29 September 2009

Australian visa and immigration issues discussed by minister at forum

The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, chaired a community forum in Sydney's inner west last week to discuss Australian immigration issues.

Around 200 people attended the forum, where they had an opportunity to raise Australian visa and immigration issues with the minister.

In particular Senator Evans discussed recent changes to the temporary Australia skilled visa program (subclass 457) with new worker protection laws requiring that all new workers on the Australian visa are paid market salary rates.

Employers currently paying less than the market salary rate to temporary overseas workers on this Australian visa have until 1 January 2010 to commence paying market rates.

The new laws also allow the Australian Taxation Office to disclose information to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship in order to ensure correct salary levels are being paid to Australia visa holders.

---

 The Australian Visa Bureau is an independent consulting company specialising in helping people with Australia immigration and their Australia visa applications.