2.8新政系列文章之八：07年9月1日前收到的境外一般技术移民签证申请的变动
Q 1 What are the changes to offshore General Skilled Migration visas lodged before 1 September 2007?
问题1：2007年9月1日前提交的境外一般技术移民签证改变了什么？
Under section 39 of the Migration Act 1958 the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship has the power to set the maximum number of visas of a particular class that may be granted in a financial year. This is known as 'capping'. Once this number is reached, any application for that class of visa that has not been finalised is taken not to have been made. This is known as 'ceasing'. This means that the application and visa application charge are returned to the visa applicant.
根据1958年移民法第39章之规定，移民公民部部长有权设定某财政年度发放的某类签证的最多限额，这就是所谓的"封顶"。一旦达到这个限额，任何还没有最后决定的已经申请的该类签证都不再发放，这就是所谓的"停签"，这意味着申请表及申请费将一并返还签证申请人。
Q 2 Why is the minister capping and ceasing General Skilled Migration visa applications made before 1 September 2007 visas?
问题2：为什么移民公民部部长要对2007年9月1日前申请的一般技术移民签证实行封顶和停签？
The number of places in the Skilled Migration Program available to applicants who are not sponsored by an employer continues to decline, as the government's priority is to support demand driven migration. At the same time, the number of pending GSM applications continues to grow as the demand for GSM places exceeds the available supply.
The Australian Government has decided to end the ongoing uncertainty for offshore GSM visa applicants who applied prior to 1 September 2007, by capping and ceasing these visa classes.
技术移民计划中提供给非雇主提名的申请人的名额不断减少，因为政府要优先支持由需求驱动的移民计划。与此同时，送审的一般技术移民申请数量却持续增长， 一般技术移民名额的需求超过了可以提供的数量。
澳大利亚政府已决定通过封顶和停签此类签证，来结束2007年9月1日前申请的境外技术移民签证方面持续的不确定性。
Q 3 I applied for an offshore GSM visa prior to 1 September 2007. What will happen to my application?
问题3：我在2007年9月1日前申请了境外一般技术移民签证，我的申请会怎样处理？
If your GSM application is not decided before the cap is reached, you will be subject to the capping and ceasing arrangements and your visa application charge (VAC) will be returned. You will no longer have an application waiting to be processed.
如果您的一般技术移民申请在达到限额之前尚未决定，您将受到封顶和停签的安排，你的签证申请费（VAC）将会被退回，您就不用再等待办理您的申请了。
Q 4 I lodged my offshore GSM visa application before 1 September 2007 and have provided all documents requested by the department including medicals and police checks. Will the change affect me?
问题4：我在2007年9月1日前提交了境外一般技术移民签证申请，并提供了包括体检和警察核查要求提供的所有文件。这些改变会不会影响到我呢？
Yes, if your GSM application is not decided before the cap is reached, you will be subject to the capping and ceasing arrangements and your VAC will be returned. You will no longer have an application under consideration.
会的，如果您的一般技术移民申请在达到限额之前尚未决定，您将受到封顶和停签的安排，你的签证申请费（VAC）将会被退回，您的申请将不会被审理。
Q 5 My application for an offshore GSM visa that I made before 1 September 2007, is currently at the Migration Review Tribunal. Will the capping and ceasing arrangements affect me?
问题5：我的境外一般技术移民签证申请是在2007年9月1日前提交的，目前在移民复议庭。封顶和停签安排会影响到我吗？
Yes. If you lodged an offshore GSM application prior to September 2007, and your application is currently at the Migration Review Tribunal you will be subject to the capping arrangements if your GSM application is not decided before the cap is reached. If your application is capped, your VAC will be returned and you will no longer have an application awaiting review.
会的。如果您提交的境外一般技术移民申请是在2007年9月之前，而且你的申请目前是在移民复议庭，你将受到封顶安排的影响。如果你的申请超出限额，您的签证申请费（VAC）将被退回，您就不用再等待办理您的申请。
Q 6 Will the Australian Government refund the total cost associated with my offshore GSM application, such as the VAC, obtaining a skills assessment, medical examinations and police checks if I lodged the application before 1 September 2007?
问题6：如果我是在2007年9月1日前递交的申请，澳大利亚政府是否会退还与我的境外一般技术移民申请相关的全部费用吗，例如像签证申请费（VAC）、技能评估费、体检费和警察核查费？
The Australian Government will refund the VAC if your application is capped and ceased. Associated fees incurred for medical examinations, English language tests and police checks cannot be refunded as these payments were not made to the Australian Government.
如果您的申请被封顶和停签了，澳大利亚政府将退还您的签证申请费（VAC）。相关的体检费、英语语言测试费和警察核查费不予退还，因为这些款项不是交给澳大利亚政府的。
Q 7 My offshore GSM application was lodged before 1 September 2007 on my behalf by my migration agent. Who will the VAC be returned to?
问题7：我的移民代理在2007年9月1日前递交了境外一般技术移民申请，那么签证申请费（VAC）会退还给谁呢？
The visa application charge will be returned to the applicant, care of the migration agent's address.
签证申请费将会经由移民代理的地址转交退给申请人。
Q 8 Can I apply again for an offshore GSM visa even though my previous application has been capped and ceased?
问题8：我先前的申请被封顶和停签了，我还能再次申请境外一般技术移民签证吗？
Yes. You can apply again for any of the current GSM visa subclasses. However, you will need to meet the current legislative requirements, which have changed significantly from those that existed prior to 1 September 2007.
可以。你可以再次申请目前任何类别的的一般技术移民签证。但是您必须符合现行的法规的要求，这些规定非常明显地改变了2007年9月1日之前的规定。
Q 9 Can I request the department not to impose the capping arrangements in relation to my offshore GSM application lodged before 1 September 2007?
问题9：我可以要求移民公民部不把封顶安排与我2007年9月1日之前提交的一般技术移民申请相关联吗？
No. When the minister decides to cap and cease all offshore GSM visa classes lodged before 1 September 2007, under the Migration Act 1958, all case officers must act in accordance with the minister's decision.
不可以。当移民公民部部长基于1958年的移民法决定封顶和停签所有在2007年9月1日之前提交的境外一般技术移民签证类型时，所有签证官必须服从部长的决定。
Q 10 Who can I contact in the department to discuss my case?
问题10：我可以联系移民公民部的什么人来讨论我的情况？
If you are outside Australia and wish to discuss your case please call 61 1300 735 683. If you are in Australia please call 1300 735 683. The hours of operation are Monday to Friday 9.00am-4.00pm (Central Australian Time).
如果您在澳大利亚境外并希望讨论您的情况，请致电0061 1300 735 683。如果你在澳大利亚请致电1300 735 683。服务时间为星期一至星期五上午9时至下午4时（澳大利亚中部时间）。
