On 18 August 2021, the Australian Government has made an announcement to allocate 3,000 humanitarian places for Afghanistan to ensure that Australia continues to meet its commitment to the Afghan nationals amidst the current crisis in Afghanistan. The Hon Alex Hawke MP, Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services, and Multicultural Affairs has allocated more than a quarter of the annual humanitarian program places for Afghanistan and will offer priority to offshore applicants as well as provide them visa processing priority. The proposed allocation focuses on the family members of Australians, persecuted minorities including children, women, and girls, and other vulnerable groups. He also said, “And for those that will come here under this program, Australia has a highly successful humanitarian resettlement program which will assist all Afghan refugees to succeed in their new lives in Australia”. The Government also emphasizedon the safety and security of Australia and accordingly, during the visa processing all applicants must meet the visa criteria as well as character, health, and security requirements.
Invitation Round: 11 August 2021 ACTInvitationRoundMatrix nominating Small Business Owners: 0 invitations 190 nominations: 0 invitations 190 minimum Matrix score: 0 491 nominations: 0 invitations 491 minimum Matrix score: 0 457 visa / 482 visa holders: 04 invitations ACT 190 nomination: 04 invitations ACT 491 nomination: 0 invitations Matrix nominating Critical Skill occupations: 58 invitations ACT 190 nomination: 0invitations 190 minimum Matrix score: ACT 491 nomination: 58 invitations 491 minimum Matrix score: 65 (Accountants: 95 submitted before June) Invitations were not issued if the applicants have an active application in the system or have previously received ACT nomination. The next Canberra Matrix invitation round will be held before 19 August 2021.
Invitation Round: 26 July 2021 The number of invitations issued: Skilled Independent Subclass 189 visa: 500 invitations Skilled Work Regional Subclass 491 visa-Family sponsored: 250 invitations Minimum points score: Skilled Independent Subclass 189 visa: 80 Skilled Work Regional Subclass 491 visa –Family-sponsored: 65
The Department of Home Affairs vide their email dated 12 August 2021 with subject line“Safe Haven Enterprise visa information update and self-assessment tool” has informed all Registered Migration Agents about the updated information about Safe Haven Enterprise visa (SHEV)pathway providing more detailed information about the requirements for the SHEV process and also includes a self-assessment tool. The self-assessment tool is a guide for the prospective applicants to assess whether they meet the SHEV pathway requirements and to consider your next steps before applying for one of the visas under the SHEV pathway. to consider your next steps before applying for one of the visas under the SHEV pathway. to consider your next steps before applying for one of the visas under the SHEV pathway.to consider the next steps before submitting an application for one of the visas under the SHEV pathway. The Safe Haven Enterprise visa information update and self-assessment tool is available on the Department’s website. To access the SHEV pathway self-assessment tool, click here.
The applicants for New South Wales nominations for Skilled Work Regional(Provisional) Subclass 491 visa must now register their interest in NSW nomination during the specified submission windows as the nominations will be made by invitation only. The applicants must ensure that they are eligible for the Skilled Work Regional visa and meet the nomination criteria for one of the nomination streams, namely: Stream-1:Living and working in Regional NSW Stream-2:Completed study in Regional NSW Stream-3:Skilled in an occupation required in Regional NSW All the streams require the applicants to hold a valid skills assessment for an eligible occupation. The months of August, October, January, and March are specified as the submission windows for the financial year 2021-22. The registration of interest must be made once within a submission window. In circumstances where the applicant has been invited and the skills are required within 14 days, they must apply to a Regional Development Australia (RDA) office. To register your interest for NSW 491 nomination, click here.
Social Security (Class of Visas – Newly Arrived Resident’s Waiting Period for Carer Payment) Amendment Determination 2021 dated 29 July 2021 [“the Instrument”] amends the Social Security (Class of Visas – Newly Arrived Resident’s Waiting Period for Carer Payment) Determination 2018to continue to provide an exemption from the Newly Arrived Resident’s Waiting Period for carer payment and allowance for holders of Subclass 116 and Subclass 836 Carer visas. The Instrument repeals section 5 of the Social Security (Class of Visas – Newly Arrived Resident’s Waiting Period for Carer Payment) Determination 2018 removing the self-repeal date which was otherwise due on 01 October 2021, allowing the exemption from the waiting period for carer payment and carer allowance for Carer visa holders to continue until 01 October 2028. The Instrument is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation on 3 August 2021 and commenced on 04 August 2021. It is currently in force. To access the Instrument, click here.
