With a commitment of making the Australian migration advice industry world class, the Government has implemented various initiatives towards achieving this vision.Recently, the Department of Home Affairs has initiated a review of the legislative framework to examine how they can support ‘a highly qualified and professional industry’ and ensure combating misconduct and unlawful operators effectively. The Department has released a Discussion Paper which highlights key considerations for review of legislative framework, including qualification standards to practice as a Registered Migration Agent, disciplinary actions and penalties for unlawful migration assistance, registration of Migration Agents, and the functions of the OMARA, and measures to strengthen consumer protection. Jason Wood, Assistant Minister for Customs, Community Safety and Multicultural Affairs said, “I intend to work with agents to build the industry's reputation and ensure a robust regulatory migration advice framework that prevents misconduct and unlawful advice…This review will support the development of initiatives to combat serious misconduct by registered agents and unlawful providers, and thereby protect consumers and build confidence in the industry”. The Department is seeking industry feedback and is accepting submissions online until 2pm AEST, 27 July 2020. To see the Discussion Paper, click here.
Australia is 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. Currently, there are about 20,000 Hong Kong residents living in Australia who do not want to return home. Prime Minster, Scott Morrison said that Australia is ‘prepared to step up and provide support’. He also said, “When we have made a final decision on those arrangements, then I’ll make the announcements, but are you asking are we prepared to step up and provide support? The answer is yes.” The Safe Haven Enterprise Visa (Class XE) (Subclass 790) is a protection visa for refugees which requires you to be in Australia; be a refugee or engage in Australia’s protection obligations; and meet all other requirements for the visa.
Tasmania is currently not issuing any nominations under the Skilled Migration program, for the Skilled Nominated (Permanent) Visa (Subclass 190) and the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491) as the nomination quotas are yet to be allocated to the States by the Commonwealth Government for the 2020 to 2021 program year. The applicants will still be able to lodge new applications for State nomination and the State will continue to assess these applications. However, nominations will be issued only after the Australian Government allocates quota to the State.
Queensland is currently closed for accepting any nominations under the Skilled Migration program, for the Skilled Nominated (Permanent) Visa (Subclass 190) and the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491), and the Business Migration Program as the nomination quotas are yet to be allocated to the States by the Commonwealth Government for the 2020 to 2021 program year. Accordingly, Business and Skilled Migration Queensland (BSMQ) will not accept any Expressions of Interests (EOIs) submitted on SkillSelect from 01 July 2020 onwards.
NSW is currently closed for accepting any nominations under the General Skilled Migration (GSM) program for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491), and the Business Investment and Innovation Program (BIIP) as the nomination quotas are yet to be allocated to the States by the Commonwealth Government for the 2020 to 2021 program year. The applicants will still be able to lodge new applications for State nomination for the Skilled Nominated (Permanent) Visa (Subclass 190). However, NSW will commence State invitation rounds for nomination after the nomination quotas are allocated by the Commonwealth Government.
Victoria is currently closed for accepting any nominations under the Skilled Migration program, for the Skilled Nominated (Permanent) Visa (Subclass 190) and the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491), and the Business Migration Program as the nomination quotas are yet to be allocated to the States by the Commonwealth Government for the 2020 to 2021 program year. The applicants will still be able to lodge Expression of Interest (EOI) for State nomination under the Skilled Migration program and the State will continue to assess these applications. However, nominations will be issued only after the Australian Government allocates quota to the State. An EOI is required before the applicant applies for a visa nomination in Victoria. Under Business Migration programs, the State Department will not accept nominations for Business Innovation – Extension (Subclass 188A), Investor – Extension (Subclass 188B), Significant Investor – Extension (Subclass 188C), Entrepreneur –Extension (Subclass 188E), Significant Business History (Subclass 132A), and Venture Capital Entrepreneur (Subclass 132B).
South Australia is currently closed for accepting any nomination applications for the Skilled Migration program, for the Skilled Nominated (Permanent) Visa (Subclass 190) and the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491), and the Business Migration programs as the nomination quotas are yet to be allocated to the States by the Commonwealth Government for the 2020 to 2021 program year. Under Business Migration programs, the State Department will not accept nominations for Business Innovation – Extension (Subclass 188A), Investor – Extension (Subclass 188B), Significant Investor – Extension (Subclass 188C), Entrepreneur –Extension (Subclass 188E), Significant Business History (Subclass 132A), and Venture Capital Entrepreneur (Subclass 132B). As of now, the Skilled and Business Migration programs will remain closed until August 2020 in South Australia.
Northern Territory is currently not issuing any nominations under the General Skilled Migration (GSM) program, for the Skilled Nominated (Permanent) Visa (Subclass 190) and the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491), or the Business Investment and Innovation Program (BIIP) as the nomination quotas are yet to be allocated to the States by the Commonwealth Government for the 2020 to 2021 program year. The applicants who are currently living in the Northern Territory will still be able to lodge new applications for State nomination under the GSM program and the State will continue to assess these applications. However, nominations will be issued only after the Australian Government allocates quota to the State. At this stage, nomination applications for offshore GSM remain closed. However, the State’s BIIP nomination applications remain open.
State Nominated Migration Program (SNMP) Invitation Date: 23 June 2020. Visa Subclass General Stream Graduate Stream Higher Education Graduates Vocational Education And Training Graduates Skilled Nominated visa (Subclass 190) 19 131 14 Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (Subclass 491) 12 23 18 In 2019-2020, a total of 3405 invitations have been issued as on 23 June 2020: Visa Subclass General Stream Graduate Stream Higher Education Graduates Vocational Education And Training Graduates Skilled Nominated visa (Subclass 190) 70 1994 302 Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (Subclass 491) / Subclass 489 96 579 364 Total 3405
The Joint Standing Committee on Migration of the Commonwealth is conducting a new inquiry into the Working Holiday Maker program (Working Holiday Subclass 417 & Work and Holiday Subclass 462) and is accepting submissions by 24 July 2020. The Hon Alan Tudge MP, the Acting Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs, has asked Joint Standing Committee on Migration on 19 June 2020 to report on the Working Holiday Maker program. Accordingly, the Committee has released the Terms of Reference to invite comments from the individuals and organisations in form of submissions. The Terms of Reference include purpose and value of the program, impact of COVID-19 pandemic, impact on regional economies, and other related matters. See the detailed Terms of Reference here.