Hamilton Watts International Migration

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Frequently Asked Questions

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1. Who needs a visa to come to Australia?

2. What type of visa is required for long-stay temporary employment in Australia?

3. Why does Hamilton Watts specialise in corporate visa services?

4. What corporate visa services does Hamilton Watts provide and in what industry sectors?

5. What information needs to be provided with company applications?

6. Can Hamilton Watts assist with general immigration matters?

7. How can I be sure about confidentiality and professional conduct?

8. Under what circumstances would Hamilton Watts provide a refund?

9. Can Hamilton Watts assist with Visas to overseas locations?

Answers:

1. Who needs a visa to come to Australia? é

All foreign nationals require a visa before travel to Australia for any purpose (with the exception of New Zealand passport holders who are normally granted a Special Purpose Visa on arrival).
Short stay ETA (Electronic Travel Authority) temporary business and tourist visas can be applied for online at Australia’s Department of Immigration website: http://www.eta.immi.gov.au

Applicants online must hold one of the ETA eligible passports listed on the site. Other passport holders will need to apply for visas at the nearest overseas Australian Visa Office (locations are also listed on the Department of Immigration website).

2. What type of visa is required for long-stay temporary employment in Australia? é

There are several Australian visas that permit long-stay (more than three months) temporary employment in Australia but the main visa is the Long-stay Temporary Business Visa commonly known as the 457 visa. This visa requires the sponsoring company to first be approved as a Business Sponsor. The company may then Nominate a position to be filled, which must receive approval before the employee is granted the 457 visa. Hamilton Watts can advise employers about the visa most appropriate to their circumstances.

3. Why does Hamilton Watts specialise in corporate visa services? é

Hamilton Watts was established in 1990, to assist a number of core corporate clients that are still with the company today. Since then, we have built a solid business reputation for assisting Australian and international companies with the entry of executives and other skilled business and industrial professionals for temporary and permanent residence. We are not a recruitment organisation. Hamilton Watts normally becomes involved only when an employer identifies a need and a person to fill a position.

4. What corporate visa services does Hamilton Watts provide and in what industry sectors? é

We provide services to corporate and institutional clients mainly in the areas of Skilled and Professional Migration and Long-stay Temporary Residence Visas for employment in Australia. Our clients come from all industry sectors, from telecommunications to mining, and include Government authorities, educational and other business institutions.

5. What information needs to be provided with company sponsored applications? é

A range of company documentation is required for the various applications necessary to obtain business sponsor approval and for the process of nominating positions to be filled by non-residents. We normally discuss exactly what documentation is required at the start of the process. Ultimately, our job is to ensure that the information about our clients presented to Australian Government decision-making authorities is of the highest quality and that it properly represents and projects the company’s corporate profile. Company documentation is of course handled with the utmost confidentiality.

6. Can Hamilton Watts assist with general independent skilled migration and other immigration matters? é

Our experience in the migration field is exceptionally wide and we welcome enquiries. We will normally represent clearly eligible independent skills based migration applications or we may recommend referral of your enquiry to another reputable Registered Migration Agent who undertakes work in the general migration area. We also have considerable experience in citizenship and return resident visa eligibility for executives and professionals relocating overseas with Australian firms. Our website provides details of our other areas of expertise.

7. How can I be sure about business confidentiality and professional conduct? é

Hamilton Watts Migration Services employs Consultants who are Registered Migration Agents with the Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA). Registration is required annually and in order to re-register, Consultants must undertake continuing professional development including attendance at courses approved by the MARA and the Department of Immigration in accordance with Australian Migration Law. Migration Agents are bound by a Code of Conduct which must be displayed in our place of work and which is available online at the MARA website at: http://www.themara.com.au/mara/reference/conduct

Hamilton Watts represents clients across broad industry sectors. Indeed, many of our clients are competitors domestically and internationally. We maintain strict confidentiality with all our clients and their business planning to the extent that only information necessary for the visa application process is provided to Australian Government authorities. We have no other purpose or obligation to disclose corporate client or employee information.

8. Under what circumstances would Hamilton Watts provide a refund?

Hamilton Watts operates on a fee for service basis (not on fee for result terms). This means that our invoice covers professional fees for work done on various immigration services. There may be some circumstances where the refund of a fee might be necessary, for example if work has not substantially started and the case does not proceed. This can be discussed with your HWIMS Consultant.

Click HERE to view our Privacy Statement. é

Useful Links

Australian Customs
http://www.customs.gov.au/
The Australian Customs Service – the website includes information about importing goods to Australia.

Australian Federal Government
http://www.australia.gov.au
Access to Australian Commonwealth Government Information.

Australian Foreign Investment Review Board
http://www.firb.gov.au/
The Board examines proposals by foreign interests to undertake direct investment in Australia and makes recommendations to the Government on whether those proposals are suitable for approval under the Government's policy. The FIRB also examines applications for property investments in Australia by non-residents.

Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS)
http://www.daffa.gov.au/aqis
The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) provides quarantine inspection services for the arrival of international passengers, cargo, mail, animals and plants or their products into Australia, and inspection and certification for a range of animal and plant products exported from Australia.

Australian Tourist Commission
http://www.australia.com
Official site of the Australian Tourist Commission.

Health Services Australia (HSA)
http://www.healthoz.com.au/ourservices/immigration_health.html
People, who want to migrate to, or stay temporarily in Australia for longer than 12 months, must undergo comprehensive health checks to ensure they meet Australia's health standards. Immigration Health Checks in Australia are conducted out by HSA. The health requirement - which is defined in Australia's Migration Regulations - is set by the Australian Department of Immigration on advice from the Australian Department of Health and Aged Care.

Information about Settling in Australia
http://www.immi.gov.au/living-in-australia/settle-in-australia/beginning-life/index.htm
Department of Immigration resource for information about settling in Australia.

Migration Agents Code of Conduct
www.themara.com.au/mara/reference/conduct
For more information concerning the Migration Agents Code of Conduct as published by MARA (Migration Agents Registration Authority).

Migration Institute of Australia
http://mia.org.au/
The Migration Institute of Australia is the professional association for Australian Migration service providers worldwide working together for the benefit of Australia.

NSW Department of Education
http://www.schools.nsw.edu.au/international/tempvisaholder/index.php
For information about temporary residents enrolling in NSW schools.

The Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC)
http://www.immi.gov.au/
The Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship maintains a comprehensive website that includes information about Australia's immigration legislation, programs and services as well as Media Releases, immigration Fact Sheets and statistics.

The Australian Institute of Interpreters and Translators
http://www.ausit.org/
The Australian Institute of Interpreters and Translators was founded in 1987 and is still the only national professional association of practising translators and interpreters in Australia.

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO)
http://www.ato.gov.au/super/pathway.asp?pc=001/007/126
The ATO website provides details about access to benefits for Temporary Residents.
From 1 July 2002, eligible temporary residents can access their superannuation (subject to withholding tax) when they permanently leave Australia.

The Diplomatic List
http://www.info.dfat.gov.au/protocol
Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website includes details about foreign Diplomatic and Consular representatives in Australia.