For those who have applied and is planning on applying for a visa for Australia, or even planning to sponsor someone from overseas, there are rights and obligations that you should be aware of to know your duties and responsibilities as a migrant and as a sponsor, and also to educate yourself about your rights as a migrant and as a sponsor.

DIBP provides, through their website, an information booklet "Your rights and obligations – immigration facts for workers" for everybody to educate themselves about their Rights and Obligations. It states that the information booklet covers basic protections and entitlements, work rights, visa choices, employer obligations and using a migration agent for overseas workers.

Relaying and receiving information can be tough, especially when it comes to applicants that have limited English, so DIBP provided translated versions of the information booklet for convenience. DIBP states that the information booklet is translated into several languages based on the main nationalities of vulnerable or illegal workers in Australia.

For more information regarding the information booklet, visit Your Rights and Obligations – Immigration Facts for Workers

Queensland Government Business and Industry is celebrating small businesses that are helping the Queensland economy by holding the 2014 Queensland Small Business Week from September 1 – 6. Events like workshops, networking activities, webinars, mentoring sessions, and forums are in store, so get ready to build and grow your business by learning, making connections, expanding your network, finding solutions to problems, and a lot more.

Queensland Government states that there were 4,500 business people attended last year and there were 91 activities and events that happened across the state.

2013 Queensland Small Business Week Statistics:

• 90 activities and events
• 4,500 attendees
• 20% attended to network
• 18% wanted to learn
• 14% wanted to grow their business
• 70%  were owner managers
• 53% had been in business for over 10 years
• 13% were start-ups

So if you have a growing a business, small business, or even planning on putting up a business, this is an event you wouldn’t want to miss.

For more information on the 2014 Queensland Small Business Week, visit:

• www.business.qld.gov.au/smallbusinessweek
• https://www.facebook.com/businessqldgov

DIBP released news regarding the Ebola Virus on August 8, 2014, stating that the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) has been reported in West Africa and states that the government is monitoring the virus. We’ve heard about the Ebola Virus for the past few days and weeks but do we really know what it is and what it does to us? Why are we afraid of it breaking out? And why is it closely monitored by the officials?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Ebola Virus is also known as Ebola HF, or Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever. It is a severe, often fatal disease that is caused by an infection, and when an infection occurs, the symptoms usually begin abruptly. It affects humans and nonhuman primates such as gorillas, monkeys, and chimpanzees.

If the symptoms begin almost immediately after being affected, what are the symptoms we should look out for? The following is a list of signs and symptoms of Ebola HF:

Symptoms of Ebola HF typically include:

• Fever
• Headache
• Joint and muscle aches
• Weakness
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Stomach pain
• Lack of appetite

Some patients may experience:

• A Rash
• Red Eyes
• Hiccups
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Chest pain
• Difficulty breathing
• Difficulty swallowing
• Bleeding inside and outside of the body

CDC states that the symptoms can start anywhere from 2 to 21 days after exposure to Ebola virus though 8-10 days is most common. Some people who are infected with the Ebola virus are able to recover but there are some cases that they do not and it’s usually because of underdeveloped or having a weak immune response to the virus.

The Australian Government is already monitoring the Ebola virus to reduce the risk of it entering the country. Even though there's a small chance of you having it, the government are strict about threats to public health, so it's best to have yourself a check up.

For more information regarding the Ebola Virus, visit Ebola Hemorraghic Fever  (CDC) and Ebola (DIBP News).

And for more information regarding the threats to public health that DIBP is monitoring, visit Threats to Public Health (DIBP).

DIBP Skillselect released a list of occupations and their respective ceilings on their website and is updating it as positions are filled. We have compiled the top 10 occupations that have the largest number of positions available.

The data below are accurate as of August 6, 2014:

Nursing leads the list as it has the largest amount of positions allocated with 15,042. It's more than double the allocated positions in any occupation in the list. Even though Nursing leads with the number of allocated positions, Accountants lead in the number of positions filled with 432, with Nursing comes at second with 296.

For more information regarding Skillselect, visit Skillselect.

DIBP updated their list of countries and territories that are eligible for the electronic lodgement of Subclass 600 (Visitor) Visa. As of August 1, 2014, passport holders of the following countries and territories are eligible to apply for a Visitor Visa (subclass 600):

*Must not purport to be an official or diplomatic passport.​​​​​

For information regarding the Subclass 600 (Visitor) Visa, visit Visitor e600 visa online applications

Aside from the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and Occupational English Test (OET), DIBP will accept English Language test scores from the “The Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-based test (TOEFL iBT)” and the “Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic)” starting November 2014. DIBP will also accept scores from the “Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE)” test from early 2015.

Temporary Work (Skilled) Visa (Subclass 457) is not included in the list of visas that can take advantage of the test scores from the alternative English Language tests as the 457 visa programme is undergoing an independent review, DIBP says. Any updates regarding the alternative English test scores for the 457 visas will be posted in DIBP’s website later this year.

