Businesses applying for 457 visas will need to note there are new processing sites in place for each state. The
Businesses applying for 457 visas will need to note there are new processing sites in place for each state.
The Federal Government-announced three new “Centres of Excellence” in Perth, Sydney and Melbourne have begun operation, which will consolidate the processing of long-stay temporary skilled (457) visas. Sponsored business visitor short stay (459) visas will also be processed at the sites.
Sydney’s office will be spread across two locations, with businesses from Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory to send their applications to the Sydney CBD, while all New South Wales lodgements are to be sent to Parramatta.
Businesses in the Northern Territory, South Australia, Tasmania, and Victoria will send their applications to the Melbourne office.
The Perth office will service Western Australia alone.
Businesses with more than one location will use the processing centre appropriate to the location of their head office.
The establishment of three Centres of Excellence was a key recommendation of the External Reference Group of industry experts commissioned by the Rudd Government to improve the efficiency of the 457 visa program.
The 457 visa enables employers to employ skilled overseas workers to fill nominated positions in Australia on a temporary basis for a period of between three months and four years.
More than 100 000 were granted in 2007-08.
Minister for Immigration and Citizenship Senator Chris Evans says the centres will help speed up processing, which has been criticised in the past for failing to keep up with the skills shortage.