Subject: Subclass 457 changes

Resulting from the implementation of certain Migration Regulations, from 1 January 2004 there are two important changes to 457 procedures -

1. Place of lodgement

All Australian-linked 457 visa applications [ie based on sponsorship from an Australia-based company], whether from offshore or onshore applicants, paper-based or electronically lodged, must be lodged in Australia - with the Business Centre which approved the Business Nomination.

NOTE: 457 Sponsorship, nomination and visa applications from O verseas-based companies must still be lodged and decided offshore by the overseas post.

2. Visa label free. Who can travel label free ?

* Offshore applicants of ETA nationality who lodge on/after 1 Jan will be able to travel without a visa label. Such visas must be granted subject to visa condition 8403 which requires the holders to approach a DIMIA office within 4 weeks of arrival to arrange visa evidence as evidence of their work/study rights and authorised period of stay. This arrangement will be reflected in the Visa Approval letters sent to applicants.

3. Who cannot travel visa label free ?

* Offshore applicants of ETA or non-ETA nationality who lodged

prior to 1 Jan will require visa evidence by an overseas post prior to travel [as per current procedures].

* Offshore applicants of NON-ETA nationality who lodge on/after 1

Jan will still require visa evidence by an overseas post prior to travel [as per current procedures].

* Offshore applicants [ETA or non-ETA] under Overseas Business

Sponsorship will require visa evidence prior to travel [as per current procedures].

Vin Tully

DIMIA Melbourne Business Centre

ETA Eligibility

You can only apply for an ETA while you are outside of Australia. You also must hold an ETA-eligible

passport. The table below lists the kinds of passports:

Andorra Austria Belgium Brunei Canada Denmark Finland France Germany Greece Hong Kong Iceland Ireland Italy Japan Liechtenstein Luxembourg

Malaysia Malta Monaco The Netherlands Norway Portugal San Marino, Republic of Singapore South Korea Spain Sweden Switzerland Taiwan* UK — British Citizen or UK — British National (Overseas)** USA Vatican City

* Holders of Taiwan passports can only be processed for an ETA if resident in and applying in Taiwan.
** Holders of UK passports which indicate their nationality to be British National (Overseas) can only be

processed for an ETA if resident in and applying in Hong Kong.

Source: DIMIA website www.immi.gov.au