Australia remains the most exciting destination for visitors. Overseas arrivals have increased since the previous months. Overseas arrivals and departures statistics are international travel movements of persons arriving in, and departing from Australia with a focus on short term trips (less than 1 year). It is the number of international border crossings rather than the number of people. July 2019 trend estimates for short-term trips: Overseas visitor arrivals to Australia increased 0.5% since the previous month to 797,900 trips. Australian resident returns from overseas increased 0.3% since the previous month to 948,800 trips. Visitor arrivals – short-term trips.
It is expected that more travellers on the Outback Way expected to stop over in Laverton. The McGowan Government will invest $1.3 million to upgrade the Great Beyond Visitor Centre at Laverton and capitalise on an expected boost in outback travellers. It is expected that more travellers on the Outback Way expected to stop over in Laverton. The McGowan Government will invest to upgrade the Great Beyond Visitor Centre at Laverton and capitalise on an expected boost in outback travellers. The Shire of Laverton will contribute $1.3 million to the project which aims to provide significant economic and social benefits to the town. The Visitor Centre has been operating at near capacity to service current visitor numbers and an expanded centre will greatly improve visitor experiences and customer service. “Up to 32,000 additional visitors per year are projected to visit Laverton through the Western Australian section of the Outback Way road network.
Under the, Global Talent Independent Program launching this year, Home Affairs staff will be located on the ground in Germany, US, Singapore, China, Chile and Dubai. This initiative has been well received by these countries. The government is deploying recruitment officers overseas to bring thousands of the best and brightest workers to Australia. Their task is to recruit 5,000 professionals at the top of their fields in target industries, particularly the tech sector. The government has set aside 5,000 of the 160,000 places in the permanent migration stream for the newprogram. According to the Home Affairs website, the global talent officers will work with local industries to identify talented people and “attend key industry events and expos, and promote life in Australia”. Highly-skilled workers identified by Home Affairs will be encouraged to apply for existing permanent visas including the distinguished talent and skilled independent visa. The announcement follows the government’s decision to entrench a pilot visa scheme designed to make it easier for the tech industry to recruit highly-skilled workers despite a low take up. Of the 23 businesses that have signed up, just five are startups, with the majority being established businesses including Coles Supermarkets and Rio Tinto.
Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs David Coleman said more than 1300 sponsorship applications and 170 visa applications have been lodged and visa grants have already started for the Temporary sponsored parent visa. Parents from South Africa, Venezuela, China, South Korea, Bolivia, the UK, Egypt and India will soon be in Australia with their families after being granted the first visas under the Morrison Government’s new Temporary Sponsored Parent Visas. The new visa, which opened for applications on 1 July, allows parents who are sponsored by their families in Australia to visit for a continuous period of up to five years. After spending a short period outside Australia, they can apply to return for another five years. The Temporary Sponsored Parent Visa is in addition to, and does not replace, other existing visa categories available to families. A dedicated team within the Department of Home Affairs has been set up to manage application applications and assist families during the application process.
