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Immigration Law

Our expert migration professionals streamline the process to make business migration predictable.

Immigration Law

Holding Redlich’s Migration Law team specialise in all aspects of immigration law with particular focus on business, employer, and skilled migration.

Expertise

Australia’s migration program is complex and constantly changing and with so many different visa options to choose from, client’s often struggle to understand what visa is best for them.   

We work with clients both in Australia and overseas to provide strategic, expert and practical advice in all aspects of visa application preparation, risk management, and compliance and to make the process easy to understand.   

Employer Sponsorship

Employer sponsored visas allow businesses to sponsor overseas workers to fill genuine skilled vacancies. We assist:

  • by developing migration strategies for employers experiencing skills and labour shortages and help them understand the different options available as well as the pros and cons of each
  • Australian businesses fill skilled vacancies by sponsoring overseas workers by preparing, lodging and managing the sponsorship, nomination and visa applications. We always start by identifying whether a chosen candidate can satisfy the requirements for a visa and assisting with the visa application process
  • overseas businesses looking to open a branch, or expand into Australia, transfer skilled workers from other overseas offices to Australia either on long term or more permanent assignments
  • with applications for short term highly specialised employment needs and/or secondments. This is becoming more common with young employees now wanting opportunities to work overseas
  • with the transfer of sponsored workers as required by a business restructure or sale
  • negotiate labour agreements for occupations and labour shortages not covered by the standard visa programs
  • respond to immigration monitoring requests
  • providing ad hoc advice and assistance in relation to sponsorship obligations, work rights checks and compliance
  • the overseas worker with all aspects of their application.

We assist with both temporary and permanent employer sponsored visas. 

Business and Investor Migration

The Business Innovation and Investor Program is specifically designed to attract successful overseas business people and investors to Australia. Applications are a two stage process with applicants being granted a provisional visa in the first instance and then being expected to undertake certain requirements before applying for permanent residence. We assist:

  • by assessing whether an overseas business person or investor is eligible for migration to Australia and assist with the application process from beginning to end
  • by explaining the requirements for permanent residence and assisting with that application
  • with monitoring and compliance as required by the State or Federal Government.

Global Talent Visas

The Global Talent Visa program was introduced to attract highly talented individuals, with entrepreneurial ideas and cutting-edge skills within the following target sectors:

  • Agri-food and AgTech
  • Circular Economy
  • Defence, advanced Manufacturing and Space
  • DigiTech
  • Education
  • Energy
  • Financial Services and FinTech
  • Health Industries
  • Infrastructure and Tourism
  • Resources.

It is expected these individuals will contribute to the Australian economy, drive innovation and create employment opportunities for Australians.

This is an invitation only program which requires interested candidates to submit an Expression of Interest for the program and then be invited to apply. We assist clients through the entire process from preparing the Expression of Interest through visa grant.

Reviews, Appeals and Ministerial Intervention

Sometimes sponsorship, nomination or visa applications are refused. We assist clients by assessing their prospects of successfully reviewing the decision and advising on what review or appeal options are available. We also assist with the lodgement and management of that process.

In some circumstances it may be appropriate to make an application requesting the Minister intervene to consider whether special consideration can be given to grant a visa. An example is where a non-citizen has no entitlement to a visa but has an Australian child who must remain in Australia. 

Australian Citizenship

The end of the migration journey is obtaining Australian citizenship and we love helping our clients through this last step. We assist by assessing eligibility, preparing and submitting the application. 

Our experts have partnered with Lexology Getting The Deal Through to answer a series of FAQs regarding Australia's immigration laws, visa requirements and application process, extension and conversion of immigration rights and recent trends.


Our Workplace Wrap is a monthly newsletter that provides insights, tips, resources and key legal news across migration law, employment law, workplace health & safety and employment taxes. Subscribe to our Workplace Wrap here.

Experience

Our experience includes:

Employer Sponsorship

  • provide assistance to a long running Indian IT company to establish business in Australia and transfer key staff for start-up. This included advising on Australian employment law and preparing employment contracts and secondment agreements 
  • assisted a global food production company with its establishment in Australia, visas for overseas employees to transfer to Australia as well as assisting with the transfer of sponsored visas following the takeover of a large Australian company.  We also regularly advise on immigration risk and compliance
  • provide assistance to large aviation company experiencing significant labour shortages. We assisted by obtaining short term work visas for approximately 20 Aviation Mechanical Engineers and then applied for longer term work visas once they were onshore
  • assist a large primary producer with strategy and advice on retaining skilled and semi-skilled workers, assist with labour agreement preparation and negotiations and all visa applications
  • provided migration assistance to a Recruitment firm tasked with recruiting and on boarding 30 Diesel Motor Mechanics for a mining company in Western Australia. We worked with the recruitment company to prepare and lodge all visas within a very short period of time
  • following large hail storm events we assist one of our clients with visa applications for highly specialised short term workers
  • assisted an export/import company with an employer sponsored visa application where the Department was not satisfied that the candidate had the skills and experience required to fill the position. Following lengthy submissions and documents in support the application was granted
  • currently assisting another export/import company where the employer sponsored visa was refused and the Administrative Appeals Tribunal affirmed the decision. After lodging an appeal with the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia the Minister conceded there has been jurisdictional error and consent orders were agreed to remitting the application back to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal for reconsideration.

