The Department of Home Affairs have released information on 21 January 2021 under Freedom of Information request (FOI) providing information on Skilled Independent (Subclass 189), Skilled Nominated (Subclass 190)and Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (Subclass 491) visa applications on hand as on 31 December 2020. According to the information, the following number of skilled visa applications were on hand till the above period, with on hand age between 6 and 24 months: Status 6 -9 months 9 -12 months 12 -18 months 18 -24 months Total 189 Visa Applications (Client Within Australia) 2,714 1,897 929 400 5,940 189 Visa Applications (Client Outside Australia) 296 381 428 769 1,874 190 Visa Applications (Client Within Australia) 1,571 1,490 1,368 351 4,780 190 Visa Applications (Client Outside Australia) 950 1,569 1,930 597 5,046 491 Visa Applications (Client Within Australia) 1,604 419 13 – 2,036 491 Visa Applications (Client Outside Australia) 1,218 1,183 9 – 2,410
Australian Citizenship Regulation 2016 as amended by Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (2020 Measures No. 2) Regulations 2020 dated 12 November 2020 provides concessions to Working Holiday Maker (WHM) visa (Subclass 417 and Subclass 462) applicants, to restructure Distinguished Talent visas (Subclass 124 and Subclass 858), and to make updates in relation to payment of citizenship application fees, has been complied and registered on the Federal Register of Legislation on 03 February 2021. The Instrument outlines changes regarding Subclass 417 visas, Subclass 124 and 858 visas, including amendments relating to Subclass 773 visas, payment of citizenship fees, application of Migration Amendment (COVID‑19 Concessions) Regulations 2020, and other application and transitional provisions. The compilation is in effect from 01 January 2021 and thus, is currently in force. To access the full compilation, click here.
Migration (Arrangements for Certain Skilled and Temporary Graduate Visa Applications) Instrument (LIN 20/162) 2020 as amended by Migration (Arrangements for Certain Skilled and Temporary Graduate Visa Applications) Amendment Instrument (LIN 20/297) 2020 dated 18 December 2020 to correct a drafting error and citation, has been complied and registered on the Federal Register of Legislation on 25 January 2021. The amendment specifies the arrangement for making an application for a Skilled (Provisional) (Class VC) (Subclass 485) visa and provides that visa application must be made using Form 1276 (internet) as an internet application. The compilation is in effect from 24 December 2020 and thus, is currently in force. To access the full compilation, click here.
Invitation Round: 15 January 2021 457 visa / 482 visa holders: 27 invitations. ACT 190 nomination: 27 invitations ACT 491 nomination: nil Matrix nominating Critical Skill occupations: 251 invitations ACT 190 nomination: 128 invitations ACT 491 nomination: 123 invitations Invitations were not issued for an occupation if the monthly cap was met. The cap will reset in February 2021. The next Canberra Matrix invitation round will be held on or before 29 January 2021.
On 02 September 2020, the Australian Government had announced the Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List to give priority to 17 occupations for Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa and other work visa applications, including Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa, Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa and Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) visa. The occupation of Social Worker (ANZSCO – 272511) has been added as the 18th occupation to this list based on advice from the National Skills Commission. The 18 priority occupations on the list are as follows: Chief Executive or Managing Director (ANZSCO – 111111) Construction Project Manager (ANZSCO – 133111) Developer Programmer (ANZSCO – 261312) General Practitioner (ANZSCO – 253111) Maintenance Planner (ANZSCO – 312911) Mechanical Engineer (ANZSCO – 233512) Medical Practitioner nec (ANZSCO – 253999) Midwife (ANZSCO – 254111) Psychiatrist (ANZSCO – 253411) Registered Nurse (Aged Care) (ANZSCO – 254412) Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency) (ANZSCO – 254415) Registered Nurse (Medical) (ANZSCO – 254418) Registered Nurse (Mental Health) (ANZSCO – 254422) Registered Nurse (Perioperative) (ANZSCO – 254423) Registered Nurses nec (ANZSCO – 254499) Resident Medical Officer (ANZSCO – 253112) Social Worker (ANZSCO – 272511) Software Engineer (ANZSCO – 261313) Temporary visa holders working in these occupations, who were ineligible to travel to Australia amid Covid restrictions, are now eligible to travel as long as they obtain a travel exemption from the Australian Border Force (ABF) prior to travelling to Australia.