Bill introduced to provide access to welfare payments or government services to new skilled Regional visa holders of subclass 491 and subclass 494 as if they are holders of permanent Bill introduced to provide access to welfare payments or government services to new skilled Regional visa holders of subclass 491 and subclass 494 as if they are holders of permanent visas. Two new regional visas are being introduced to encourage new skilled migrants to settle in regional areas The New Skilled Regional Visas (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2019 (the Bill) makes consequential amendments to legislation administered by the Department of Social Services, the Department of Education and the Attorney-General’s Department, to give effect to Government policy that holders of provisional skilled regional visas, which come into effect on 16 November 2019, to have access to welfare payments or government services as if they are holders of permanent visas. The following legislation would be amended by the Bill: A New Tax System (Family Assistance) Act 1999 Disability Services Act 1986 Fair Entitlements Guarantee Act 2012 Higher Education Support Act 2003 National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 Paid Parental Leave Act 2010 Social Security Act 1991 This Bill supports the Australian Government’s initiatives in managing Australia’s immigration program and supporting regional Australia. As part of the Population Package announced in the 2019-20 Budget, two new regional visas are being introduced to encourage new skilled migrants to settle in regional areas. The new visas will come into effect on 16 November 2019 and will require holders to live and work in a regional area for at least three years before they are eligible for a permanent visa. The amendments in this Bill give effect to the policy intent that holders of these provisional skilled regional visas have the same access to welfare payments and government services as permanent visa holders. This recognises that the visas provide a pathway to permanent residence. These arrangements also ensure that provisional skilled regional visa holders are not disadvantaged compared to holders of permanent skilled visas available for people to work in metropolitan areas. The new provisional skilled regional visas are set out in the Migration Amendment (New Skilled Regional Visas) Regulations 2019 (the visa regulations), which amend the Migration Regulations 1994 to provide for the following visas: Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional (Provisional)) visa; Subclass 494 (Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional)) visa. The visa regulations also amend the Migration Regulations 1994 to provide for a new permanent skilled regional visa, namely the Subclass 191 (Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional)) visa.
All applications for Tasmanian state nominations are free of charge. Subclass 489 – Skilled Regional (Provisional) Visa can be achieved. The application for Tasmanian Government nomination must be completed online through the Migration Tasmania website. The assessment of the application for state nomination will be based solely on the supporting documents provided at the time of application. If the application is incomplete, or it does not meet the nomination criteria, the application will be refused.
The Department of Home Affairs has announced the transitional arrangements for the new Skilled Work Regional visa (491). The current information Home Affairs has supplied is that: 10 th September 2019 is the last day for States and Territory Governments to nominate and for invitations to be issued to applicants for the subclass 489 visa. 15 th of November 2019 is the last day for applicants who have been invited to apply for a subclass 489 visa to lodge a subclass 489 visa application. 16 th November 2019 is the first day that intending applicants can lodge an EOI for the new subclass 491 visa. State and territory governments can nominate and invitations are able to be issued for the 491 visa from this date.
Backpackers from 13 countries are being encouraged to explore regional businesses to work and study at the same time. The Australian Government wants to fill the vacancy for labour shortages in regional areas particularly on farms. Minister for Home Affairs said that working holiday-makers travel further into regional areas than most other international workers. The Minister countered suggestions that the work and holiday visa is becoming a channel for low-skill migrant workers. The applicants applying for this visa must meet minimum requirement before a visa can be granted, including functional level of English and they must hold or be studying towards tertiary qualifications”. The Farmers’ Federation though welcomed the idea are lobbying for an agricultural visa and the Prime Minister has not ruled out on this visa. Countries being targeted in expansion for the work and holiday visa are: India , Brazil , Mexico , Philippines , Switzerland , Fiji , Solomon Islands , Croatia , Latvia , Lithuania , Andorra , Monaco , Mongolia
The Instrument Migration (LIN 19/199: Arrangements for Visitor (Class FA) Visa Applications) Instrument 2019 specifies the process for application as a Visitor (class FA) visa in relation to a specified form. The application can now be made by internet or by paper form for applicants onshore or offshore. The changes introduced are for Tourist stream, Sponsored Family stream, Business Visitor stream and Approved Destination Status stream. The Item 18/118 was repealed on 20/08/2019 and is no longer in force. https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2019L01088
Priya and Nadesalingam came to Australia separately by boat in 2012 and 2013, following Sri Lanka’s civil war. They settled in Biloela for four years on a temporary bridging visa, which ran out in March 2018. The High Court denied their bid to stay in May until an intervention was requested. There were two notices sent to the family stating they will be removed from Australia on Thursday 29 August and will be sent to Colombo. The family fears persecution due to past family links to liberation tigers. Lawyers secured an interim injunction in the Federal Circuit Court in Melbourne on Thursday blocking the family’s removal. A hearing is listed for 10am on Friday at the Federal Circuit Court.