According to the Australian Immigration and Citizenship Department, statistics show that Victoria has become the most desired place to live/immigrate as compared to other premises in the year 2008-2009. India has been applauded as the main source of migrants for the past six years in a row.

However, the recent flurry of attacks has played a critical role in affecting the relationship between both the nations in a major way. On the other hand, Melbourne has seen a huge decline in the Indian migrants with a majority of recent attacks happening in Melbourne itself.

Coming back to Victoria, 6191 Indian immigrants settled in the state, in addition to Indian students and workers. New South Wales became the second most desired state amongst Indians, stating 5547 people settled in the year.

Despite all the controversies and racial attacks, India managed to outshine China as the main source for providing overseas students to Australia, a majority of students involved in vocational courses. Stats say that by mid-2009, India provided 91,440 students as compared to 76,417 students.

Apart from Indians, Victoria remains the most preferred place for Malaysians and Sri Lankans too. But the recent attacks on Indians would surely have an impact on Australia’s population and economic growth in the upcoming future.

Immigration, as a facet is nice, but when incidents like racial attacks happen on a regular basis, it surely creates a sense of doubt in the minds of applicants!

Australian politician Pauline Hanson’s decision to come to Britain has been acknowledged by the British Politician Nick Griffin, applauding that she would serve as a good addition to the country.

The BNP Leader said that she is welcome to play her part in political issues, a chance to restart her career all over again! Earlier, she was reported saying that she has had enough of the Aussie land, which lack ample opportunities and now wants to say goodbye to it forever!

Mr. Griffin went on to elaborate that the Aussie politician should choose her new home in a careful manner as UK too is coming in the category of one of the over-crowded places to live in! He offered a bit of advice and strongly recommended that the politician should stay away from inner London too.

Coming back to the political issues, the BNP Leader said that his party has noticed her career graph and hope that she would contact their party very soon. Rest, she should decide on these political issues after moving to Britain.

He said that he felt sorry for the Aussie politician because she has been forced to leave her nation, but she would NOT BE A SPONGER! Rather she would be applauded as an addition to the UK economy!

Earlier, Pauline Hanson made announcements to sell her million-dollar property in Coleyville and leave the Aussie country.

Even though Skilled Regional Sponsored Visa is issued provisionally for three years, the best thing is that it provides you the pathway to apply for permanent residency in the land of Kangaroos. But, before you set to apply for this visa, it is important to know about the criteria set by the Australian immigration for applicants in order to be able to migrate under this visa category.

Here are the criteria that needed to be fulfilled:

• You must be under forty-five years of age.
• You must have good English language skills or vocational English.
• You must choose a particular occupation contained in the SOL. Skilled Occupations List consists the occupations that are in need in Australia.
• Relevant authority must assess the nominated occupation.
• Your skills and qualifications must meet the country’s standard in relation to the selected occupation.

When you meet these basic criteria, you can apply for the Skilled Regional Sponsored Visa. Even if you fulfill the criteria, but if no territory or state participating in the scheme sponsors your occupation, you cannot apply for this visa. However, once you know that your nominated occupation is one the list, you will need to have your occupation assessed and considered by relevant authority for migration. Obtaining sponsorship from a territory/state follows thereafter. Every participating state provides an additional sponsorship application form. Based upon points system, if you get selected for sponsorship by a state, you will have to lodge application with DIAC.

For more information on Skilled Regional Sponsored Scheme, consult an Immigration and Visa consultant!

Australia lets its certain states and territories to sponsor overseas immigrants to live and work in their respective regions. These states or territories sponsor eligible applicants under the Skilled Regional Sponsored scheme. To be very precise, Skilled Regional Sponsored visa is a state sponsored visa that is issued initially as a provisional visa or a temporary residence visa. Or you can say this visa is a substitute for skilled workers who are not able to fulfill the prerequisites of a Skilled- Independent Visa.

A Skilled Regional Sponsored (SRS) Visa is issued for three years. The best part is that a SRS visa holder can apply for permanent residency in Australia after he/she has lived and worked for two years and twelve months respectively in a specific regional area of Australia. However, in order to be eligible for obtaining this visa, an applicant must be nominated by a participating state/territory government agency or sponsored by an eligible relative, who is already a resident of a designated area in Australia.

