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The following information is an introduction to migrating to Australia. Most of it is sourced from the Commonwealth Government's Department of Immigration website and this is the best site to gain more detailed information. (For information relating to citizenship, click here.) Apart from the website, the government produces a number of information booklets and forms; see below for a list. To settle in Australia you can apply from outside Australia, and this is called applying to migrate. If you are applying to stay when you are already in Australia, you will be applying for permanent residence. Another option is temporary residence if you plan to visit (not stay permanently) and work in Australia. Immigration Enquiries Telephone Numbers Immigration (all visa types): 131 881 Use this number for:
For enquiries about interpreting services. Work Rights Information Line: 1800 040 070 For enquiries about employment of non-Australian residents.
MIGRATION PROGRAM The migration program which is made up of:
HUMANITARIAN PROGRAM The humanitarian program which is designed for refugees and others in special humanitarian need. A big part of the humanitarian program is the offshore resettlement program, which assists people in humanitarian need overseas for whom resettlement in another country is the only option. The onshore protection component is for those people already in Australia who have arrived on temporary visas or in an unauthorised manner, and who claim Australia's protection. In 2002-03 the humanitarian program is 12,000 places. Migration costs Applications to migrate to Australia carry charges. Whatever the outcome of your application (including refusal), the charges are non-refundable. You will need to pay for a medical examination for each family member included in an application, along with other costs such as obtaining a character clearance, or the cost of a certified translation of some documents. In addition to these compulsory charges, travel and re-location costs are also likely to be significant.
Family stream migrants must be sponsored by a close family member or fiancé(e) living in Australia. The sponsor must be either an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen, and would usually be 18 years of age or older. Family Stream applicants can be sponsored for migration or permanent residence in one of the following visa categories: PARTNER: Spouse / Prospective Marriage (Fiancé(e)) / Interdependency CHILD: Child / Adoption / Orphan Relative / Dependent Child (temporary) PARENT: Parent OTHER FAMILY: Aged Dependent Relative / Remaining Relative / Carer Factors affecting Family Stream applications Assurance of Support Some Family Stream applicants are subject to an Assurance of Support (AoS), which includes payment of a bond. Other applicants may be subject to an AoS if assessed as being at risk of becoming a charge on Australia's social welfare budget. Capping visa classes A number of visa classes have been "capped". This means that once the limit for the number of visas to be granted in a visa class has been reached, no further visas can be granted in that year. Priority processing In general, a high priority is given to child and partner applications. Parent applications are given a low priority. The Immigration Department has a range of booklets with detailed information relating to the Partner Migration, Child Migration, Parent Migration and Other Family Migration categories.
The Business Skills program is divided into five categories:
Available from the Immigration Department is Booklet 7: Business Skills Migration, which has detailed information about migrating to Australia as a business person, as well as some general information about living in Australia.
Within the current humanitarian program is an offshore component (which helps people in humanitarian need overseas, for whom resettlement in another country is the only option) and an onshore component (for people in Australia seeking protection - that is, seeking refugee status). Offshore program There are two main categories within the offshore program:
Fact Sheet 60 - Australia's Refugee and Humanitarian Program; Form 964i - Entry to Australia - offshore humanitarian program; Form 842 - Application for offshore humanitarian visa; Form 681 - Refugee and special humanitarian proposal Applications should be posted or delivered to the nearest overseas Australian Mission. Onshore program People who are already in Australia may be eligible for a Protection Visa (refugee status) if they seek Australia's protection obligations under the 1951 UN Convention and 1967 Protocol relating to refugees. Applicants may be granted either a Permanent Protection Visa (PPV), for those who entered Australia lawfully, or a Temporary Protection Visa (TPV), for those who entered Australia in an unauthorised way. Please note that legislation which came into effect in 2001 means that some Temporary Protection Visa holders may not be able to access permanent visas, if they have an ongoing need for protection. If you are in Australia and want to apply for protection (refugee status), you can see your closest migration office for help. For more information about seeking protection, see the Department for these publications (in a variety of languages): Fact Sheet 61 - Seeking Asylum within Australia; Fact Sheet 62 - Assistance for Asylum Seekers in Australia; Fact Sheet 63 - Immigration Advice and Application Assistance Scheme Fact Sheet 65 - New Humanitarian Visa System.
SOME BOOKLETS:
SOME FORMS:
Immigration (all visa types): 131 881 Use this number for:
Use this number to inquire about interpreting services. Offices The Immigration Department has a number of offices around Australia. There are three in metropolitan Melbourne: MELBOURNE CBD OFFICE Street address: Ground Floor, Casselden Place, 2 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne VIC 3000 Postal address: GPO Box 241, Melbourne, VIC 3001 Counter hours: Monday - Friday 9.00am - 4.00pm (Wednesday 9.00am - 1.30pm) General fax: (03) 9235 3300 DANDENONG OFFICE Street address: 51 Princes Highway, Dandenong VIC 3175 Postal address: Private Mail Bag 5001, Dandenong VIC 3175 Counter hours: Monday - Friday 9.00am - 4.00pm (Wednesday 9.00am - 1.30pm) General fax: (03) 9706 7068 Overseas Offices Iinformation on overseas offices can be found at the Department's website by clicking here. |
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