The Four Things You Can Only Do and See in Australia

Australia is the 6th largest country and the smallest continent in the world. With its vast land, unlimited natural resources and the lowest population density in the world, it's no wonder Australia is one of the most liveable countries in the world.

According to recent data published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the country's population will likely double in the year 2075 due to migration. In their projections which include Australian immigration factors, more and more migrants will be heading their way to Australia to become Australian permanent residents in the coming years. Though there are many controversies regarding this assumed number, one thing that the Settlement Council of Australia iterates is that migration, based on Australian history, actually helps the country and not the other way around.

If you're one of the many who have want to move to Australia and have a Australian permanent residency, you might be wondering about all the amazing things the country has to offer that can't be found anywhere else. If you want to explore truly one-of-a-kind things to do and see in the Land Down Under, here are 4 things that can only be found Australia:

Coober Pedy

Dubbed as the opal capital of the world, Coober Pedy is a mining town whose residents live underground. About 70% of the area's population live in houses underneath the ground called "dugouts." Most of the people who live in Coober Pedy are miners and living underneath the ground protects them from the scorching heat of the desert. For a truly remarkable experience, head down to the Desert Cave Hotel  and enjoy their "Down N Dirty" you’re where you can be an opal miner for a day. You will be given a hard hat and an axe and go crazy in the hotel's show mine.

Lake Hiller

One of the most mysterious places in the world, the Lake is literally colored pink and no one seems to know why - not even scientists. When you take the water out of the lake and into a container, the water remains pink. Theories have been proposed about a certain algae that produces red dye may cause the color but when researchers tested the water for the bacteria, there was none. For a truly unique place to see, head down Western Australia to see this amazing natural wonder for yourself.

Vision Walks at the Nightcap National Park

Many of Australia's animals are nocturnal so if you want to explore the country's wildlife in the day, you might get disappointed. Head to the Nightcap National Park where the Visions Walk tour will provide you with military night vision goggles. You can see the animals such as birds of prey, quolls and bandicoots in their natural habitats.

Ride the Longest Straight Railway in the World

Get from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific in 3 days and 3 nights with the Indian Pacific Railway. You can start from Perth and end in Sydney or the other way around. During this 65 hour epic journey, get to see spectacular deserts and valleys that only Australia can provide.

Moving to Australia will not only give you and your family great quality of living and employment opportunities, living here can also give you a a greater appreciation for nature and life in general.

About the Author:

Michael Ma was an assistant to a migration agent in Move Migration - an Australian immigration company that has registered migration agents in Sydney offering assistance in all kinds of visa subclasses such as the Australian student visa and the Australian partner visa.

Darwin City: Australia's Most Hardworking City

It's not a mystery that many people from all over the world are in Australia to fill jobs in the country's many skill shortages. The most popular state for foreign workers is Western Australia - which is in dire need for low skilled to skilled workers to fill in job vacancies to its mining industry boom. However, other states are also a favorite among workers from overseas, especially the city of Darwin in the North Territory.

Dubbed as the most hardworking city in Australia for the year 2013, the capital of the North Territory ranks the highest in terms of employment rate, workers who work the longest hours, and the biggest percentage of people working in one single household. Figures reported by the Australia Bureau of Statistics show that the city has the highest employment to population ratio of all of Australia's capital cities.

Darwin also has the highest population of younger people, with an average age of 33 compared to the national average of 37. The figures from ABS also show that they are also the only capital city that has a population of more men over women. Because of these two facts, the city's potential for employment is higher compared to other cities who have older residents. On the other end of the spectrum is the city of Hobart, that is the least hardworking city in Australia. This is due in part to their population made mostly of older people and the city's low cost of living that make it easier for its residents to get by without having to work as much. Darwin's facts on its population show that because the majority of their residents are young and male, their potential to work is high due to the booming industries in construction and mining where male workers are more needed.

