Alan Collett Posted December 3, 2007 Posted December 3, 2007 In a shock move, all the State and Territory Treasury Corporations that were accepting capital investments from skilled migrants have announced their withdrawal from the program: Go Matilda - Your Gateway to Australia - News Best regards.
Guest murwullambah Posted December 3, 2007 Posted December 3, 2007 I have just been reading about this on another forum, it will affect us as we need the 5 points, surely they cant move the goalposts after all the time money and stress we have invested, what will happen to our cases, help pleasewe applied 24 july
Guest Gollywobbler Posted December 3, 2007 Posted December 3, 2007 I have just been reading about this on another forum, it will affect us as we need the 5 points, surely they cant move the goalposts after all the time money and stress we have invested, what will happen to our cases, help pleasewe applied 24 july Hi M This does not affect me, but I absolutely agree with the points you have made and my heart goes out to you. I too find it hard to believe that they think they can justify stealing your application fee - in effect - via subsequently shifting the goalposts on you in the way that they suddenly have. What are DIAC's proposals for refunding every cent that their latest antic has caused people acting in the utmost good faith to waste? The skills assessment fee needs to come back, so does the visa application charge, so do any Agents fees plus out of pocket expenses like Meds and courier charges plus interest, it seems to me. If the new Government does not have the decency to refund ALL the wasted money and to do it swiftly and without argument, then as far as I am concerned their Banana Republic In the Sun is simply NOT worth the hassle or the financial and emotional risk. Let them stunt their own economic prosperity if they wish - I can't see why you or I should shoulder that for them. What is the point of another application? They can't be trusted not to pull the rug out from under that as well. Are they offering to handle these alternative applications within the original fee? Have they persuaded the MIA that all RMAs should follow suit and do the new applications at no additional cost to the client as well? DIAC were heavily hammered as a result of a couple of high-profile public inquiries about 3 or 4 years ago into the way they conduct business. The independent assessors told them in no uncertain terms to pull their socks up and - for a short while - they did. Memories within DIAC appear to be very short, however. Gill:realmad::realmad:
Selah Posted December 3, 2007 Posted December 3, 2007 We're in the same point. 5 Points absolutely necessary. I'm wondering if that's why our application fee was taken twice and refunded once without receipting. They still have £911 but have to wonder if they meant to refund it. I haven't heard back from our agent. I actually told them. I can't believe this is happening as we couldn't afford to pay additional agents fees and my job doesn't appear to be on the south australian sponsorship. The ridiculous thing is that my husband does the same thing as me - has had countless verbal job offers on our visit and because he doesn't have an acutal degree can't get a positive assessment through vetassess. The irony as well is we just heard we could get our kids into the school we wanted them to attend. Liz
becky c Posted December 3, 2007 Posted December 3, 2007 OMG!!! I feel physically sick! I lodged my investment on 23rd November, I've not received the paperwork yet, I guess there's a chance they wont honour it? I've emailed my agent and the state I invested with for some clarity on this. Bec x
Life on easy street Posted December 3, 2007 Posted December 3, 2007 Surely it is the regulations in place the day they receive your application? That apply to your visa application. Unless they specifically state it is a retrospective regulation.
becky c Posted December 3, 2007 Posted December 3, 2007 It doesn't look like it, I think the issue is that its not DIAC who have changed the rules, rather the states and territories have withdrawn from the programme. So there is nowhere for applicants to invest their money.....I think so anyaway.....so they cant get their extra points. In my opinion, DIAC should give all those affected the 5 points just for lodging the 'intention' to invest, otherwise it seems very unfair. Still I guess at the end of the day they can do what they like, I'm panicking in case they return my funds and say hard luck... Bec x
Guest fatpom Posted December 3, 2007 Posted December 3, 2007 The timing of this decision looks suspiciously like the effects of political change? If so its come pretty fast. Whatever the reason of it... the playing field is now going to be more level for people from poorer countries. It was an open secret that the capital investments program gave an advantage to people from western (ie anglosaxon) countries. Unfortunate for those caught up in it but from my perspective its more like the meritocracy I'd like to live in, but know I never will.
