Northern Territory is currently not issuing any nominations under the General Skilled Migration (GSM) program, for the Skilled Nominated (Permanent) Visa (Subclass 190) and the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491), or the Business Investment and Innovation Program (BIIP) as the nomination quotas are yet to be allocated to the States by the Commonwealth Government for the 2020 to 2021 program year. The applicants who are currently living in the Northern Territory will still be able to lodge new applications for State nomination under the GSM program and the State will continue to assess these applications. However, nominations will be issued only after the Australian Government allocates quota to the State. At this stage, nomination applications for offshore GSM remain closed. However, the State’s BIIP nomination applications remain open.
In accordance with paragraph 5.36(1A)(a) of the Migration Regulations 1994, the Department of Home Affairs can specify the exchange rate for the currency in which the amount is to be paid payment of Visa Application Charge (VAC) and fees in foreign currencies. Reg 5.36 states: “Payment of visa application charges, and fees, in foreign currencies (1A) The amount of the payment is to be worked out as follows: (a) if the currency in which the amount is to be paid is specified by the Minister in an instrument in writing for this paragraph, use the exchange rate for the currency specified in the notice;” In this regard, the Department has specified exchange rates for the payment of Visa Application Charge (VAC) and fees in foreign currencies vide the Migration (LIN 20/003: Payment of Visa Application Charges and Fees in Foreign Currencies) Instrument 2020 [“the Instrument”] dated 16 June 2020, commencing on 01 July 2020. The Department’s biannual update provides a list of 46 currencies and the applicable exchange rates in relation to the Australian Dollar (AUD) for the purpose of this Instrument. Some of the currencies and exchange rates for the payment of fees specified are: CURRENCIES EXCHANGE RATES United Arab Emirates Dirham 0.41205 Canadian Dollar 1.07674 Chinese Renminbi Yuan 0.21403 Euro 1.64441 Fiji Dollar 0.67074 British Pound 1.87868 Hong Kong Dollar 0.19523 Indian Rupee 0.01999 Japanese Yen 0.0140345 Malaysian Ringgit 0.348 New Zealand Dollar 0.90902 Philippine Peso 0.02987 Singapore Dollar 1.06333 Thai Baht 0.04645 US Dollar 1.51327 South African Rand 0.08146 You can access the full text of the Instrument here. If you are looking to migrate to Australia, Get In Touch with us or call us on (02) 4626 100 to speak to one of our Registered Migration Agents in Sydney to discuss your visa options and a complete pathway for your residency.
State Nominated Migration Program (SNMP) Invitation Date: 23 June 2020. Visa Subclass General Stream Graduate Stream Higher Education Graduates Vocational Education And Training Graduates Skilled Nominated visa (Subclass 190) 19 131 14 Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (Subclass 491) 12 23 18 In 2019-2020, a total of 3405 invitations have been issued as on 23 June 2020: Visa Subclass General Stream Graduate Stream Higher Education Graduates Vocational Education And Training Graduates Skilled Nominated visa (Subclass 190) 70 1994 302 Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (Subclass 491) / Subclass 489 96 579 364 Total 3405
The Joint Standing Committee on Migration of the Commonwealth is conducting a new inquiry into the Working Holiday Maker program (Working Holiday Subclass 417 & Work and Holiday Subclass 462) and is accepting submissions by 24 July 2020. The Hon Alan Tudge MP, the Acting Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs, has asked Joint Standing Committee on Migration on 19 June 2020 to report on the Working Holiday Maker program. Accordingly, the Committee has released the Terms of Reference to invite comments from the individuals and organisations in form of submissions. The Terms of Reference include purpose and value of the program, impact of COVID-19 pandemic, impact on regional economies, and other related matters. See the detailed Terms of Reference here.
In South Australia, skilled visa nomination program for both the Skilled Nominated (Permanent) Visa (Subclass 190) and the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491) is closing for the program year 2019-2020 and accordingly, no new applications are being accepted from 28 June 2020 at 9pm ACST. South Australia will continue to process and assess the applications for skilled migration received prior to 28 June 2020. Any draft or incomplete application which is not submitted, including applications pending payment, will be deleted and the applicants will have to start afresh. The applicants who wish to apply, must wait till the applications are open for 2020-2021 program year.
The Government vide the Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (Credit Card and PayPal Surcharge) Regulations 2020 [“the Regulations”] dated 11 June 2020 commencing 01 July 2020 increases the surcharge for payments by credit cards and PayPal for certain fees and charges collected under the Australian Citizenship Act 2007 (Cth), the Customs Act 1901 (Cth), and the Migration Act 1958 (Cth). Accordingly, payments by credit cards and PayPal for fees and charges, including visa application charges (VAC), sponsorship and nomination fees, and citizenship-related fees will be charged at 1.4% for payments by credit cards, an increase from previous 1.32%, and 1.01% for payment by PayPal, a slight increase from previous 1%). The full text of the Regulations can be accessed here.
The Migration Agents Registration Application Charge Amendment (Rates of Charge) Bill 2019 received the Royal Assent on 22 June 2020 and is now the Migration Agents Registration Application Charge Amendment (Rates of Charge) Act 2020 [“theRegistration Act”]. The Registration Act amends the Migration Agents Registration Application Charge Act 1997 (Cth) for payment of adjusted charge for providing non-commercial immigration assistance. Schedule 1 of the Registration Act requires a Registered Migration Agent who has paid the non-commercial registration fee to pay commercial registration fee from the time they provide commercial immigration advice after six months from the day it receives the Royal Assent (22 June 2020) or earlier if a date is fixed by a Proclamation. The full text of the Registration Act can be accessed here.
