The 2006-07 Migration Programme composition will strengthen Australia’s economy and
maintain a cohesive community.

For the Australian visa programme year 2006-07 there was a total of 148,200
permanent visas granted.

There is great belief within the Howard Government that people wishing to live in
Australia should bring skills into the workplace that will benefit and grow the Australian
economy, as well as a commitment to integrate within the community.

Of the total migration programme, 66% of the total visas granted were to permanent
skilled workers. This percentage was equal to almost 98,000 and with an average age
of entrant being 31 years.

Accountancy (10,700) was the top occupation for skilled entrants , followed by IT
professionals (4,044) and registered nurses (2,088). Other top skilled professions
included mechanical engineers, civil engineers, marketing specialists and upper
management.

Out of these figures the top five countries of origin for entrants from the skilled stream
were: United Kingdom (24,800), India (15,865), People’s Republic of China (14,688),
Republic of South Africa (4,293) and Malaysia (3,838). The reality is that Australia face a shortage of workers and is constantly facing stiff opposition for those who are skilled. The main competition coming from places such as Europe, USA, Canada and New Zealand.

Some of the response to the challenges that lie ahead is in attracting to Australia
young, skilled professionals to who will contribute to a cohesive society. The 2006-07 family stream is contributing more and more to helping achieve this goal.

For example, more than 39,000 (80%) of the family stream were spouses, fiancés or
interdependent. The global economy and more affordability of travel overseas now
enables more young Australians to go overseas to study and work. This tends to occur
more during their 20s and early 30s which is also when they tend to start a relationship. The programme shows a growing demand for those people who want to bring their spouses back to Australia and start a family and live here. In total there were 50,079 family stream visas granted for the 2006-07 year, which represents 33 per cent of the total migration programme.

This year the average age of family stream entrants (total) is 32 years.
Out of these the top five countries of origin for family stream entrants were: United
Kingdom (6,540), People’s Republic of China (6,037), India (3,634), Philippines (3,098)
and Vietnam (3,040).

In addition a total of more than 13,000 visas were granted through the refugee and
humanitarian programme.

More than 16% of refugee visas were granted in the Women at Risk category, well
ahead of the 10.5 per cent target set by the Australian Government.
http://www.instanttravelvisa.co.uk/

VISA OPPORTUNITIES IN PERTH

Over the next 10 years, a 25% increase in population is expected in Perth, Western Australia. Combine this with the current boom in mining in the area, let alone it's magnificent location, and opportunities abound for any Briton considering a life changing career by emigrating to Australia.

With the job market in Perth being so bouyant there is a large shortage of skilled workers in the area. Those areas where there is a particular shortage are teachers and various trades people.

It may be just be worth going to have a look. You can get cheap flights to Australia at
http://www.cruisemaestro.co.uk and visitor ETA visas at http://www.instanttravelvisa.co.uk

SYDNEY TOURS

Enjoy an exhilarating 360-degree view over Sydney from Sydney's tallest building, the Sydney Tower by getting a ticket that also includes entrance to Oztrek the largest simulated ride anywhere the Southern Hemisphere.The Sydney Tower is an incredible 250 metres high and offers stupendous views over Sydney including the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.Oztrek is a virtual tour through the cultural history of Australia and offers surround sound technology and 3D imagery with Experience white water rafting on the Tully River of Queensland, climb up Ayers Rock, be involved in a game of Aussie Rules and get seriously close to an enormous saltwater crocodile. For more information email enquiries@cruisemaestro.co.uk for this and many other attractions and tours in and around Australia.
http://www.instanttravelvisa.co.uk/

AUSTRALIAN VISA APPLICANTS KNOW THEIR VALUES.

Those who apply for an Australian Visa may be asked to complete statement on "values" to prove that they ought to be able to integrate given the countries differing cultures to what they are used to.
From as early as October, those applying may be made to sign a statement setting out a willingness to adopt the attitudes and traditions of Australians. This will then be used to assess an individuals suitability for a visa and will be judged along with their English skills and how much they know about Australia and it's laws.
Australia's new integration policy is due to be introduced fully in February and this could form an important part of it.
http://www.instanttravelvisa.co.uk/

TYPES OF ETA VISAS

There are 3 types of short stay visas to Australia available to buy online.
The first is the Tourist/Visitor Electronic Travel Authority Visa (ETA) Subclass 976This visa is perfect if you wish to either tour Australia or if you wish to visit relatives or friends.The visa is valid for 12 months from the date of issue and allows you to stay in Australia for up to 3 months at any one time. The beauty is that, if you want to visit again within the 12 month visa validity period, then you are free to do so.
http://www.instanttravelvisa.com/