Migration Amendment (Clarifying International Obligations for Removal) Regulations 2021dated 5 August 2021 [“the Instrument”] amends the Migration Regulations 1994 to insert a new regulation 4.34A prescribing a period of 120 days for the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) to make decision on review of 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 section419(1) of the Act, the prescribed period of 120 days starts when the AATreceives the application for merits review and ends at the completion of 120 days, starting on the first working day after the AATreceived 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 Ministerregardingpersons who previously engaged in protection obligations but no longer engage in those obligations. The Instrument is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation on 06 August 2021 and commenced on 7 August 2021. It is currently in force. To access the Instrument, click here.
Invitation Round: 04 August 2021 Matrix nominating Small Business Owners: 02 invitations • 190 nominations: 0 invitations • 190 minimum Matrix score: 0 • 491 nominations: 02 invitations • 491 minimum Matrix score: 65 457 visa / 482 visa holders: 08 invitations • ACT 190 nomination: 08 invitations • ACT 491 nomination: 0 invitations Matrix nominating Critical Skill occupations: 91 invitations • ACT 190 nomination: 22 invitations • 190 minimum Matrix score: 90 (Accountants: 110) • ACT 491 nomination: 69 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 nomination. The next Canberra Matrix invitation round will be held before 12 August 2021.
NSW has announced the State’sSkilled Occupation lists for the 2021-22 financial year for the skilled visas, both the Skilled Nominated (Permanent) Subclass 190 visa and Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Subclass 491 visa, for highly skilled professionals in various occupations to drive economic growth in the State. The applicants must have a positive skills assessment outcome in an occupation to be eligible for State Nomination. NSW Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) occupation list Managers Mixed Crop and Livestock FarmersConstruction Managers Engineering Managers Production Managers Child Care Centre Managers Health and Welfare Service ManagersICT Managers Other Specialist Managers Cafe and Restaurant Managers Hotel and Motel Managers Professionals PhotographersJournalists and Other Writers Accountants Auditors Actuaries, Mathematicians and Statisticians Economists Land Economists and Valuers Librarians Architects and Landscape Architects Industrial Designers Graphic and Web Designers, and Illustrators Interior Designers Urban and Regional Planners Civil Engineering Professionals Electrical Engineers Electronics Engineers Industrial, Mechanical and Production Engineer Mining Engineers Other Engineering Professionals Food Scientists Environmental Scientists Life Scientists Medical Laboratory Scientists Veterinarians Other Natural and Physical Science Professionals Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teachers Primary School Teachers Secondary School Teachers Special Education Teachers University Lecturers Vocational Education Teachers Medical Imaging Professionals Occupational and Environmental Health Professionals Pharmacists Dental Practitioners Occupational Therapists Physiotherapists Other Medical Practitioners Midwives Nurse Educators and Researchers Nurse Managers Registered Nurses ICT Business and Systems Analysts Multimedia Specialists and Web Developers Software and Applications Programmers Database and Systems Administrators, and ICT Security Specialists Computer Network Professionals ICT Support and Test Engineers Telecommunications Engineering Professionals Psychologists Social Professionals Social Workers Welfare, Recreation and Community Arts Workers Technicians and Trades Workers Agricultural TechniciansMedical Technicians Architectural, Building and Surveying Technicians Civil Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians Electrical Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians Mechanical Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians Other Building and Engineering Technicians ICT Support Technicians Automotive Electricians Motor Mechanics Sheetmetal Trades Workers Structural Steel and Welding Trades Workers Metal Fitters and Machinists Panelbeaters Bricklayers and StonemasonsCarpenters and Joiners Painting Trades Workers Glaziers Roof Tilers Wall and Floor Tilers Plumbers Electricians Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics Electrical Distribution Trades Workers Electronics Trade Workers Bakers and Pastrycooks Butchers and Smallgoods Makers Chefs Cooks Veterinary Nurses Hairdressers Cabinetmakers Community and Personal Service Workers Dental Hygienists, Technicians and TherapistsDiversional Therapists Enrolled Nurses Welfare Support Workers Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) Combined Occupation List (Stream 1) Electronics EngineerIndustrial Engineer Mechanical Engineer Production or Plant Engineer Mining Engineer (Excluding Petroleum) Aeronautical Engineer Agricultural Engineer Biomedical Engineer Engineering Technologist Environmental Engineer Engineering Professionals nec Agricultural Consultant