The Victorian Government has announced a range of government assistance for temporary and provisional visa holders impacted by COVID-19, including setting up AUD $45 million International Student Emergency Relief Fund for international students facing financial hardship during the crisis, relaxation of work hours and housing support. Victoria has also announced AUD $1.7 billion economic survival and jobs package to support business in the State. This Support for Businesses’ package includes: Refund of full payroll tax to small and medium-sized businesses for the Financial Year 2019-20. Defer payment of payroll tax by small and medium-sized businesses until 1 January 2021 for the tax of first three months of the Financial Year 2020-20 2021. Connect businesses that need staff with prospective workers via the ‘Working for Victoria’ initiative. Access to Business Support Fund to support the hardest hit sectors and other small businesses. For the more information on Victorian Government support for businesses during COVID-19, click here. More details on ‘Working for Victoria’ initiative can be accessed here.
The occupation, Radiation Oncologist (ANZSCO 253918) which is available on the Western Australian Skilled Migration Occupation List for State Nomination of Skilled Nominated visa (Subclass 190) or Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (Subclass 491) is currently under review. For nominations of ‘Under Review’ occupations, invitations to apply for State nomination remain pending the outcome of the review and thus, accordingly, invitations to apply for this occupation will remain limited for the time being. However, applicants who have received an invitation already will not be affected and can proceed with their application normally.
According to Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Australia’s population comprised over 7.5 million migrants amounting to 29.7% of the country’s total population for the year ending 30 June 2019. Now, the Government is expecting the numbers to fall “significantly” due to border closure in response to COVID-19 pandemic. In previous year, net overseas migration increased the country’s population by 239,600 people and the Government has always recognised the importance of the migration and its contribution to the Australian economy. Although the current crisis has severely affected the immigration industry, the Government does not expect long term changes in terms of net overseas migration once the border and travel restrictions are lifted. While there has been no specific time frame decided for reopening the borders yet,The Hon’ Prime Minister, Scott Morrison said that, “I can’t see international travel happening any time soon. The only exception, as I have flagged, is potentially with New Zealand” suggesting that the borders may remain closed until the end of the year and into 2021.
The special category 444 visa is a temporary visa that allows New Zealand citizens to visit, study, stay and work in Australia as long as you remain a New Zealand Citizen. This is a reciprocal arrangement that was made by New Zealand and Australia under the Trans-Tasman Arrangement which was introduced in 1973. New Zealand is the only country in the world who has this arrangement with Australia and the only limitation on the number of New Zealand entrants to Australia relate to any health of character requirements. Currently, there are more than 672,000 New Zealanders in Australia who hold a subclass 444 visa. As a result of the coronavirus pandemic that is affecting every aspect of Australia’s economic, health and social sectors, subclass 444 visa holders were one of the temporary visa subclasses that took a major blow when it came to employment. Financial benefits for New Zealand citizens With the current lockdown of major businesses, especially in hospitality, temporary visa holders have either been stood down or laid off. This has left many temporary visa holders struggling financially. Luckily, the Government has announced that any New Zealander on a 444 visa who arrived before 26 February 2001 will have access to welfare payments and the Government’s newly created JobKeeper payment. But do not fret, the Government has also announced that 444 visa holders who arrived after 2001 will also have access to the JobKeeper payments. In addition to this, New Zealanders who have lived in Australia for 10 years or more will be eligible for the JobSeeker and JobKeeper payments, but only for up to six months. However, the Government has strongly advised that any New Zealander on a subclass 444 visa who is unable to support themselves financially, should consider returning to New Zealand. New Zealanders coming home to Australia With the travel restrictions on Australian borders, New Zealand citizens who normally reside in Australia (with a subclass 444 visa or other permanent or provisional visa) are now permitted to come to Australia. However, on arrival you must be able to present proof of residency in Australia (such as showing your drivers licence or any other documents that show your residency). This must be presented when you check-in at the Airport. Once you have been permitted entry, you will then be required to undertake a mandatory 14-day quarantine at designated facilities (you may be directed to stay at a specific hotel) on your arrival. If you are a New Zealand citizen or permanent but you do not normally live in Australia, you are also permitted to transit through Australia in order to return home to New Zealand. Over the past weeks, we have been closely monitoring the news and restrictions being put on visa holders in Australia during the coronavirus crisis. It can be difficult to keep up with the visa changes implemented by the Government but at Migration Centre of Australia our team constantly monitors legislative or policy changes that can affect you to enable us to give our clients up to date migration advice. From understanding where you stand to making an application, our registered migration agents are able to guide you every step of the way. Contact us today on 02 4626 1002 or send us an email at admin@mckkrs.com.au and let us help you.
