Invitation Round: 17 March 2022 Matrix nominating Small Business Owners: 0 invitation 457 visa / 482 visa holders: 0 invitation Matrix nominating Critical Skill occupations: 47 invitations Overseas Applicants Matrix nominating Critical Skill occupations: 82 invitations Invitations were not issued if the applicants have an active application in the system or have previously received ACT nomination. The next Canberra Matrix invitation round will be held before 03 April 2022.
Migration (COVID-19 Pandemic event for Temporary Activity (Subclass 408) visa) Instrument (LIN 22/046) 2022, dated 11 March 2022, expands the kind of work an applicant can be doing, or have an offer to do, to be eligible for grant of a Subclass 408 visa by removing the limitation to work in key sectors and provides a nil visa application charge amount, for subparagraph 1237(2)(a)(i) of Schedule 1 to the Regulations for applicants in a class of persons specified in the instrument. The instrument repeals the Migration (LIN 20/229: COVID- 19 Pandemic event for Subclass 408 (Temporary Activity) visa, which provided a pathway for substantive temporary visa holders in Australia to stay in Australia and work in key sectors of the economy (agriculture, food processing, health care, aged care, disability care, child care, and tourism and hospitality) to support Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic. The new instrument removes the limitation to work in key sectors, to be eligible for grant of a Subclass 408 visa. It modifies the class of persons that are specified for paragraph 408.229(c) of Schedule 2 to the Migration Regulations 1994 (the Regulations), in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic (specified for this instrument as an ‘Australian Government endorsed event’ for paragraph 408.229(b) of Schedule 2 and subclause 9204(2) of Schedule 13 to the Regulations. The instrument also repeals visa application charge for Temporary Activity (Class GG) visa) Instrument 2020 and provides a nil visa application charge for the classes of person specified in this instrument for subparagraph 1237(2)(a)(i) of Schedule 1 to the Regulations. According to the new instrument, the following applicant falls within a specified class of persons for paragraph 408.229(c) of Schedule 2 and for subparagraph 1237(2)(a)(i) of Schedule 1 to the Migration Regulations 1994 (the Regulations) 1. An applicant who, at the time of application:a) is in Australia; andb) is working, or in receipt of an offer to work, in Australia; andc) either:i. holds a relevant temporary visa with work rights that is 90 days or less from ceasing to be in effect; orii.held a relevant temporary visa with work rights that ceased to be in effect not more than 28 days before the application for a Subclass 408 visa is made. 2. An applicant who, at the time of application:a) last arrived in Australia before 21 February 2022; andb) is in Australia; andc) is working, or in receipt of an offer to work, in Australia; andd) either:i. holds a substantive temporary visa without work rights that is 90 days or less from ceasing to be in effect; orii. held a substantive temporary visa without work rights that ceased to be in effect not more than 28 days before the application for a Subclass 408 visa is made. 3. An applicant who, at the time of application:a) is in Australia; andb) is employed by, or in receipt of an offer of employment from a Commonwealth funded aged care service; andc) either:i. holds a relevant temporary visa that is 90 days or less from ceasing to be in effect; orii. held a relevant temporary visa that ceased to be in effect not more than 28 days before the application 4. An applicant who, at the time of application:a) is in Australia; andb) either:i. holds a Subclass 403 Seasonal Worker visa that is 90 days or less from ceasing to be in effect; orii. held a Subclass 403 Seasonal Worker visa that ceased to be in effect not more than 28 days before the application for a Subclass 408 visa is made; andc) is employed by, or in receipt of an offer of employment from, an approved employer under the Seasonal Worker Program. The instrument is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation on 15 March 2022 and commenced on 16 March 2022. It is currently in force. To access the instrument, click here.
Compilation of Migration (IMMI 18/084: Specification of ETA-Eligible Passports) Instrument 2018, dated 20 February 2022 [“the Compilation”] incorporates the amendments made by Migration (Specification of ETA-Eligible Passports) Amendment Instrument (LIN 22/040) 2022 [ the Instrument] to specify a new condition for a passport issued by the authorities of Taiwan to be an ETA-eligible passport. The instrument specifies that a passport issued by the authorities of Taiwan must not be a ‘Taiwanese compatriot document’ to be an ETA-eligible passport. A Taiwanese compatriot document is not recognised by Australia as a valid travel document. Therefore, the passport issued by the authorities of Taiwan will not be regarded as an eligible ETA passport, if it purports to be: an official passport or a diplomatic passport or a Taiwanese “compatriot” document. The compilation is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation on 16 March 2022 and commenced on 20 February 2022. It is currently in force. To access the instrument, click here.
