December 2007

Hi and welcome to our final newsletter for 2007. This month you will find the regular update on all visa applications for New Zealand, Australia and Canada, plus Christmas holiday times for the Immigration departments. We have some interesting articles including information from the latest annual report for Canadian Immigration, details regarding the state of Western Australia and The Treaty of Waitangi (New Zealand). In the job search section this month we focus on interviewing techniques.

Network Migration Christmas Hours

Network Migration Services will be closing for the Christmas break from Friday 21^st December 2007 and will re-open at 8am on Wednesday 2^nd January 2008. Please note however there will only be skeleton staff in the office until Monday 7^th January 2008.

Australian Permanent Residency Processing Information:

PLEASE NOTE THAT DIAC WILL BE CLOSED FROM 25TH – 27TH DECEMBER 2007 AND ON 1ST - 2ND JANUARY 2008. PROCESSING OF APPLICATIONS WILL RECOMMENCE ON 3RD JANUARY 2008

Applications submitted on the dates shown below are currently being allocated to case officers for the initial review of applications. Once this review has taken place a letter requesting additional information such as medicals will be sent.

• ACKNOWLEDGING AND RECEIPTING OF APPLICATIONS:

Skilled Migration Visas received before 1^st September 2007

(Subclasses 134, 136, 137, 138, 139, 495 and 496)

Currently acknowledging applications received week beginning 30^th July 2007.

Skilled Migration Visas received after 1^st September 2007

(Subclasses 175, 176, 475, 476)

Currently acknowledging applications received 17^th December 2007

Skilled Migration Visas

(Subclasses 175,176, 475, 476)

E lodged (online): 21 September 2007

Paper based allocations: allocations are yet to commence.

• PROCESSING AND ALLOCATION INFORMATION AS AT 17TH DECEMBER 2007

Skilled Migration Visas received before 1^st September 2007

(Subclasses 134, 136, 137, 138, 139, 495 and 496)

All applications submitted in the week of 29^th January 2007 have now been allocated visa officers

Skilled Migration Visas received after 1^st September 2007

(Subclasses 175,176, 475, 476)

E-lodged (on line) applications submitted 21^st September 2007 have now been allocated visa officers.

Paper based applications: allocations have yet to commence

Information is updated weekly and can be obtained by sending a blank email to: aspc.processing@immi.gov.au.

This is an automated service providing processing information only. Please do not send any other inquiry or information to the e-mail address.

Communicating with the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship

In our recent newsletters Network Migration advised you of the delays in communicating with DIAC. The situation has not improved greatly over the past month.

DIAC have issued these time frames for processing applications:

• DIAC aim to accept payment within 12 – 14 weeks of submission

• DIAC will acknowledge an application 4 – 6 weeks after payment has been accepted

• DIAC will send an acknowledgment letter containing a client reference number and a receipt after this time.

• If your inquiry is not related to the acknowledgment or receipt of an application DIAC will aim to answer your query within 2 weeks but it can sometimes take up to 4 weeks.

Once payment has been accepted the applications will undergo validity checking. Once this checking has been completed you will receive an acknowledgment letter with a file number. There will then be a wait of approximately 6 – 9 months before your file is allocated a visa officer. The delay in acknowledging your application will not impact on the time taken for your application to be allocated a case officer if you have lodged a valid application.  Case officer allocation and expected date of finalization will be in line with DIAC's current processing times and service standards available on their website. (www.immi.gov.au)

New Zealand Expression of Interest Fortnightly Selections

Please note that Immigration New Zealand will be closed on statutory days over the Christmas and New Year break and processing of applications will recommence on 3^rd January 2008.

The latest fortnightly selection took place on 5^th December 2007

Selection criteria No. of EOIs

All EOIs at or above 140 points. 548

All EOIs with a job or a job offer claiming points between 100 and 135 points. 138

All EOIs claiming 15 points for work experience in an area of absolute skill shortage and with a points total between 100 and 135 points: 56

All EOIs claiming 10 points for work experience in an area of absolute skill shortage and with a points total between 100 and 135 points: 31

All EOIs claiming 10 points for a qualification in an area of absolute skill shortage and with a points total between 105 and 135 points: 21

TOTAL SELECTION 794

The next selection will take place on 20^th December 2007.

Canadian High Commission Processing Information:

File Completion Processing Times (source: Canadian High Commission website)

There are so many variables in processing an immigration application that it is impossible to estimate how long it will take. Our present estimated processing times for immigration applications are:

• Skilled Worker Class and Business Class applicants - approximately 40 months for a substantive review to take place; if the application is approved, approximately 6 to 8 months to process to completion from the date of the substantive review; if a personal interview is required, approximately 8 to 12 months to process to completion from the date of the substantive review.

