Invitation Round: 18 August 2021 Matrix nominating Small Business Owners: 01 invitations 190 nominations: 0 invitations 190 minimum Matrix score: 0 491 nominations: 01 invitations 491 minimum Matrix score: 65 457 visa / 482 visa holders: 13 invitations ACT 190 nomination: 12 invitations ACT 491 nomination: 01 invitations Matrix nominating Critical Skill occupations: 68 invitations ACT 190 nomination: 26 invitations 190 minimum Matrix score: 90 (Accountants: 110) ACT 491 nomination: 42 invitations 491 minimum Matrix score: 65 (Accountants: 95 submitted before July) 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 26 August 2021.
In recent changes to travel restrictions and exemptions, certain Prospective Marriage (Subclass 300) Visa Holders are now eligible for individual exemptions to enter Australia. An individual exemption may be granted by the Commissioner of the Australian Border Force (ABF) to a prospective marriage visa holder if the visa has been granted for the application lodged at least 12 months prior to submitting a request for inward travel exemption. For instance, if the visa holder’s application was lodged on 01 September 2020, the holder becomes eligible for travel exemption from 01 September 2021 onwards. An exemption request can be made online with relevant evidence to support the request.
Engineers Australia has been approved by the Department as a nominating organization for engineering professionals for the Global Talent Independent (GTI) Program, which is a streamlined permanent visa pathway for highly skilled professionals. The candidates for the Global talent Visa Program, on having met the eligibility for GTI nomination assessment, may apply to Engineers Australia to support their nomination. Engineer Australia may nominate eligible candidates in the target priority sectors, who are able to provide evidence of outstanding achievements. Interested candidates must: Complete a Self-Assessment to determine their eligibility to apply for GTI nomination assessment Submit an application to Engineers Australia Wait for the assessment outcome of the application for nomination To know more about the GTI program nomination by Engineers Australia, click here. To know more about the GTI program in general, click here.
Compilation of Migration Regulation 1994 dated 01 July 2021 incorporates the amendments made by Migration Amendment (Subclass 189 Visas) Regulations 2021, Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (2021 Measures No. 1) Regulations 2021, and Migration Amendment (Visa Application Charge) Regulations 2021 to reflect the relevant changes. Migration Amendment (Subclass 189 Visas) Regulations 2021 reduces the number of years in which the income threshold must be met, from four to three years for an applicant for a Skilled Independent Subclass 189 visa and also removes the requirement that the income years must be consecutive. However, one of the years must be the most recent income year and the three income years must occur in the five years immediately before the date of visa application. Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (2021 Measures No. 1) Regulations 2021 makes changes in the citizenship fees for applications received by the Department on or after 01 July 2021 and updates the places and currencies to pay citizenship application fees, including the relevant exchange rates. Migration Amendment (Visa Application Charge) Regulations 2021increases visa application charges for a number of visas by the forecast consumer price index (CPI), in accordance with the 2017-18 Budget Measure Indexation of visa application charges. It also includes changes to the Business Innovation and Investment Program which increases the visa application charges for most Business Innovation and Investment programs. It also repeals the two streams of Business Talent Permanent Subclass 132 visa and closes the Premium Investor Stream of the Subclass 188 Business Innovation and Investment Provisional Subclass 188 visa, to new applications, with effect from 01 July 2021. The Compilation is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation on 11 August 2021 and commenced on 01 July 2021. It is now in force. To access the full compilation, click here.
On 18 August 2021, the Australian Government has made an announcement to allocate 3,000 humanitarian places for Afghanistan to ensure that Australia continues to meet its commitment to the Afghan nationals amidst the current crisis in Afghanistan. The Hon Alex Hawke MP, Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services, and Multicultural Affairs has allocated more than a quarter of the annual humanitarian program places for Afghanistan and will offer priority to offshore applicants as well as provide them visa processing priority. The proposed allocation focuses on the family members of Australians, persecuted minorities including children, women, and girls, and other vulnerable groups. He also said, “And for those that will come here under this program, Australia has a highly successful humanitarian resettlement program which will assist all Afghan refugees to succeed in their new lives in Australia”. The Government also emphasizedon the safety and security of Australia and accordingly, during the visa processing all applicants must meet the visa criteria as well as character, health, and security requirements.