The figures also show that the North Territory has a significantly high number of migrant residents. About 72% of the state's population were born overseas , showing that most of the residents of the state are immigrants. According to head of the School of Business at the Charles Darwin University Ram Vemuri, most of the people who go to Darwin to reside go there for work and not for vacation. Most of its residents, when they don't find work in the city, they leave. This means that people actually go to the city to work.

Darwin, the northern most city of Australia, is in close proximity to South East Asia - providing the major gateway for foreign workers from the region to the country. Out of Darwin's migrant residents, the highest percentage of them comes from the UK, the Philippines, New Zealand, India, Greece, Indonesia, and China. Because of the city's mining and tourism industries, many of these foreign workers find work in both sectors, where 8% of the city's residents are actually employed in the latter sector.

Aside from having the highest rate of employment, Darwin also has the highest percentage of people working longer hours every week, with an average of 49 hours. Because of this, residents also enjoy higher average incomes than the rest of the country.

Need some help with your visa application processing? Move Migration’s certified migration agents can help you break down the immigration process into simple stages. Visit Move Migration office at 8/281 Pacific Hwy, North Sydney NSW 2060 Australia or call +61 2 8006 0535 for more information about their services.

About the Author:

Michael Ma was an assistant to a migration agent in Move Migration, which is an immigration boutique specialist with registered migration agents in Sydney offering simple fee structures and exceptional services to their customers. They specialize in many of Australia's visa subclasses, including the Australian student visa and many others.

Australia Is Experiencing a New Wave if Irish Immigrants

Among the many nationalities who are heading their way to Australia to work, live, or study in the country, there has recently been an increase in Irish migrants who stay permanently.

It is not a mystery that Australia is one of the leading destinations for immigration for a lot of nationalities from all over the world. With a vast land area, unlimited natural resources, a laid back lifestyle, and a welcoming attitude on people from all walks of life, Australia has been attracting droves of immigrants for over a hundred years. A country based on immigration, the Irish has always been one of the biggest number of migrants living in Australia.

The first wave of Irish migration occurred during the great famine in Ireland in the mid-1800's. They were the second largest immigrant group in Australia after the English, and had employment mainly in skilled occupations such as factory workers, laborers, farm hands, fishermen, and others. Many eventually owned land and became professionals, building families and communities in the country. During the late 19th century, about 1/3 of Australia's population were Irish, helping shape the Australian political and cultural lifestyle.

When the economy in Ireland improved in the 1960's, the number of Irishmen coming to Australia decreased. However, with the global economic crisis in 2008, thousands and thousands of people in Ireland lost their jobs, forcing them to look for employment in other countries. With a big community of Irish migrants already in Australia, and news of great employment opportunities, many Irish citizens were encouraged to leave their country in search of a better life in the Land Down Under. The skill shortages and the need to go somewhere with an already established network of support, Australia has again, become an attractive place to go for the many Irish men and women seeking for a better life.

According to data, in 2012 alone, about 87,000 people in Ireland left the country to move somewhere else. In the same year, the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship granted 26,000 skilled workers visa, or the 457 Temporary Working Visa to those coming from Ireland. Another Australian visa subclass that are encouraging more foreign skilled workers to the country is the Holiday Working Visa, which is eligible for individuals aged 18-30. More and more young Irish professionals are looking to establish their careers in the country, with the hopes of getting permanent residency through their employers' sponsorship.

Around 50,000 backpackers and holiday makers from Ireland visit Australia each year, with 5,000 of them eventually staying in the country permanently. The Australian government's new scheme on migration encourages qualified foreign workers to come to the country, and this is attractive for young professionals in Ireland when compared to the scarce availability of jobs in their homeland. Many of those who come to Australia, never return to Ireland. As Ireland struggles to recover from their economy's financial crisis, the increasing trend of Irish immigrants in Australia is going to continue.

The most popular region for such immigrants is Western Australia. Though many of them live in big cities such as Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, many are heading their way to Western Australia due to the employment opportunities, lower cost of living, and decent salaries.

