I'd distinguish attitude of Australians to migrants (which I have found very friendly) from the strictness of the immigration department. There have always bee

I'd distinguish attitude of Australians to migrants (which I have found very friendly) from the strictness of the immigration department. There have always been many more people wanting to get into the country than the quotas allowed, and so the immigration department is a gatekeeper. Getting in is a kind of game of beaurocratic chess, and the department is determined to play hard. The UK was the same when I was living there for a few years. Germany on the other hand is more keen on attracting skilled workers and made things very easy for me. But as people, I found Germans and British to be about equally welcoming of immigrants.