Invitation Round: 15 November 2021 Matrix nominating Small Business Owners: 02 invitations ACT 190 nominations: 02 invitations 190 minimum Matrix score: ACT 491 nominations: 0 invitations 491 minimum Matrix score: 457 visa / 482 visa holders: 03 invitations ACT 190 nomination: 03 invitations ACT 491 nomination: 0 invitations Matrix nominating Critical Skill occupations: 98 invitations ACT 190 nomination: 06 invitations 190 minimum Matrix score: 105 (Accountants: 110) ACT 491 nomination: 92 invitations 491 minimum Matrix score: 65 (Accountants: 95) 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 24 November 2021.
The Department of Home Affairs vides their email dated 17 November 2021 with the subject line ‘Proposed changes to the Newly Arrived Resident’s Waiting Period’ has informed all the Registered Migration Agents about the proposed policy changes to the Newly Arrived Resident’s Waiting Period (NARWP) for some Australian welfare payments. The NARWP for carer and family payments will increase to four years from 1 January 2022, subject to the passing of legislation. This is applicable for the migrants granted a relevant temporary or permanent visa on or after 1 January 2022 but excludes relevant permanent or temporary visas granted before 1 January 2022. The changes will affect: Carer Payment Carer Allowance Family Tax Benefit Part A Parental Leave Pay Dad and Partner Pay. Commonwealth Seniors Health Card and Low Income Health Care Card All the existing exemptions will remain intact for Humanitarian migrants and their families, including those who have experienced substantial changes in their circumstances, or who are in financial hardship. To know more, click here.
Invitation Round: 29 October 2021 The number of invitations issued: Skilled Independent Subclass 189 visa: 200 invitations Skilled Work Regional Subclass 491 visa-Family sponsored: 200 invitations Minimum points score: Skilled Independent Subclass 189 visa: 90 Skilled Work Regional Subclass 491 visa –Family-sponsored: 80
The Department has clarified the issue regarding whether parents and parents-in-law of Australians and de facto partners are included in the travel exemption. The Department on its Travel exemption page has addressed this issue and stated the evidence of relationship to be provided by the parent or parent in the law of an adult Australian Citizen or permanent resident and also by the De facto partner when applying for a travel exemption. To know more, click here.
The new Individual Legal Practitioner Numbers have been issued to the Legal Practitioner Members and also an updated Form 956 (Appointment of a registered migration agent, legal practitioner, or exempt person)has been published. The issuance of Legal practitioner Numbers enables the departmental system to differentiate between the legal practitioners and the registered migration agents. The Legal Practitioners who have yet not received their LPN can contact legalpractitioners@homeaffairs.gov.au.
Migration (Class of persons—Refugee and Humanitarian (Class XB) visa) Instrument (LIN 21/080) 2021 [” the Instrument”] dated 15 November 2021 specifies as a class of persons for paragraph 1402(3B)(b) of Schedule 1 to the Migration Regulations 1994, persons who were granted Subclass 449 visas due to the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan. Migration Amendment (Humanitarian Response to Events in Afghanistan) Regulations 2021, recently inserted the provision of enabling persons evacuated from Afghanistan to Australia to lodge applications for Refugee and Humanitarian (Class XB) visa for permanent residence while onshore which in normal circumstances, can only be applied for by, and granted to, applicants who are outside Australia. However, it allows for the onshore application and grant of class XB Humanitarian visas where the visa applicant is within a specified class of persons. According to the Instrument LIN21/080, an applicant for a Refugee and Humanitarian (Class XB) visa is in a class of persons, if the applicant has been granted a subclass 449 visa due to any of the following reasons: The deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan (the main 449 visa holder) An applicant is a member of the immediate family of a main 449 visa holder at the time that the main 449 visa holder was granted that visa An applicant is a member of the family unit of a main 449 visa holder An applicant is a member of the immediate family of a subclass 449 visa holder referred to in paragraph (b) An applicant is a child born in Australia who is taken to be granted a subclass 449 visa by operation of section 78 of the Act An applicant is the child of an applicant mentioned in paragraph (a) (b) (c) (d). The Instrument is registered on the Federal Register of legislation on 16 November 2021 and commenced on 17 November 2021. It is currently in force. To access the Instrument, click here.