The State Government’s skilled visa nomination program, Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (Subclass 491) and Skilled Nominated (Permanent) visa (Subclass 190), is ongoing and Business migration program, Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (Subclass 188) and Business Talent (Permanent) visa (Subclass 132 visa), will re-open in early February 2021. NSW specifies 30 occupations for Skilled Nominated (Permanent) visa (Subclass 190) nominations as follows: OCCUPATIONS LIST FOR 190 NOMINATIONS Engineering Manager Medical Administrator Nursing Clinical Director Welfare Centre Manager Aeronautical Engineer Biomedical Engineer Naval Architect Engineering Professionals nec Nurse Practitioner Registered Nurse (Aged Care) Registered Nurse (Child and Family Health) Registered Nurse (Community Health) Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency) Registered Nurse (Disability and Rehabilitation) Registered Nurse (Medical) Registered Nurse (Medical Practice) Registered Nurse (Mental Health) Registered Nurse (Perioperative) Registered Nurse (Surgical) Registered Nurse (Paediatric) Registered Nurses nec ICT business Analyst Systems Analyst Analyst Programmer Developer Programmer Software Engineer ICT Security Specialist Computer Network and Systems Engineer Electrical Engineering Draftsperson Electrical Engineering Technician Eligible candidates must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect for skilled visa nominations. To know more about the 190 nomination criteria, click here. For 491 nomination criteria, click here.
On 29 January 2021, 1pm the State Government’s skilled visa nomination program, Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (Subclass 491) and Skilled Nominated (Permanent) visa (Subclass 190), and Business migration program, Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (Subclass 188) and Business Talent (Permanent) visa (Subclass 132 visa), will re-open with updated requirements and documents. The Department of Home Affairs has made full allocation of State nomination places for remainder of the financial year 2020-2021 program as follows: Skilled Nominated (Permanent) visa (Subclass 190) Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (Subclass 491) Business Migration Full Allocation for 2020-2021 1,000 1,400 45 According to Migration Tasmania, around 25% of skilled visa nomination places for this program have been used. To know more about the nomination criteria, click here.
On 05 January 2021, the State Government’s skilled visa nomination program, Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (Subclass 491) and Skilled Nominated (Permanent) visa (Subclass 190), has re-opened focusing on Victoria’s recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. The Department of Home Affairs has made additional allocation of State nomination places for remainder of the financial year 2020-2021 program as follows: Skilled Nominated (Permanent) visa (Subclass 190) Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (Subclass 491) Interim Allocation (September 2020) 600 200 Additional Allocation for 2020-2021 1,900 843 Total Skilled Nominations 2,500 1,043 Eligible candidates must submit a Registration of Interest (ROI) for skilled visa nomination. The timings of the submission window and corresponding selection dates are as follows: Submission Window Selection Day From To 05 January 2021, 10am 11 January 2021, 5pm 22 January 2021 02 February 2021, 9am 08 February 2021, 5pm 19 February 2021 02 March 2021, 9am 08 March 2021, 5pm 19 March 2021 6 April 2021, 9am 12 April 2021, 5pm 23 April 2021 4 May 2021, 9am 10 May 2021, 5pm 21 May 2021 To know more about the how to submit ROI, click here.
Migration Amendment (Temporary Graduate Visas) Regulations 2020 dated 10 December 2020 [“the Regulations”] amend the Migration Regulations 1994 by encouraging international students to study in regional Australia and to continue living on a Temporary Graduate visa (Subclass 485). The Regulations amend Schedule 1, 2, 8 and 13 criteria in relation to Temporary Graduate visas and clarifies the operation of a concession provided by the Migration Amendment (COVID-19 Concessions) Regulations 2020 by making certain technical amendments. Migration Amendment (COVID-19 Concessions) Regulations 2020 dated 17 September 2020 provide assistance to temporary and provisional visa holders, who have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic due to travel restrictions or restrictions imposed on businesses and defines a concession period, termed as ‘the initial concession period’ commencing from 01 February 2020. The Regulations are registered on the Federal Register of Legislation on 18 December 2020 and according to Section 2 of the Regulations, Schedule 1 commences on 19 December 2020 and Schedule 2 commences on 20 January 2021. To access the full Regulations, click here.
Australian Citizenship (Class of Persons Who May Receive a Pledge of Commitment) Amendment (LIN 20/247) Instrument 2020 dated 10 December 2020 [“the Instrument”] amends the Citizenship (LIN 20/084: Class of Persons Who May Receive a Pledge of Commitment) Instrument 2020 dated 12 August 2020 to include Governors of a State of the Commonwealth of Australia in a class of persons who are authorised to receive the Pledge of Commitment. Accordingly, a compilation of Citizenship (LIN 20/084: Class of Persons Who May Receive a Pledge of Commitment) Instrument 2020 dated 23 December 2020 incorporates the changes made by the Instrument which is reflected in Clause 7 of the Schedule 1. The compilation is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation on 14 Jan 2021 and it commenced on 24 December 2020. Accordingly, the Instrument is now in force. To access the full compilation, click here.