Migration Amendment (Subclass 191 Visas—Waiver of Conditions) Regulations 2022, dated 10 November 2022 amends the Migration regulations 1994 to enable family members of skilled workers to apply for subclass 191 visas without having to depart Australia by providing the ability to waive the‘No Further Stay condition’. The Subclass 191 visa has two streams namely the Regional Provisional stream and the Hong Kong stream. The primary applicants in the regional stream must hold a ‘pathway visa’ subclass 491 or 494. Likewise, the applicants in the Hong Kong stream must have valid subclass 457, 482, or 485 visas. In addition, the applicants of both streams are required to fulfill three years of residency requirements in a designated regional area of Australia. However, there are no such requirements for a secondary applicant (that is a member of the family unit) of a Subclass 191 visa who may be holding another visa that is subject to a No Further Stay condition. The instrument amends the regulations to enable the waiver of that No Further Stay condition and to allow family members and dependants of a subclass191 primary applicant to be added to the primary applicant’s onshore application without having to leave Australia. The instrument is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation on 11 November 2022 and commenced on 12 November 2022. It is currently in force. To access the instrument, click here.
Invitation Round: 31 October 2022 Matrix nominating Small Business Owners: 17 invitations 457 visa / 482 visa holders: 01 invitation Matrix nominating Critical Skill occupations: 186 invitations Overseas Applicants Matrix nominating Critical Skill occupations: 221 invitations Invitations were not issued if the applicants have an active application in the system or have previously received an ACT nomination. The next Canberra Matrix invitation round will be held before 28 November 2022.
South Australia Skilled and Business Migration Program are increasing its nominations of offshore skilled migrants during 2022-23, with over 1,100 candidates already nominated to address urgent workforce shortages in South Australia. South Australia is nominating offshore applicants from over 470 occupations, so it is advised that the applicants must keep all the information in their SkillSelect EOI updated. To know more about offshore skilled migrants nomination, click here.
Migration (Arrangements for Temporary Work (International Relations) (Class GD) visas) Amendment Instrument (LIN 22/088) 2022 (No. 2) dated 26 October 2022, amends the Migration (Arrangements for Temporary Work (International Relations) (Class GD) visa applications) (LIN 22/009) Instrument 2022 to remove specification of Australian Agriculture Worker stream in Subclass 403 (Temporary Work (International Relations)) visas it has been repealed by the Migration Amendment (Repeal of Australian Agriculture Worker Stream) Regulations 2022 (the Amendment Regulations). The commencement of the Migration Amendment (Repeal of Australian Agriculture Worker Stream) Regulations 2022 (the Amendment Regulations) on 1 October 2022, repealed the AustralianAgricultural Worker stream from the Subclass 403 (Temporary Work (International Relations)) visa streams, however, prior to the commencement of this instrument, the Subclass 403 visa had six streams: As the Australian Agricultural Worker stream has been repealed, the stream will no longer be specified in LIN 22/009. The instrument was registered on the Federal Register of Legislation on 28 October 2022. To know more, click here.
Invitation Round: 17 October 2022 Matrix nominating Small Business Owners: 17 invitations 457 visa / 482 visa holders: 01 invitation Matrix nominating Critical Skill occupations: 175 invitations Overseas Applicants Matrix nominating Critical Skill occupations: 274 invitations Invitations were not issued if the applicants have an active application in the system or have previously received an ACT nomination. The next Canberra Matrix invitation round will be held before 28 November 2022.
Migration (Temporary Activity (Class GG) Visa and Visitor (Class FA) Visa) Specified Class of Persons (Virtus Oceania Asia Games) Instrument 2022, dated 17 October 2022, specifies that certain applicants for temporary Activity (Class GG) visas and Visitor (Class FA) visas will have a nil visa application charge if they provide evidence of being invited to participate in Virtus Oceania Asia Games— Brisbane 2022 (OA Games). The applicant for Temporary Activity (Class GG) visas and Visitor (Class FA) visas must provide as evidence ‘Official Letter of Invitation to the Virtus Oceania Asia Games — Brisbane 2022 issued by the Oceania Asia Games 2022 Organising Committee or Sports Inclusion Australia. The applicant must also be listed on the ‘Official Letter of Invitation. The instrument is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation on 19 October 2022 and commenced on 20 October 2022. It is currently in force. To know more, click here.
It is advised that the eligible Student and Working Holiday/Work and Holiday visa holders seeking a refund under Student and Working Holiday VAC Refund Scheme, must lodge their request through the Student and WHM refunds portal and not through their ImmiAccount. Fully vaccinated Students and Working Holiday Makers who travelled to Australia during a specified period are eligible for a refund of the visa application charge. The eligible candidates can make a claim any time up to 31 December 2022. To access the Student and WHM refunds portal for making a claim for a refund, click here.
The Skilled and Business Migration has taken measures to manage the high demand and a limited interim allocation of 70 nomination places from the Commonwealth Government. The following measures have been taken by Skilled & Business Migration:
Migration (Points for Business Innovation Stream and Investor Stream of Subclass 188 Visa) Instrument (LIN 22/083) 2022 dated 4 October 2022 specifies the minimum score on the Business Innovation and Investment points test required by the applicant for a subclass 188 visa in the Business Innovation stream or the Investor Stream. The instrument specifies that an applicant for a Subclass 188 visa in the Business Innovation or the Investor stream must score at least 65 on the Business Innovation and Investment points test. The Instrument is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation on 10 October 2022 and commenced on 11 October 2022. It is currently in force. To access the instrument, click here.
VETASSESS will resume offshore practical assessments for electricians in India next month and also new dates are out for the UK and South Africa. VETASSESS will be conducting skills assessments in: Applicants can book for skills assessment through VETASSESS online portal. To know more, click here.