Victorian Skilled and Business Migration Program vide their email dated 21 December 2021 with the subject line“Improvements to the Live in Melbourne Portal” has informed the Migration Agents about the changes to the Live in Melbourne portal which will include the introduction of a summary page across all forms, availability of PDF versions for subclass 190 and 491 application forms and using online enquiry system. It has emphasized using an online enquiry system to submit an initial enquiry via the online enquiry system (liveinmelbourne.vic.gov.au/contact-us) introduced in 2020, as from 1 February 2022, enquiries that are emailed directly to Skilled, Business Migration, or Webmaster email addresses, will not be entertained. The introduction of summary page across all forms showing all the questions and answers will help in the verification of answers on a single screen before submitting. Also, from 21 December 2021, after submitting a nomination application, for subclass 190 and 491 visas, a PDF of all questions and answers can be downloaded and will be included with the application confirmation email in the future.
Migration (Migration Agents Code of Conduct) Regulations 2021, dated 16 December 2021, has introduced a new Migration Agents code of conduct commencing on 1 March 2022. Migration Agents Regulations 1998 has been amended by Migration (Migration Agents Code of Conduct) Consequential Amendments Regulations 2021 to repeal the previous Migration Agents Code of Conduct from 1 March 2022, and for the introduction of a new code. The new Code of Conduct implements a recommendation of the Independent Review of the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (the Independent Review) in September 2014, stating that the Code of Conduct be revised as it was “verbose, unclear and as a result problematic”. Hence, the new code of conduct aims to remove the ambiguity of the previous code, to improve the code’s uptake and provide for increased consumer protection by: Organising the code by removing duplication and outdated clauses. Updating fee-related provisions and record-keeping with consumer expectations and modern trends. Clarifymigration agent’s obligations, including obligations relating to notification requirements, initial consultation sessions, assessment-ready applications, record-keeping, document return, and representations to a decision-maker. Assembling provisions dealing with similar subject matter together in the same parts of the code to improve ease of navigation. Enabling migration agents to more clearly understand their obligations and implement best business practices, including duties relating to advertising, managing clients’ accounts, managing conflicts of interest, and working in a business with others who may not be registered migration agents. The Instrument is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation on 20 December 2021 and will commence on 1 March 2022. To access the Code Regulations, click here.
Invitation Round: 13 December 2021 Matrix nominating Small Business Owners: 0 invitations ACT 190 nominations: 0 invitations 190 minimum Matrix score: ACT 491 nominations: 0 invitations 491 minimum Matrix score: 457 visa / 482 visa holders: 0 invitations ACT 190 nomination: 0 invitations ACT 491 nomination: 0 invitations Matrix nominating Critical Skill occupations: 35 invitations ACT 190 nomination: 02 invitations 190 minimum Matrix score: 120 ACT 491 nomination: 33 invitations 491 minimum Matrix score: 70 (Accountants: 95) 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 22 December 2021.
From 15 December 2021, the borders of Australia have been reopened for the fully vaccinated travelers, which was earlier paused due to the emergence of the Omicron variant. Fully vaccinated international students and skilled cohorts, as well as humanitarian, temporary, and provisional family visa holders, will be able to travel to Australia without an exemption from 15 December 2021. In addition, international safe travel zones with Japan and Korea has started on 15 December 2021. Also, international safe zones have been introduced for Singapore and New Zealand.
The Department currently is not accepting scores from the English language tests taken at home, such as TOEFL iBT-Special Home Edition, OET@Home, and IELTS Indicator, as evidence of their English language competency. The applicant for student visas, skilled visas, and some permanent visas must pass the English language tests and must score in accordance with their visa requirement, but these scores will not be accepted as evidence of their English language competency if they are from ‘at- home’ English language tests.
VETASSESS offices and phone lines will be closed for the holiday period from Wednesday, 22 December and will reopen on Tuesday, 4 January. However, VETASSESS will continue to accept online Skills Assessment applications, during the holiday period. VETASSESS priority processing is also suspended from now till 4 January. Also, the last assessment outcomes for 2021 will be issued in the week ending 26 December and will resume from 10 January 2022, due to the Trades Recognition Australia summer shutdown.
The updated Victoria Business Innovation and Investment Program has introduced changes to venture capital requirements for SignificantInvestor(188C) and Investor(188B) visa streams nomination and also modifies the Business Innovation Extension stream nomination application process. Significant Investor(188C) and Investor(188B) visa streams To qualify for Victorian Government visa nomination, the applicant must comply with the Venture Capital requirement and show that the complying investments will make a contribution to the Victorian economy. The applicants nominated under the Investor or Significant Investor visa streams are permitted to invest in all registered, eligible Victorian Venture Capital funds. For the purposes of venture capital requirement, the following are now eligible complying investment, either registered or conditionally registered with the Department of Industry, Science, Energy, and Resources: Victorian Venture Capital Limited Partnerships (VCLP) and Early Stage Venture Capital Limited Partnerships (ESVCLP), This is applicable to all the applicants nominated on or after 1 July 2021, for a Significant Investor Stream or Investor visa stream. Business Innovation Extension stream The nomination application for the Business Innovation Extension stream visa must be submitted in the name of the intended primary visa holder, who can be the secondary applicant on the current visa and not necessarily be the current 188 primary visa holder.
Migration (Class of persons for Visitor (Class FA) visa nil VAC) Amendment Instrument (LIN 21/097) 2021 (No. 2), dated 13 December 2021, amends Migration (Class of persons for Visitor (Class FA) visa nil VAC) Instrument (LIN 21/021) 2021 to expand the class of persons who can apply with a nil visa application charge for a visitor Subclass 600 visa. The instrument adds certain current or former visitor visa holders to be eligible to apply for a new Visitor visa with a nil VAC by extending the period in which a person’s visa expired or will expire. According to this new instrument, an applicant will pay nil VAC amount if they held a subclass 600 visa that has expired or that will expire between 20 March 2020 and 30 June 2022, which was earlier between 20 March 2020 and 31 December 2021. The amendments made by the instrument apply to the applications made for a subclass 600 visa on or after 27 February 2021. This instrument aims to provide concession to the Visitor visa holders who were not able to travel to Australia due to COVID-19 Pandemic. The Instrument is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation on 14 December 2021 and commenced on 15 December 2021. To access the instrument click here.
To enable international students who are ineligible to travel without an exemption, Australian state and territory governments are developing an international student arrival plan. Under this plan, the state or territory government and the education providers will work in coordination with each other to enable the return of eligible international students to Australia. The participants of the International Student Arrival Plan must hold a subclass 500 student visa and will also need a travel exemption, which will be applied by the relevant state or territory government on the participant student’s behalf. The international student arrival plan is for the following states and territories: Adelaide Canberra New South Wales Queensland Victoria However, the arrivals of international students under the international student arrival plan may be halted at any time, to ensure health and safety, which is of foremost importance.
South West region of Western Australia is creating a Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) with the Shire of Dardanup and with the Federal Government’s support to fill critical labour shortages for business and industry. The South West will be the eighth region in Australia to enter a five-year agreement with the Commonwealth aimed at filling critical employment gaps by bringing in skilled migrants where Australian workers are not available. The DAMA allows employers to bring in skilled workers under the labour agreement stream of the Temporary Skill Shortage subclass 482 visa that provides a pathway to permanent residency. The establishment of DAMA will encourage skilled migrants to come and work and reside in regional Western Australia resulting in long-term economic and social benefits to the South West region.