Australia
AUSTRALIA - Fringe Benefit Tax - Amendments Now in Effect for Living-Away-from-Home Allowances
May 11, 2012 - As previously outlined in our bulletin on November 30, 2011, a number of fringe benefits were reviewed because of reported abuses.
The Australian Federal Government's budget, delivered this week, has outlined changes to tax benefits u...
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AUSTRALIA - Electronic Applications Required for New Permanent Employer-Sponsored Residency
April 5, 2012 - Following the announcement of the new permanent employer-sponsored regime, the Department of Immigration & Citizenship has now indicated that the two application stages of the new Employer Nomination Scheme must be lodged electron...
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AUSTRALIA - Permanent Employer Sponsored Residency Reforms Effective July 1
March 9, 2012 - The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship announced a major overhaul today to the Permanent Employer Sponsored Residency visa program, which will go into effect July 1, 2012. Notably, the current Employer Sponsored visa class...
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AUSTRALIA - Applicants Must Remain In-Country Two Years to Qualify for Resident Return Visa
February 23, 2012 - Due to a recent change in the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) policy, Resident Return (Subclass 155) Visa (RRV) applicants must spend at least two years in Australia while holding permanent resident status within ...
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AUSTRALIA - UPDATE: Proof of Registration Not Required for Engineers Applying for Permanent Residence in Queensland
February 23, 2012 - The Department of Immigration and Citizenship has released its newly revised policy as it relates to an exception granted to engineers seeking permanent residence in Queensland. Due to the fact that registration and licensin...
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AUSTRALIA - Department of Immigration Grants Exception for Engineers
February 10, 2012 - Following extensive discussions and correspondence between BAL Australia and the Department of Immigration, an exception to current policy has been granted to the registration requirements for engineers in Queensland. When a...
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AUSTRALIA - Work and Holiday Visas Available to Argentinean Nationals; Argentina and Brazil Added to e676 Qualifying Countries
February 1, 2012 - Starting February 29, Argentina will be the ninth country added to the list of countries eligible for the Work and Holiday (Subclass 462) Visa. According to a release from the assistant secretary in the Education and Tourism ...
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AUSTRALIA - Increase in Australian Government Visa Application Charges
December 21, 2011 - The Australian Government is increasing some visa application charges (VAC) effective January 1, 2012. Refer to www.immi.gov.au/allforms/pdf/vpt-fact-sheet.pdf for detailed information. Note that most charges are increasing by fiv...
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AUSTRALIA - Misuse of Fringe Benefits Tax Prompts Stricter Temporary Resident Requirements
November 30, 2011 - By July 2012, temporary residents will only qualify for tax exemptions if they maintain a residence in Australia. This reform is among several responses from the Australian government to growing concern that tax exemptions h...
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AUSTRALIA - Data Matching Program Implemented to Identify Tax Fraud and Non-Compliance
November 30, 2011 - The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) will begin collecting certain data, including company names, addresses and additional details, with respect to entities that have applied for temporary residence visas, including the 457 and th...
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