Archive for July, 2018

By July 21, 2018 0 Comments Read More →

New “value test” may be added for migrants seeking Australia PR

Alan Tudge, citizenship minister in Turnbull government has raised his concern about PR visa grants. Too many PR visas are granted to people even before entering in Australia, he said. A new value test may be added for migrant seeking Australia PR.

Value test for migrants seeking Australia PR

New value test may be added for migrants seeking PR

 

Last year, Australia granted about 162000 visa which was lower than the annual cap of 190000 and lowest in the last 10 years. About half of the total were granted visa even before entering Australia and another half were granted within Australia based on temporary visas. This is less ideal and something needs to consider, Tudge said in his speech in London.

Approximately two-thirds of permanent residency visa are skilled visa while one-third are family visas.  Mr. Tudge concerned about the offshore applicants as no much details are known about them.

A new spoken English language test may be introduced for people seeking permanent residency in Australia.

Posted in: Immigration
By July 20, 2018 0 Comments Read More →

My health record opt out open till 15 Oct 2018

The federal government has opened the three-month my health record opt-out option for Australians who do not want to record their health data on e-health record. You can opt out of this service between 16 July 2018 to 15 October 2018. After that, e-health record for every citizen will be created who have not opted out.

My health record opt-out 

My health record opt-out 

 

Till date, approximately 6 million people have signed up for my health record for the last six years. My health record is an online digital record of your health data. As many 20000 people have opt-out till date from e-record said by Turnbull on 3AW Radio at Melbourne.

 

Benefits of digital health record:

There are various benefits of having a digital health record. Based on past data and history, a diagnosis would be easy. You can easily keep track of your health record information online. All information is available on finger touch.

For my health record opt out, please click here. (Valid till 15 Oct 2018)

You can also opt out for your children under the age of 18. However, they need to have supporting documents for the same.

Documents required:

Following documents are required for my health record opt out

  • Medicare card
  • Identity proof

Your identity proof can be a driving license, passport or Immi card to verify your identity.

 

Why my health record opt out?

A possible reason for my health record opt-out is privacy. Many people are worried about their data security. Who will have access to your health records? This is really a big question and no satisfying answer is available as of now.

 

Summary

All in all, it is a personal choice whether to go for a digital health record or to opt out. Today approximately 6 lakh people in Australia have my health record and there are about 13000 health professionals.  If you choose to opt out, you will still have an option to get my health record in future.

Posted in: Health
By July 20, 2018 0 Comments Read More →

New species of bandy-bandy snake found in Queensland

A new venomous snake species has been found in Weipa on cape Yoke Peninsula Queensland, Australia. This adds one number in bandy-bandy snake family. There are now five species in Bandy-Bandy family.

New Bandy-Bandy snake species

New Bandy-Bandy snake species

 

Bandy-bandy snake species family is commonly found in Australia. This venomous snake species is epidemic to Australia. These snakes have alternate black and white or yellow strips on their bodies. They are also known as hoop snakes.

Professor Bryen Fry, the biologist at the University of Queensland, discovered this species of snake. It is 30 to 40 cm long with white strips on a black body. It is more likely for this snake species to be extinct in future. These species were found near bauxite mining area. Only six specimens of this snake species were found.

Snake poison is widely used in the pharmaceutical industry to make medicines.

Posted in: Travel
By July 20, 2018 0 Comments Read More →

Research: Great Barrier Reef is no more resilient as before

As per a recent research by scientists of AIMS (Australian Institute of Marine Science) and University of Queensland,  Great Barrier Reef is not more resilient as it was before as its ability to recover has decreased due to many factors like coral bleaching, cyclones, and water quality.

Great Barrier Reef

Great Barrier Reef

 

The great barrier reef is the largest living thing on the earth visible from the space. It is 2300 km long ecosystem near Queensland in north Australia. It is home of a number of sea species. There are more than 600 types of corals and approximately a thousand islands. The GBR is a world heritage site with an area of approximately 3.5 lakh square kilometers. It has been a very popular tourist destination in Australia.

As per Dr. Ortiz, author of University of Queensland’s’ school of biological science and AIMS, this is the first time a drop in a recovery rate of this amount has been observed.

Results indicate that coral recovery is more depends on water quality which is suppressed by factors like cyclones over past years. If the quality of water entering reef is improved, there are more chances of high recovery in some reef.

A 500 million AUD package has been assigned by the federal government this year for the GBR, but experts say it will not be enough. The GBR was affected heavily due to coral bleaching and climate change during the year 2016-17. This package is given to improve water quality and scientific research to protect the reef.

 

Posted in: Travel
By July 20, 2018 0 Comments Read More →

Free VIP tent with toilets at NSW music festival

Yup, you read it right. NSW health is offering free VIP tent with clean toilets and phone charging post during NSW music festival in exchange for a cup of urine.

