 We have assisted more than 4,000 visa applicants over the last 25 years.
For an outline of the available visa classes, click on the following links:
The imigration lawyers who lead our team
Our team of ten immigration lawyers and agents is led by an Michael McCrudden, Master of Laws - and certified by the Law Society of New South Wales as an Accredited Specialist in Immigration Law.
Nick Houen, First Class Honours in Law, was awarded the University Medal (UTS). Nick also worked for many years with the Department of Immigration.
Our team leaders also include Steven Sue and Suzi Diab, both with extensive immigration law experience.
Standards
All matters are conducted in accordance with ISO best-practice standards - we have LAW 9000/ISO90001 certification for our Quality Management System.
Visa applicants and business people need to know their chances of success. We advise honestly and openly about the prospects of a case.
Migration agents are not required to be lawyers. Some migration agents who are not lawyers do acquire many of the necessary skills. In our view, however, the supervision of a migration agent by a lawyer provides an additional level of quality assurance.
Achievements
We have acted in thousands of visa applications. As an example of our work, we won a unanimous 7-0 victory in the High Court of Australia in NAGV and NAGW v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs.
We are on the panel selected by the Department of Immigration under the Immigration Advice and Application Assistance Scheme (IAAAS) to represent refugees in detention and disadvantaged people in the Australian community - see: http://www.immi.gov.au/media/fact-sheets/63advice.htm
We are the only law firm to have remained on this panel continuously since the Scheme started in 1997.
Fees – value
We provide an up-front estimate of fees, and often fixed or capped fees.
Our fees are competitive - call us for a no-obligation estimate.
Click on this link for the Migration Agents' Code of Conduct: https://www.mara.gov.au/Code-of-Conduct/Code-of-Conduct/default.aspx
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Craddock Murray Neumann Lawyers
There is much debate about whether Australia should grant visas to asylum seekers who arrive by boat (the so-called “boat people”) without documentation.
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Michael Mc Crudden
On 17 December 2007, the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, announced a number of changes to the general skill migration program. These changes will come into affect on 1 January 2009.
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Craddock Murray Neumann Lawyers
Recently our Mr McCrudden was approached by a gentleman who held a subclass 457 visa.
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Recent market conditions in Australia have highlighted the important role that skilled migrant workers can play in allowing businesses to access talented pools of labour.
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Craddock Murray Neumann Lawyers
Just because your visa has expired and you have become unlawful in Australia it does not necessarily follow that you cannot lodge a visa application while you are in Australia.
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Michael Mc Crudden
The following is a summary of how spouse visas operate and the usual criteria that must be satisfied to be granted a spouse visa.
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Craddock Murray Neumann Lawyers
The decision-making process for people who seek asylum in Australia is rigorous. Asylum seekers are required to detail their claims for protection. They are then interviewed by a Departmental officer who will assesses their claims, applying the following definition of a refugee: a person who "owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality, and is unable to or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country…".
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Dominic Wilson
Deciding how to settle a dispute - Choosing a process - Commencing litigation - Pre-trial procedures - Discontinuance or withdrawal - Enforcement of judgments - Costs of Litigation - Time limits - Lawyers
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The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) has released the details on the long-awaited enterprise migration agreements (EMAs).
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Craddock Murray Neumann Lawyers
The general rule is that everyone should be able to enforce their rights in the Courts – poverty should be no bar to justice.
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Nick Houen
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Michael Mc Crudden
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Craddock Murray Neumann Lawyers
The Department of Immigration has the power to cancel a visa that is granted to a visa holder if he or she provided incorrect information either as part of their visa application or on a passenger card upon entering Australia. The Department may cancel a visa for this reason even where the person did not know that the information they provided was incorrect.
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Craddock Murray Neumann Lawyers
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Craddock Murray Neumann Lawyers
Immigration Minister Chris Evans has released a discussion paper seeking stakeholder feedback on proposed reforms to the 457-visa program, which he says will help prevent the exploitation of temporary skilled foreign workers.
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Craddock Murray Neumann Lawyers
Many international students studying in Australia aspire to become a permanent resident and stay in Australia for good. The most common route to permanent residence is for students to apply for general skilled migration after completing their studies.
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This article considers the key considerations in obtaining an Australian working holiday visa. Living and working in a new country can be a great experience and the working holiday visa program is a fantastic way to see Australia (while helping to meet the generally higher costs of travelling around the country).
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On 9 March 2010, the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, welcomed the final report of the Baird Review on the legislation governing international education. It is titled “Stronger, Simpler, Smarter ESOS; A Review of the Education Services for Overseas Students Act. It was also greeted favourably by the Deputy Prime minister, Julia Gillard and comes in conjunction with the changes made to the skilled migration program in February, 2010.
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Craddock Murray Neumann Lawyers
On the 1st July, 2008 the Migration Regulations 1994 ("the Regulations") were amended to expand the concession for a second Working Holiday visa for those who undertake three months' work in regional Australia to include work in the construction industry in regional Australia.
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Craddock Murray Neumann Lawyers
The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship recently announced additional reforms to Australia’s immigration system. These reforms are in addition to the changes sought to be introduced by the Migration Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2008 which is currently before Parliament. That Bill, among other things, would streamline tribunal procedures and amend time limits for applying to the court for judicial review of migration decisions.
