Australia is one of the few countries that it is still relatively easy to get into, one of the few not closing down its borders, according to the Dallas-area doctor who did our health checks as we were applying for visas to move here in 2005.
Certified to screen visa applicants for Australia and other countries, he seemed to know what he was talking about. The news here these days supports his opinion.
Of course, that Texas doctor said “relatively easy,” not “easy,” so his remark didn’t do much to calm our fears about all the requirements and paperwork looming up between us and the work permits that would allow us to move down under.
Three years later, as we look back, the scary mountains we saw before us in 2005 look like rounded hills. With permanent residency status in hand,we have a “that wasn’t so bad” perspective.
Moving here does involve clearing many hurdles. You have to pass some health tests. There are basic requirements like being under 45 years of age (or being married to someone who is, or having an especially-needed skill, or…). There is plenty of paperwork.
But if you’re thinking of migrating to the Land of Oz this year or sometime soon, you may be in luck, as we were. Kristi had been chosen for a job, a position the folk hiring her had not been able to fill with an Australian applicant. That gave us a major advantage.
You may be able to find an Australian employer before you come, too. Public figures here are saying that this nation has more than just a skills shortage, it has a labor shortage.
With a population base of only about 21 million and with one million or so of those living and working elsewhere, Australia may well need you. The economy is booming, in large part because of minerals exports to China, India and other Asian nations, and a lot of Australians are approaching retirement age. All these factors favor potential immigrants.
This week’s papers have been full of stories and editorials about increasing rates of foreign-born folk, people like us, becoming permanent residents. The year we arrived, 123,400 other foreigners came in and 43.9 per cent of us became permanent residents.
The year after, 131,600 came and 48.2 per cent of those have acquired permanent residency. Last year, 140,100 came and of those, 51.8 per cent are now permanent residents.
A look back to 1999’s numbers, shows an increase of 67 per cent in the number of people getting permanent residency each year.
These figures come from a study released by Monash University professor Andrew Markus, who calls this “the largest movement of people in the country’s history.” He worries that Australia doesn’t have a coherent and consistent plan for integrating so many new people born elsewhere. He fears there’ll be an increase in culture-based conflicts and racial tensions.
It’s not just the number of new permanent residents that causes him to worry. Professor Markus told The Australian that in the 2006-07 fiscal year Australia granted 87,310 business long-stay visas, 134,610 working holiday visas, and 228,592 overseas student visas. Increasing numbers of graduating students are being allowed to stay instead of returning home.
Already, about a quarter of Australians were born in some other country, twice the percentage of foreign-born folk who are American citizens.
So far, though, there has been little trouble of the sort Professor Markus worries about when he studies the numbers.
What do all those numbers mean to you if you’re thinking about migrating here? At least this much: barring major change, Australia’s doors show no sign of closing any time soon.
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