• Skilled Worker Class applicants with a job offer in Canada - applicants who have received an offer of permanent employment confirmed by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) and do not intend to work in Canada before obtaining permanent residence are fast-tracked and may be processed within 6 to 8 months. If a personal interview is required, processing can take 12 months from the date of review.

• Skilled Worker Class applicants in Canada on a valid work permit who have received an indeterminate offer of employment from their current employer in Canada may be processed within 6 to 8 months if an interview is not required.

• Provincial Nominees - are fast-tracked and will take approximately 6 to 8 months.

• Family Class applicants (spouses, common-law partners, conjugal partners and dependent children of Canadian citizens and permanent residents) - approximately 6 months once the approved sponsorship and completed application is received by our office in Pretoria.

• Other Family Class applicants - a minimum of 12 months once the approved sponsorship and completed application is received by our office in Pretoria.

CIC are currently processing files submitted in September 2004.

Important Notice to all holders of temporary South African passports:

As of 1 January, 2008 applications for Visas will no longer be accepted if accompanied by the South African Temporary Passport. Applicants must submit the regular South African passport with their applications.

The South African Temporary Passport, in all forms (ordinary, official and diplomatic) will no longer be valid for travel to Canada after the 20 January, 2008.

Submission of applications to Australia, Canada and New Zealand

The first day for application submissions for the New Year will be Friday 11^th January 2008.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Western Australia is a popular destination for many of our clients immigrating to Australia and we thought it useful to provide information and facts about WA as a whole as well as touch base on its capital Perth.

Capital: Perth

Area: 1,515,300 square miles (2,525,500 square km) = over 10 times the size of the UK

Total Area of Australia: 32.8%

Coastline: 7, 813 miles (12,500km)

Climate: Average Perth daily maximum temperature in January (Summer) 27º C; in July (Winter) 15º C. Note that there is a significant variation in temperatures throughout the state from the temperate South to the tropical North.

Western Australia is huge – the whole of Western Europe can easily fit into WA and still leave room for more. It is made up a whole range of climatic and geographical zones - from its endless white plains to its crystal waters of the tropical North.

The State is rich in a wide variety of natural resources and is a leading producer of iron ore, gold, industrial diamonds, alumina, mineral sands, wool, wheat, salt and forest products. While wheat and wool account for around two - thirds of the state's income from the primary industry, WA is also developing more unusual primary industries; farming, cashmere and angora goats, emu and deer. WA's fishing industry produces rock lobster, prawns, shrimp and scampi, which is mainly exported to Japan and USA. Mineral and petroleum products also adds a further $8 billion per annum to the States Economy, and comprises 84% of the value of the State's overseas exports and about 50% of Australia's total mineral and energy.

Since the 1960's, Western Australia's economy has grown faster than that of any other state, with an average real Gross State Product growth of 4.9%. The State's economy is export-based and its overseas trade surplus is more than double the rest of AU.

PERTH

Is the most geographical isolated capital city in the world and has a population of 1.41 million people (WA has a total population of 1.9 million).

The city is stunning, situated along the banks of the Swan River, and has a relaxed and friendly atmosphere and easy-going lifestyle. The most popular residential areas are built along the river and coastal strip.

Weather/Climate

Perth summers are very hot, and although the average temperature is only 80º F (27º C), the mercury hovers over around 104º F (40º C) for days at a time. The heat is very dry and as it is not sticky or cloying can be easily dealt with by staying in the shade. In the afternoons the sea breeze comes in off the Indian Ocean and by sunset the weather becomes extremely pleasant. This breeze is known affectionately as “The Fremantle Doctor”. Perth is in fact one of Australia’s windiest cities and the third windiest city in the world.

Culture

Perth is an active cultural scene, with a permanent symphony orchestra, ballet company and opera company performing all year-round at the city's 2 main arts venues: the Perth Concert Hall and His Majesty's Theatre. The Festival of Perth is held every year and is centered on the venues of the University of WA.

Transport

Perth has an efficient public transport system made up of ferries, electric trains and buses all run by Transperth. In Perth, travel on the Central Area Transport (CAT) system is free throughout the central business district. City planners are actively working seeking to improve public transport to alleviate congestion in the city centre. Long distance commuting is very rare in Perth, and most people live within 20 minutes of their place of work.

Recreation/Leisure

The beaches and the Swan River provide a perfect water-playground for Perth's population, and the swimming, water-skiing, windsurfing, surfing and sailing are the cornerstone of Perth Leisure activities. There are more boats per capita in Perth than in any other AU city.