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Under the Australian Migration Program, people can apply for visas under the family stream component
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Craddock Murray Neumann Lawyers
In September 2008 Mr. George Ling, a Sydney businessman, was sentenced in the District Court to five years and five months imprisonment in relation to his involvement in a criminal conspiracy to defraud the Commonwealth. The charges related to an immigration conspiracy which resulted in 110 foreign nationals being granted Australian citizenship where they did not meet the criteria.
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Craddock Murray Neumann Lawyers
As of 1 January 2009, the Commonwealth Government made changes to the skilled migration program. The new measures were the result of Australia's changing economic needs, including forecasts for higher unemployment, and were designed to ensure that the skilled migration stream continued to meet the needs of industry in the new economic climate.
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There are many vessels in which you can become an Australian citizen. Your rite of passage to either apply or be automatically granted citizenship depends on your circumstances. So which option applies to you?
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Craddock Murray Neumann Lawyers
Over the past few months the Commonwealth Government has made a number of amendments to the migration legislation. These changes impact a wide range of visas and highlight the need to keep abreast of changes to immigration law.
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In 2010, the Commonwealth Government announced significant changes impacting general skilled migration, with further changes taking place later this year. If you have applied for or are thinking of applying for general skilled migration, it is imperative to seek advice and understand how the changes may impact your application.
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In 2008-08, the Commonwealth Government granted a total of 320,368 student visas. Many of these international students are interested in becoming permanent residents in Australia. In most cases, students apply for general skilled migration upon the completion of their studies. In 2008-09, the Commonwealth Government granted 69,153 permanent resident visas through the general skilled migration program.
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Visa status is hard to maintain, especially when travelling in and out of several countries. If you’re an Australian permanent resident who wants to travel, and wish to keep your status, you should consider a Five Year Resident Return Visa (subclass 155).
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Craddock Murray Neumann Lawyers
Due to the global financial crisis and amid fears the economy will slow, Australia’s intake of migrants will be significantly cut next year.
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Craddock Murray Neumann Lawyers
The 457 temporary business (long stay) visa plays an important role in the Australian economy. This visa enables employers to fill skilled positions with an overseas worker where they have been unable to find a local candidate. The program allows overseas workers to remain in Australia for a period between three months and four years.
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Craddock Murray Neumann Lawyers
Immigration Minister, Chris Evans, has welcomed an interim report from a group of industry experts on Australia's temporary skilled migration program, which coincided with figures that showed record arrivals of skilled workers helped immigration become the leading element in Australian population growth last year.
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The Migration Act 1958 (Cth) provides the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship with the authority to set the order of priority for considering and finalising visa applications. The Minister recently set new priority processing arrangements for certain skilled migration visas.
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Dual citizenship occurs where two or more countries deem an individual to be a citizen of that country. While most people are aware that they are a citizen of a particular country (e.g. they were born there or became naturalised), it is possible to be a dual citizen without realising it. This issue is of particular interest for people who have parents who immigrated to Australia, or were born to (or adopted by) a couple that had different national backgrounds.
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In order to enter Australia lawfully, it is necessary for non-citizens to obtain a visa. The requirement to obtain a visa applies to everyone, regardless of whether the purpose of the visit is tourism, study, work or migration. However, there are many different types of visas each with specific conditions regarding study, work and duration.
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Craddock Murray Neumann Lawyers
There are a number of visa options for partners of Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents or eligible New Zealand citizens to enter and/or permanently remain in Australia. The specific subclass of visa is dependent upon the nature of the relationship and whether the applicant is inside or outside Australia.
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Craddock Murray Neumann Lawyers
In March 2008, the Department of Immigration and Citizenship released Population Flows: Immigration Aspects. This report provides an array of information about Australian migration in the 2006-07 fiscal year.
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Craddock Murray Neumann Lawyers
The Human Rights Commission slammed the Government's immigration detention policy last week, following the release of the Commission's 2008 immigration detention report.
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Craddock Murray Neumann Lawyers
The Human Rights Commission slammed the Government's immigration detention policy last week, following the release of the Commission's 2008 immigration detention report.
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The most common form of migration to Australia is the General Skilled Migration program. The aim of the program is to attract skilled, experienced and therefore employable people for migration to Australia.
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Craddock Murray Neumann Lawyers
Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents or eligible New Zealand citizens may sponsor their partner to enter and/or remain permanently in Australia. Different visa categories apply, depending upon whether the visa applicant is overseas or already in Australia.
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Are you in Australia on a working holiday visa and interested in staying on after your visa expires? There are a few different visa options if you would like to extend your stay.
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The Commonwealth Government introduced a number of changes to the sponsorship regime for temporary workers in Australia on subclass 457 visas. These changes came into effect on 14 September 2009.
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A migration agent is a person registered with the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA), who offers to assist people with applying for visas and citizenship in Australia. This article examines some important considerations in using the services of a migration agent and what you should expect to receive for their assistance.
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Who is a Refugee?
The legal status of refugees in Australia is a contentious and frequently misunderstood matter. Unlike many developing countries, where the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees will make a determination of a person's refugee status, Australia has a formal administrative process for assessing refugee claims.
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If you are interested in working in Australia on a temporary basis, one of the most common programs is the 457 business visa. This program enables businesses to employ an overseas worker for up to four years. The worker can bring other eligible secondary applicants with them to Australia. Secondary applicants can also work and study.
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Australian migration laws require all applicants to satisfy a "character test" before approving a visa. This is known as the public interest criteria, and it can be difficult to understand its requirements.
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