Migration (Specification of ETA-eligible Passports) Amendment Instrument (LIN 22/040) 2022, dated 19 February 2022, amends the Migration (IMMI 18/084: Specification of ETA-Eligible Passports) Instrument 2018 to specify a new condition for a passport issued by the authorities of Taiwan to be an ETA-eligible passport. The instrument specifies that a passport issued by the authorities of Taiwan must not be a ‘Taiwanese compatriot document’ to be an ETA-eligible passport. A Taiwanese compatriot document is not recognized by Australia as a valid travel document. Therefore, the passport issued by the authorities of Taiwan will not be regarded as an eligible ETA passport, if it purports to be: The instrument is registered on the Federal register of Legislation on 19 February 2022.
Invitation Round: 11 May 2022 Matrix nominating Small Business Owners: 01 invitation ACT 190 nominations: 01 invitation ACT 491 nominations: 0 invitation 457 visa / 482 visa holders: 01 invitation ACT 190 nomination: 01 invitation ACT 491 nomination: 0 invitation Matrix nominating Critical Skill occupations: 109 invitations ACT 190 nomination: 61 invitations (minimum 85, accountants 120) ACT 491 nomination: 48 invitations Overseas Applicants Matrix nominating Critical Skill occupations: 76 invitations ACT 190 nomination: 04 invitations (90 points) ACT 491 nomination: 72 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 June 2022.
The legislative changes made by Migration (Specified persons and periods of time for regulation 5.19) Instrument (LIN 22/038) 2022, dated 17 March 2022, to implement an ENS TRT pathway for TSS visa holders in the Short-Term stream, might provide limited access to PR Pathway. The Department in the March Skilled Newsletter included the legislative changes made by Migration (Specified persons and periods of time for regulation 5.19) Instrument (LIN 22/038) 2022 and also the information that the pathway would be accessible for two years after 30 June 2022. However, no such information has been provided in the Instrument or the Explanatory Statement. Also, the Department stated that the concessions are for the existing TSS holders, limiting the access to this pathway. Hence, some rectification of legislation might be expected as the legislation is not in line with the Department’s intent. Therefore, it is recommended to be careful in advising the clients who have not earlier held SC457/482 visa to apply for their first Subclass 482 visa in the hope to avail of these concessions as the Department’s Newsletter refers to existing Subclass 482 Visa holders to be only eligible for these concessions. To access the Department’s March Skilled Newsletter, click here. To access the instrument, click here.
Migration (Assessing Authorities for Subclass 494 Visas) Amendment Instrument (LIN 22/054) 2022[Instrument], dated 7 April 2022, amends the Migration (Assessing Authorities for Subclass 494 Visas LIN 19/260) Instrument 2019 to update the relevant assessing authorities for certain occupations on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List(the MLTSSL) and the Regional Occupation List (the ROL)for Subclass 494 visa applications. The instrument amends the following skills assessing authorities: The amendments add a new section 10 to explain how the amendments made by the instrument would apply to assessments made by the assessing authorities. It provides that the amendments made by this instrument will apply to an application for a subclass 494 made on or after this instrument commences irrespective of whether the application for the skills assessment was made before, on, or after that day. Skills assessment applications undertaken by the following authorities for the specified occupations before the commencement date of the Instrument will be accepted. Assessing Authorities Item Column 1 Occupation Column 2 Assessing Authority 1 chief executive or managing director Australian Institute Of Management 2 corporate general director Australian Institute Of Medical Scientists 3 engineer manager Australian Institute Of Management 4 medical laboratory scientist Australian Institute Of Medical Scientists 5 sales and marketing manager Australian Institute Of Management 6 advertising manager Australian Institute Of Management 7 public relations manager Vocational Education and Training Assessment Services 8 human resource manager Australian Institute Of Medical Scientists 9 supply and distribution manager Australian Institute Of Management 10 procurement manager Australian Institute Of Management 11 information and organization professionals (nec) VETASSES 12 medical laboratory technician Australian Institute Of Medical Scientists 13 pathology collector (AUS)/ phlebotomist (NZ) Australian Institute Of Medical Scientists This instrument commenced on 6 May 2022. To access the Instrument, click here.