If you need some help with your visa application processing, Move Migration’s licensed migration agents can help you break down the immigration process into simple stages. Visit Move Migration office at 8/281 Pacific Hwy, North Sydney NSW 2060 Australia or call +61 468 402 825 for more information about their services.

About the Author:

Michael Ma was a migration agent assistant for Move Migration, an immigration boutique specialist with migration agents in Sydney, Australia. Their migration agents break down the immigration process into simple stages so that the clients understand the process as they guide them along.

The Importance of English for Australian Migrants

Migrating to Australia can offer you and your family a brighter future and great cities to live in. This predominantly English-speaking country is one of the most multicultural diverse in the world, with one out of every four people having been born overseas. Since Populate or Perish policy of the Australian government after World War II, about 7 million people have migrated to Australia, making it a country based on international immigration.

Australia is a promising land of opportunity because of its vast land and rich natural resources. Large scale immigration has always been a part of the Australian culture, with the biggest number of migrants coming from skilled migration and family reunion programs. In line with this, many of these migrants have little English language skills, which cause them a significant disadvantage when it comes to employment and engagement in society.

English, the country's main language, is highly important for migration purposes. People who seek employment in Australia need to pass an internationally standardized test to be able to fulfill certain requirements for a visa. You need to speak, read, and write English to be able to work in Australia's workforce, where the main language used is English. If you go to Australia to reunite with family and loved ones, you still need English to be able to take part in society. Sure there are other languages spoken in the country, about 200 of them, but the dominant one used is English, making it an important skill that you can't simply do without. Even if, for example, you only speak Mandarin, and you work in a Chinese store with Chinese clients, you still need English to be able to function well into other areas, such as seeking for another job, getting further education, or simply doing your groceries.

The importance of English for migrants have been emphasized by the Australian government since their first English education program was launched in 1951. After the 2nd World War, large scale immigration from European countries occurred due to the government's efforts to attract immigration to the country. And since many of the migrants spoke very little or no English at all, the government decided to provide English language education through the Australian Adult Migrant Education Program in the fifties and sixties. Over the years, the focus of the program has switched to helping migrants develop a long-term ability to settle into the Australian society, and therefore, contribute more to the community and the economy. Today, this program is now called the Adult Migrant English Program, or the AMEP, used by over 50,000 migrants every year.

When you have good English skills, you will be able to bring the full value of your skills and experience to the industry. If you want to look for another job or change careers, its best that you have a great command of the language since English is used in the workforce. By being proficient in the language, you will also eliminate the chances of being taken advantage of by your employer - it will be easier for you to learn and know about your rights and laws in your new environment.

Need some help with your worker’s visa application processing? Move Migration’s licensed migration agents can help you break down the immigration process into simple stages. Visit Move Migration office at Suite 8, 281 Pacific Highway North Sydney NSW 2060 Australia or visit www.movemigration.com for more information about their services.

About the Author:

Michael Ma was a migration agent assistant for Move Migration, an immigration specialist agency with registered migration agents in Sydney, offering simple fee structures and exceptional services that will make the entire process easier and faster for its clients.

Weird Visa Questions from All Over the World

Gaining entry to another country is life changing for anyone - you can have the opportunity to work, visit the nation's amazing national wonders, study in world class universities, reunite with family members you haven't seen for years, and meet incredible friends along the way. However, in a lot of countries, you need to have a visa to be able to do all these things.

In the world of visa applications, most often than not, it can be an exhausting process. Doing research, paying certain fees, gathering documents, interviews, getting the services of a migration agent, the long waiting period - sometimes it can take the life out of you. In the sometimes grueling process of applying for a visa, a poll conducted by the website IXPVisas.com shows the lighter side of the whole process. Having questioned over 1,450 travelers from around the world, the site revealed a list of the weirdest questions immigration of several countries asks their applicants to answer. From describing your moustache, to asking where your wife sleeps on the bed, here are some of the weirdest visa questions travelers encountered.

