The Federal Government has extended current sponsorship arrangements for Sponsored Business Visitors to include Chambers of Commerce from March 2004.

Following these changes, the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs has approved the gazettal of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Western Australia as an authorised sponsoring organisation of short-stay business visitors to Australia.

A sponsored business visitor applying for a Subclass 459 visa is allowed to enter Australia temporarily for a period of up to three months for business purposes.

Qualifying business activities include official visits, business meetings, training, or specialised activities such as building inspections or equipment installation and there must be a demonstrated need for the sponsored business visitor to be in Australia to undertake the business activity.

Importantly, sponsored business visitors must not engage in activities that will have adverse consequences for employment or training opportunities, or conditions of employment, for Australian citizens or permanent residents.

The Sponsored Business Visitor Subclass 459 visa arrangement involves a two-stage process notably the sponsorship application by the authorised sponsor followed by the sponsor’s lodgement of the business visitor visa application.

The gazettal of CCI as an authorised sponsor organisation is an important win for commerce and trade as it will enable bona fide business people from overseas, particularly those countries such as China, India and Vietnam, to gain sponsored entry to Australia at the invitation of their Australian business partners for the purposes of contract negotiations, audits of local production facilities quality inspections of commercial shipments and other recognised purposes.

It is envisaged that the extension of sponsorship arrangements will help boost the number of legitimate business visitors entering Australia for trade missions, business meetings, conventions and conferences.

To register your interest in seeking CCI’s sponsorship of an overseas business visitor please contact International Trade Centre manager Ian Whitaker on 9365 7684 or email: ian.whitaker@cciwa.com