You can apply for this visa if you are an outsider (not a national of Australia) or a New Zealand national with a visa under the Subclass 444. SRS visa allows you to stay in Australia for three years, however, you have to live and work in a specific regional area during that period. It also lets secondary applicants to accompany you and study or work in that specific regional area only. If you complete two years of living and working in that area, it gives you the opportunity to apply for permanent residency in Australia.

The Indian government, from time to time, has demanded appropriate answers from their Australian counterparts over the issue of racial attacks happening in the land of Kangaroos. Now, Indian High Commissioner to Australia Sujatha Singh has expressed her concerns for the parents who send their children to study in Australia.

Sujatha has warned that the attacks would have long-term consequences until and unless some strict measures are not taken! On her visit to the Oz land, she said that the recent spate of attacks, especially the ones happening around Melbourne are alarming and it is vital for everyone to know that Indians are filled with rage and anger over the whole issue of what is going on in Australia.

She said that the main issue is the increase in the number of attacks that are disproportionately influencing Indians in a major way. She went on ask various questions whether Indians are really safe in Australia and also, why Indians always end up being the victims if these attacks? Are the culprits given appropriate punishment?

India now demands stern action against whatever has happening with Indians in Oz, in recent times. Sujatha Singh also cross-examined the Aussie Government whether the situation would better out or worsen further!

In her quest of finding answers, she met Victorian premier John Brumby and talked about the measures taken by the Oz government to improve the law and order for overseas students.

Earlier, Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith confirmed that some attacks might have a hint of racism cuddled in them!

Amends have been brought about in the Australian Immigration policies. The main endeavor behind this is to cater to those jobs which are comparatively higher skilled than others. These occupations include technical professionals such as engineers, doctors and nurses.

According to the Australian Immigration Minister, Chris Evans, those jobs that are currently in need of skills and recruits that are not available in the country would be catered to first. Others such as cooks and hairdressers are in abundant as of now. He said that when this government was formed newly, the hairdressers were being given priority compared to doctors and nurses. This does not hold any significance today.

Mr. Evans also elaborated that around twenty thousand applications have been rejected by the ministry. These applications are those that were filed before September2007. The application fee charged by these applicants would be refunded.

The applications filed after 1st September’2007 and pending for decision as on 8th February’2010 will continue to be processed as per the MODL and CSL lists applicable to such application on the date of filing.

He stressed that the country is not interested in building its unemployed force which is already in good numbers. Instead, those who have the relevant skills to fill in the gap in the shortage areas would be preferred.

Additionally, those students who were studying in Australia had the opportunity to apply for permanent residency may not have the privilege from now on if they do not have the relevant skills on the job list.

The minister also said that students under certain specific categories of visas may be permitted to stay for another eighteen months after they finish their studies. During this period, they would have to find a job for themselves as well as a sponsor. If they find such an employer/sponsor, they may apply for PR or otherwise leave the country.

These changes have brought in mixed responses from the private education industry in Australia which is expected to suffer due to these amends. With these, the attacks on the Indian students are another issue for concern. Keeping these in light, only time can tell what impact these amends would have on the current Australian economy.

Australia has acknowledged that some of the attacks performed on Indians have been filled with a hint of racism in them. Confirming the news, Aussie Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said that it seems some of the attacks are racists and the culprits would be punished with full force. He further went on to say that the recent spate of attacks is inexcusable and the matter would be seen seriously.

The attacks have crafted a shadow on Australia as a reputed study destination as well as on the bilateral relationship between both the countries and that the government is taking the case in a very serious manner, the Minster further added.

The minister feels that the attacks have obviously damaged Aussie reputation and said that he has deep sympathy for those Indians who suffered because of the recent incidents. He said that their police force is performing investigations on every incident and would ensure that the victims and their families get justice as soon as possible.

He assured that the Aussie government will continue to perform their utmost in order to ensure the safety of Indians residing in Australian communities. His words “ZERO TOLERANCE FOR RACISM” spoke everything on his behalf! The Australian community condemns such attacks which have an element of racism decked in them.