One traveler reported being asked to describe his moustache or beard in an application form in Mexico, making him scratch his head about how to actually describe it.

Another traveler reported being asked if he had been to a farm in the last 6 months to be able to enter Australia.

In a Middle East visa application, a businessman was asked about how many wives he intends to bring in his travels.

In the US, applicants were asked about the side of the bed their wives sleep in.

And for overseas students in the UK, they were asked whether or not they were involved in war crimes such as crimes against humanity and genocide.

Other weird questions asked international students to name three things about a certain topic and in the US, applicants were asked whether or not they have been involved in any terrorist activities.

Though most people would laugh or wonder about these questions, according to IXPVisas.com's Liam Clifford, these may seem ridiculous, but they are there to serve a purpose, such as highlighting cultural differences. He also said, that if you joke or laugh about certain requirements, expect that your application won't go down well. According to him, the biggest and number one rule of traveling is to respect other cultures.

Most often, questions are not mere questions. In interviews, how you carry yourself and how you react can mean more than the words that come out of your mouth. Nonverbal communication is just as important as the words you write down on the application forms. So if you think a country's visa requirements are ridiculous, keep it to yourself, as according to Clifford, the bottom line is, they're requirements.

There are always social and cultural differences wherever you may go and something that seems unnecessary to you may be important to a certain culture. The way you handle yourself and situations like these are one of the factors that immigrant officers will look at to evaluate your application.

If you need some help with your visa application processing, Move Migration’s licensed migration agents can help you break down the immigration process into simple stages. Visit Move Migration office at Suite 8, 281 Pacific Highway North Sydney NSW 2060 Australia or visit www.movemigration.com for more information about their services.

About the Author:

Michael Ma is working as migration agent assistant at Move Migration, which is an immigration boutique specialist with migration agents in Sydney. They are among the leading migration agencies in the region, specializing in all visa assistance services such as the Australia partner visa, student visa, or skilled worker visa.

How a Migration Agent Can Help Your Spouse Get Australia Visa Quickly

Applying for Australian partner visa could take a lot of your time and effort. There are different types of partner visas issued by Australian government and among them are offshore partner temporary visa and partner permanent visa. You can apply for the visas when in de-facto relationship or as married couples. Getting help from a migration agent would surely make the entire application process easier. To ensure successful application, you will need to show that your relationship is genuine. There are four categories of relationship evidence which will be called for and include:

Financial Aspects: This evidence shows that you have joint financial commitments with your spouse and covers joint property ownership, joint bank accounts, sharing bills and joint insurance among others. This evidence must show financial support in both ways. Both partners should support each other. Your Australia partner visa agent will help show this in the application process.

Social Context: This entails how your family and friends see your relationship. They should have accepted you as a couple through party invitations, having common friends and group photos among others.

Nature of Household: Your partner and you should be sharing household responsibilities such as housework, living arrangements and sharing bills among others.

Nature of Commitment: The partners must prove that they have a joint commitment to each other. Chat and phone logs should be provided in case of separation.

Other requirements are relationship history describing how you met and what has happened since that time. Also required are statutory declarations that help to prove the social part of your relationship. Police and medical checks carried out by a doctor that has been approved by Australian immigration should be provided.

Because of the mammoth challenges that prospective migrants face, it is imperative to enlist help from a migration agent registered by the Australian government. However, you need to know that some agents have better abilities than others. Here are important guidelines to help you choose the best Australia partner visa agent.

Sales Teams or Target Driven Agents

Don’t agree with migration agents who pressurize you to sign up with them. Some of them enroll clients who don’t even qualify for Australian visas and make them pay the fee. Anytime you come across this, treat it as a red alert.

False Immigration Information: Agents provide false information because of their inexperience, scaremongering or over complication. Verify the truthfulness of the information provided.

Experience: The professional capacity of professional migration agent is determined by experience. Those who have more than three years of practical experience would offer excellent service.

Client Feedback: Those who have used the services of Australia partner visa agent will always be more than willing to share their experiences with others. Check the testimonials to ensure that you are dealing with the right person.

