As a Registered Migration Agent, it is not uncommon to find myself in the firing line when it comes to frustrated clients venting their anger about the visa process.

Early last week, a particularly frustrated client demanded angrily within the context of a Parent visa, “What exactly am I getting for paying $50,000 towards a visa?”

Taking a step back, let me be clear for those that are not familiar with Parent visas, $50k is the approximate cost of a Contributory Parent visa charged by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) and certainly nowhere near the meagre sum that I charge to prepare such applications.

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In December 2014, amendments were made to the Migration Act, giving the Minister of Immigration greater power to cancel visas. As a result, the number of visa cancellations in recent months has skyrocketed. In certain situations, a person can face mandatory visa cancellation if they have been convicted of an offence and are serving time in an Australian prison.

In recent months, our office has received a steady flow of enquiries from distraught parents and partners whose loved ones have had their visas cancelled. Most of these clients are currently being held in Immigration Detention. Many a New Zealand citizen has been caught off guard by these provisions, with many not realising they had a visa which could be cancelled.

In defence of the provisions, Minister for Immigration Mr Peter Dutton has staunchly declared:

“Frankly [these criminals] are detracting from the Australian society, not adding to it. They should be removed from our shores as quickly as possible.”

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Anyone who has been involved in Australia’s migration system, whether it be applying for a visa or working in the sector, will understand the true meaning of ‘red tape’.

Despite the Coalition’s promises to ‘deregulate’ the industry, mindless bureaucracy and monopolies are so prevalent in the migration sector that one wonders whether there is any incentive for key stakeholders to ‘cut the red tape’.

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Recent statistics released by the Migration Council of Australia (MCA) indicate that Australia needs to increase its migration levels by approximately 30% per year to boost the economy and sustain future growth.

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Attention all Engineering Graduates who have completed their studies outside of Australia – this may be your last opportunity to gain work experience in Australia upon the completion of your studies!

According to a DIBP internal paper obtained by The Australian Financial Review, DIBP is expected to drop the Skilled Recognised Graduate visa (Subclass 476) as early as next year.

This visa was introduced to ease engineering shortages in Australia and allows recent engineering graduates from recognised universities to work in Australia for up to 18 months in order to gain work experience. Applicants must be under the age of 31, have evidence of competent English language ability and have graduated within two years from the date of application from  a recognised foreign institutions.

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The Australian government has recently announced changes to the Partner Migration program, with application fees set to increase from 1 January 2015.

These changes mark yet another drastic fee increase, with prices having almost tripled in the last eighteen months.

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From June 2014, a number of affordable family and carer visa options were closed to new applications. The remaining visa options came at a steep price, which was unaffordable for the average applicant and their families. The consequences of these changes were disastrous, leaving family reunion an exclusive domain for the wealthy.

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