Invitation Round: 11 October 2021 Matrix nominating Small Business Owners: 0 invitations ACT 190 nominations: 0 invitations 190 minimum Matrix score: ACT 491 nominations: 0 invitations 491 minimum Matrix score: 457 visa / 482 visa holders: 04 invitations ACT 190 nomination: 04 invitations ACT 491 nomination: 0 invitations Matrix nominating Critical Skill occupations: 116 invitations ACT 190 nomination: 49 invitations 190 minimum Matrix score: 90 (Accountants: 105 – up to 30 June) ACT 491 nomination: 67 invitations 491 minimum Matrix score: 65 (Accountants: 95 – up to 31 August) 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 20 October 2021.
Australian Citizenship (Special Residence Requirement) Instrument (LIN 21/069) 2021, dated 11 October 2021 [‘’the Instrument”] updates the specified kinds of work, organizations, and activities required to satisfy the resident requirement, by an applicant applying for Australian Citizenship by conferral and also repeals Australian Citizenship Act 2007 – Specification under section 22C – Special Residence Requirement – June 2013. The instrument broadens the special residence requirement by inserting certain kinds of work, organizations, and activities. The instrument adds participation in Commonwealth games as a specified activity and Commonwealth Games Australia as a specified organization for the purposes of section 22A of the Act. It also updates the specified kinds of work for section 22B of the citizenship Act. The specified work now includes work that is in the area of arts, academia, and research, profession, and sport, done by a primary holder of a relevant talent visa related to the area of internationally recognized record of exceptional and outstanding achievement in the same area. The Instrument is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation on 12 October 2021 and commenced on 13 October 2021. It is currently in force. To access the instrument, click here.
Compilation of Migration Amendment Regulations 1994 dated 7 August 2021 incorporates the amendments made by Migration Amendment (Clarifying International Obligations for Removal) Regulations 2021 dated 5 August 2021 [“the Instrument”] to insert a new regulation 4.34A prescribing a period of 120 days for the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) to make a decision on review of the decision under subsection 197D(2) of the Migration Act and notify the applicant of the outcome. The change aims at ensuring expeditious review on the decisions and providing certainty to the review applicants, specifically those in immigration detention. The Instrument states that for the purposes of section 419(1) of the Act, the prescribed period of 120 days starts when the AAT receives the application for merits review and ends at the completion of 120 days, starting on the first working day after the AAT received the review application. However, the amendment does not preclude the AAT to make a decision at any stage before the completion of 120 days. Subsection 197D(2) of the Migration Act provides the decision‑making power to the Minister regarding persons who previously engaged in protection obligations but no longer engage in those obligations. The Compilation is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation on 13 October 2021 and commenced on 7 August 2021. It is currently in force.
Following a few inquiries, we just thought to repeat this news that since 1st July 2021 BVE applications (subclass 050 and subclass 051) cannot be submitted by email as they will be treated as invalid applications. The Department had notified that from 01 July 2021, eligible applicants should submit their BVE application online through ImmiAccount or through the post to the nearest Australian Visa and Citizenship Office. Any application received by the Department email on or after 01 July 2021 will be invalid.
Invitation Round: 5 October 2021 Matrix nominating Small Business Owners: 0 invitations ACT 190 nominations: 0 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: 78 invitations ACT 190 nomination: 17 invitations 190 minimum Matrix score: 95(Accountants-nil invited) ACT 491 nomination: 61 invitations 491 minimum Matrix score: 65 (Accountants: 100) 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 13 October 2021.
The significant health costs threshold for the applicants of temporary and permanent visas has been increased to $51000. The Department does not grant a visa if the applicant has a health condition which amounts to a significant cost to the Australian community in terms of the health care or community services unless a health waiver is exercised. For the purpose of this health requirement, the significant health costs threshold has been increased to $51000, which was previously $49000.Therefore, a cost of AUD 51,000 or more will be regarded as a significant health cost.
The government has announced that soon fully vaccinated Australian citizens and permanent residents will be eligible for international travel without needing a travel exemption. Australian citizens and permanent residents aged 12 or above who are fully vaccinated with an Australian government-recognized vaccine will be eligible to travel without seeking a travel exemption. This is expected to start in November and more information regarding this will be provided soon. Also, children under the age of 12 and those who are unable to get vaccinated due to health reasons will also be eligible to travel without a travel exemption. The ineligible Australian citizens and the permanent residents must follow the current border process while leaving and returning to Australia. Also, the Australian citizens and permanent residents returning to Australia who are fully vaccinated or under 12, may be eligible for reduced quarantine arrangements.
Migration Amendment (Australian Agriculture Workers) Regulations 2021, dated 30 September 2021, [“the Instrument”] amends the Migration Regulation 1994to introduce a new Australian Agriculture Worker (AAW) stream under the Subclass 403 Temporary Work International Relations visa, to provide for the overseas workers to enter Australia and to support the government objective to fill labour shortages in primary industry sector including horticulture, meat processing, dairy, wool, grains, fisheries including aquaculture and forestry. The visa applicants who are the participants of the Australian Agriculture WorkerProgram (the AAWP) and the visa applicants sponsored by an employer who is a participant of AAWP will be eligible for the Australian Agriculture Worker (AAW) stream under the Subclass 403 Temporary Work International Relations visa. Bilateral agreements with foreign countries, negotiated by the Department of Home Affairs and Trade will be the basis to enact AAWP. Only the visa applicants of a country who is a party to contract under the AAWP are eligible under this stream. The Instrument is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation on 30 September 2021 and commenced on the same date. It is currently in force. To access the Instrument, click here.
Migration (Arrangements for Visitor (Class FA) Visa Applications) Instrument (LIN 21/056) 2021 dated 28 September 2021[“the Instrument”], prescribes the requirements related to approved forms, place, and manner that an applicant for a Visitor(Class FA) visa must meet to make a valid visa application under any of its five streams: the Tourist stream, the Sponsored Family stream, the Business Visitor stream, the Approved Destination Status stream and the Frequent Traveller stream. The instrument provides that applications for all streams must be made as an internet application through ImmiAccount. Applications for the Tourist, Sponsored Family, Business Visitor, and Frequent Traveller streams must be made using form 1419 (Internet) inImmiAccount, and the applications for the Approved Destination Status stream must be made using form 48G (Internet) in ImmiAccount. The applicants must indicate within the prescribed form the stream they are applying for. The instrument also provides that any applicant under Tourist stream (outside Australia) and Business Visitor stream, on receiving written notice from the Department may make an application using a form and manner other than an internet form through ImmiAccount. For the Approved Destination Status stream, a list of approved travel agents has been provided. This instrument brings uniformity in the process of making an application irrespective of the passport an applicant holds for the Tourist, Sponsored Family and Business Visitor streams, by streamlining the arrangements. The Instrument is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation on 29 September 2021 and commenced on 30 September 2021. It is currently in force. To access the list of approved travel agents and the Instrument, click here
Invitation Round: 27 September 2021 Matrix nominating Small Business Owners: 0 invitations ACT 190 nominations: 0 invitations 190 minimum Matrix score: ACT 491 nominations: 0 invitations 491 minimum Matrix score: 457 visa / 482 visa holders: 0 invitations ACT 190 nomination: 0 invitations ACT 491 nomination: 0 invitations Matrix nominating Critical Skill occupations: invitations ACT 190 nomination: 36 invitations 190 minimum Matrix score: 100 (Accountants: 110) ACT 491 nomination: 61 invitations 491 minimum Matrix score: 65 (Accountants: 100) 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 06 October 2021.