The offices for the skills assessing authority will be shut down during the course of festive season. Read more Vetassess Vetassess will be closed for the end-of-year break, from 22 December 2022 to 3 January 2023. However, the online Skills Assessment applications can still be lodged during the shutdown period but as their customer contact centre will be closed, payments will be processed when their offices reopen. New Skills assessment criteria for Apiarists and Beekeepers Apiarist and beekeepers who need a skills assessment for Australian migration purposes will no longer require a bachelor-level degree to satisfy the criteria. They can now apply with a qualification equivalent to an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Certificate Level III or IV, and a period of employment experience that is highly relevant to the occupation. The change comes after VETASSESS consulted with industry bodies who advised that a certificate-level qualification and experience would meet the requirements of employers in the industry. Trade Recognition Australia The TRA Enquiry Line will be closed from 12pm on Wednesday 7 December 2022 and will reopen at 10am, Thursday 8 December 2022. TRA Updates The Migration Skills Assessment (MSA) and Migration Points Advice (MPA) programs are currently experiencing a significant increase in application rates which is affecting processing times resulting in delayed assessments. Also, the average processing times for TRA Job Ready Program are longer than expected due to a high number of applications. Australia Computing Society The ACS Skills office will be closed from Friday 23rd December 2022 to Monday 1 January 2023. Engineers Australia Engineers Australia will be closed from 26 December 2022 to 6 January 2023 inclusive. Assessment applications lodged between 5 December 2022 and 31 January 2023 may experience a service delay, including Fast Track applications.
Migration Amendment (Subclass 189 Visas—New Zealand Stream) Regulations 2022 [the Regulations] dated 8 December 2022 amends the Migration Regulations 1994 to support faster processing of on-hand applications for Subclass 189 – New Zealand stream visa, for the cohort of New Zealand citizens (and their family members) who have been living in Australia generally for a significant period of time and continued to work in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic. The New Zealand stream of the Subclass 189 visa provides a permanent residence option for New Zealand citizens who have demonstrated commitment to Australia, through long term residence, and who have made and can continue to make, a strong economic contribution to Australia’s future. The amendments remove the requirement for New Zealand stream on-hand applicants to satisfy criteria relating to: In addition, family members of primary applicants who made a Subclass 189 (Skilled – Independent) visa application in the New Zealand stream prior to the commencement of the Amendment Regulations are also not required to satisfy the health criteria. However, the primary applicants (and their family members) with on-hand applications must satisfy the existing common criteria for the Subclass 189 (Skilled – Independent) visa which relate to public interest criteria such as character, security, and certain other matters. Furthermore, the benefit of this streamlined visa criteria is being extended only to those New Zealand citizens and their family members who applied prior to the commencement of the Amendment Regulations that is before 10 December 2022. The amendment also pauses new applications for Subclass 189- New Zealand stream from the commencement of the Amendment Regulations (10 December 2022) until 1 July 2023 to provide time for the Government to consider future arrangements for New Zealand citizens. The instrument is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation on 9 December 2022 and commenced on 10 December 2022. It is currently in force. To access the instrument, click here.
Skilled Independent Visa – New Zealand stream has been temporarily closed to new applications which means an application for this visa cannot be made from 10 December 2022 until 1 July 2023. This is a temporary pause on new applications while the Government considers future migration and citizenship pathways for New Zealand citizens in Australia. During this period, the Department of Home Affairs will seek to finalise the majority of on-hand applications in the New Zealand stream, and has established a dedicated taskforce to prioritise the processing of this caseload. The majority of New Zealand stream applicants have been waiting several years for their visa application to be finalised due to the limited number of places allocated to this group in recent years. The following streamlining measures introduced acknowledge that this this group of New Zealand citizens are long-term residents of Australia, have been working here and contributing to Australia’s economic recovery during the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of the streamlining arrangements is to support faster visa processing of on-hand New Zealand stream applications for New Zealand citizens (and their family members) who have been living in Australia generally for a significant period of time and continued to work in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic. The measures include removing the requirement for New Zealand stream on-hand applicants to satisfy criteria relating to: The only criteria to be met by primary applicants (and their family members) with on-hand applications are the existing common criteria for the Subclass 189 (Skilled – Independent) visa which relate to public interest criteria such as character, security, and certain other matters. Also, as announced in the October 2022 Budget, the Government is proceeding with priority processing of these applications in order to finalise the majority by mid-2023.
