 MIGRATION NEWSLETTER ISSUE 1 April 2003 Changes to legislation on 1 March BUSINESS MIGRATIONOn 1 March 2003, there were major changes to business skills entry whereby business migrants: - will be granted a Business Skills (Provisional) visa, valid for four years; and, after establishing the requisite level of business activity or maintaining their investment - they will be eligible to make an application for permanent residence.
The changes which came in on 1 March 2003, seek to increase the number of business people settling in regional and low population-growth areas of Australia.  The main aim of this is to stop such a heavy immigration traffic flow into metropolitan areas, of which the main state has been NSW and the most affected city, Sydney.
The changes will provide State and Territory governments with more influence over the number and the skill level of business migrants who settle in their area, by enabling them to sponsor business migrants in line with their economic and regional development objectives. The changes also aim to increase the number and proportion of business migrants who are successful in getting into business. 
Information received from recent
surveys of business migrants is that one of the principal reasons for failure to set up a business, is the lack of information about Australia's complex business rules and obligations. The new system will provide improved links with State and Territory government business-related services, such as information on business licensing and taxation requirements and assistance with business plan development, providing the help that many business migrants need.  PARENT MIGRATION
The parliament has finally passed legislation which allows an additional 4000 parent migrants to be reunited with their family. 3,500 of the additional places will be for a new visa for parents who are prepared to pay an extra charge of $25,000.00 . An additional 500 places will be available under the existing parent visa category that has lesser charges. With a total of 4,500 places, the measures will help to reduce the queue waiting for a parent visa. A10-year Assurance of Support bond of $10,000 for the main applicant and $4,000 for spouse will also need to be paid. The new contributory parent visas will begin on 27 June 2003 for applicants residing outside Australia and 1 July 2003 for applicants residing in Australia. Newsletter Compiled By Igor Shrayer & Associates
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