Migration (Fees for assessment of qualifications and experience) Instrument (LIN 21/023) 2021 dated 27 August 2021 [“the Instrument”] specifies the fees for skills assessment applications to Trades Recognition Australia (TRA), including applications for internal review of the assessment, for the purpose of Regulation 5.40 of the Migration Regulations 1994. The Instrument specifies the fees for the assessment of qualifications for Regulations 5.40(1)(a) and (b) of the Migration Regulations, regarding the fee payable for an assessment application for occupational qualifications or experience and educational qualifications, respectively. The Instrument also removes the fees specified for the Trades Recognition Service (TRS) and Skilled Worker Program (SWP) applications, as these services are no longer in operation. In addition, the Instrument clarifies that fees for applications made prior to the commencement of this Instrument will be determined in accordance with the Migration (LIN 19/034: Fees for Assessment of Qualifications and Experience) Instrument 2019 (LIN 19/034), which is now repealed. According to Section 2 of the Instrument, it commenced on 01 September 2021 and is now in force. To access the full Instrument, click here.
Invitation Round: 25 August 2021 Matrix nominating Small Business Owners: 01 invitations 190 nominations: 01 invitations 190 minimum Matrix score:80 491 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: 104 invitations ACT 190 nomination: 44 invitations 190 minimum Matrix score: 85 (Accountants: 105 submitted before June) ACT 491 nomination: 60 invitations 491 minimum Matrix score: 65 (Accountants: 95 submitted before 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 02 September 2021.
The Director of the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA) has informed vide the email dated 30 August 2021 with subject line “OMARA portal outage 30 August 2021” that the OMARA website(www.mara.gov.au)will undergo scheduled maintenance on Monday, 30 August 2021 from 05 PM to 08 PM AEST resulting in the suspension of services for the time being. During the OMARA portal outage, the following services will remain suspended: Applications, inquiries, and complaints lodgement Advertising and reporting Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activities Searching the Register of Migration Agents, former agents, and disciplinary decisions
The Director of the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA) vide an email dated 20 August 2021 with the subject line “Planned ImmiAccount system maintenance and BPAY unavailability” has informed all registered migration agents that some of the services via ImmiAccount will remain suspended to perform system maintenance on Wednesday,01 September 2021 from 05 AM to 08 AM AEST. During the ImmiAccount system maintenance, the following services cannot be accessed: ImmiAccount Australian Trusted Trader APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) LegendCom e-Lodgement (Online visa and citizenship applications) My Health Declarations (MHD) service e-Medical Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) Detention Visitor Application BPAY system will also remain suspended from Wednesday, 25 August 2021 12 AM AEST to Thursday, 01 September 202108AM AEST. However, payment options by PayPal, UnionPay, and credit card will remain available.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)is seeking urgent information about Australians and visa holders who are in Afghanistan to be able to carry out operations to assist them in evacuating from Afghanistan. DFAT needs to assess the individuals in Afghanistan at the earliest to help them evacuate since Kabul airport is expected to remain open only till 31 August 2021. Therefore, it is important for the Australian citizens, permanent residents, Australia visa holders or applicants, family members of Australian citizens, and permanent residents who are located in Afghanistan to contact the Australian authorities and provide with the necessary details in order to make authorities aware about their presence in Afghanistan. Information including personal and contact details, ID documents, visa documents, location in Afghanistan, relationship to Australia or Australian-based relatives, etc., should be sent via email to DFAT as soon as possible to assist the authorities in the operations.
