Invitation Round: 13 July 2022 Matrix nominating Small Business Owners: 07 invitations 457 visa / 482 visa holders: 01 invitation Matrix nominating Critical Skill occupations: 111 invitations Overseas Applicants Matrix nominating Critical Skill occupations: 112 invitations Invitations were not issued if the applicants have an active application in the system or have previously received ACT nomination.
The Government has extended the temporary humanitarian stay offer for the Ukrainians until 11.59 pm on 31 July 2022. Ukrainians and their family members wishing to accept the offer must do so by 31 July 2022. This is a two-step process which involves issuing a Humanitarian Stay Temporary subclass 449 visa followed by a Temporary (Humanitarian Concern) subclass 786 visa. Ukrainians who are unable to accept the offer by 11:59pm on 31 July 2022 can explore the range of alternative visa options, including permanent visas. To know more, click here. To explore alternate visa options for Ukrainians, click here.
From 1 July 2022, Australia’s Fair Work Commission has increased the fair work high income threshold from $158,500 to $162,000. Fair work high income threshold is also used as tool to assess an applicant’s eligibility for applying for the Global Talent Visa. The applicants for the Global Talent Visa should be able to prove that they are currently earning a salary equivalent to or higher than Australia’s Fair Work High Income Threshold or that they have the ability to attract a salary at or above the Fair Work high income threshold, which is now $162,000.
VETASSESS vide its mail dated 11 July 2012 with the subject line ‘Update on Processing Times’ has informed all the Registered Migration Agents about the temporary extension of processing times for certain trade and professional applications. VETASSESS applications processing times have been extended to manage large number of applications and COVID-19 related staffing issues. Also, VETASSESS is taking active measures to deal with these issues to be able to provide efficient and quick service to its customers. For any query, contact VETASSESS at info@vetassess.com.au.
Migration Amendment (Postgraduate Research in Critical Technology—Student Visa Conditions) Regulations 2022, dated 23 June 2022 amends the Migration Regulation 1994 to replace visa conditions 8204A and 8204B by the new, more targeted, clearer visa condition 8208 which applies to Student visas Subclass 500 to screen for and manage the risk of unwanted transfer of Australia’s critical technology in certain temporary and permanent visa programs. The new visa condition 8208 is as follows: 8208 (1) The holder must not undertake critical technology related study unless: (a) the Minister is satisfied that there is not an unreasonable risk of an unwanted transfer of critical technology by the holder; and (b) the Minister has approved in writing the holder undertaking that critical technology related study. (2) Subclause (1) does not apply in relation to the intended course of study, or activities related to study in Australia, evidenced in the holder’s visa application. (3) In this clause: critical technology related study means: (a) a postgraduate research course within the meaning of clause 500.111 of Schedule 2 that relates to critical technology; or (b) a bridging course required as a prerequisite to a course mentioned in paragraph (a); or (c) a thesis or research topic that: (i) is for a postgraduate research course within the meaning of clause 500.111 of Schedule 2; and (ii) relates to critical technology. Condition 8208 is applicable to: The new critical technology screening framework will only come into effect when the Minister specifies the kinds of technology that will be covered by this new framework. The instrument is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation on 29 June 2022 and commenced on 1 July 2022, immediately after the commencement of Part 1 of Schedule 1 to the Migration Amendment (Protecting Australia’s Critical Technology) Regulations 2022. To access the instrument, click here.
Migration (Daily maintenance amount for persons in detention) Determination (LIN 22/031) 2022, dated 29 June 2022 increases the daily amount for a person in immigration detention, specifies each place for which the daily amount applies, and specifies the period during which the daily amount applies under section 262 of the Migration Act 1958. The instrument increases the daily maintenance amount for a person in immigration detention to $490.69. It also specifies the following detention centres where the person in immigration detention must be kept:i. Northwest Point (Christmas Island) Immigration Detention Centre,ii. Perth Immigration Detention Centre,iii. Villawood Immigration Detention Centre,iv. Yongah Hill Immigration Detention Centre; andThe instrument further provides that this daily maintenance cost for person in immigration detention is applicable till June 2024 after which the Department will review and update it.The instrument is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation on 29 June 2022 and commenced on 1 July 2022.To access the instrument, click here.