The other major sports played include cricket (the Western Australian Cricket Association, affectionately known as the WACA, often hosts One Day International and Test Matches), various codes of football (Aussie rules, soccer, and rugby), horse-racing, tennis, hockey, lawn bowls and golf. Basketball and baseball are also increasingly popular.

• Please note for those looking at relocating to other states in AU – do not despair the NMS newsletter will cover a different state each month so be on the look out for yours!

Source Live & Work In Australia & New Zealand (Fourth Edition) – Deborah Penrith & Susan Kelly

The Treaty of Waitangi – New Zealand

The Treaty of Waitangi is an agreement between the Maori people and the New Zealand Government. It was signed on 6^th February 1840 at Waitangi in the North Island and was signed by both Maori chiefs and the representatives from the British Government. Its purpose is to safeguard the development of Maori culture, resources and way of life and is the starting place of discussions for the Maori people and government.

The Treaty is recognised as the first immigration agreement between the indigenous Maori and Pakeha (European settlers). It originally allowed settlers to emigrate to NZ peacefully under the British flag. It was important, firstly to control the thousands of future immigrants to NZ and secondly, to protect the rights of the Maori people.

The Treaty is still recognised and often referred to as the ‘founding document of New Zealand’. It is also the reason for much political debate and demonstration but remains a significant part of New Zealand heritage and culture.

For further information regarding the Treaty please www.govt.nzor you can visit Te Papa museum in Wellington for a visual history of Maori culture and tradition – www.tepapa.govt.nz

Source: Live and Breath guide – Immigration NZ

Canadian Immigration update

A recent annual report from Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) provided some updated figures on applications for both temporary and permanent residency applications.

Final figures showed 2006 to be a very busy year with over 250,000 new permanent residents. The large numbers of skilled workers, professionals and business people provided some relief to the labour shortage. Over a third of applications were those being sponsored by family members already residing in Canada.

Although no final figures have been released yet, 2007 was also on track to be a bumper year. There have been noted developments in the Provincial Nomination Programs (PNP) to facilitate the entry of temporary workers who will then go on to apply for residency once settled. Also of significance was an increase in federal government contributions to help newcomers with settlement support. The government announced that around $1.3 billion would be spent in settlement funding to help immigrants succeed.

As for next year, CIC expects to approve between 240,000 – 265,000 new migrants. The targets for Provincial Nomination are over 20,000 – a marked increase from 2006 where there were around 9000 approved.

Further info on Provincial Nomination Programs (PNP)

The PNP allows provinces to nominate individuals who wish to immigrate to Canada and who are interested in settling in a particular province.

Nominees are selected on their ability to contribute to the provinces economic development. In most cases a job offer is required to gain a nomination and generally there must be a demand for that occupation in a particular province. Sometimes the employer must prove that they can not find a Canadian to fill the role.

The popular provinces of Ontario (major cities – Ottawa and Toronto) and Quebec (Montreal) do not participate in the PNP. However all other provinces do operate the programs and the processing times vary from province to province. By gaining provincial nomination the whole process of immigration is sped up. For further information please visit www.cic.gc.ca

(Source: cicnews.com)

Job Search tips with our NMS Job Search Consultant

Interviewing is tough for the most seasoned professional, whether it is a telephonic or face to face interview. So we have put together a couple of hints and tips to prepare you for that exciting step in your career progression.

Remember that a telephonic interview is just as important as a normal face to face interview. Make sure that you are ready for the call, and that you are in a quiet place, where you can talk without being disturbed. Make sure that you have done some research on the company, and that you have questions ready to ask them. This is the time to get those questions out of the way that you have concerning the position and the company. Remember to answer all the questions that are asked with more than just a yes or a no, elaborate where possible. After the interview, remember to send a short note via e-mail to say thanks for their time, and remind them to contact you if there is anything else that they need.

In face to face interviews, the first impression is very important, so remember to make good eye contact and give a strong handshake. Always take two or three copies of your CV with you, as you never know who might be at the interview, and if the person interviewing you has left your CV in their office, you are ready with a copy for them. Once again, answer any questions with more than just a yes or no, elaborate wherever possible, and do not hesitate to ask questions of your own. Have a look at the company website, and formulate a couple of questions to ask. This is your chance to get all the information that you want from the people who are in the know, so use this chance to get as much information as possible. At the end of the day you need to be comfortable with the company and the position, as this is a huge step in your life!

For further information and advice make sure you get in touch with the job search team at Network Migration Services – jobsearch@netmigration.co.zaand keep an eye on our hot jobs link at our website – www.networkmigration.co.za– for current vacancies. Nathan Bradley and Rosh Pillay – Relocations Consultants.

On behalf of all staff at Network Migration we would like to wish you all a safe and happy Christmas and all the best for a prosperous 2008!