Free Trade Agreement with China
Australia and China have announced the conclusion of negotiations for a China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA).
The proposed ChAFTA will include:
- Access to Australia for inter-corporate transferees, contractual service providers, installers, servicers, and, business visitors;
- Investment Facilitation Arrangements for large infrastructure development projects above $150 million to operate under the existing temporary skilled (subclass 457) visa system.
- A Work and Holiday Arrangements (WHA) granting up to 5,000 Chinese work and holiday visas.
Further announcements regarding the ChAFTA are expected in the coming months.
New Standards for English Language Proficiency
The Minister has announced changes to the Migration Regulations, accepting two additional tests for demonstrating English language proficiency:
- a Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-based Test (TOEFL iBT); and
- a Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic).
The Minister has also removed the use of specified types of passports to prove proficient and superior proficiency of English.
For applications lodged on and after 23 November 2014, the English language proficiency levels are as follows:
Vocational English
- IELTS – 5 in each of the four sections
- OET – B in each of the four sections
- TOEFL iBT – Speaking 14, Reading 4, Writing 14, Listening 4;
- PTE Academic– 36 for the four components
- OR a valid passport issued by the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada, New Zealand or the Republic of Ireland, to a citizen of that country
Competent English
- IELTS – 6 in each of the four sections
- OET – B for each of the four components
- TOEFL iBT – Speaking 18, Reading 13, Writing 21, Listening 12
- PTE Academic – at least 50 for the four components
- OR a valid passport issued by the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada, New Zealand or the Republic of Ireland, to a citizen of that country
Proficient English
- IELTS – 7 in each of the four sections
- OET – B for each of the four components
- TOEFL iBT – Speaking 23, Reading 24, Writing 27, Listening 24
- PTE Academic – at least 65 for the four components
Superior English
- IELTS – 8 in each of the four sections
- OET – A for each of the four components
- TOEFL iBT – Speaking 26, Reading 29, Writing 30, Listening 28
- PTE Academic – at least 79 for the four test components
The Cambridge English language test is expected to be accepted from 1 January 2015.
Temporary Work (Subclass 400) Visa Entry and Stay Period Extended
Changes have been made to the Migration Act to extend the entry period and stay period for the Temporary Work (subclass 400) visa from 3 months to 6 months.
The changes are a direct result of stakeholder feedback received by the immigration department, since the Subclass 400 visa commenced in March 2013 that greater flexibility in the visa validity settings is required.
Changes to the subclass 400 visa commence on 23 November 2014.
Changes to Visitor (Subclass 600) Visas
Passport holders from the People’s Republic of China will soon be able to make offshore Visitor (subclass 600) Visas applications online through an agent.
Further, the following countries have been added to the list of eligible passport holders to apply for a Visitor (subclass 600) Visa online in the Tourist, Sponsored Family and Business Visitor streams:
- Bhutan
- Burma
- Cambodia
- Laos
- Mongolia
- Pakistan
- Thailand
Changes to the subclass 600 visa commence on 23 November 2014.
Western Australia Public School Fee Waivers
The WA Government has announced that public school fees will be waived for certain families on subclass 457 visas, this includes:
- Families earning $75,000 a year or less will not pay the public school tuition fee
- Illness and unemployment considered for partial or fully waived fees
- Families will also only pay $4,000 per annum once their gross household income passes $75,000, regardless of how many children they have in public schools.
