Immigration Debate

Wouldn’t it be great to hear from an expert exactly what is most likely to go wrong during your emigration and to learn some simple tips on how to avoid them? Well recently I got the opportunity to talk to someone who knows the immigration process inside out - Cathrine Burnett of Migration Matters.

Cathrine’s a Migration Agent with nearly 10 years experience in the industry and has helped hundreds of families emigrate to Australia and has seen people make the same mistakes again and again. She shared with me the 7 most common pitfalls Brits make when going through the visa application process and 10 top tips for ensuring a stress free migration.

Pitfall #1. Not using valid forms.

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship require that to make a valid application the most up to date version of each form is used and if it’s not your application can be sent back as invalid. Forms can change several times a year so check the version date on the bottom right hand corner against the information on the DIAC website

Pitfall #2. Incorrect Certification of Documents

DIAC and the assessing authorities are very particular about this and have different guidelines on who they will accept certified documents from. In most cases it’s important to have the certified copies of the documents signed & dated correctly and not just ink-stamped. Read the guidelines and make sure that you’re following them to the letter. Incorrect certification may been you are asked to provide documents again correctly certified. Wasting time, effort money and causing stress.

Pitfall #3. Not being able to back up & verifying your claims

DIAC will look closely and may verify your claims. Let your employer and previous employers know they may get a call from DIAC. Also be prepared to prove remuneration through P60s payslips etc If you can’t prove your claims DIAC may refuse your visa application.

Pitfall #4. Not enough detail on Employer References DIAC don’t want to know you’re a good person or a great team member. They want to know you have been in skilled employment and that your duties correlate with your nominated occupation. Look at the relevant ASCO descriptions applicable to you, if needs be show them to your employer. Insufficient information on employer references can lead to refusal as DIAC may not be satisfied you have been in skilled employment.

Pitfall #5. Omitting information

Be honest, declare everything, otherwise it could come back and haunt you. i.e. If you have ever been convicted of an offense, whether it is spent or not it MUST be declared. It is considered a criminal offense to provide false or misleading information to the Australian government.

Pitfall#6. Not Submitting the required documentation

Not submitting the required documents at the time of application could cause delays or an invalid application. If you’re asked for it, supply it. Get organized and collect all you need to get before it’s needed.

Pitfall #7. Not Responding to DIAC within the timeframes provided Action all requests in a timely manner, if you don’t respond within the timeframes provided DIAC can refuse the application.

In the next article Cathrine shares her top 10 tips for guaranteeing a stress free emigration.

So, take a deep breath and relax - enjoy the process it’s an exciting time! Avoid these common pitfalls and you’ll be well on your way to a simple, stress free emigration to Oz.

The Green Card, or United States Permanent Resident Card, is an identification card for aliens attesting to their permanent resident status. A green card is proof that its holder is a lawful permanent resident and is granted immigration benefits, which include permission to live and work in the United States. Green cards are issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services which is a part of the Department of Homeland Security.

In order to obtain a green card, a three step process is necessary that can take years to complete, depending on the immigrant category and country of birth. The first step is an immigrant petition which is usually approved through a qualifying relative or employer. The three main groups of petitions are immediate relative immigrants, family-based immigrants and employer based immigrants.

The next step is determined by visa availability, according to quotas set by the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Finally, when a visa becomes available, the applicant must apply with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services to adjust their status to permanent resident. The cost for a visa, effective August 18, 2007, is $930.00 plus an $80.00 biometrics fee. The initial filing for a visa, however, is free.

In addition to this method of obtaining a green card, there is also a green card lottery every year. About 50,000 green cards are made available in a lottery system for people coming to the United States from countries with low immigration rates. The only qualification for this system is country of birth, not citizenship. Eligible territories change year to year. As long as a country has not sent more than 50,000 immigrants to the United States over the previous five years, its citizens remain eligible for the lottery.

Ineligible countries for the 2009 green card lottery include Brazil, Canada, China (mainland only), Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Russia, South Korea, United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland), and Vietnam. Currently, Europe and Africa win about 80% of the lottery visas. A complication of the green card lottery is that more winners are selected than visas are available. This is done because not everyone awarded a visa is able to pursue it, as eligibility restrictions exist. Requirements include a high school diploma and two years of work experience in an industry requiring two years of training. Another problem of the diversity lottery is green card scams, where agents take money from applicants under the claim that they can increase their chances of winning a visa.