VISAS TO AUSTRALIA

MORE THAN 650,000 UK CITIZENS,616,000 JAPANESE AND ALMOST 400,000 US CITIZENS VISITED AUSTRALIA IN 2006.
ALL OF THESE VISITORS TO AUSTRALIA WOULD REQUIRE A VISA AND SOME WOULD HAVE HAD TO COMPLETE VISA APPLICATION FORMS. HOWEVER MOST VISITORS CAN OBTAIN THEIR VISA ONLINE AND WITHIN 24 HOURS.
THIS SYSTEM IS CALLED THE ELECTRONIC TRAVEL AUTHORITY SYSTEM (ETAS).YOUR PASSPORT DETAILS ARE LODGED AGAINST THE ETA VISA AND WHEN YOUR PASSPORT IS SCANNED AT THE AIRLINE CHECK IN STAFF KNOW WHETHER OR NOT YOU ARE AUTHORISED TO ENTER AUSTRALIA.
CURRENTLY CITIZENS FROM 33 COUNTRIES CAN APPLY FOR THIS TYPE OF VISA.
THERE ARE 2 TYPES WHICH LAST FOR 12 MONTHS AND 1 WHICH LASTS UNTIL THE EXPIRY DATE OF YOUR PASSPORT. ALL 3 ALLOW A MAXIMUN STAY AT ANY ONE TIME OF 3 MONTHS BUT ARE ALL MULTIPLE ENTRY.GET YOURS NOW AT http://www.instanttravelvisa.co.uk/

BACKPACKING TO AUSTRALIA

FIGURES RECENTLY RELEASED BY THE AUSTRALIAN DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SHOW THAT A RECORD NUMBER OF VISAS WERE ISSUED TO BACKPACKERS AND STUDENTS IN THEIR GAP YEAR IN 2006/O7.THIS AMOUNTED TO A TOTAL OF MORE THAN 100,000 GRANTED VISAS, A 15% INCREASE.30,OOO OF THESE WERE BRITISH WHO HAD APPLIED FOR THE EVERMORE POPULAR WORKING HOLIDAY VISA. http://www.instanttravelvisa.co.uk/

STAYING IN AUSTRALIA

Staying in Sydney AustraliaThere are many super hotels in Sydney so whether you're a backpacker or looking for something a bit less primitive you'll find a great choice, all at competitive prices at http://www.cruisemaestro.co.ukAs well as hotels there's car hire online at great prices.You may need a visa as well so go to http://www.instanttravelvisa.co.uk

GETTING TO AUSTRALIA

Getting to AustraliaFor those looking at taking a trip to Australia you will be wanting a flight.I know, there are many flight suppliers out there who advertise this price and that price and sometimes you sit back and say to yourself, "there's a catch, its too cheap". You then go into the price that was showing at £390 to see that it's doubled because of taxes.Well, at the end of the day there's only so low a flight supplier can go before losing money, and he ain't gonna do that. Therefore go and see http://www.cruisemaestro.co.uk/ and click on flights. What you see is what you pay!Don't forget your Australian visa either!http://www.instanttravelvisa.co.uk/Happy days!!

SURFING IN AUSTRALIA

Surf AustraliaFor many Aussies, to surf is to breath as they do it come rain or shine all year round.For those of you Shielas thinking of going to join them Aussies down under to search for the 'big one' why not check out http://www.magicseaweed.com/Oh and dont forget your visa!! http://www.instanttravelvisa.co.uk/

AUSTRALIAN IMMIGRATION CENSUS

According to the 2006 Australian Census released this week about eight million people currently residing in Australia see their ancestry as British.Since the last census five years ago, there has been an increase of one million or 14%.
However out of these,those living in Australia who regard their ancestry as English has seen a slight decline, while those who regard their ancestry as Scottish has increased threefold to over 1.5 million and those regarding theirs as Welsh has seen a rise of 29,000.
So the total one million increase is mostly attributed to Australians identifying with their Scottish heritage.
The census also showed that the number of people born in Britain now living in Australia has seen a slight rise in the same period to just over one million people.
The number of British-born people coming to live in Australia in 2005 amounted to about 24,000, an increase of 3,000 on the previous year.
Interestingly, the number of British immigrants moving to the traditionally popular areas of New South Wales and Victoria were down whilst numbers were up in Western Australia and Tasmania.
Australia needs skilled workers: anyone interested in migrating to Australia should complete an online assessment at http://www.immi.gov.au/ to see if they qualify for skilled migration to Australia.
For those just wanting to visit either relatives or for business purposes take a look at http://www.instanttravelvisa.co.uk/

TOURIST VISA TO AUSTRALIA-SUBCLASS 976

There are 3 types of short stay visas to Australia available to buy online.

The first is the Tourist/Visitor Electronic Travel Authority Visa (ETA) Subclass 976
This visa is perfect if you wish to either tour Australia or if you wish to visit relatives or friends.
The visa is valid for 12 months from the date of issue and allows you to stay in Australia for up to 3 months at any one time. The beauty is that, if you want to visit again within the 12 month visa validity period, then you are free to do so.

http://www.instanttravelvisa.com/

AUSTRALIAN VISAS

Did you know that nationals of 33 countries around the world can apply online for a visa to visit Australia? It is a paperless system where your passport number is lodged with the Australian Commission and is then scanned at the airline desk telling the authorities that you have a visa to enter Australia.
Find out more at http://www.instanttravelvisa.com/