Migration Amendment (Humanitarian Response to Events in Afghanistan) Regulations 2021,dated11 November 2021, amends the Migration Regulation 1994, to allow the evacuees from Afghanistan holding subclass 449 Humanitarian Stay Temporary visa to lodge applications for refugee and Humanitarian (Class XB) visa for permanent residence while onshore which in normal circumstances, can only be applied for by, and granted to, applicants who are outside Australia. In-Country Special Humanitarian Subclass 201 visa is used to implement Australia’s offshore humanitarian visa program which requires the applicant to be outside Australia, however, due to the crisis in Afghanistan, the government has created an exception to the requirement for visa applicants to be offshore to access the Subclass 201 visa. However, applicants will need to meet standard public interest criteria relating to health and character, and also criteria requiring that permanent settlement in Australia is appropriate for the individual and is not contrary to the interests of Australia. The concession allowing the onshore application for, and grant of, Subclass 201 In-country Special Humanitarian visas, will only apply to holders of Subclass 449 Humanitarian Stay (Temporary) visas. The members of the family holding Subclass449 visa and onshore can make a combined application. It also includes a transitional provision which allows a Refugee and Humanitarian (Class XB)subclass 200, 201,202,203, 204visa applied for, outside Australia before the commencement of the regulations to be granted to an applicant who is in Australia due to the Afghan crisis and who holds or has held a Subclass 449 visa. The Instrument is registered on the Federal Register of legislation on 12 November 2021 and commenced on 13 November 2021. It is currently in force. To access the Instrument, click here.
Migration (ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 and FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023—AGEEs) Instrument (LIN 21/049) 2021, dated 10 November 2021, specifies in relation to an applicant for a Subclass 408 visa, two Australian Government endorsed events (AGEE) and the related class of persons for each event, for clause 408.229 of Schedule 2 to the Regulations. It also provides for a nil visa application charge amount for applicants in a class of persons specified in sections 5 and 6 of the instrument. One of the primary criteria for an applicant temporary Activity Subclass 408 visa is that the person seeks to enter or remain in Australia to undertake work directly associated with an ‘Australian Government endorsed event, specified in a legislative instrument and the applicant must be in a class of persons specified in that instrument. The instrument specifies two AGEEs which are the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Women’s World Cup 2023 (FWWC 2023) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s Twenty20 World Cup 2022 (ICC Men’s T20WC 2022). An applicant for subclass 408 visa in relation to an AGEE, at the time of application, must nominate the event they are applying in. The table below shows the class of persons for the AGEEs specified in the instrument and also the class of persons to whom the visa application charge amount is nil. : FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 An applicant approved for accreditation by the 2023 FWWC entity as a participant in the competition An applicant approved for accreditation by the T20 World Cup 2020 Ltd, in conjunction with the ICC, as a participant in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 An applicant endorsed in writing by the 2023 FWWC entity as a participant in the competition; An applicant endorsed in writing by the T20 World Cup 2020 Ltd as a participant in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 Any of the following persons: (i) FIFA staff or official; (ii) 2023 FWWC entity staff or official; (iii) FIFA subsidiary staff or official; (iv) FIFA delegation member, including match official; (v) FIFA contractor staff; (vi) FIFA confederation staff or official; (vii) FIFA member association staff or official; (viii) volunteer; (ix) media representative; (x) FIFA listed individuals accredited by the 2023 FWWC entity to attend the competition. · Any of the following persons: (i) employee of ICC Business Corporation FZ-LLC; (ii) ICC chairman, ICC chief executive, a member of the ICC board of directors or ICC executive; (iii) spouse or de facto partner of the ICC chairman, ICC chief executive, member of the ICC board of directors or ICC executive; (iv) ICC staff including agent or representative of the ICC; (v) invited guest of the ICC; (vi) member of the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit; (vii) ICC committee member; (viii) official event observer; (ix) member of a competing team, including a player, coach, medical personnel, team management, or team official; (x) match official, including an umpire or a referee; (xi) personnel from the host broadcaster or a rights holder; (xii) media personnel of a non-rights holder; (xiii) person who is approved for accreditation by the ICC or T20 World Cup 2020 Ltd as agreed by the Government of Australia. The instrument also repeals Migration (Classes of Persons and Specified Events for Class GG visa and Subclass 408 (Temporary Activity) visa) Instrument 2019/231. The Instrument is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation on 12 November 2021 and commenced on 13 November 2021. It is currently in force. To access the Instrument, click here.
Invitation Round: 08 November 2021 Matrix nominating Small Business Owners: 02 invitations ACT 190 nominations: 02 invitations 190 minimum Matrix score: ACT 491 nominations: 0 invitations 491 minimum Matrix score: 457 visa / 482 visa holders: 02 invitations ACT 190 nomination: 02 invitations ACT 491 nomination: 0 invitations Matrix nominating Critical Skill occupations: 133 invitations ACT 190 nomination: 24 invitations 190 minimum Matrix score: 105 (Accountants: 110) ACT 491 nomination: 109 invitations 491 minimum Matrix score: 65 (Accountants: 90 – submitted before July) 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 16 November 2021.
The Temporary residents who are not registered with Medicare cannot obtain vaccination certificates and passports in the usual way. The residents ineligible for Medicare, need an Individual Healthcare Identifier (IHI) to get their proof of COVID-19 vaccinations online. The instructions regarding applying for the vaccination certificates and passport without a Medicare card are available on the Services Australia website. To know more, click here.