Skilled & Business Migration Program, in order to ensure the nomination of highly skilled applicants who can best contribute to South Australia’s economic prosperity and to overcome the workforce shortage, has taken several measures including prioritising the assessment of certain visa applications. The measures taken by the program includes: Prioritising the assessment of Subclass 190 applications. Subclass 485 applications, expiry date within 2021-22 program year. Highly skilled onshore applicants with demonstrable work experience who are working full-time in their nominated occupation for a South Australian employer Encouraging applicants seeking a subclass 491 nomination to submit Registration of Interest (ROI) applications for consideration, through Talent & Innovators Program. Under the Skilled Migration Program for 2021-22, South Australia is close to meeting its quota of 491 visas of its GSM state nomination and also it is expected that the demand for state nomination will exceed the annual allotment of nomination places. The South Australian Government has requested the allocation of additional places under the state nomination program from the Department of Home Affairs. In case the additional places are granted, further information regarding nomination eligibility will be provided. To submit an online enquiry regarding the GSM program, click here.
Invitation Round: 08 March 2022 Matrix nominating Small Business Owners: 02 invitations ACT 190 nominations: 01 invitation 190 minimum Matrix score: 100 ACT 491 nominations: 01 invitation 491 minimum Matrix score: 70 457 visa / 482 visa holders: 01 invitation ACT 190 nomination: 01 invitation ACT 491 nomination: 0 invitations Matrix nominating Critical Skill occupations: 37 invitations ACT 190 nomination: 11 invitations ACT 491 nomination: 26 invitations Overseas Applicants Matrix nominating Critical Skill occupations: 39 invitations ACT 190 nomination: 05 invitations ACT 491 nomination: 34 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 21 March 2022.
The Department of Home Affairs vides their email dated March 4, 2022, with the subject line“Message from Department of Home Affairs, Temporary Visas and Travel Exemptions Branch, Immigration Programs Division – online lodgement for Visitor (subclass 600) visas” has informed all the registered migration agents about the updated information regarding the online lodgement for Visitor (subclass 600) visas. From 5 March 2022, paper applications will not be accepted as valid for lodgement by the applicants applying for a Visitor visa (subclass 600), both offshore and onshore. All such applicants will have to lodge their application online via ImmiAccount only.
Changes have been made to Act Migration Program, regarding ACT nominations and Doctorate Streamlined nominations. ACT Nominations: A non-refundable service fee is charged for processing applications for ACT nomination which is an administration charge only and does not guarantee the approval of a nomination. Doctorate Streamlined nominations: Canberra government offers a streamlined nomination for doctorate holders, who have completed a professional or research doctoral degree at an ACT university. Such doctorate holders will benefit from a simplified application process with minimal supporting documentation, priority processing, and fee-free. To know more, click here.
From 1 March 2022, new improvements have been made to the Live in Melbourne Portal, beneficial to both agents and applicants. The new improvements include the digitalisation of the Appointment of Agent form and Nomination Conditions Declaration form, from 1 March. All applicants and agents will need to digitally sign a new Appointment of Agent form and Nomination Conditions Declaration form before submitting any applications. The department will not be accepting scanned forms. Also, the new portal will provide the following: Access to client’s contact details, before starting a new application. Ability to view the progress of the submitted applications through a progress bar in the portal. A PDF copy of any Registration of Interest submitted. To know more, click here.
Migration (Arrangements for Temporary Work (International Relations) (Class GD) visa applications) (LIN 22/009) Instrument 2022, dated 03 March 2022, specifies the requirements for making an application for a Temporary Work (International Relations) (Class GD) visa. The instrument provides that for making an application for a Temporary Work (International Relations) (Class GD) visa under the following streams: Australian Agricultural Worker Domestic Worker (Diplomatic or Consular) Pacific Labour Scheme Seasonal Worker Program Form 1403 (Internet) must be used or, if a written notice has been received, Form 1403 can be used in accordance with instructions in that notice. The instrument also provides that for a primary or combined application for the following streams: Foreign Government Agency Government Agreement Privileges and Immunities Form 1403 (Internet) must be used or, if a written notice has been received, Form 1403 can be used in accordance with instructions in that notice. For all other applications, Form 1481 (Internet) must be used or, if a written notice has been received, Form 1481 can be used in accordance with instructions in that notice. The instrument is registered on the Federal register of Legislations on 04 March 2022 and commenced on 05 March 2022. It is currently in force. To access the instrument, click here.
