The Department of Home Affairs has specified places and currencies for the payment of Visa Application Charge (VAC) and fees in foreign currencies vide the Migration (LIN 20/004: Places and Currencies for Paying of Fees) Instrument 2020 [“the Instrument”] dated 16 June 2020. In accordance with paragraphs 5.36(1)(a) and (b) of the Migration Regulations 1994, the Department provides a list of 62 countries where a payment of a fee is made and corresponding currencies in which payment of a fee is to be made for the purpose of this Instrument. This instrument commences on 01 July 2020. Full text of the Instrument can be accessed here.
The Department of Home Affairs has specified exchange rates for the payment of Visa Application Charge (VAC) and fees in foreign currencies vide the Migration (LIN 20/003: Payment of Visa Application Charges and Fees in Foreign Currencies) Instrument 2020 [“the Instrument”] dated 16 June 2020. In accordance with paragraph 5.36(1A)(a) of the Migration Regulations 1994, the Department’s biannual update provides a list of 46 currencies and the applicable exchange rates in relation to the Australian Dollar (AUD) for the purpose of this Instrument. This instrument commences on 01 July 2020. Full text of the Instrument can be accessed here.
Invitation Date: 03 June 2020 ACT 190 Nomination – Invitations Issued: 81 All Matrix submitted: 110 to 70 points ACT 491 Nomination – No invitations issued as there are sufficient 491 applications in the queue to meet the 2019-2020 annual allocation of 491 nomination places. All matrix expire 6 months after submission date if an invitation is not issued. The next invitation round will be held on or before 15 July 2020.
State Nominated Migration Program (SNMP) Invitation Date: 25 May 2020 Visa Subclass General Stream Graduate Stream Higher Education Graduates Vocational Education And Training Graduates Skilled Nominated visa (Subclass 190) 4 125 26 Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (Subclass 491) 9 26 29 In 2019-2020, a total of 3188 invitations have been issued as on 26 May 2020: Visa Subclass General Stream Graduate Stream Higher Education Graduates Vocational Education And Training Graduates Skilled Nominated visa (Subclass 190) 51 1863 288 Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (Subclass 491) / Subclass 489 84 556 346 Total 3188
The Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business is responsible for suggesting changes to the skilled migration occupation lists and accordingly, publishes a Traffic Light Bulletin outlining the proposed changes. The updates for March 2020 were announced by the Department on 13 December 2019, however, it has been delayed to COVID-19. According to the Bulletin, 11 occupations were flagged for removal from the Short Term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL), 17 occupations were flagged for movement between lists, 4 occupations were flagged for addition to the STSOL, and 6 occupations were recommended for a salary caveat. The Department says, “Due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the announcement on updates to the skilled migration occupation lists has been delayed.” 11 occupations flagged for removal from the STSOL are Careers Counsellor, Vehicle Trimmer, Business Machine Mechanic, Animal Attendants and Trainers, Gardener, Hairdresser, Wood Machinist, Massage Therapist, Community Worker, Diving Instructor, and Gymnastics Coach or Instructor. For detailed Traffic Light Bulletin, click here.
The Australian Computer Society (ACS) has notified changes in skills and qualifications assessment for certain occupations to come into effect from 01 July 2020. The ACS will undertake skills assessment of 3 occupations, i.e., Database Administrator (ANZSCO 262111), ICT Security Specialist (ANZSCO 262112), and Systems Administrator (ANZSCO 262113) based on separate criteria for cyber security. Further, the ACS will not accept analogue and other non-ICT related electronics subjects for assessing qualifications for electronics subjects and accordingly, only digital electronics subjects will be considered for assessment. Furthermore, regarding recognising qualifications under the Seoul Accord for countries including South Korea, USA, UK, Canada, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Japan, the burden of proof lies on the applicant to demonstrate the validity of the qualification. For skilled migration to Australia in ICT sector, the relevant skills assessment authority is the ACS. It ensures that you meet the relevant standards needed for employment in an eligible ICT skilled occupation by assessing your academic qualifications and work experience.
With COVID-19 restrictions easing throughout Australia, the Councils are given a go-ahead to resume conducing the citizenship ceremonies in-person in accordance the public gathering limits put in place by the individual States and Territories, in addition to being conducted online. According to sources, the Department has conducted more than 25,000 online ceremonies over a secure video link for people whose application for Australian citizenship was approved already. The Hon Alan Tudge MP, current acting Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs said, “The government is also working to resume citizenship testing and interviews in the coming weeks so we can have people moving through all stages of becoming Australian citizens.”
The visa application for Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (Subclass 870) for parents can now be lodged onshore as per the provisions made in the online application form for this visa due to leniency shown by the Department during the COVID-19 pandemic. With this visa, a parent of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen can visit Australia for up to 3 or 5 years per visa. In order to be eligible to apply for the parent visa onshore, the visa holder must not have Conditions 8503 or 8543 for ‘No Further Stay’ attached to the current onshore visa. However, if the visa has an attached condition, you may request the Department for a waiver on account of major change in the situation caused by COVID-19 which is out of your control.
The Department of Home Affairs has specified arrangements for bridging visa applications vide the Migration (LIN 20/068: Arrangements for Bridging Visa Applications) Instrument 2020 [“the Instrument”] dated 21 May 2020. The Instrument re-approves Form 1008 (Internet) for making a valid Bridging E (Class WE) visa application which was removed by a drafting error in the erstwhile instrument, i.e., the Migration (LIN 19/186: Arrangements for Applications for Bridging Visas) Instrument 2019 dated 25 June 2019. The Instrument is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation on 25 May 2020 and according to Clause 2 of the Instrument it “commences the day after registration on the Federal Register of Legislation”. Thus, the Instrument is currently in force, commencing 26 May 2020 and accordingly, Form 1008 (Internet) can now be used for making a valid Bridging Visa E (BVE) application.
The Migration Amendment (Regulation of Migration Agents) Bill 2019 [“the Regulation Bill”] and the Migration Agents Registration Application Charge Amendment (Rates of Charge) Bill 2019 [“the Registration Bill”] are laid on the table of the Senate for second reading debate on 12 June 2020. The Regulation Bill, popularly known as the ‘Deregulation Bill’, proposes amendment to the Migration Act 1958 (Cth), interalia, to remove unrestricted legal practitioners from the regulatory scheme that governs migration agents. Further, the Registration Bill proposes amendment to the Migration Agents Registration Application Charge Act 1997 (Cth) for payment of adjusted charge for providing non-commercial immigration assistance. Both the Bills were first introduced in the Senate on 13 Feb 2020. Track the progress of the Regulation Bill, click here.