Australia Set To Implement Biometric Scanning

If you are planning to go to Australia, visa application will surely be one of the tough things that you need to go through. And with the changes that the Department of Immigration and Citizenship has been implementing lately, this has become even harder for a lot of people. So it would definitely be a good idea to be well prepared.

And if you have been reading the news lately, you have probably already heard of the latest changes that the department has announced. One of these is the expansion of biometric data collection and identification to all visa types. The project was initially implemented on a few visa types, but with the successful results, the department has decided that they will apply it to the entire visa program.

So what is biometrics anyway? In simple terms, biometrics is essentially the measurement and detailing of certain body parts for identification purposes. Fingerprint records are probably the oldest form of biometrics data that is being implemented by the various immigration departments around the world. However, with the advent of new technology, several other new methods of biometrics scanning have since been developed. These include, iris and retina scans, hand prints, facial recognition.

In the case of the new visa rules for Australia, fingerprints would still be one of the biometric data that are going to be used. However, instead of the physical print, the data will now be in electronic form that will be stored in the visa to be issued to you. On the other hand, the department have also said that they will also be implementing facial recognition technology in the data gathering process. This will augment the full face photograph that would still be present in the visa.

The department said that, barring any changes, they expect to begin the biometric data collection early next year. From there on, the data collection will be a mandatory part of the the visa application process. However, the department assured Australian visa applicants that the data gathering process would be a quick one and without any hitch.

However, one thing that applicants need to get ready for is the expected increase in the application fees. Immigration officials assured that this would not be a huge one, but they also said that applicants should be well aware of these. Officials also said that there will be additional biometric requirements for people coming from selected countries, but they refused to name these for security reasons.

Some Tips For Traveling With Kids

For Australian tourist visa holders, touring around with the entire family would definitely be an exciting one. However, this can also become quite exhausting one. Especially if you are going to travel with a bunch of kids in tow.

Indeed, while kids can be some of the best travel companions around, they can also be worst. And even if you don't like, you will definitely end up putting in a lot of work when traveling with the younger ones. And so, here is one quick guide that you can use when traveling with children.

One of the things that you need to prepare yourself for is answering a lot of questions. Let's face it, kids can be quite inquiring and will be asking a lot of (sometimes weird) questions. This one would actually be especially true if you are traveling abroad, where they would be fascinated with all of the new things that they would see.

The key thing with this one is of course being patient. You must always be ready to answer even their silliest questions. Also never show annoyance whenever they ask a lot, as this would scare prevent them from enjoying the whole trip. In fact, you can make this one into an interesting activity for both you and the kids, as both of you will actually learn a lot from this one.

And speaking of activities, you should always prepare a host of activities that your younger companions will enjoy. These can range from books, games or small toys that they can tinker with. These will be quite helpful, especially if you are preoccupied yourself. However, remember that you should always keep an eye on them every once in a while. 

And since this one is an overseas trip, you should always keep in mind the dangers that can happen. Thus, it would be important that you should always pay attention to where they are and what they are doing. It would also be a good idea to pin an information tag on your kids clothes whenever you go out. The tag should contained the name of the kid, your contact number and the current hotel or apartment you are staying in.

It would also be advisable for you to teach the kids themselves various safety tips. For instance, you can teach them some simple ways that they could get in touch with you or the authorities if ever they get separated. I would also be a good idea to teach them a few local phrases, so that they will be able to talk with the people around in case of an emergency. 

New Points System Worries Groups

The Australian migration department has recently been all out in its effort to attract more professional workers into the country. Thus, it has started to implement various changes in the skilled migration program since last year. And the department said that there are still a lot of changes that are in store for the program.

One of the latest changes that the Department of Immigration and Citizenship has introduced in the last few months is a new set of points assessment tests for working visa applicants. The points assessment is the test used by the DIAC to determine whether or not an applicant is qualified for a visa based on his qualifications.

Under the new system, English proficiency has been given a significant emphasis. Here, applicants who will be able to get a rating of “Superior” in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam will automatically get 20 points for the assessment. Immigration officials stressed that good English proficiency is important for those wishing to work and settle in the country permanently.

One the other hand, the DIAC has also decided to scrap the points that are awarded to applicants based on the jobs that they are intending to get in the country. Previously, this was granted in order to encourage foreign workers to go to certain fields, which the department has deemed to be in demand. Now, immigration authorities said that the changes will give equal opportunities to all applicants regardless of work plans. 

Another major change in the points system is the increase of the pass mark to 65 points. The age limit for the skilled migration programs has also been upped to 49 years old. This, officials say, is to attract more senior professionals into the fold.

However, various groups are concerned that the new points system might not live up to its promise. In fact, some experts argue that this might even lead to worker shortage. They point out that the tougher criteria will likely discourage a lot of applicants. On the other hand, even though the age limit has been increased, some observers have pointed out that it is likely that a narrow group of applicants will be able to make it through.

However, the DIAC is still confident that the changes that it has made will be able to address the current worker shortage in the country. They said that by providing tougher rules. They will be able to sort out those applicants that have all the qualifications that the country currently needs.

The Other Side Of Immigration

For those moving to Australian, migration into the country is often thought to be the best way to have a better life. Indeed Australia has long been considered as one of the best countries to move in by a lot of people. However, as it turns out, this is not always the case for those arriving in the land down under.

While a lot of immigrants moving into the country do end up having a good, if not better, life, there are also some who end up not be quite as successful. And then there are those that end up in a much worse situation. Thus, a lot of concerned groups are urging for the Australian government to take action on the issue.

Perhaps the group that has gone through such a situation the most are those who have arrived into Australia in less than legal means. Refugees are probably the largest that belong to these groups. Because a lot of them are forced to move out of their homelands, they often have no time to prepare the necessary documents that they need to enter the country. Thus, they have no choice but to make use of not so legal means to enter the country

Because of their situation, they often fall prey to many unscrupulous groups and individuals. It is not uncommon to here of refugees being exploited by syndicates for their own purposes. Often, many of them can not do anything for fear that these individuals would hand them to the authorities. In some cases, there are even much worse instances.

However, it is not only illegals immigrants that face such a problem. Currently, there is a growing problem of many legitimate migrants that are having trouble moving into the country. Often these are those who are not able to Australia's lifestyle. There are also those who are not able to find a suitable job during their stay.

One particular case is that of New Zealanders who are forced to beg around the streets in the major cities. It is interesting to note that Australia and New Zealand share a close relationship together. Thus, it is not surprising that a lot of Kiwis are actually moving here. However, not all of them are able to secure a better life in the country and end up in a dire situation.

Because of these a lot of groups have urged the government to either provide for the welfare of these people or help them in going back to their home countries. In response, the government has said that they have various programs aimed at improving the welfare of these immigrants.