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As an immigrant or foreigner in a nation, it is important to understand and abide by the nation’s complex immigration laws. Ignorance of the law is not a valid excuse, so it is crucial to be familiar with the relevant statutes regulating entry into and residence in the country. The following provides a brief overview of some of the most important aspects of immigration law, but it is by no means exhaustive.
Here are 5 Key Immigration Law Compliance Best Practices
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Know the rules & processes
A well-informed and vigilant foreign citizen is less likely to be the target of malicious or unfair treatment from immigration authorities, employers or other parties. Know the rules, process, and deadlines involved in immigrating to a new country before you begin your immigration application process.
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Conduct a Work Permit review
If you are currently an employee of a company with an office in a country that grants visa-free entry to citizens of other nations, you may need to undergo a review to ensure that your employment is legal. A full background check on each person at the company can also help ensure that the work permit is granted.
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Conduct a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or Online Offer of Employment review
If you are a foreign worker wishing to immigrate to a nation, the employer will require a positive LMIA or an offer of employment from a previous company. These reviews should be conducted before you apply for your work permit or visa, to ensure that your work is approved by the nation’s government and your employer is authorized to ask you to work there.
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Conduct an employment contract review
A work permit or visa is the first step to becoming a legal resident in the country, but it’s not the only step. If you want to become a permanent resident, then you will need to hold a valid employment contract with your employer, detailing your job title and wage. This typically requires an employer-employee relationship, which can be confirmed using the contract review service.
5. Make & maintain complete & accurate records (& keep them handy)
A letter of acceptance to immigrate to a nation will be issued in the form of a letter of invitation and will include verbiage that clearly states “in order to enter this nation, you must also meet all immigration requirements,” or words to that effect. If you were required by your employer or family sponsor to pay a fee for immigration before you arrive to a nation, make sure that all required paperwork has been submitted before you leave for your destination. Also, it is important for families to maintain accurate records throughout the immigration process.
Bottom line
In summary, these issues are not trivial, and the consequences of an untrue statement can be damning. As such, it’s important for you to know Australia’s Immigration Law in order to be able to fully and legally maneuver through the country’s immigration system.
Choose to be an active participant or choose ignorance, but don’t let yourself get caught up in the lack of knowledge. There is no substitute for knowing what is going on, so make sure you are paying attention and not letting yourself be taken advantage of.