Registration and Agency Fees: Make sure the agent you are dealing with is duly registered by the government of Australia. Its agency fees should also be reasonable.

General Attitude and Response Time: It’s important dealing with a migration agent who responds to clients concerns quickly. Also, their general attitude and their response time which would determine if you would use their services.

Generally, a registered migration agent makes it easier for you when applying for an Australian partnervisa. The entire process takes time and effort and there is a lot of evidence required to get a spouse visa processed. But with the help of an experienced and registered migration agent, it could be easier for you!

About the Author:

Michael Ma is working as migration agent assistant at Move Migration, a migration agency with professional and licensed migration agents in Sydney, Australia. Their registered migration agents offer exceptional services and simple fee structures that will make the entire process easier and faster for its clients.

4 Scholarships Available for International Students from Top Universities in New South Wales

It seems that more and more international students are preferring to study in Australia. Being one of the top 3 countries in the world with the highest number of English-speaking international students, Australia currently has over 40,000 foreign students enrolled in its leading universities. With the Australian government spending millions of dollars on its education system every year, plus having the most livable and happiest cities in the world, this number is only going to get higher.

Recently, the Council of International Students Australia launched a short story writing competition to inspire others to study in the country. With the main purpose of bringing awareness to their contribution to the Australian community, international students currently studying in the country were invited to share their experiences while studying in Australia. Sharon San from Western Australia bagged the top prize with her story about working in part-time jobs and even as a housekeeper to complete her Masters degree in Tourism and Hospitality Management.

Studying in Australia can be a little expensive, but most universities actually offer a number of scholarships to international students. If you want to study in the Land Down Under but are thinking about the tuition fees and other financial things, here are 4 scholarships intended for foreign students at the New South Wales' leading universities.

The Sydney Achievers Scholarships for International Students

Australia's first ever and oldest university, the University of Sydney offers 100 scholarships every year to new international students from around the world. This program was created to attract high quality, achieving, and academically excellent foreign students from other countries to study at one of the best institutions of higher education not only in Australia, but the world. The scholarships are open for both undergraduate and postgraduate students. For eligibility requirements and application procedures, check out the university's website for more information on the scholarships.

The Macquarie University Scholarships for International Students

Renowned for its interdisciplinary research and teaching, the Macquarie University offers full and partial scholarships to international students across all courses, covering tuition fees for both undergraduate and post-graduate degrees. Having one of the most generous scholarships in the entire country, Maquarie University offers countless opportunities for international students to study and become part of its highly skilled graduates. Complete requirements and details of the scholarships can be found on the university's official website.

University of Newcastle International Postgraduate Research Scholarships

Funded by the Research Division, the University of Newcastle offers international scholarships for students who are studying for their Master's or PhD degrees by research. Open to all foreign students, this scholarship will allow students of higher learning to study and learn at this world class university that ranks as the 9th best university in Australia. More details on the scholarships can be found on the University of Newcastle's website.

The University of Technology Sydney Achievement Scholarships for International Postgraduate Students

One of Australia's leading universities of technology, the University of Technology offers scholarships for its international students who are excelling academically during their first semester in postgraduate degrees. Six students from the engineering courses are given this scholarship, as well as 6 other students from the Information Technology courses. For a complete list of requirements and details on the scholarship, check the university's website for more details.

Though studying in Australia may cost you or your family a significant amount of money for your future, there are plenty of scholarships for international students that will surely benefit the student, the school, and the community in the long run.

Need some help with your Australia student visa application processing? Move Migration’s licensed migration agents can help you break down the immigration process into simple stages. Visit Move Migration office at Suite 8, 281 Pacific Highway North Sydney NSW 2060 Australia or visit www.movemigration.com for more information about their services.

About the Author:

Michael Ma is a migration agent assistant at Move Migration; an immigration boutique specialist with migration agents in Sydney, specializing in visa application assistance such as the Australia partner visa and student visa.