Guest Gollywobbler Posted December 3, 2007 Posted December 3, 2007 The timing of this decision looks suspiciously like the effects of political change? If so its come pretty fast.Whatever the reason of it... the playing field is now going to be more level for people from poorer countries. It was an open secret that the capital investments program gave an advantage to people from western (ie anglosaxon) countries. Unfortunate for those caught up in it but from my perspective its more like the meritocracy I'd like to live in, but know I never will. Hi Fatpom I think they closed the avenue of making a capital investment in return for 5 bonus points when they did the visa shake-up on 1st Sept 2007. The latest move seems to be a reaction to the way the Judge criticised DIAC over its handling of the NAB scandal recently. The RMAs over on BE have been suggesting today that for Britons, the solution may be to submit a new visa aplication and this time, sit the IELTS English test which is potentially worth an extra 25 points, I believe. When something like this happens, Alan Collett generally spends a day or two mulling through all the possible alternative solutions and the implications of each one. Once he and his team are happy that they have covered all bases, Alan then normally produces a factshheet outlining the alternative possibilities. Cheers Gill
Alan Collett Posted December 3, 2007 Author Posted December 3, 2007 I recommend that those who are applying for a subclass 136 visa and who have been intending to make the A$100,000 investment to attain the points pass mark should revisit the list of occupations that can facilitate a State Nomination. I foresee that the strategy would be to advise the Skilled Processing Centre that you are withdrawing your claim as to bonus points for making the capital investment, and that you wish your subclass 136 application to be assessed as a subclass 137 (applications are made for visa classes, not subclasses, and subclasses 136 and 137 fall within class BN). I will extract links to the State and Territory Government Wanted Skills Lists and will post them here when I have them all to hand. Best regards.
Alan Collett Posted December 3, 2007 Author Posted December 3, 2007 Links to State and Territory Government Wanted Skills Lists WA: http://migration.wa.gov.au/Media/Documents/Skills_in_Demand_List_OCTOBER_2007.pdf SA: http://www.immigration.sa.gov.au/pdfs/gsm/OccupationList_Permanent.pdf VIC: Skilled - Sponsored Eligibility List QLD: Queensland Skilled Sponsored Eligible Skilled List TAS: http://www.development.tas.gov.au/migration/skills.doc NSW: Department of State and Regional Development NT: http://www.migration.nt.gov.au/documents/STNI_Shortage_List.pdf Best regards.
Selah Posted December 4, 2007 Posted December 4, 2007 Alan, The problem is what do any of us applying under 138 do? Is the only way forward a non permanent visa if our job doesn't fall under any of the state-nominated sponsorship lists and worse do I take the risk with 3 children. I find it so difficult to believe that they can do something like this. Do we even get our application fee back?? Liz
Alan Collett Posted December 4, 2007 Author Posted December 4, 2007 As you can imagine, there is a significant furore as a result of this change. I like to think there will be a work around introduced - maybe in the form of a Federal Bond or a notional 5 points reduction in the points pass mark for those claiming these bonus points. Watch this space ... and Go Matilda News. I'll make known any announcements as soon as I hear of them. Best regards.
Guest longland Posted December 5, 2007 Posted December 5, 2007 OMG!!! I feel physically sick! I lodged my investment on 23rd November, I've not received the paperwork yet, I guess there's a chance they wont honour it? I've emailed my agent and the state I invested with for some clarity on this. Bec x Hi bec we are in the same situation. Ours was received on the 23rd November, so we gave them a call and was advised that it had been processed on the 30th November. So give them a call to put your mind at rest. Apparently if you have been officially asked to make the investment before the 1st December they are honoring these. We are still waiting to hear from our Case Officer but our agent assures us it will be soon. We are hoping to move out on Christmas day, and have already booked the dog on a flight on 18th December. I have my fingers crossed!! and living in constant hope Maria x
becky c Posted December 7, 2007 Posted December 7, 2007 Hi Maria, Yes, I emailed the state I had invested with and they put my mind at rest. Still havn't got a visa yet though........... Bec x P.S.Sent you a pretty picture of congratulations on getting yours xx
Guest longland Posted December 8, 2007 Posted December 8, 2007 Hi Maria, Yes, I emailed the state I had invested with and they put my mind at rest. Still havn't got a visa yet though........... Bec x P.S.Sent you a pretty picture of congratulations on getting yours xx hi bec Im sure it will soon be your turn. Get your agent to chase it up as ours did and we got it within a couple of hours. keeping my fingers crossed for you, just keep chasing them as soon they will be closing for christmas. all the best
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