Australia: New criteria for subclass 457 visa sponsors and streamlined processing program forthcoming
On July 1, 2016, the Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection will implement new qualifying criteria for Accredited Sponsors and will reduce the requisite volume of applications that a sponsor must file to qualify for Accredited Sponsor status. Additionally, a streamlined processing program for eligible subclass 457 Accredited Sponsors will become available on that date.
Australia: New law requires declaration against discriminatory recruitment practices
A new rule requires sponsors submitting subclass 457 visa applications on or after April 19, 2016 or those awaiting approval as of that date to submit a declaration that they will not engage in recruitment practices that discriminate against potential employees on the grounds of immigration status or citizenship.
The addition of the new sponsorship obligation will allow the Department of Immigration and Border Protection to impose fines on sponsors that violate or do not comply with the new rule on or after April 19.
Kenya: Online platform pilot launched for some immigration applications
The Department of Immigration in Kenya has launched a new online platform – called the Electronic Foreign Nationals Service (eFNS) - for work, family and student immigration applications. The eFNS will be rolled out on a pilot basis for some services and is likely to be mandatory for immigration applications in the near future.
The new platform follows the recent introduction of the eVisa system, which has streamlined visa processing and in part replaced the visa-on-arrival system.
Australia – Current visa processing times
We have noticed a gradual increase in processing times for decisions to be made by the Australian Department of Immigration so we are sending you the current published processing times to enable you to make the best informed decision about the time frame involved in your expatriate movements to Australia.