The Migration Amendment (Regulation of Migration Agents) Bill 2019 received the Royal Assent on 22 June 2020 and is now the Migration Amendment (Regulation of Migration Agents) Act 2020 [“the Regulation Act”]. The Regulation Act amends the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) and contains provisions regarding the Australian legal practitioners providing immigration assistance in Schedule 1, including transitional arrangements, registration periods in Schedule 2, redundant provisions in Schedule 3, requirement for applicants to provide further information in Schedule 4, fees and charges in Schedule 5, and other amendment in Schedule 6. The Regulation Act makes it unlawful for the Australian legal practitioners with Unrestricted Practising Certificates to be registered as Registered Migration Agents with OMARA after nine months from the day it receives the Royal Assent (22 June 2020) or earlier if a date is fixed by a Proclamation. The full text of the Regulation Act can be accessed here.
Pacific Labour scheme stream is one of the streams available under the Temporary Work (International Relations) Visa (Subclass 403). Under this stream, participants in the Pacific Labour Scheme program can come and live in Australia temporarily to work in the industry or participate in the activity covered by the visa. Eligibility of this Stream You must: • Be aged between 21 and 45 years • Be resident of a specified Pacific Island country • Be invited by an Australian employer endorsed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) or endorsed by the DFAT to participate in the Pacific Labour Scheme program • Be sponsored by an approved Temporary Activities sponsor • Meet health and character requirements • Have adequate health insurance • Have genuine intention to stay in Australia temporarily • Not have a previous visa cancellation or application refusal List of Pacific Island Countries Fiji Kiribati Nauru Papua New Guinea Samoa Solomon Islands Timor-Leste Tonga Tuvalu Vanuatu Visa Conditions You must: • continue to be employed by your sponsor • only work in the industry or participate in activity covered by the visa • not work for yourself, or for anyone other than your sponsor You can apply for this visa online while you are outside Australia and must be outside Australia at the time of decision of your application by the Department. However, if you are in Australia on Subclass 403 visa, you can apply for another 403 visa from Australia but you must not be in immigration clearance. Further, please know, you are not allowed to bring your dependent family members to Australia on this visa. Advantages of this Stream • Stay and work in Australia for up to 3 years • Travel to and from Australia If you are looking to migrate to Australia, Contact Us or call us on (02) 4626 100 to speak to one of our Registered Migration Agents in Sydney to discuss your visa options and a complete pathway for your residency.
Good news for all international graduates! From 2021, any international student that is studying at any location outside of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane will be given the opportunity to extend their Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa, adding one more year to the current two year Post-study work stream. This new initiative is a fantastic way to increase diversity and boost the economy in regional Australia, as well as controlling the pressures that our major cities are faced with as a result of an ever growing population. This extension does not change the Student visa per say, but it is an option that is available for international students to study and reside in regional parts of the country. As it does not change the requirements of the 485 visa, part of the conditions of the extension is ongoing residence in the regional area, which means you still need to live in a regional area for 2 years. This new initiative being brought in to 2021 can also increase the chances for students to find employment, and with the extra 5 points you can get for studying in regional Australia, students will be far better equipped if they decide to apply for other visas or even go for a pathway to permanent residency in Australia. There are different categories when we think of “regional” in Australia. Migration Centre of Australia have simplified it for you: Category Incentives Category 1: Major Cities This includes: · Sydney · Melbourne · Brisbane These 3 cities do not receive any regional incentives. Category 2: Cities and Major Regional Centres This includes: Perth Adelaide the Gold Coast the Sunshine Coast Canberra Newcastle/Lake Macquarie Wollongong/Illawarra Geelong Hobart Graduates will be eligible for an additional year on a second Temporary Graduate visa. Category 3: Regional Centres and Other Regional Areas Graduates will be eligible for an additional 2 years on a second Temporary Graduate visa. As you can see from our table, Category 2 and 3 are the two categories targeted by the Government in this new initiative. So unless you choose to study and live in a regional part of Australia, the extra year post-study will not apply to you. Another incentive is that the type of qualification you have can also affect the length of extension you receive. Outlined below is what you can expect to get with each qualification: Bachelor’s degree (including Honours): 2 years + 1 extra year Masters degree (by coursework): 2 years + 1 extra year Masters degree (by research): 3 years + 1 extra year Doctorate: 4 years + 1 extra year Are you thinking of studying in a regional area? If you would like to consider your options for a graduate work visa and move your study to a regional part of Australia, don’t delay, 2021 is just around the corner and the benefits of being prepared early will help ease your transition.From determining your visa eligibility to take advantage of this new initiative, to explaining how this visa can help you gain permanent residency, our experienced migration agents can answer any question that you may have. At Migration Centre of Australia, we have trained registered migration agents and lawyers in the industry for many years and we have extensive expertise in student visas. We also understand it can be difficult to navigate your way, especially with all the conditions attached to the Temporary Graduate Work 485 visa, but we at Migration Centre of Australia are ready to help. Send us an email or call us today on 02 4626 1002 and one of our registered migration agents will be ready to answer all your questions. Make 2021 your year!