In addition to existing occupations for skills assessment, VETASSES is now assessing skills for the following three trade occupations for migration: Fitter and Turner (ANZSCO Code – 323212) Fitter-Welder (ANZSCO Code – 323213) Toolmaker (ANZSCO Code – 323412) To know more about the skills assessment for migration, click here.
On 14 July 2020, NSW announced support for temporary visa during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Government will fund AUD $4 million to provide temporary visa holders with access to food and supplies, medical support, telecommunications, transport and essential housing, and support specialist migrant and settlement services, including culturally appropriate case and support workers, transportation and outreach services to connect with isolated communities, and interpreting and translation services. This funding is in addition to the previous grants distributed as emergency relief to asylum seekers. Acting Minister for Multiculturalism, Geoff Lee said, “We know that specialist migrant and settlement organisations have had to really step up in extremely challenging times to support some of the most vulnerable in our society with their most basic necessities”. Temporary visa holders seeking support must apply by 4pm, Monday 27 July 2020. To find more information and check eligibility information, click here.
On 15 July 2020, NAATI (National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters Ltd) announced the addition of Telugu language in the Credentialed Community Language (CCL) testing. The applications are open from 22 July 2020 for undertaking tests in late August 2020. NAATI is the national standards and certifying authority for translators and interpreters in Australia offering CCL tests to assess the applicant’s language abilities at a community level. It is generally undertaken by the applicants who are looking to lodge a point-based visa application with the Department of Home Affairs. On successfully passing the test, the applicants are awarded 5 points. To see the full announcement, click here.
On 13 July 2020, Victoria announced closure of the skilled visa nomination program, for both the Skilled Nominated (Permanent) visa (Subclass 190) and the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (Subclass 491), for the 2019-20 program year as the State’s allocated quota has been exhausted. For 2020-21 program, Victoria is currently closed for accepting any nominations under the Skilled Migration program and the Business Migration Program until the nomination quotas are allocated by the Commonwealth Government. However, the applicants are able to lodge Expression of Interest (EOI) for State nomination under the Skilled Migration program and the State will continue to assess these applications.
The Arrangements for Child Visa Applications 2016/051 is amended vide the Migration (LIN 20/179: Arrangements for child visa applications) Amendment Instrument 2020 dated 15 July 2020 (“the Instrument”) registered on 16 July 2020. The Instrument amends a drafting error, where the option for an application for visa Subclass 445, for a dependent child outside Australia to be made outside Australia, was removed vide the Migration (LIN 20/049: Arrangements for child visa applications) Amendment Instrument 2020. Accordingly, an application by a dependent child of a visa holder of Subclass 309, 310, 445, 820 or 826 visa outside Australia can be made through Form 918. The Instrument has commenced from the day after it is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation and is now in effect. To access the full Instrument, click here.
Australian Capital Territory (ACT) is postponing the initiation of Australia’s first pilot program to offer International students a safe passage into the country ‘until there is a clearer picture around the COVID-19 trajectory’. According to sources, around 120,000 students are currently refrained from entering the country due to the border closure in response to COVID-19 pandemic. Professor Paddy Nixon, the Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Canberra said, “Given the ever-evolving circumstance of this global pandemic, we think it best to press pause on our plans to return a small number of our valued continuing international students who contribute so much to the vibrancy of our city and our campus”.
The Hon Josh Frydenberg MP, Treasurer of the Commonwealth of Australia has advised that an update on the economic and fiscal outlook will be provided on 23 July 2020. Earlier, in a joint media release with Senator the Hon Mathias Cormann, Minister for Finance on 20 March 2020, he had announced the Government’s decision to defer the 2020-21 Budget until 06 October 2020 in light of the on-going COVID-19 pandemic. The industry is expecting changes to the Migration Program planning levels due to the impact of COVID-19. Further, the updates to the skilled migration occupation lists for March 2020 as suggested by the Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business on 13 December 2019, have also been delayed. For the time being, the 2019-20 Migration Program continues to remain in place.
After the Migration & Refugee Division of the AAT issued COVID-19 Special Measures Practice Direction dated 27 April 2020 (“the Direction”) with effect from 29 April 2020, the AAT is now working towards resuming limited in-person hearings in the registries at Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Hobart, Perth and Sydney. The AAT is preparing to schedule in-person hearings within the next few weeks for matters in which a remote hearing is not practicable and deferment is not an option.The AAT is considering to list in-person hearings in accordance with the Direction on a case by case basis. In appropriate matters, the AAT will contact the parties as to hearing arrangements. However, for the time being, most AAT hearings will continue to be conducted remotely via video conference or telephone.
The Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (“the IA-CEPA”) enters into force in Australia on 05 July 2020 vide the Notice of Entry into Force of the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement dated 25 June 2020 (“the Instrument”) According to the Preamble of the IA-CEPA, the countries recognise “that open, transparent and competitive markets are key drivers of economic growth, poverty reduction, job creation, innovation, expansion of productive capacity and human development”. International Trade obligations are relevant in migration context as labour market testing is not required in case of any conflict with these obligations. In this regard, the Migration (LIN 20/029: Determination of International Trade Obligations Relating to Labour Market Testing) Instrument 2020 dated 28 January 2020 provides a list of 14 agreements, including the IA-CEPA, that determines international trade obligations of Australia regarding labour market testing. To read the Instrument, click here. To see list of all Australia’s international trade obligations, click here.
In addition to drafting plans to offer safe haven visas to Hong Kong residents living in Australia amidst China’s decision to go ahead with the controversial security law in Hong Kong, the Australian government is offering new and extended visa options to students and skilled workers from Hong Kong, including pathways to permanent residency. The special visa arrangements, aimed at attracting talent to Australia and creating more job opportunities, include: Additional five years of work rights to temporary graduate and skilled workers, with a pathway to permanent residency, Five year graduate visa to students, with a pathway to permanent residency, and Five year visa for temporary skilled visas applicants if they meet the updated skills lists and Labour Market Testing requirements. For applicants who study and work in regional areas, the existing arrangement continues which includes pathway to permanent residency after 3 years. Further, there will be enhanced efforts to attract export-oriented businesses from Hong Kong to relocate to Australia. The Hon Alan Tudge MP, Acting Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs in a Joint statement with the Hon Scott Morrison MP, Prime Minister said that the special arrangement will benefit 10,000 existing temporary skilled, temporary graduate and student visa holders in Australia, with a further 2,500 outside Australia and 1,250 current applicants.