On 28 October 2022, the Minister for Migration released Ministerial Direction 100, for reducing the processing times across caseload and to clear the visa backlogs, while prioritising the most in demand occupations. During the initial months of 2022, visa processing was slow due to the workforce shortage at the Department of Home Affairs. However, the Department was able to speed up its visa processing at the start of May 2022, attributable to the appointment of 260 more staff to work on visa processing. Outlined below are the new visa priorities as per Ministerial Direction 100: Within each category above, for provisional and permanent skilled visa applications, priority is given to visa applications where primary applicant is offshore at the time of making visa application. The Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL) has been discontinued as it no longer reflected the actual sectors facing workforce shortage. Also, it has reduced the number of priorities including removing priority processing for the Global Talent visas along with Business Innovation and Investment visas The new priorities apply to all skilled visa nomination and visa applications that are yet to be decided, as well as new applications lodged. The Ministerial Direction 100 is applicable to the following visas: Healthcare or Teaching Occupations Include the following A- 134311 – School Principal B- 421111 – Child Care Worker C- 423111 – Aged or Disabled Carer D- 423312 – Nursing Support Worker E- 423313 – Personal Care Assistant.
Migration (International trade obligations relating to labour market testing – India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement) Amendment Determination (LIN 22/105) 2022 dated 21 November 2022 inserts an additional international trade agreement, India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (IAECTA), in the list of agreements for paragraph 140GBA(1)(c) of the Act for which the obligation of Australia under international law, relating to international trade, is determined as an international trade obligation of Australia. The instrument amends Migration (International trade obligations relating to labour market testing) Determination (LIN 21/075) 2021 which determines Australia’s obligations under international trade agreements under subsection 140GBA(2) of the Migration Act 1958, to give domestic effect to those obligations for the purposes of applying the labour market testing condition. Section 140GBA of the Act sets out a condition for labour market testing that needs to be satisfied by an approved work sponsor in a prescribed class who nominates a proposed occupation in certain circumstances. Subsection 140GBA(1) provides that the labour market testing condition applies to a nomination by a person if: For paragraph 140GBA(1)(c) of the Act, under the following agreements, each obligation of Australia, relating to international trade, under international law is determined as an international trade obligation of Australia: The instrument amends LIN 21/075 to insert one additional international trade agreement, namely the India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (IAECTA) in the list of agreements for paragraph 140GBA(1)(c) of the Act. The new international trade agreement made between Australia and India is called IAECTA. The Customs Amendment (India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement Implementation) Act 2022 amends the Customs Act 1901 (the Customs Act) to implement the IAECTA. The instrument is registered on 23 November 2022 and commences on the later of the day after it is registered and the day on which Schedule 1 to the Customs Amendment (India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement Implementation) Act 2022 (amendment) commences. However, this instrument will not commence if the amendment to the Customs Act does not commence. To access the instrument, click here.