The Department of Home affairs vide their email dated March 16, 2022 with the subject line “Changes to ‘COVID-19 and the border’ website” has informed all the registered migration agents about the new URL for the updated COVID-19 and the border website. The Department of Home Affairs recommends directing all links on website, email, app or other communication materials to the restructured website’s homepage only. To access the updated COVID-19 and the border website, click here.
Skilled & Business Migration Program, in order to ensure the nomination of highly skilled applicants who can best contribute to South Australia’s economic prosperity and to overcome the workforce shortage, has taken several measures including prioritising the assessment of certain visa applications. The measures taken by the program includes: Prioritising the assessment of Subclass 190 applications. Subclass 485 applications, expiry date within 2021-22 program year. Highly skilled onshore applicants with demonstrable work experience who are working full-time in their nominated occupation for a South Australian employer Encouraging applicants seeking a subclass 491 nomination to submit Registration of Interest (ROI) applications for consideration, through Talent & Innovators Program. Under the Skilled Migration Program for 2021-22, South Australia is close to meeting its quota of 491 visas of its GSM state nomination and also it is expected that the demand for state nomination will exceed the annual allotment of nomination places. The South Australian Government has requested the allocation of additional places under the state nomination program from the Department of Home Affairs. In case the additional places are granted, further information regarding nomination eligibility will be provided. To submit an online enquiry regarding the GSM program, click here.
Invitation Round: 08 March 2022 Matrix nominating Small Business Owners: 02 invitations ACT 190 nominations: 01 invitation 190 minimum Matrix score: 100 ACT 491 nominations: 01 invitation 491 minimum Matrix score: 70 457 visa / 482 visa holders: 01 invitation ACT 190 nomination: 01 invitation ACT 491 nomination: 0 invitations Matrix nominating Critical Skill occupations: 37 invitations ACT 190 nomination: 11 invitations ACT 491 nomination: 26 invitations Overseas Applicants Matrix nominating Critical Skill occupations: 39 invitations ACT 190 nomination: 05 invitations ACT 491 nomination: 34 invitations Invitations were not issued if the applicants have an active application in the system or have previously received ACT nominations. The next Canberra Matrix invitation round will be held before 21 March 2022.
The Department of Home Affairs vides their email dated March 4, 2022, with the subject line“Message from Department of Home Affairs, Temporary Visas and Travel Exemptions Branch, Immigration Programs Division – online lodgement for Visitor (subclass 600) visas” has informed all the registered migration agents about the updated information regarding the online lodgement for Visitor (subclass 600) visas. From 5 March 2022, paper applications will not be accepted as valid for lodgement by the applicants applying for a Visitor visa (subclass 600), both offshore and onshore. All such applicants will have to lodge their application online via ImmiAccount only.
Changes have been made to Act Migration Program, regarding ACT nominations and Doctorate Streamlined nominations. ACT Nominations: A non-refundable service fee is charged for processing applications for ACT nomination which is an administration charge only and does not guarantee the approval of a nomination. Doctorate Streamlined nominations: Canberra government offers a streamlined nomination for doctorate holders, who have completed a professional or research doctoral degree at an ACT university. Such doctorate holders will benefit from a simplified application process with minimal supporting documentation, priority processing, and fee-free. To know more, click here.
From 1 March 2022, new improvements have been made to the Live in Melbourne Portal, beneficial to both agents and applicants. The new improvements include the digitalisation of the Appointment of Agent form and Nomination Conditions Declaration form, from 1 March. All applicants and agents will need to digitally sign a new Appointment of Agent form and Nomination Conditions Declaration form before submitting any applications. The department will not be accepting scanned forms. Also, the new portal will provide the following: Access to client’s contact details, before starting a new application. Ability to view the progress of the submitted applications through a progress bar in the portal. A PDF copy of any Registration of Interest submitted. To know more, click here.
Migration (Arrangements for Temporary Work (International Relations) (Class GD) visa applications) (LIN 22/009) Instrument 2022, dated 03 March 2022, specifies the requirements for making an application for a Temporary Work (International Relations) (Class GD) visa. The instrument provides that for making an application for a Temporary Work (International Relations) (Class GD) visa under the following streams: Australian Agricultural Worker Domestic Worker (Diplomatic or Consular) Pacific Labour Scheme Seasonal Worker Program Form 1403 (Internet) must be used or, if a written notice has been received, Form 1403 can be used in accordance with instructions in that notice. The instrument also provides that for a primary or combined application for the following streams: Foreign Government Agency Government Agreement Privileges and Immunities Form 1403 (Internet) must be used or, if a written notice has been received, Form 1403 can be used in accordance with instructions in that notice. For all other applications, Form 1481 (Internet) must be used or, if a written notice has been received, Form 1481 can be used in accordance with instructions in that notice. The instrument is registered on the Federal register of Legislations on 04 March 2022 and commenced on 05 March 2022. It is currently in force. To access the instrument, click here.