Migration (Specification of Occupations and Assessing Authorities) Amendment Instrument (LIN 22/053) 2022[Instrument], dated 7 April 2022 amends the Migration (LIN 19/051: Specification of Occupations and Assessing Authorities) Instrument 2019, to update the assessing authorities for skilled occupations on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (the MLTSSL), the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (the STSOL) and the Regional Occupation List (the ROL) for subclass 189 (Skilled Independent) Visas, 190 (Skilled Nominated) Visas, 491 (Skilled Work Regional) Visas, and 485 (Temporary Graduate) visas. The instrument amends the following skills assessing authorities: The amendments add a new section 15 to explain how the amendments made by the instrument would apply to assessments made by the assessing authorities. Reg 2.26B(1) only permits skills assessment to be accepted from skills assessing authorities listed in the current instrument. New section 15 allows previous skills assessments to be accepted even when that authority is not named in the current instrument and provides that the amendments made by this instrument will apply to an application for a subclass 189, 190, 485, or 491 made on or after the day the amendment instrument commences. This will include skill assessments made but not finalized when this amendment instrument commenced. Assessments conducted by a former assessing authority will only be accepted for a period of up to 3 years after it is made, or until the assessment expires, whichever comes first. Skills assessment applications undertaken byAIM, VETASSESS, or the Australian Institute of Medical Scientists for the specified occupations before the commencement date of the Instrument will be accepted. This instrument commenced on 6 May 2022. Assessing Authorities Item Column 1 Occupation Column 2 Assessing Authority 1 engineer manager Australian Institute Of Management 2 medical laboratory scientist Australian Institute Of Medical Scientists 3 sales and marketing manager Australian Institute Of Management 4 sales and marketing manager Australian Institute Of Management 5 human resource manager Australian Institute Of Management 6 supply and distribution manager Australian Institute Of Management 7 information and organization professionals (nec) Vocational Education and Training Assessment Services 8 medical laboratory technician Australian Institute Of Medical Scientists 9 public relation manager Australian Institute Of Management 10 procurement manager Australian Institute Of Management 11 pathology collector Australian Institute Of Medical Scientists This instrument commenced on 6 May 2022. To access the instrument, click here
The 10th edition of the Immigration Law Kit has been released. It is the most comprehensive, plain language guide to Australia’s immigration, refugee, and citizenship law which simplifies an undeniably complex area of law and policy. It is written by experienced migration lawyers and provides up-to-date information regarding bridging visas, family visas, skilled migration, refugee and humanitarian visas, students, temporary workers, and Australian citizenship. It is particularly useful for migration lawyers and agents new to migration practice and a valuable educational resource for students and members of the public, particularly those seeking information about their own immigration queries.
The Regional Australian Institute is working towards introducing a National Regionalisation Framework and therefore, seeking suggestions from members with interests in regional areas or their clients by conducting the Regional Australia Institute (RAI) Regionalisation survey. For developing the framework, this survey will provide insights regarding what aspects of regional Australia must be strengthened, promoted, or preserved, and the best ways to grow sustainably, by optimizing future opportunities, whilst ensuring the quality of life in the regions is not undermined. A Consultation Paper has been released and during the forthcoming election, RAI is aiming at bi-partisan policies, investments, and funding commitments for regional areas and people over the next few weeks.
Invitation Round: 29 April 2022 Matrix nominating Small Business Owners: 05 invitations 457 visa / 482 visa holders: 01 invitation Matrix nominating Critical Skill occupations: 94 invitations Overseas Applicants Matrix nominating Critical Skill occupations: 78 invitations Invitations were not issued if the applicants have an active application in the system or have previously received an ACT nominations. The next Canberra Matrix invitation round will be held before 20 May 2022.
The Ukraine visa support webpage has been again updated by the Department to provide information regarding the travel documents required by Ukrainian nationals applying for a visa to travel to Australia. The Ukrainian national applying for a visa to travel to Australia must hold one of the following: An internal passport in the form of a booklet is not valid for traveling to Australia To know more, click here.
TRA previously advised Temporary Activity visa holders that their applications for JRP would not be accepted. However, this has now been amended and the trade Recognition Australia will now accept the applications from Temporary Activity Subclass 408 visa holders for the Job Ready Program.