Business Innovation and Investment Visas

  • assisting an Aquaculture Farmer who applied for a Business Innovation Visa for New South Wales which was refused because their previous migration provider did not provide any documents in support of their application.  We are assisting with an Administrative Appeals Tribunal review of the refusal
  • assisted a coffee exporter applying for a Business Innovation visa in Queensland. This application involves some complex issues where a service provider overseas provided fake birth certificates, and a previous Director of the company undertook fraudulent activity. In addition we are assisting his wife and children with their student visa applications
  • assisting New Caledonian family apply for a Business Innovation Visa in Queensland
  • advising a significant investor about the options available and investment requirements.

Global Talent Visa

  • assisted a business owner in the pharmaceutical industry obtain permanent residence which has allowed her to expand her business into the Australia market
  • assisted a biotechnology professional in the cancer research space obtain permanent residence which has enabled her company to expand into Australia to undertake clinical trials
  • assisted a senior executive of a global company obtain permanent residence allowing him to take a job with a global company and assist with its expansion to Australia
  • have assisted a number of professional soccer players obtain permanent residence under the Distinguished Talent stream.

Recent Posts

27 February 2024 - Knowledge

Migration changes in 2024: Updates for employers and foreign workers

#Immigration Law

A summary of recent announcements, including new legislation to better protect temporary migrant workers and a Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early-professionals Scheme to allow young Indians to live and work in Australia.

20 December 2023 - Knowledge

End-of-year migration update

#Immigration Law

We share an update on the latest developments in the employer sponsored space and insights into what the government’s migration strategy has in store for you.

28 June 2023 - Knowledge

Protecting worker entitlements – changes to superannuation and parental leave rights

#Workplace Relations & Safety, #Immigration Law, #Taxation

Building on the changes introduced by the Secure Jobs, Better Pay laws, further amendments have been made to the Fair Work Act to provide more protections to worker entitlements.

21 June 2023 - Knowledge

Work restriction changes for student visa holders from July 2023

#Immigration Law, #Workplace Relations & Safety

Starting 1 July 2023, new work restrictions will be placed on student visa holders in Australia. We explain the changes and what employers should be aware of to ensure they are compliant.

14 June 2023 - Knowledge

‘A crisis of exploitation’: Measures to protect Australia’s migrant workforce

#Workplace Relations & Safety, #Immigration Law

Following revelations of systemic underpayment and mistreatment of the nation’s migrant workforce, the Albanese Government has flagged reforms aimed at protecting visa holders.

02 May 2023 - Knowledge

Major changes proposed to improve Australia’s migration system

#Immigration Law

The Australian Government is taking steps to improve its migration system with the release of a draft Migration Strategy and plans to increase the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold and offer skilled temporary workers a path to permanent residency.

02 May 2023 - Knowledge

New pathway to Australian citizenship for eligible New Zealanders

#Immigration Law

From 1 July 2023, eligible New Zealand citizens living in Australia may be able to apply for Australian citizenship without first applying for permanent residence.

28 February 2023 - Knowledge

Important changes to Australian student visas from 1 July 2023

#Immigration Law

We look at the re-introduction of student visa work restrictions and extended post-study work rights for graduate visa holders from 1 July 2023.

13 December 2022 - Knowledge

Migration update – December 2022

#Immigration Law

We look at recent news regarding the temporary closure of the New Zealand Stream visa to new applicants, the recommencement of the six-month work limitation for working holiday makers, and Australia’s new trade agreement with India.

04 October 2022 - Knowledge

A guide to hiring and managing foreign workers

#Immigration Law, #Workplace Relations & Safety

We share five simple steps hospitality businesses can take to stay compliant when employing foreign workers.

19 July 2022 - Knowledge

Australian citizenship changes for New Zealanders on the horizon

#Immigration Law

The Australian Prime Minister is proposing to give New Zealanders living in Australia the right to vote and an easier pathway to citizenship.

20 October 2021 - Knowledge

Changes to Australian citizenship law and travel exemptions for parents overseas

#Immigration Law, #COVID-19

Recent changes to Australia’s migration and citizenship laws include the expansion of the residence requirement to talent visa holders applying for citizenship, and overseas parents of Australian citizens and permanent residents now recognised as ‘immediate family’ for travel to Australia.