Compilation of Migration Regulation 1994 dated 28 July, 2021 incorporates the amendments made by Migration Amendment (Subclass 417 and 462 Visas) Regulations 2021 to update the eligibility criteria for a subsequent Working Holiday Maker Subclass 417 visa and Subclass 462 visa by excluding employment under certain employers as constituting ‘specified work’ to facilitate the safety and welfare of persons undertaking work in Australia. Migration Amendment (Subclass 417 and 462 Visas) Regulations 2021 provide that to qualify for the grant of second or third Working Holiday visa working for the benefit of specified businesses, including a person, partnership or unincorporated association, as an employee or contractor, will not be counted as specified work for the related visa. This exclusion would apply only if a business is listed in the legislative instrument signed by the Minister on the considerations that the employer may pose a risk to the safety or welfare of a person performing work in the employment or performance of work in the employment may pose a risk to the safety or welfare of a person, for example, any relevant convictions. This is to ensure that the migrant workers are not exploited for work in Australia. The Compilation is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation on 24 August 2021, commenced on 28 July 2021 and is currently in force. To access the full compilation, click here.
Invitation Round: 18 August 2021 Matrix nominating Small Business Owners: 01 invitations 190 nominations: 0 invitations 190 minimum Matrix score: 0 491 nominations: 01 invitations 491 minimum Matrix score: 65 457 visa / 482 visa holders: 13 invitations ACT 190 nomination: 12 invitations ACT 491 nomination: 01 invitations Matrix nominating Critical Skill occupations: 68 invitations ACT 190 nomination: 26 invitations 190 minimum Matrix score: 90 (Accountants: 110) ACT 491 nomination: 42 invitations 491 minimum Matrix score: 65 (Accountants: 95 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 26 August 2021.
In recent changes to travel restrictions and exemptions, certain Prospective Marriage (Subclass 300) Visa Holders are now eligible for individual exemptions to enter Australia. An individual exemption may be granted by the Commissioner of the Australian Border Force (ABF) to a prospective marriage visa holder if the visa has been granted for the application lodged at least 12 months prior to submitting a request for inward travel exemption. For instance, if the visa holder’s application was lodged on 01 September 2020, the holder becomes eligible for travel exemption from 01 September 2021 onwards. An exemption request can be made online with relevant evidence to support the request.
Engineers Australia has been approved by the Department as a nominating organization for engineering professionals for the Global Talent Independent (GTI) Program, which is a streamlined permanent visa pathway for highly skilled professionals. The candidates for the Global talent Visa Program, on having met the eligibility for GTI nomination assessment, may apply to Engineers Australia to support their nomination. Engineer Australia may nominate eligible candidates in the target priority sectors, who are able to provide evidence of outstanding achievements. Interested candidates must: Complete a Self-Assessment to determine their eligibility to apply for GTI nomination assessment Submit an application to Engineers Australia Wait for the assessment outcome of the application for nomination To know more about the GTI program nomination by Engineers Australia, click here. To know more about the GTI program in general, click here.
Compilation of Migration Regulation 1994 dated 01 July 2021 incorporates the amendments made by Migration Amendment (Subclass 189 Visas) Regulations 2021, Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (2021 Measures No. 1) Regulations 2021, and Migration Amendment (Visa Application Charge) Regulations 2021 to reflect the relevant changes. Migration Amendment (Subclass 189 Visas) Regulations 2021 reduces the number of years in which the income threshold must be met, from four to three years for an applicant for a Skilled Independent Subclass 189 visa and also removes the requirement that the income years must be consecutive. However, one of the years must be the most recent income year and the three income years must occur in the five years immediately before the date of visa application. Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (2021 Measures No. 1) Regulations 2021 makes changes in the citizenship fees for applications received by the Department on or after 01 July 2021 and updates the places and currencies to pay citizenship application fees, including the relevant exchange rates. Migration Amendment (Visa Application Charge) Regulations 2021increases visa application charges for a number of visas by the forecast consumer price index (CPI), in accordance with the 2017-18 Budget Measure Indexation of visa application charges. It also includes changes to the Business Innovation and Investment Program which increases the visa application charges for most Business Innovation and Investment programs. It also repeals the two streams of Business Talent Permanent Subclass 132 visa and closes the Premium Investor Stream of the Subclass 188 Business Innovation and Investment Provisional Subclass 188 visa, to new applications, with effect from 01 July 2021. The Compilation is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation on 11 August 2021 and commenced on 01 July 2021. It is now in force. To access the full compilation, click here.