Australia and New Zealand Immigration News

The new Skilled-Independent Regional (SIR) (Provisional) visa has come into effect, opening up more options for skilled migrants to come to Australia. This initially temporary skilled visa has been introduced by the Department of Immigration and Multicultural (and Indigenous) Affairs (DIMIA) to address skill shortages that may exist in regional areas and encourage a more balanced dispersal of Australia's skilled migrant intake.

As of June 1, 2004, all categories of visa applications to Australia (permanent and temporary entry) from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania must be lodged at the Australian Embassy in Berlin, Germany for assessment and not with the Australian Embassy in Warsaw, Poland.

The postal address for applications is:

Australian Embassy

Visa Services Section

Wallstrasse 76-79

10179 Berlin

Germany

On 20 May 2004, the Australian Department of Immigration and Multicultural (and Indigenous) Affairs placed the following Medical Practitioner occupations were added to the Skilled Occupations List (SOL):

Visitors wishing to travel to Australia from the ten countries joining the European Union (EU) on 1 May will now be able to use an electronic visa service to lodge a tourist visa application.

From 1 July 2004, the electronic visa lodgement facility, known as eVisa, will be extended to people from Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia.

eVisa allows people to apply for a tourist visa on the Internet and makes it easier for clients to apply who do not have easy access to an Australian embassy or consulate.

The NZIS has announced a new Working Holiday Scheme that allows young citizens of the United States to travel to New Zealand to holiday and work to supplement their travel for a period of up to 12 months. There will be 500 working holiday visas made available to US citizens every year from 1 May to 30 April.

Media release from the Australian government, 23 March 2004.

The Australian Government recently announced that it will introduce a new visa for skilled migrants who are prepared to live and work in regional Australia.

From 1 July 2004, eligible people who want to come to Australia as skilled migrants will be able to obtain a three-year temporary residence visa (Temporary Skilled-Independent Regional Migration Visa) if they commit to living and working in regional Australia.

After two years, they will be able to apply for permanent residency.