Migration (International trade obligations relating to labour market testing – Australia-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement) Amendment Determination (LIN 22/098) 2022, dated 21 November 2022 inserts an additional international trade agreement, the Australia-United Kingdom Free Trade, (AUKFTA) Agreement in the list of agreements for paragraph 140GBA(1)(c) of the Act for which the obligation of Australia under international law, relating to international trade, is determined as an international trade obligation of Australia. The instrument amends Migration (International trade obligations relating to labour market testing) Determination (LIN 21/075) 2021 which determines Australia’s obligations under international trade agreements under subsection 140GBA(2) of the Migration Act 1958, to give domestic effect to those obligations for the purposes of applying the labour market testing condition. Section 140GBA of the Act sets out condition for labour market testing that needs to be satisfied by an approved work sponsor in a prescribed class who nominates a proposed occupation in certain circumstances. Subsection 140GBA(1) provides that the labour market testing condition applies to a nomination by a person if: For paragraph 140GBA(1)(c) of the Act, under the following agreements, each obligation of Australia, relating to international trade, under international law is determined as an international trade obligation of Australia: The instrument amends LIN 21/075 to insert one additional international trade agreement, namely the Australia-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement (AUKFTA) in the list of agreements for paragraph 140GBA(1)(c) of the Act. The new international trade agreement made between Australia and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is called AUKFTA. The Customs Amendment (Australia-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement Implementation) Act 2022 amends the Customs Act 1901 (the Customs Act) to implement the AUKFTA. The instrument is registered on 23 November 2022 and commences on the later of the day after it is registered and the day on which Schedule 1 to the Customs Amendment (Australia-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement Implementation) Act 2022 (amendment) commences. However, this instrument will not commence if the amendment to the Customs Act does not commence. To access the instrument, click here.
Good news for migrants waiting for skilled migration opportunity in Australia. Under South Australia Skilled and Business Migration Program, South Australia is going to nominate offshore applicants for over 470 occupations. Isn’t it exciting? South Australia is a state in the southern part of the country. Adelaide, Gawler, Mount Gambier, and Mount Barker are some major cities of the state. Every year, it generates multiple job opportunities for locals and offshore candidates. South Australian Skilled and Business Program South Australia has opened its skilled migration program for the financial year 2022-23 and has started getting positive response from offshore and onshore applicants. The South Australian Government has released a revised occupation list to give work opportunity in several sectors facing shortage of workers. Only skilled migrants will get priority who have work experience in in-demand industries, such as Engineering, Health, Trades, Agribusinesses and growing industries. How to Look Forward to Grab the Opportunity Applicants who are currently living offshore and seeking to move to South Australia can use SkillSelect to create an Expression of Interest or EOI. As your EOI will be reviewed by the South Australian Government, you may get invitation for state nomination for Subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated Visa, permanent) or Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional Visa, provisional). Applicants get the invitations based on their merits- After nomination, you get 14 days to submit your application. At the time of invitation, make sure that all the information in your SkillSelect EOI is up to date. Some Common Requirements for Nominations are- Factor Requirements Residency Applicants living in South Australia may apply for almost all streams in the program Applicants who live in Australia but not in South Australia can apply through the “Talent & Innovator Employment Stream” Offshore applicants can take a close look at the South Australian’s Skilled list Age Your age must not be above 45 Occupation The occupation must be listed on the South Australian’s Occupation list Skills Assessment Necessary to have a positive skill assessment Work Experience Depends on the type of occupation or it might be waived in some circumstances English Depends on the occupation you have applied for, however the minimum requirement is Competent English Points Although the minimum point set by the Department of Home Affairs of Australia is 65, higher point-score will increase the chances of invitation Other pathways are also opened to live and work in Australia. If you are a highly skilled migrant living offshore and ready to contribute to South Australia, you can directly register through the Highly Skilled and Talented Stream. If you want to discuss about the stream and other requirements/ criteria or wish to apply for EoI or visa application, feel free to contact us at +612 4626 1002 during business hours (9am to 6pm AEST – Sydney Time). You may also write to us at admin@mckkrs.com.au
The offer of temporary humanitarian stay by the Australian government to Ukrainian nationals has expired. The department now advises Ukrainians and their families that want to come to Australia or who are in Australia and wish to extend their stay to explore other visa options including the skilled, family, student, and visitor visa programs. To explore other visa options, click here.
In response to the multi-dimensional humanitarian crisis in Myanmar, Minister Giles has announced that Myanmar nationals currently residing in Australia and who have arrived with a valid visa will have their application for protection prioritized by the Department of Home Affairs. To know more, click here.
In response to the multi-dimensional humanitarian crisis in Myanmar, Minister Giles has announced that Myanmar nationals currently residing in Australia and who have arrived with a valid visa will have their application for protection prioritized by the Department of Home Affairs. To know more, click here