On 02 September 2020, the Australian Government had announced the Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List to give priority to 17 occupations for Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa and other work visa applications, including Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa, Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa and Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) visa. The occupation of Social Worker (ANZSCO – 272511) has been added as the 18th occupation to this list based on advice from the National Skills Commission. The 18 priority occupations on the list are as follows: Chief Executive or Managing Director (ANZSCO – 111111) Construction Project Manager (ANZSCO – 133111) Developer Programmer (ANZSCO – 261312) General Practitioner (ANZSCO – 253111) Maintenance Planner (ANZSCO – 312911) Mechanical Engineer (ANZSCO – 233512) Medical Practitioner nec (ANZSCO – 253999) Midwife (ANZSCO – 254111) Psychiatrist (ANZSCO – 253411) Registered Nurse (Aged Care) (ANZSCO – 254412) Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency) (ANZSCO – 254415) Registered Nurse (Medical) (ANZSCO – 254418) Registered Nurse (Mental Health) (ANZSCO – 254422) Registered Nurse (Perioperative) (ANZSCO – 254423) Registered Nurses nec (ANZSCO – 254499) Resident Medical Officer (ANZSCO – 253112) Social Worker (ANZSCO – 272511) Software Engineer (ANZSCO – 261313) Temporary visa holders working in these occupations, who were ineligible to travel to Australia amid Covid restrictions, are now eligible to travel as long as they obtain a travel exemption from the Australian Border Force (ABF) prior to travelling to Australia.
The State Government’s skilled visa nomination program, Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (Subclass 491) and Skilled Nominated (Permanent) visa (Subclass 190), is ongoing and Business migration program, Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (Subclass 188) and Business Talent (Permanent) visa (Subclass 132 visa), will re-open in early February 2021. NSW specifies 30 occupations for Skilled Nominated (Permanent) visa (Subclass 190) nominations as follows: OCCUPATIONS LIST FOR 190 NOMINATIONS Engineering Manager Medical Administrator Nursing Clinical Director Welfare Centre Manager Aeronautical Engineer Biomedical Engineer Naval Architect Engineering Professionals nec 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 Analyst Programmer Developer Programmer Software Engineer ICT Security Specialist Computer Network and Systems Engineer Electrical Engineering Draftsperson Electrical Engineering Technician Eligible candidates must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect for skilled visa nominations. To know more about the 190 nomination criteria, click here. For 491 nomination criteria, click here.
On 29 January 2021, 1pm the State Government’s skilled visa nomination program, Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (Subclass 491) and Skilled Nominated (Permanent) visa (Subclass 190), and Business migration program, Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (Subclass 188) and Business Talent (Permanent) visa (Subclass 132 visa), will re-open with updated requirements and documents. The Department of Home Affairs has made full allocation of State nomination places for remainder of the financial year 2020-2021 program as follows: Skilled Nominated (Permanent) visa (Subclass 190) Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (Subclass 491) Business Migration Full Allocation for 2020-2021 1,000 1,400 45 According to Migration Tasmania, around 25% of skilled visa nomination places for this program have been used. To know more about the nomination criteria, click here.
On 05 January 2021, the State Government’s skilled visa nomination program, Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (Subclass 491) and Skilled Nominated (Permanent) visa (Subclass 190), has re-opened focusing on Victoria’s recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. The Department of Home Affairs has made additional allocation of State nomination places for remainder of the financial year 2020-2021 program as follows: Skilled Nominated (Permanent) visa (Subclass 190) Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (Subclass 491) Interim Allocation (September 2020) 600 200 Additional Allocation for 2020-2021 1,900 843 Total Skilled Nominations 2,500 1,043 Eligible candidates must submit a Registration of Interest (ROI) for skilled visa nomination. The timings of the submission window and corresponding selection dates are as follows: Submission Window Selection Day From To 05 January 2021, 10am 11 January 2021, 5pm 22 January 2021 02 February 2021, 9am 08 February 2021, 5pm 19 February 2021 02 March 2021, 9am 08 March 2021, 5pm 19 March 2021 6 April 2021, 9am 12 April 2021, 5pm 23 April 2021 4 May 2021, 9am 10 May 2021, 5pm 21 May 2021 To know more about the how to submit ROI, click here.
Migration Amendment (Temporary Graduate Visas) Regulations 2020 dated 10 December 2020 [“the Regulations”] amend the Migration Regulations 1994 by encouraging international students to study in regional Australia and to continue living on a Temporary Graduate visa (Subclass 485). The Regulations amend Schedule 1, 2, 8 and 13 criteria in relation to Temporary Graduate visas and clarifies the operation of a concession provided by the Migration Amendment (COVID-19 Concessions) Regulations 2020 by making certain technical amendments. Migration Amendment (COVID-19 Concessions) Regulations 2020 dated 17 September 2020 provide assistance to temporary and provisional visa holders, who have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic due to travel restrictions or restrictions imposed on businesses and defines a concession period, termed as ‘the initial concession period’ commencing from 01 February 2020. The Regulations are registered on the Federal Register of Legislation on 18 December 2020 and according to Section 2 of the Regulations, Schedule 1 commences on 19 December 2020 and Schedule 2 commences on 20 January 2021. To access the full Regulations, click here.
