News

According to the Migration Amendment (New Skilled Regional Visas) Regulations 2019, three new visas have been introduced to 'assist regional Australia.' The explanatory statement issued by the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs states, "The amendments introduce a revised points system for the subclass 491 visa as well as existing General Skilled Migration visas. Points are awarded for attributes that are linked with the applicant’s ability to make the greatest economic contribution, as the key purpose of ...

Temporary Sponsored Visa features Limited to 15, 000 visas per year Maximum 10 years cumulative stay permitted Parent not required to depart during validity of the visa Multiple entries permitted May be eligible for a second TSPV,  however, sponsor must also re-apply to be family sponsor Must leave Australia for 90 consecutive days before making the second TSPV application, although sponsor can request the applicant be permitted to lodge onshore in specific circumstances Condition 8103 - 'no work' will ...

Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs David Coleman said the changes to the WHM visa program would help resolve agricultural labour shortages in regional and rural Australia. Changes to Working Holiday Maker visas: • Work and Holiday makers (subclass 462) will be able to undertake regional plant and animal cultivation work in additional priority areas to become eligible for a second visa. • Extension of the period a WHM (subclass 417 and ...

The Department of Home Affairs increases the pool and pass mark to 65 for the following three subclasses where an application is made on or after 1 July 2018 in response to an invitation given on or after 1 July 2018:      Skilled-Independent (Permanent) (Class SI) Subclass 189     Skilled-Nominated (Permanent) (Class SN) Subclass 190     Skilled-Regional Sponsored (Provisional) (Class SP) Subclass 489 Transitional provisions  For visa applications made on or ...

On or after 18 November 2017 the following changes will occur to Partner and Prospective Marriage Visa application arrangements: • Partner and PMV visas must be lodged online. • Paper applications received after COB on 17 November 2017 at any office of the Department, Service Delivery Partner, overseas embassy or High Commission will be invalid. The following policy will be applied to applications lodged before and after 18 November 2017 and not finally decided: • Undocumented or poorly documented applications ...

Minister Dutton is going forward with plans to reintroduce  the Australian Citizenship Legislation Amendment (Strengthening the Requirements for Australian Citizenship and Other Measures) Bill 2017 with a proposed introduction date of 1 July 2018.  The English language test will be amended to a 'modest' level of English. Applications made before 20 April 2017 will be assessed against the eligibility criteria current at the time of application. Applications made before 1 July 2018 will be assessed against the eligibility ...

The Department of Immigration and Border Protection is providing a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the market to influence the design of Australia’s new visa service delivery business and has released a consultation paper seeking input from a wide range of organisations to:investigate ways to create an efficient, sustainable and innovative service delivery modelexplore new technologies and innovative solutions to help design and build a global digital visa processing platform.The Department encourages participation from a diverse range of potential providers including business ...

Immigration SA has this afternoon been informed by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) that effective from 19 April 2017, the Consolidated Sponsored Occupation List (CSOL) is being replaced by the Short term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL). The immediate impact of this change is the removal of 216 occupations (see below) which will affect the Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) and the State and Territory Nominated stream of the subclass 489.   In order to respond to this significant ...