NSW music festival offer with NSW health

NSW music festival offer with NSW health (2)

 

NSW health comes up with an innovative idea for people to spread awareness about their sexual health. All you need to do is get tested for chlamydia by giving the sample of your urine. Chlamydia is a bacterial infection commonly transmitted during sexual intercourse. It affects both men and women. Infection is not limited to genitals but sometimes it also affects throat and eyes.

You can get yourself tested at north Brayon parklands and get free VIP accommodation. This program was launched last year and till date, more than 2500  people have got themselves tested for chlamydia. About 70 was tested positive for chlamydia as per the statement by NSW health today.

One may be worried about their privacy. For this, your test results are strictly confidential and only shared with you via telephone or email.

This is the great initiative by NSW health during three days NSW music festival and making people aware about their sexual health.

 

 

Posted in: Travel
By July 1, 2018 0 Comments Read More →

Step by step process for Skilled migrant visa Australia

Most of the countries follow, point test scheme for skill independent migration. Higher the point, better the chances to get visa earlier. Here is the step by step guide for the skilled migrant visa Australia.

 

Skilled migrant visa Australia

Skilled migrant visa Australia

 

Points are calculated on different parameter as below.
• Your Age ( Highest for age from 25-32)
• Experience in years ( Higher the number, higher the points )
• English Score ( Competent, Proficient or Expert )
• Education ( Points reduces from PhD-Masters-Bachelor)

 

Internal Review Report (IRR)

The first step in this process is to get yourself assessed. There are different migration agents, who do an assessment for you for free of cost or with nominal charges. All you need is your latest resume and some formal details about you. If your assessment is positive, congratulations, you can apply for migration visa.

 

English Competency

The second step in this process if the English exam. Different countries follow different rules for English exams. Most common exams are IELTS, TOEFL, GRE, and PTE. Please go to the country-specific immigration website and check which exam is required for that. These all exams test your English but exam patterns and types of question vary from one to another. IELTS is the most favored exam by most countries. There are two modules of it. IELTS general and IELTS academic. Academic is preferred by students. For migration IELTS general is preferred. Different countries demand different scores for these exams. Make sure you note down your target scores and plan as per.

 

Skill Assessment

The third step is skill assessment. After getting desired English score, the next step is to get a positive skill assessment. Skill assessment usually checks your work experience and projects you had undergone. Your academics and employment documents are verified. You may need to submit projects on which you worked with clearly stating your roles and responsibilities and duties. Make sure your immigration consultant help you to make this report. You need t to submit English result score with required result.

After a successful assessment, you are granted the letter of a positive outcome with all your details. This is the first time you make direct payment to the country you are migrating. After paying the required fees, it may take up to 3 months to get the output of your skill assessment. If you have got a positive outcome is the first step, there are rare chances of rejection in this case. You skill assessment comes with a validity period which may vary from country to country and usually of 2 years or more. If you don’t apply for a visa within this time frame, your assessment results may void and you need to get yourself assessed again.

 

Expression of Interest (EOI)

After getting a positive skill assessment, the next step is to apply for expression of interest (EOI). Once again, with all your documents and detail, skill assessment letter, and English results, you need to submit an application form to show your expression of interest. The date on which you submit your EOI application is crucial, as this will be the deciding factor for you to get an invitation to apply for the visa.

After submitting EOI, there is waiting time for you until you get an invite. The invitation is granted on basis of points. Waiting period depends on your total points and number of applicant ahead you with higher points for the same occupation. The invitation also affected by a number of total invitation to be granted per year for that country. Every year, occupation lists and number of invitations to be granted is updated and numbers may increase or decrease. In some cases, waiting time may as high as 1 to 2 years.

Visa Lodge

Once you get invited, it is time for you to lodge visa. This is the final step of your visa application. Once again, with all your documents, you need to fill application for a visa. You may need to undergo medical and get a police clearance certificate. Medical is only valid if done with affiliated immigration country. List of certified doctors/hospitals are available on immigration website and usually in metro cities only. Make sure you plan your travel as per if you live in rural or semi-urban areas.

Process for application of PCC varied for different countries. You may need to apply online or visit the nearest police station. You can now submit your visa lodge application with PCC and medical reports.

 

Final Stage

Once the application is submitted, you are assigned a case officer(CO) to look into your case. Each application in this stage is scrutinized case by case. You may need to provide some details requested by your CO assigned by immigration country. This may take up to 2 to 3 months. After the successful assessment, you are granted the visa. It is time for you to celebrate.

 

Summary

This is the basic process for the skilled migrant visa Australia. However, you may sit for the English exam before the internal review. You still need to keep yourself updated about latest points criteria.

 

 

Posted in: Immigration