I have just heard a rumor that CentreLink in Australia are to take over Assurance of Support from Immigration.

This could change many aspects of getting a visa.

Has anyone any info on this situation? How do we find out?

I did a quick search and found this.

I have just heard a rumor that CentreLink in Australia are to take over Assurance of Support from Immigration.

This could change many aspects of getting a visa.

Has anyone any info on this situation? How do we find out?

It is only a rumor Reg, but it is said that Aussie's unable to show good employment history, and sufficient monies in the bank, will soon have a lot of strife getting a visa to Australia for a wife or girlfriend.

No so Dr Pat. Here is something direct from the website.

Legislation Change - 1 July 2004

Amendments relating to Assurance of Support requirements

Client summary

From 1 July 2004, immigration law has been amended to reflect changes to the Assurance of Support scheme, which:

give the Secretary of the Department of Family and Community Services the responsibility for assessing and accepting assurances, and

standardise the wording of required and discretionary Assurance of Support provisions

Technical details

Additional information:

A new social security-based Assurance of Support scheme

Before 1 July 2004, the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs was required to decide whether to accept or reject an Assurance of Support (AoS).

From 1 July 2004, subdivision 2.7.2 only relates to Assurances of Support lodged after 19 December 1991 and accepted by the Minister before 1 July 2004.

From 1 July 2004, all AoS applications not finalised by the Minister before 1 July 2004 and all new AoS applications must be assessed by the Secretary of the Department of Family and Community Services.

Standardised Assurance of Support provisions

To support the implementation of the new Assurance of Support scheme, the following changes have been made to migration legislation:

The Migration Act 1958 has been amended to limit the Assurance of Support regulation-making power from 1 July 2004.

The Migration Regulations 1994 have been amended in support of the Migration Act change so that the only question for departmental officers when considering the Assurance of Support provision is whether the Department of Family and Community Services has accepted the Assurance of Support.

Other changes to Regulations include:

standardising the wording of Assurance of Support provisions in Schedule 2 time of decision primary and secondary criteria;

removing the Assurance of Support requirement for Skilled - Australian-sponsored Overseas Student (Residence) (Class DE) visas;

removing the Assurance of Support time of application requirements from certain subclasses of visa; and

changing the Assurance of Support requirements in Orphan Relative visa subclasses 117 and 837 from mandatory to discretionary.

Transitional arrangements: From 1 July 2004, departmental officers will have no legal basis to undertake and complete an AoS assessment, including those AoS applications where processing has commenced (for example, Skilled Australian-sponsored cases where the visa applicant (the assuree) has been initially notified that the AoS will be approved subject to AoS bond lodgment but evidence of this bond lodgment is not provided before 1 July 2004.)

Changes to the Social Security Act 1991 enable these partially-processed Assurance of Support applications to be assessed and finalised by the Secretary of the Department of Family and Community Services.

Forms: 28 and 28A will no longer be used from 1 July 2004.

Instructions: Nil.

Effect on delegations: Nil.

Effect on systems: ICSE and IRIS have been amended to reflect the legislative amendments with effect from 1 July 2004.

More info can be found here, I have my appointment is less than 2 weeks, so I will be one of the first.

No-one seemed to know much about anything so far.

I guess it makes some kinda sense seeing as Slobstone changed her portfolio .

The rumours I read worry me , does being on Austudy in the past or having HECS debts hanging over one's head make it more difficult?

I always thought the immigration section of the Bkk embassy had a striking resemblance to a Centrelink office anyways:p

She has a reputation of making life very difficult for the more needy or those not in high positions.

Improvements to the system are not improvements if it makes life harder for people applying. Time will tell what this will be.