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CHANGES to government migration policy have now made it easier for people in Australia to sponsor a person under a short stay business visitor visa.
In another positive move, the Federal Government has legislated that sponsors can sponsor more than one person, under the new rules.
The Government has also decided to remove the previous mandatory five year suspension of sponsorships of applicants, under this subclass.
However, applications for this visa, subclass 459 (Sponsored Business Visitor (Short Stay)) visa must be made onshore, in Australia.
And any new applications must be lodged in Australia by the sponsor. These changes come into effect from March 1, 2004 and any applications lodged prior to this date will be processed and decided under the previous migration regulations.
Sponsors have to make sure that people they sponsor abide by the conditions of their visa, especially that they depart Australia before the visa expires.
In some instances they can be held legally liable to provide for the sponsor and make certain the visa holder is not a drain on Australia's social security resources.
And in more extremes cases, the sponsor can be held liable for any Government costs, up to a limit of $10,000 per person, for finding and detaining the visa holder if they remain in Australia unlawfully.
There are several different visa classes for business people wishing to work in Australia or set up a business there and there are also several different visas for skilled people, who wish to work either temporary or emigrate permanently.