Migration (Arrangements for visa applications) Amendment Instrument (LIN 22/059) 2022, dated 3 June 2022, amends two instruments, IMMI 18/076: Arrangements for Other Family Visa Applications and New Zealand (Family Relationship) Visa Applications 2018 and IMMI 18/089: Arrangements for Other Visas 2018 to remove the option for courier lodgement of applications to the Lee St address, due to the relocation of the Department of Home Affairs Lee St Sydney office to Parramatta. The instrument removes options for applicants to make an application for a Class AK visa or a Class UP visa by courier service delivery to the office of the Department of Home Affairs located at 26 Lee Street in Sydney, New South Wales. The instrument does not make changes to the arrangements for making applications for other classes of visa specified in IMMI 18/076 and IMMI 18/089. The Instrument is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation on 7 June 2022 and commenced on 10 June 2022. It is currently in force. To access the instrument, click here.
The Western Australia State Nomination Program, commencing in 2022-2023, will accept applications from people residing overseas and also expands Graduate occupation list under the Graduate stream, with over 300 occupations becoming available. Invitations to apply for Western Australia State nomination will be via the ranking system, giving preference to applicants currently residing in Western Australia, followed by those residing in Australia and then those residing offshore. The expanded Graduate occupation list will become available in 2022-23. To access the list, click here. To know more, click here.
The ACT has announced that it will be updating its Critical Skills List from quarterly to annually, to ensure that the ACT Migration Program adapts and responds to the evolving critical skills needs of the ACT economy. The ACT Critical Skills List identifies the occupations in current demand in the ACT and is important to apply for ACT nomination for either a Skilled Work Regional Visa (subclass 491) or a Skilled Nominated Visa (subclass 190). The ACT Critical Skills List was last updated on 12 January 2022 and applies to all Canberra Matrix, regardless of when they were submitted. To know more, click here.
The Department has confirmed that from 1 July 2022, those applying for Subclass 485 visas will no longer require a provisional skills assessment for their occupation. Minister Hawkes’s announced COVID-19 concessions for Subclass 485 holders who had been impacted by the pandemic restrictions on 25 November 2021, which included increasing the stay period of Temporary Graduate visa Graduate Work Stream from 18 to 24 months and streamlining application requirements by removing the requirement for graduates to nominate an occupation from the skills occupation list. As the requirement of nominating an occupation has been removed, there is no need of a skills assessment. The removal of skilled occupation list requirements will come into effect from 1 July 2022. It must be noted that this skills assessment removal is only a temporary arrangement and currently there is no information if this concession will be extended beyond 2022/2023.
Invitation Round: 25 May 2022 Matrix nominating Small Business Owners: 03 invitations 457 visa / 482 visa holders: 01 invitation Matrix nominating Critical Skill occupations: 47 invitations Overseas Applicants Matrix nominating Critical Skill occupations: 27 invitations Invitations were not issued if the applicants have an active application in the system or have previously received an ACT nomination. The next Canberra Matrix invitation round will be held before 17 June 2022.
Various skills assessing authorities have been informed that from 1 July 2022, those applying for Subclass 485 visas will no longer require a provisional skills assessment for their occupation. On 29 November 2021, Minister Hawke announced COVID concessions made for offshore temporary graduate visa holders who had been impacted by the pandemic restrictions. However, the information related to the exemption of provisional skills assessment for subclass 485 visas has not been announced officially by the Department of Home affairs in its media release or through any of the legislative instruments. Additional information is sought on this matter and will be notified soon.
Due to the expiration of the existing lease and consolidating three existing Home Affairs’ Sydney office buildings into one site, NSWDepartment of Home Affairs offices will be closing in June to relocate the staff to a new office location at 101 George St, Parramatta. Present office at 26 Lee Street Haymarket will be closed first and the shifting will start from 11 June onwards. Below are the details for other offices: However, it is to be noted that there is no change in the Department’s mailing address, it remains the same as GPO Box 9984 Sydney NSW 2001.
Invitation Round: 25 February 2022 Matrix nominating Small Business Owners: 0 invitations 457 visa / 482 visa holders: 01 invitation Matrix nominating Critical Skill occupations: 59 invitations Overseas Applicants Matrix nominating Critical Skill occupations: 62 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 10 March 2022.
South Australia has obtained a range of new occupations under the DAMAs with a major focus on agribusiness, forestry, hospitality and tourism, and manufacturing and motor trade occupations. Also, the South Australian Government will continue to act as skills assessing authority for occupations that currently have no alternative skills assessing authority, to allow previously ineligible occupations available for skilled migration. To access the DAMA occupation list, click here
Migration (Arrangements for Special Category Visa applications) Instrument (LIN 22/020) 2022, dated 21 February 2022, repeals the Migration (LIN 19/058: Arrangements for special category visa applications) Instrument 2019 and updates the requirements that an applicant for a Special Category (Temporary) (Subclass 444) (Class TY) visa (SCV) must meet to make a valid visa application. The instrument updates the approved form, place, and manner for making an application for an SCV. According to the instrument, if an applicant is in Australia for immigration clearance, the application must be made by presenting Form 15 to a clearance officer or by using an authorized system. However, if the applicant is in Australia after having been immigration cleared or is in Australia but not in immigration clearance, then the application: Special Category Visa Processing Unit Department of Home Affairs GPO Box 9984 SYDNEY NSW 2001. The instrument is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation on 22 February 2022 and commenced on 27 February 2022. It is currently in force. To access the instrument, click here.