Agricultural Scientist Chemist Food Technologist Environmental Consultant Marine Biologist Microbiologist Zoologist Medical Laboratory Scientist Veterinarian Natural and Physical Science Professionals nec Early Childhood Teacher Secondary School Teacher Special Needs Teacher Medical Diagnostic Radiographer Medical Radiation Therapist Sonographer Occupational Health and Safety Adviser Optometrist Retail Pharmacist Chiropractor Occupational Therapist Physiotherapist Podiatrist Emergency Medicine Specialist Obstetrician and Gynaecologist Ophthalmologist Pathologist Diagnostic and Interventional Radiologist Medical Practitioners nec Midwife Nurse Manager Nurse Practitioner Registered Nurse (Aged Care) Registered Nurse (Child and Family Health) Registered Nurse (Community Health) Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency) Registered Nurse (Disability and Rehabilitation) Registered Nurse (Medical) Registered Nurse (Medical Practice) Registered Nurse (Mental Health) Registered Nurse (Perioperative) Registered Nurse (Surgical) Registered Nurse (Paediatric) Registered Nurses nec ICT business Analyst Systems Analyst Multimedia Specialist Web Developer Analyst Programmer Developer Programmer Software Engineer Software Tester Database Administrator ICT Security Specialist Systems Administrator Computer Network and Systems Engineer Network Administrator ICT Support Engineer ICT Systems Test Engineer Telecommunications Engineer Telecommunications Network Engineer Solicitor Clinical Psychologist Psychologists nec Social Worker Welfare Worker Medical Laboratory Technician Architectural Draftsperson Civil Engineering Draftsperson Civil Engineering Technician Electrical Engineering Draftsperson Electrical Engineering Technician Building and Engineering Technicians nec Telecommunications Network Planner Automotive Electrician Motor Mechanic (General) Diesel Motor Mechanic Motorcycle Mechanic Small Engine Mechanic Sheetmetal Trades Worker Metal Fabricator Welder (First Class) Fitter (General) Fitter and Turner Fitter-Welder Metal Machinist (First Class) Metal Fitters and Machinists nec Locksmith Panelbeater Bricklayer Stonemason Carpenter and Joiner Carpenter Joiner Glazier Fibrous Plasterer Wall and Floor Tiler Plumber (General) Drainer Gasfitter Roof plumber Electrician (General) Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic Technical Cable Jointer Electronic Equipment Trades Worker Electronic Instrument Trades Worker (General) Baker Pastrycook Butcher or Smallgoods Maker Chef Cook Horse Trainer Hairdresser Cabinetmaker Enrolled Nurse Community Worker Program or Project Administrator To access Occupation List for Stream 2 and 3 for specified Regional area, click here.
Tasmania has announced the nomination quota, changes to nomination requirements and the nomination priorities for Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa and Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated visa for the 2021-2022 program year. The Department of Home affairs has allotted the following nomination quota for the 2021-2022 year to Tasmania: 1100 places for Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated Visa 2200 places for Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (provisional) Visa Some of the places are expected to be used for application from the previous year’s program. While minimal modifications to the nomination requirements have been made, a summary of requirements for applicants who are graduates and working in Tasmania is provided below. For Tasmanian Graduates, employment is not necessary. However, if the employment is for more than 3 months; or the applicant is employed in dairy, meat, accommodation, logistics, or farming industry for at least 6 months immediately prior to lodging their nomination application; or the employer is established and operating in Tasmania for at least 12 months, or the applicant’s business has been operating for at least 6 months, the evidence of employment and business operation, as the case may be, will be relevant for the assessment. For the applicants, who are working in Tasmania, to be eligible must have either: experience of minimum 3 months for the related occupation on the Tasmanian Skilled Occupation List for which the applicant has a skill assessment, or a letter of support from the sponsoring employer if the applicant is a holding Subclass 482 Temporary Skill Shortage visa holder and has worked for less than 12 months with that employer The Skilled Migration Program aims to support Tasmanian businesses and increases the State’s working-age population by prioritizing migrants with skills genuinely in need by employers, or and business activities that will increase employment opportunities for locals. Migration Tasmania’s nomination applications are considered according to these priorities: Applicants with skills and experience in critical roles, such as health, allied health, infrastructure engineering Applicants skills and experience in an occupation which is on the Tasmanian Skilled Occupation List Applicants in other skilled employment (ANZSCO Skill Level 1-3) New business owners providing substantial employment opportunities for local people All other eligible candidates with skills or training relevant to the needs of Tasmania