Migration Amendment (2022 Measures No. 1) Regulations 2022, dated 03 March 2022, amends visa conditions 8104 and 8105 applicable on visa holders and their dependants and also allows dependent child and resident return visa applicants outside Australia to lodge a visa application in Australia. For the purpose of retaining workers in the labour market, the instrument makes the following changes: Schedule 1: Student Subclass 500 Visa It allows student visa holders and their dependents to work full-time, where they are permitted to work on their previous visas before the student’s course commences. It applies to current student visa holders as well as to future student visa grants, with a purpose to reduce pressure on industries due to the impact of COVID-19. Schedule 2: Dependent Child Subclass 445 Visa It enables subclass 445 visa applicants to be granted this visa irrespective of their location at the time they made their visa application and at the time that the visa is granted and to allow subclass 445 visa applicants outside Australia to lodge their application directly with a Departmental office in Australia. Schedule 3:Resident Return Subclass 155 and 157 Visa It enables subclass 155 and 157 visa applicants outside Australia to make an application in Australia, regardless of whether it is an internet or paper application, and also enables the visa applicants who lodged their visa application outside Australia to be granted the visa while they are in Australia, rather than requiring them to be outside Australia at the time of grant. The instrument is registered on the Federal register of Legislations on 04 March 2022 and commenced on 05 March 2022. It is currently in force. To access the instrument, click here.
Migration Amendment (Pacific Australia Labour Mobility) Regulations 2022, dated 03 March 2022, increases the first instalment of the Visa Application Charge (VAC) for a Subclass 403 visa in the Australia Agriculture Worker stream and repeals the Seasonal Worker Program and the Pacific Labour Scheme streams from Temporary Work (International Relations)Subclass 403 visa and replaces them with a new single Pacific Australia Labour Mobility stream. The instrument in Schedule 1 Part 1, increases the visa application charge for a Subclass 403 visa in the Australia Agriculture Worker stream from $315 to $630. The instrument in Schedule 1 Part 2, repeals the Seasonal Worker Program and the Pacific Labour Scheme streams from Temporary Work (International Relations) Subclass 403 visa and replace them with a new single Pacific Australia Labour Mobility stream. The new Pacific Australia Labour Mobility stream is available to visa applicants who are participating as a worker in the PALM scheme administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), on the basis of bilateral arrangements negotiated with foreign governments. The sponsor who has agreed to be the sponsor of the applicant must be an approved temporary activities sponsor and has been accredited under an arrangement with DFAT to participate in the PALM scheme. The instrument is registered on the Federal register of Legislations on 04 March 2022. Schedule 1, Part 1 of the instrument commenced on 05 March 2022 and Schedule 1 Part 2 commenced on 04 April 2022. It is currently in force. To access the instrument, click here.
Migration (Specified work and areas for subclass 417 visas) Instrument (LIN 22/012) 2022, dated 04 March 2022, specifies the areas of Australia and kinds of work for the definition of specified Subclass 417 work in regulation 1.03. Applicants applying for second or third Working Holiday (Subclass 417) visas (subclass 417 visa) must satisfy the criteria to carry out a period or periods of specified Subclass 417 work, which is defined in regulation 1.03 of the Regulations. The instrument specifies the tourism and hospitality work and the areas in which that work must be carried out. Work carried out for a person providing accommodation services, food, and beverage services, and services directly to tourists after 21 June 2021 in Northern Australia and remote and very remote Australia, are specified as the kinds of work for the definition of specified Subclass 417 work. The instrument is registered on the Federal register of Legislations on 04 March 2022 and commenced on 05 March 2022. It is currently in force. To access the instrument, click here.
Migration (Specified work and areas for subclass 462 visas) Instrument (LIN 22/013) 2022, dated 04 March 2022, specifies the areas of Australia and kinds of work for the definition of specified Subclass 462 work in regulation 1.03 and for regulation 1.15FA of the Regulations and expands the kinds of tourism and hospitality work and the areas in which that work must be carried out. Work carried out for a person providing accommodation services, food, and beverage services, and services directly to tourists after 21 June 2021 in Northern Australia and remote and very remote Australia, are specified as the kinds of work for the definition of specified Subclass 462 work. The instrument is registered on the Federal register of Legislations on 04 March 2022 and commenced on 05 March 2022. It is currently in force. To access the instrument, click here.