The Department of Home Affairs offers Status Resolution Service (SRS) to help people who need assistance in resolving their immigration status. This assistance is only supplementary to the material that is already available on the Department’s website. Usually, a Status Resolution Officer may tell you the rules and what is generally required to obtain a visa but not guide you step by step in terms of what needs to be done to fulfil the visa criteria. A Status Resolution Officer may be able to assist in: addressing any concerns preventing your case resolution; providing clear information (information only not migration advice) about your migration pathway or options to leave Australia; and connecting you with the Status Resolution Support Services (SRSS) to provide you with temporary needs-based support or the Return and Reintegration Assistance Program service providers to explore your options to leave Australia. Please know, that the Officer may only help you with the general questions and if there is any problem with your application. If you are looking for migration advice, eligibility advice or step by step guidance for your visa application and procedure, it is highly advisable to contact a Registered Migration Agent. Status Resolution Support Services Program The Status Resolution Support Services program provides approved persons with temporary support if you are unable to support yourself while resolving your immigration status including financial, accommodation, access to health care, access to education for school aged children, case worker support, and case management. They focus on status resolution either through staying in Australia with substantive visa or leaving Australia. The Department delivers SRSS through contracted service providers which may differ from State to State. For example, in New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory SRSS is provided by Life Without Barriers and Settlement Services International. Return and Reintegration Assistance Program The Return and Reintegration Assistance Program service is provided by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and Homeward Return Program to assist you in returning home if you are living in Australia on a bridging visa, a temporary visa, without a valid visa or if your visa has expired. This service may assist by: providing counselling and information to leave Australia; arranging any travel documents, including passports; helping book your travel return tickets; and arranging support upon your arrival in your home country in form of reintegration assistance, if eligible, including finding work, accessing skills training and education, starting a small business, and/ or finding rental and accommodation assistance. If you are seeking migration advice and step by step guidance for a visa application, visa expiry or visa extension to stay in Australia, Contact Us today or call us on (02) 4626 100 to speak to one of best migration agents in Sydney who can help you stay lawfully in Australia or leave lawfully from Australia.
Migration agencies and organisations across Australia are warned against a suspicious email with subject line, “Legal Migration services sent you "PO-09514.pdf” sent from email ID, “legal.migrationservices@outlook.com”. Australian migration industry has been cautioned regarding a phishing email attempting to collect personal information such as usernames and passwords from various migration agents. Anyone who has received such email should refrain from providing any information or clicking on any link provided in the email and wherever possible, report the email as spam or malware.
According to sources, the Department of Home Affairs may no longer include costs of certain disability services provided by States/ Territories to temporary visa applicants with disability or health condition while calculating costs under the health requirement visa condition. Most visas have attached condition of meeting health requirement to be eligible for the visa. For temporary visa holders mainly, International students, temporary workers and international tourists with disability or health conditions this requirement created a bar from being granted a visa through addition of hypothetical cost of state disability services to the tune of AUD $49,000 during the stay. The Department is considering to not take state disability services into account while assessing these temporary visa applications to facilitate the grant of visa. However, no formal changes have been made in the policy documents as on date.
The occupation, Retail Pharmacist (ANZSCO 251513), which is currently available on the GOL (Graduate Occupation List) for State Nomination under Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) or Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) is no longer considered a ‘Regional WA only’ occupation from 24 April 2020. For nominations in ‘Regional WA only’ occupations, candidates are required to provide evidence of a job offer or contract of employment in a regional location as defined under Category 3 – Regional Centres and Other Regional Areas not including Perth and Mandurah. Henceforth, for nomination under the occupation ‘Retail Pharmacist’ (ANZSCO 251513), candidates can provide evidence of six months full time permanent or fixed-term employment contract from any location within Australia, along with meeting the other requirements for Graduate Stream nomination.
The Department has provided revised average visa applications processing time as impacted by changes in volume of applications, temporary peak and complexity of cases, as on 20 April 2020. Visa processing times of some visa subclasses are as under: [table td1=”Visa Subclass” td2=”Processing Time of 75% of Applications” td3=”Processing Time of 90% of Applications”] [td1]Partner Visa (subclass 820)[/td1] [td2]24 months[/td2] [td3] 29 months [/td3][td1]Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186) – Direct Entry Stream[/td1] [td2]4 months[/td2] [td3] 6 months [/td3][td1]Temporary Skill Shortage Visa (subclass 482) – Medium-term Stream[/td1] [td2]32 days[/td2] [td3]56 days [/td3][td1]Training Visa (subclass 407)[/td1] [td2]4 months[/td2] [td3]5 months[/td3][td1]Temporary Work Activity visa (subclass 408) – Various Streams[/td1] [td2]5 days[/td2] [td3]4 months[/td3][/table] To access the full list on the Department’s website, click here.
OMARA (Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority) publishes its bi- annual Migration Agent Activity Report for the period 01 July 2019 to 31 December 2019 on its website. OMARA prepares half-yearly report on the provision of immigration assistance in Australia including information about Registered Migration Agents, complaint processing by the OMARA with their outcomes and sanction decisions made by the OMARA for the relevant period. According to the Report, Registered Migration Agents have lodged 80% of Temporary Skill Shortage Visa applications, 87% of Employer Sponsored Visa applications, 74% Business Skills Visa applications and 17% of Permanent Protection Visa applications. To access the full report, click here.