Invitation Round: 11 August 2021 ACTInvitationRoundMatrix nominating Small Business Owners: 0 invitations 190 nominations: 0 invitations 190 minimum Matrix score: 0 491 nominations: 0 invitations 491 minimum Matrix score: 0 457 visa / 482 visa holders: 04 invitations ACT 190 nomination: 04 invitations ACT 491 nomination: 0 invitations Matrix nominating Critical Skill occupations: 58 invitations ACT 190 nomination: 0invitations 190 minimum Matrix score: ACT 491 nomination: 58 invitations 491 minimum Matrix score: 65 (Accountants: 95 submitted before June) 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 19 August 2021.
Invitation Round: 26 July 2021 The number of invitations issued: Skilled Independent Subclass 189 visa: 500 invitations Skilled Work Regional Subclass 491 visa-Family sponsored: 250 invitations Minimum points score: Skilled Independent Subclass 189 visa: 80 Skilled Work Regional Subclass 491 visa –Family-sponsored: 65
The Department of Home Affairs vide their email dated 12 August 2021 with subject line“Safe Haven Enterprise visa information update and self-assessment tool” has informed all Registered Migration Agents about the updated information about Safe Haven Enterprise visa (SHEV)pathway providing more detailed information about the requirements for the SHEV process and also includes a self-assessment tool. The self-assessment tool is a guide for the prospective applicants to assess whether they meet the SHEV pathway requirements and to consider your next steps before applying for one of the visas under the SHEV pathway. to consider your next steps before applying for one of the visas under the SHEV pathway. to consider your next steps before applying for one of the visas under the SHEV pathway.to consider the next steps before submitting an application for one of the visas under the SHEV pathway. The Safe Haven Enterprise visa information update and self-assessment tool is available on the Department’s website. To access the SHEV pathway self-assessment tool, click here.
The applicants for New South Wales nominations for Skilled Work Regional(Provisional) Subclass 491 visa must now register their interest in NSW nomination during the specified submission windows as the nominations will be made by invitation only. The applicants must ensure that they are eligible for the Skilled Work Regional visa and meet the nomination criteria for one of the nomination streams, namely: Stream-1:Living and working in Regional NSW Stream-2:Completed study in Regional NSW Stream-3:Skilled in an occupation required in Regional NSW All the streams require the applicants to hold a valid skills assessment for an eligible occupation. The months of August, October, January, and March are specified as the submission windows for the financial year 2021-22. The registration of interest must be made once within a submission window. In circumstances where the applicant has been invited and the skills are required within 14 days, they must apply to a Regional Development Australia (RDA) office. To register your interest for NSW 491 nomination, click here.
Social Security (Class of Visas – Newly Arrived Resident’s Waiting Period for Carer Payment) Amendment Determination 2021 dated 29 July 2021 [“the Instrument”] amends the Social Security (Class of Visas – Newly Arrived Resident’s Waiting Period for Carer Payment) Determination 2018to continue to provide an exemption from the Newly Arrived Resident’s Waiting Period for carer payment and allowance for holders of Subclass 116 and Subclass 836 Carer visas. The Instrument repeals section 5 of the Social Security (Class of Visas – Newly Arrived Resident’s Waiting Period for Carer Payment) Determination 2018 removing the self-repeal date which was otherwise due on 01 October 2021, allowing the exemption from the waiting period for carer payment and carer allowance for Carer visa holders to continue until 01 October 2028. The Instrument is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation on 3 August 2021 and commenced on 04 August 2021. It is currently in force. To access the Instrument, click here.