Governments at every level are involved in performing their best to address and solve this problem in a major way. He said that Indians are welcome guest here and Australia would ensure that Indian students get quality education and a positive experience during their stay in Australia.

According to Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship, the number of immigrants who hold permanent or temporary visas, and an intention to settle in Australia increased from 149,365 to 158,021 in the period 2008-2009. Immigrants accompanied by permanent or provisional temporary visas who intent to settle in the country are counted as permanent settlers.

Out of the total 158,021 permanent settlers, about 44 percent immigrants had entered Australia under the Work Visa Stream, while 27 percent was sponsored immigrants (under Family Visa Stream). Reportedly, most of the migrants were granted permission to settle in Australia under Skill Stream and Family Stream. New Zealand-and-United Kingdom-born people dominated a large portion of the permanent setters in 2008-2009. They accounted for about 30 percent of the total population of permanent settlers. This was, however, a decrease of 7.6 percent from the last year. Apart from New Zealand and UK, other prominent countries from where people migrated to Australia to settle there include South Africa with 40 percent; India with 11 percent; and China with 10 percent.

The report from the Immigration and Citizenship department also indicated that the permanent settlers in 2008-2209 are mostly concentrated in the states of New South Wales and Victoria, with 30 percent and 25 percent of respectively. As opposed to this, below 5 percent migrants chose to settle in states like Tasmania, Northern Territory and ACT.

If you are also intending to migrate to Australia and reside there, contact an Immigration and Visa consultant. You will be guided throughout the process of visa application until you arrive your destination!

Peter Varghese, Australia’s High Commissioner, in recent news stated that the image of Australia as a potential country to migrate to has been affected in a negative way! India has been a source of immigrants who come to study and work in Australia, amongst other countries. But the recent racial attacks have served as a major reason for hampering the Oz image, not only amongst the Indians, but people from all over the globe.

Varghese further stated that he accepts that the Oz image has taken a beating, but feels that the relations between the governments are strong enough to overcome these issues. He stated that the negative media coverage and the perception of people in India about the Australia country has been the major cause of worry for him.

He stated that Oz has been applauded as an unsafe country for Indians, which is really creating worries for him as well as the whole country. This is further destroying the relations between the two countries.

He elaborated that the Aussie government is in the process of taking steps to calm down this situation and commented that these attacks are NOT RACIST IN NATURE! Some of the steps taken by the Aussie government include enhancing the number of anti-robbery squads and police patrolling along with making amendments in the legislations. For those planning to migrate to Australia, hire the services of an Immigration veteran and go for a hassle free application process as far as your Immigration process is concerned.

Australia is one of those countries that attract the highest number of overseas flocks each year, be it for study purpose, business purpose or some other reasons. The statistics says the highest number of immigrants in the nation is from the United Kingdom, followed by China and other European countries.

Immigrants make up one quarter of Australia’s 22 million of total population. People from the UK comprise the largest migrant group in the nation. According to the statistics, British people account for more than 1.2 million of Australian population.

Australia also has a large number of migrants from New Zealand, reason being Kiwis are not required to obtain visas in order to enter Australia. Apart from British and New Zealanders, some other major immigrant groups contributing to the Australian population are from India, Vietnam, China, Philippines, South Africa, Greece, Macedonia, Netherlands, Indonesia, the US, Malaysia and Lebanon.

AS per the 2006 census, New South Wales boasts the largest immigrant population, including South Korean, Chinese, Iraqi, Lebanese and Fijian. With overseas-born population, including Italians, Turkish, Indians and Sri Lankan, Victoria is the Australian state with second largest immigrant population.

Besides, Western Australia has a considerable number of overseas-born settlers. The immigrant population in the state makes over 500,000. The state is second to New South Wales, when it comes to British settlers. Queensland with near about 700,000 foreign settlers proves as one of the most prospective states for immigrants. It hosts settlers mostly from New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.

When we see the statistics of the immigrant population in Australia, it comes clear that the nation is one of the hot destinations among the overseas settlers, along with the US and UK!