NEWSLETTER No. 10 - November 2007

AUSTRALIA – CANBERRA, ACT


We recently met with government officials from Canberra, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), who were very keen to tell prospective migrants about what Canberra has to offer;

- A booming economy with an unemployment rate of just 2.8%

- Workers in Canberra enjoy the highest average income in Australia.

- Cost of living and house prices are all significantly lower in Canberra.

- Excellent schools and a first class health service.

So where is it? Canberra is in the ACT, and is surrounded by New South Wales. It is roughly a 3 hour drive from Sydney. Regular flights connect Canberra with Sydney, Melbourne and also with many international destinations. Just two hours away to the south are the ski fields of Australia's highest mountain range, and a similar distance to the east is the unspoiled Pacific Coast with its beautiful beaches.

The good news is that migrants are needed in many sectors and the ACT government will nominate those who work in a range of occupations such as I.T. Professionals, Hairdressers, Chefs, Nurses and Building Associates. They are hoping to dramatically increase the list of occupations for nomination soon, once Federal approval is obtained.

If you think Canberra might be the place for you, then complete the Online Assessment form on our website.

We can if necessary put you in contact with key government officials who can offer advice on moving to Canberra.

* Click for Australia info page with the latest migration news


AUSTRALIA – JOBS


We are pleased to announce that we have teamed up with a major recruiter in Sydney, who can assist with placing individuals in jobs in all industry sectors and locations throughout Australia.

This service will be of strong interest to our clients who have secured their Australian residence visas or are still in the application stage. It may also be of interest to applicants looking for an employer to sponsor them for a work visa.

All you need to do is to email us a detailed CV with all your qualifications and experience. Please also mention your preferred location(s) in Australia. We will then pass on to our Sydney recruiters, who will contact you directly.

* Click for Australia info page with the latest migration news


Previous Newsletters on migration issues:
  Newsletter 1 - January 2007
  Newsletter 2 - March 2007
  Newsletter 3 - April 2007
  Newsletter 4 - May 2007
  Newsletter 5 - May 2007 - In Focus: Australia
  Newsletter 6 - June 2007
  Newsletter 7 - July 2007
  Newsletter 8 - August 2007
  Newsletter 9 - October 2007

Contact us

Commonwealth Immigration Consultants Ltd.
59 Cambridge Gardens
London, N10 2LN
United Kingdom
Tel. +44 (0)20 8365 3380
Email: info@commonwealthimmigration.com 

UNITED KINGDOM - ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

The UK government have announced that English language ability will be an important factor in the new application process for all UK study and work visas.

This new process which the government are labelling the Points System will be introduced at different stages throughout 2008.

At the moment, applicants for the HSMP visa, and also for residence and naturalisation will be familiar with the requirement to prove effective communication in English. For instance, for the HSMP visa an overall band score of 6 or above on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is required.

We understand that the new system will require applicants to provide evidence to demonstrate that they have an acceptable standard of English. One way in which applicants can demonstrate this will be by providing evidence that they have passed an English language test.

Most importantly, this will apply to those categories for whom English language ability is not currently tested - such as work permit holders.

To this end, the Home Office have invited organisations that offer English language tests (such as IELTS) to apply to be included on the list of approved English language tests providers.

* Click for United Kingdom info page with the latest migration news


UNITED KINGDOM – ROMANIA AND BULGARIA


The UK government have recently decided to retain the restrictions on Romanian and Bulgarian nationals working in the UK until at least the end of 2008.

Romania and Bulgaria both joined the EU on 1 January 2007 but their citizens have not been granted rights to work in the UK. They can work however if self-employed or if they obtain permission to work through one of the normal routes such as work permit, HSMP visa etc.

* Click for United Kingdom info page with the latest migration news


We hope that this newsletter has been informative for you.  However, remember everyone's circumstances are different so if you or a friend or family member want to check your eligibility to emigrate then either

1) complete the Online Assessment form on our website www.commonwealthimmigration.com or
2) give us a call on (+44)  (0) 20 8365 3380

We would love to hear from you!

Regards
Tim McMahon
Commonwealth Immigration
www.commonwealthimmigration.com

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