The Australian Government, on advice of the Chief Medical Officer has changed the requirements for international arrivals and departures, enabling people to travel to and from Australia without being required to declare their COVID-19 vaccinations, from 6 July 2022. From 6 July 2022:• People entering Australia are not required to provide evidence of COVID-19 vaccination status• People entering Australia are not required to complete the Digital Passenger Declaration or Maritime Travel Declaration• People leaving Australia are not required to provide evidence of their COVID-19 vaccination status• Travel exemption is not required by the unvaccinated visa holders to travel to Australia• Masks are mandatory on flights travelling to Australia.However, the travellers must comply with all the specific COVID-19 requirements of airlines, vessel operators and of other countries.
Migration (Labour market testing) Amendment Determination (LIN 22/064) 2022, dated 30 June 2022 amends Migration (LIN 18/036: Period, manner and evidence of labour market testing) Instrument 2018 to update the manner of advertising the job positions and replaces the Job active website with the Workforce Australia website (https://www.workforceaustralia.gov.au). The instrument amends the labour market testing conditions and removes the job active website as the mandatory manner for advertisement. Job active website will be decommissioned on 4 July 2022 and the Workforce Australia website will be launched. This means that from 4 July 2022 businesses are required to advertise positions on the Workforce Australia website. To ensure that the businesses are not disadvantaged by this replacement, advertisements on the Jobactive website before 4 July 2022 will automatically transfer to the Workforce Australia website. The instrument is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation on 01 July 2022 and commenced on 04 July 2022. To access the instrument, click here. To access the Workforce Australia website, click here.
Invitation Round: 24 June 2022 Matrix nominating Small Business Owners: 08 invitations 457 visa / 482 visa holders: 02 invitations Matrix nominating Critical Skill occupations: 90 invitations Overseas Applicants Matrix nominating Critical Skill occupations: 59 invitations 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 14 July 2022.
Migration Amendment (Subclass 485 (Temporary Graduate) Visa Replacement Stream and Other Measures) Regulations 2022 dated 23 June 2022 amends the Migration Regulations 1994 to create a new stream within the Subclass 485 (Temporary Graduate) visa to allow holders of those visas impacted by the COVID restrictions to obtain another Subclass 485 and make consequential amendments to ensure those holders of the replacement visa can continue to qualify for a further Subclass 485 visa based on regional residence eligibility. This stream will allow holders and former holders of Temporary Graduate (Subclass 485) visas who were unable to stay in Australia for the full period of their previous visa as a result of COVID-19 international travel restrictions to apply for a ‘replacement’ Subclass 485 visa of the same duration as their original visa. The current and former Subclass 485 visa holders may apply in the Replacement stream if they were: The Replacement stream is also available for the secondary visa holders(members of the family unit of the primary visa holder), if the primary visa holder is eligible. A cut-off date of 1 January 2027 will be imposed on applications for the Replacement stream. The Replacement stream will not be open to applications by persons who have had a Subclass 485 visa, or a visa granted after the applicant held a Subclass 485 visa, cancelled, except those who requested in writing that the Minister cancel their visa, or whose visa cancellation decision was set aside by the Tribunal. Also, persons who were already on their second Subclass 485 visa in the Post-Study Work stream during the period of international travel restrictions are not eligible for the Replacement stream. The Instrument also qualifies the Subclass 485 Post Study to stream visa holders who were required to live in regional areas for the grant of a second subclass 485 and were impacted by COVID-19 restrictions, for a further Subclass 485 visa if they have studied on a student visa and lived on their Replacement stream SC 485 visa in a regional area. The Instrument was registered on the Federal Register of Legislation on 27 June 2022 and commenced on 1 July 2022. To access the Instrument, click here.