on your registered mobile number with the Zajel airway bill number. Once the visa is stamped, the passport will be returned through the same courier service,”
Other Emirates:
The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs manages the visa application process for Abu Dhabi and all other emirates.
Step 1 – Get The Entry Permit:
In other emirates, the entry permit or e-visa is referred to as the tasheera. To apply for the tasheera, you can either visit a typing centre or apply for the visa online. You will need the following documents:
- For sponsoring your spouse, marriage certificate attested by your home country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- If you are sponsoring your children, original birth certificates of children attested by the relevant authorities.
- Copy of valid passport of family members. The passport needs to be valid for at least 6 months.
- Passport-sized photograph. NOTE: For visa and Emirates ID applications, the photograph needs to be taken on a white background, with ears, forehead to chin completely visible.
- Copy of your registered tenancy contract.
If you would like to apply online, visit https://echannels.moi.gov.ae and click on the ‘Individual Services’ option. Once you enter your email address, you will get an email with the link for registration. Follow the steps required to apply for the tasheera or entry permit. Once the application has been submitted, you will get the tasheera in two working days.
Charges:
- Normal tasheera (when the family is outside the UAE) – Dh500 entry permit.
- If your family is in the country, tasheera is for Dh1,170 for each member you are sponsoring. They will need to exit the country and enter on the tasheera.
- Or, you can pay an additional fee of Dh670 per person for ‘change of status’ without the need to exit the country.
NOTE: Even though you have the option to apply online, the process can be quite detailed and if you prefer paying a little extra to get the application done by a professional typing centre, you can do so for a fee of Dh50.
Step 2 – Apply for Emirates ID:
To apply for the Emirates ID, you will again need to go to a typing centre to fill out the application. Once the application is filled out, visit a Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship centre with the following documents:
- Original passport of each family member.
- Any old Emirates IDs issued to the members (for previous residents of UAE).
Past residents of the UAE simply need to provide their Emirates ID and do not need to provide biometric data. New applicants will be scanned for biometric data like finger print and iris scan.
Biometric scan is not required for children under 18.
Charges:
- Dh270- for two year
- And Dh370 for three years
Step 3 – Medical Test:
If you are applying for the visa in Abu Dhabi, visit a Health Authority of Abu Dhabi Medical Fitness Centre.
Charges:
- Dh250 per person
For all other emirates, visit a Ministry of Health and Prevention centre.
Step 4 – Health Insurance:
Health insurance is mandatory in Abu Dhabi. For other emirates, you can skip to step 5. However, it is advisable to get health coverage, even if it is a basic health insurance plan, as medical costs during emergencies can mount quickly.
For medical insurance in Abu Dhabi, visit a Health Authority of Abu Dhabi health centre or contact Abu Dhabi’s National Health Insurance Company – Daman on 800 432626 or visit damanhealth.ae
Charges:
- Dh250 per person
- Dh500 for same day processing
Step 5 – Get The Visa Stamped:
You will then need to visit a typing centre again with the following documents:
- Your (sponsor’s) passport copy and visa copy.
- Original passport of family members.
- Stamped Emirates ID application.
- Health insurance papers (for Abu Dhabi).
Even though more recently health insurance and Emirates ID systems have been linked to the immigration services, it is better to carry all copies in case they are requested for by the immigration department.
Charges:
- Dh400 per person for stamping visa.
- Dh500 for same day stamping (the sponsor will need to go to the immigration office to get the visa stamped on the passport/s).
- Once the visa stamping application has been submitted, you will need to pay an additional Dh35 for Empost delivery service.
The passport, with the stamped visa will be delivered to you through the courier service.
If you are interested in working in the UAE Contact us for a confidential discussion and refer family, friends and colleagues and be rewarded.
Want to apply for your family's visa in the UAE? This is the process.
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