The following is the list of visa applications that can accept test scores from TOEFL iBT and PTE Academic tests. DIBP released this in their website:

The following visa subclasses from the Temporary Graduate, Skilled, Former Resident and Work and Holiday visa programmes will accept a TOEFL iBT or PTE Academic test score as evidence of English ability from November 2014:

• Distinguished Talent (Australian support) (subclass 124)
• Business Talent (subclass 132)
• Former Resident (subclass 151)
• Business Owner (provisional) (subclass 160)*
• Senior Executive (provisional) (subclass 161)*
• Investor (provisional) (subclass 162)*
• State/Territory Sponsored Business Owner (provisional) (subclass 163)*
• State/Territory Sponsored Senior Executive (provisional) (subclass 164)*
• State/Territory Sponsored Investor (provisional) (subclass 165)*
• Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186)
• Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (subclass 187)
• Business Innovation & Investment (provisional) (subclass 188)
• Skilled – Independent (subclass 189)
• Skilled – Nominated (subclass 190)
• Work and Holiday (temporary) (subclass 462)
• Skilled – Recognised Graduate (subclass 476)
• Temporary Graduate (subclass 485)
• Skilled – Regional (provisional) (subclass 489)
• Distinguished Talent (subclass 858)
• Skilled – Regional (subclass 887)
• Business Innovation and Investment (permanent) (subclass 888)
• Business Owner (Residence) (subclass 890)
• Investor (Residence) (subclass 891)
• State/Territory Sponsored Business owner (Residence) (subclass 892)
• State/Territory Sponsored Investor (Residence) (subclass 893)

*Closed to new applications, but family members can apply

For more information regarding the alternative English tests, visit Alternative English Language tests for visa applicants

Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) are discontinuing Non-Contributory Parent and other Family Visas.

According to DIBP, reunion of family members should be the focus of family migration, thus giving the partners, children, and contributory parents of Australian citizens and permanent residents, priority for Family Stream.

The following visas are closed as of June 2, 2014:

• Parent Visa (subclass 103)
• Aged Parent Visa (subclass 804)
• Aged Dependent Relative Visa (subclasses 114 and 838)
• Remaining Relative Visa (subclasses 115 and 835)
• Carer Visa (subclasses 116 and 836)

According to DIBP, applications made before June 2, 2014 will still be processed normally under existing regulations and policy.

For more information, see “Non-Contributory Parent and Other Family visas have closed to new applications”

• They are too quick to say ‘YES’ to a sale without assessing if you are eligible for the visa

Ask yourself: “Did they request for all the relevant information from me before trying to offer me their services?”. If not, then they are not off to a good start. “Was there a legitimate assessment process?”. You want an agent that will assess the risk of your application and your eligibility upfront! Not later when your application is lodged and on the pathway to being refused.

WARNING SIGN #2:

• They do not explain 'HOW' you are eligible (so you actually understand) for the visa

Note: If an agent doesn’t go through the details of your eligibility, and “clearly explain” how you are eligible (including informing you of any risks), then they are probably just taking your case just to make a some quick cash! Your agent should be able to explain your eligibility and the critical requirements so that YOU understand them.

WARNING SIGN #3:

• They guarantee a successful visa grant

Fact: It is illegal for any registered migration agent to ‘100% guarantee’ a successful visa outcome. No matter how strong your case may be, there is always a degree of risk. If the agent promises success, they are being dishonest about your situation and violating the MARA ‘code of conduct’ that agents are obliged to adhere to.

WARNING SIGN #4

• They are unable to advocate (fight) for your case

Ask yourself: “What are you paying a migration agent for”, if not to represent your case, strategically advocate for you, and liaise with Immigration about the merits of your application. In the event that your application has a problem (eg. mis-interpreted evidence from a strict Immigration officer), you want your agent to have the 'experience', 'knowledge' and 'confidence' to fight for your case!

A good migration agent has both in-depth knowledge and strong advocacy traits. Hiring an agent is not just about making your application look pretty and simply lodging it. Hiring an agent is having the extra security that they can ensure your application meets the requirements, advise you if there are any short-falls in your application, and have the ability to skillfully liaise with Immigration to gain a successful outcome.

WARNING SIGN #5

• They are cheap and difficult to contact

If you have met an agent whose price seems too good to be true, then it probably is. The general rule is the cheaper it is, the less experience they have... Or they simply have a 'corporate' attitude to make quick and easy sales to make money. You want an agent that will work-hard for your case and most skilled agents will charge reasonably for their expertise.

Remember, you should be looking for an agent with experience, strategic knowledge, the ability to identify 'risks', the ability to handle problems, and someone you can easily contact! Do not hire an agent that only knows how to put together 'simple' cases.

SUMMARY

So there you have it. These are some of the warning signs you should look out for to identify unreliable agents. Always do your research, get a second opinion and choose wisely when you hire a migration agent to help you with your visa application.

To find out HOW TO AVOID the 5 Most Common & Critical Mistakes that lead to refusals, visit www.visaone.com.au