Australian Citizenship (Class of Persons Who May Receive a Pledge of Commitment) Amendment (LIN 20/247) Instrument 2020 dated 10 December 2020 [“the Instrument”] amends the Citizenship (LIN 20/084: Class of Persons Who May Receive a Pledge of Commitment) Instrument 2020 dated 12 August 2020 to include Governors of a State of the Commonwealth of Australia in a class of persons who are authorised to receive the Pledge of Commitment. Accordingly, a compilation of Citizenship (LIN 20/084: Class of Persons Who May Receive a Pledge of Commitment) Instrument 2020 dated 23 December 2020 incorporates the changes made by the Instrument which is reflected in Clause 7 of the Schedule 1. The compilation is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation on 14 Jan 2021 and it commenced on 24 December 2020. Accordingly, the Instrument is now in force. To access the full compilation, click here.
ACT has published a list of occupations on the Critical Skills List that are eligible for nomination in skilled visa programs, Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (Subclass 491) and Skilled Nominated (Permanent) visa (Subclass 190), updated as on 11 January 2021. Currently, the List specifies 111 occupations, which will be reviewed and updated quarterly to respond to the needs of the Territory’s economy. The occupations are as follows: ACT CRITICAL OCCUPATIONS LIST Policy and Planning Manager (491 only) Production Manager (Manufacturing) ICT Project Manager ICT Managers (nec) Arts Administrator or Manager Environmental Manager Call or Contact Centre Manager (491 only) Customer Service Manager Copywriter Newspaper or Periodical Editor Print Journalist Technical Writer Television Journalist Journalist & other writers (nec) Accountant (General) Management Accountant Taxation Accountant Policy Analyst (491 only) Liaison Officer (491 only) Patents Examiner (491 only) Information and Organisation Prof. nec (491 only) Architect Landscape Architect Graphic Designer Illustrator Web Designer Civil Engineer Geotechnical Engineer Quantity Surveyor Structural Engineer Transport Engineer Aeronautical Engineer Agricultural Engineer Biomedical Engineer Early Childhood (Pre-Primary School) Teacher Environmental Health Officer (491 only) Occupational Health and Safety Adviser Dental Specialist Dentist (491 only) Occupational Therapist Physiotherapist Audiologist Speech Pathologist General Practitioner Resident Medical Officer Nurse Practitioner Registered Nurse (Aged Care) Registered Nurse (Child & Family Health) Registered Nurse (Community Health) Registered Nurse (Critical Care & Emergency) Registered Nurse (Developmental Disability) Registered Nurse (Disability & Rehabilitation) Registered Nurse (Medical) Registered Nurse (Medical Practice) Registered Nurse (Mental Health) Registered Nurse (Perioperative) Registered Nurse (Surgical) Registered Nurse (Paediatrics) Registered Nurses (nec) ICT Business Analyst Systems Analyst Analyst Programmer Developer Programmer Software Engineer Software Tester Software and Applications Programmers nec Database Administrator ICT Security Specialist Systems Administrator Computer Network & Systems Engineer Network Administrator Network Analyst ICT Quality Assurance Engineer ICT Support Engineer ICT Systems Test Engineer ICT Support and Test Engineers (nec) Careers Counsellor Drug and Alcohol Counsellor Family and Marriage Counsellor Rehabilitation Counsellor Student Counsellor Counsellors nec Clinical Psychologist Educational Psychologist Organisational Psychologist Psychotherapist Psychologist (nec) Interpreter Translator (491 only) Social Professionals (nec) Social Worker Community Arts Worker (491 only) Recreation Officer Welfare Worker Carpenter and Joiner Carpenters Joiner Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics Chef Gardener (General Aborist Landscape Gardener Hairdressers Community Worker Disabilities Services Officer Family Support Worker Residential Care Officer Youth Worker Sports Development Officer Contract Administrator Program or Project Administrator
Migration (Arrangements for Certain Skilled and Temporary Graduate Visa Applications) Amendment Instrument (LIN 20/297) 2020 dated 18 December 2020 [“the Instrument”] amends a drafting error and citation in the Migration (Arrangements for Certain Skilled Visa Applications) Instrument (LIN 20/162) 2020. The Instrument specifies the arrangement for making an application for a Skilled (Provisional) (Class VC) (Subclass 485) visa and provides that visa application must be made using Form 1276 (internet) as an internet application. The Instrument is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation on 23 December 2020 and according to Section 2 of the Instrument, it commenced on 24 December 2020. Accordingly, the Instrument is now in force. To access the full Instrument, click here.
Migration (Regional Areas) Instrument (LIN 20/292) 2020 dated 15 December 2020 [“the Instrument”] specifies parts of Australia to be regional areas for the purposes of subregulation 1.15M(1) and (2) of the Migration Regulations 1994 in table 1 and table 2 of Schedule 1 to the Instrument, respectively. The Instrument applies to specified nominations, approval of nominations, visa applications & grants, and assessments under section 93 of the Migration Act 1958. The following visa subclasses are covered within the scope of the Instrument: Skilled Independent visa (Subclass 189) Skilled Nominated visa (Subclass 190) Temporary Graduate visa (Subclass 485) Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (Subclass 491) Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) visa (Subclass 888) State/Territory Sponsored Business Owner visa (Subclass 892) The Instrument applies to applications made and visas granted on or after 20 January 2021. To access the full Instrument, click here.
According to the Department of Home Affairs, more than 12,000 people are invited to attend citizenship ceremonies to be held all across Australia on 26 January 2021 and become Australian citizens. The Department is conducting over 430 citizenship ceremonies in a single day and conferring citizenship to nationals of more than 130 countries, following the tradition to more people becoming citizens on Australia Day than the rest of the year.