Visa & Immigration Solutions Australia Pty Ltd

21/12/2023

Working Holiday Makers
Condition 8547 - Extension of work rights past 6 months
The Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs has made the decision to continue the previous exemption process relating to visa condition 8547, from 1 January 2024, while consultation on the Working Holiday program settings and reform process is underway in line with the recently released Migration Strategy.

01/11/2023

Skilled Migration Update - 25 November 2023
The Department of Home Affairs has announced that 25 November 2023 is the proposed implementation date for changes to the Employer-Sponsored migration program. The MIA has requested the department to confirm what changes will be implemented on that day but it appears the long-awaited pathway to permanent residency for all Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa holders, including those working occupations on the Short-term Skilled Occupation list, after working just 2 years with their sponsors.

These reforms are a crucial part of the Government’s long-term strategy to enhance and fortify the skilled migration program. While these timelines are always subject to change, this announcement nevertheless signifies that positive changes are on the horizon.

01/09/2023

Staged Closure of the Pandemic Event visa - Commonly referred to as the COVID 408 visa.

The Australian Government has announced it is closing the Temporary Activity visa (subclass 408) Australian Government endorsed events (COVID-19 Pandemic event) – referred to as the Pandemic Event visa. See Closure of the Pandemic Event visa (homeaffairs.gov.au)

From 2 September 2023, the Pandemic Event visa will only be open to applications from existing Pandemic Event visa holders. Pandemic Event visa holders will be able to apply for a subsequent visa after 2 September 2023 until the visa is fully closed by February 2024. All other visa holders will be ineligible for the Pandemic Event visa from 2 September 2023.

Contact us to discuss other visa options when the 408 AGEE Stream is revoked.

08/09/2022

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Proof of English now required as part of MQ skilled nomination applications. From 6 September 2022, you must upload evidence of your English test results to the document portal if you receive an invitation for the skilled program (190 or 491 visa).

For details on accepted English test results, READ HERE:
https://migration.qld.gov.au/news

15/08/2022

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT – Update on the Migration Queensland Program Opening for FY2022-23

The Migration Queensland (MQ) Program will open TOMORROW on 16 August 2022 with Queensland’s new nomination criteria and factsheets published on the MQ website (tomorrow 16 August 2022, not available until then): https://migration.qld.gov.au/

Skilled Migration Program:
Migration Queensland will only accept a brand new EOI submitted on Skillselect from the 16 August 2022, updating existing EOI’s submitted prior to the 16 August 2022 will not be invited. Please ensure you have carefully read and understood the new criteria relevant to your stream or pathway, and that you meet criteria before submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI).

This 2022-23 financial year Skilled Migration Program will be open to both onshore and offshore applicants, and provide pathways for skilled workers, graduates, and small business owners.

Business Migration Program:
The business program will continue to be open to 188 – Business Innovation stream, the 188 – Investor stream and the 188 – Significant Investor stream. From tomorrow, 16 August 2022, the new 188 – Entrepreneur stream will also open.

We thank you for your interest in the Migration Queensland program and we look forward to receiving your application.

Please note: that Queensland State nomination is a highly competitive program and not everyone will be invited for nomination. Please ensure you consult with a Registered Migration Agent/Lawyer to explore all alternative migration options.

01/08/2022

MIA National President - ABC Radio interview
2 August 2022

MIA National President, Julie Williams, was today interviewed on ABC Breakfast Sydney with James Valentine, on processing delays for skilled migrants.
The interview included discussion of the reasons for the delays including the COVID border closures and the now surge in applications, the limitations of the PMSOL and priority processing Ministerial Direction and mandatory LMT particularly the Workforce Australia platform.

While acknowledging the new Minister for Immigration, Andrew Giles', efforts to address the processing delays, the National President did note that these delays are causing Australia to lose out to other countries such as the UK and Canada in attracting particularly skilled migrants.

27/07/2022

Queensland Migration opening soon

After attending an information webinar today I am happy to advise we have the current requirements for onshore and offshore Sponsored Skilled Visas subclass 190 and 491.

Contact us if you require assistance to ensure you have your EOI ready to lodge as soon as they open

Email directly to our migration agent
[email protected]

20/07/2022

If you are thinking of lodging an EOI for QLD State Sponsorship then now is the time to prepare ready for lodgement. Contact [email protected] to discuss your personal situation

PROGRAM UPDATE: The Migration Queensland skilled program is currently closed. We are awaiting nomination allocation from the Department of Home Affairs, and final approval for criteria changes for the 2022-23 financial year. Once we have received further information regarding the opening date, we will notify you via our website and social media pages.

The Migration Queensland business program remains open, however, we are unable to nominate applicants until we have received nomination allocation from the Department of Home Affairs. Please note that the 188 -Entrepreneur stream criteria has not been released as yet.

11/07/2022

Changes to Australian entry/exit requirements
From 6 July 2022 Australian entry/exit requirements have changed:

People entering Australia do not need to provide evidence of vaccination status
People entering Australia do not need to complete the Digital Passenger Declaration or Maritime Travel Declaration
People leaving Australia will not be asked to provide evidence of their vaccination status
Unvaccinated visa holders do not​ need a travel exemption to travel to Australia
Masks are still required on flights travelling to Australia.

It is important to remember that airlines, vessel operators and other countries may have specific requirements that travellers need to comply with.

Further information is available on the Home Affairs website.

06/06/2022

SC 485 - Provisional skills assessment concessions

Further to the information in MIA Notice 22 of 26 May 2022, the MIA has confirmed with the Department that previous Minister Hawke’s announcement of 25 November 2021 indicated that as a concession during the COVID-19 pandemic, the stay period on the Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) Graduate Work Stream visa will increase from 18 to 24 months and application requirements would be streamlined by removing the requirement for graduates to nominate an occupation from the skills occupation list.

As applicants are no longer required to nominate an occupation, the requirement for a skills assessment becomes redundant. These changes will come into effect from 1 July 2022.

At this stage there is no timeline for the legislative instrument amending the Migration Regulations.

Members should note that the provisional skills assessment removal is only a temporary concession. There is currently no information in relation to whether this concession will be extended beyond 2022/2023.

04/04/2022

NO AGE LIMITATION

Age exemption for ENS TRT SC 186 visas
Migration (Age exemption for subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme) visa) Amendment Instrument (LIN 22/047) 2022 - F2022L00515

This Instrument amends the LIN 19/216 Exemptions from Skill, Age and English Language Requirements.

Reg 186.221(b) allows an exemption from the age requirement for specified persons, in this case legacy 457 workers.

The following definition of a legacy 457 workers for a Subclass 186 visa application has been inserted and means a person who:

(a) held a subclass 457 visa on or after 18 April 2017; and

(b) was in Australia for at least 12 months between 1 February 2020 and 14 December 2021.

No age limit has been specified for legacy 457 workers in this Instrument.

Remaining RSMS SC 187 applicants are not covered by this Instrument.

This is a summary of this Legislative Instrument and Explanatory Statement, members should review these two documents in full before lodging applications for this visa.

This Instrument commences on 1 July 2022.

If you think this applies to you then please contact us to discuss

17/03/2022

DO YOU KNOW IF YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR MEDICARE?
Check the below links to see if you are eligible to enrol in Medicare:
If you have applied for a permanent residency visa (including some parent visas):
https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/enrolling-medicare-if-youre-australian-permanent-resident?context=60092

If you hold a temporary visa that is covered by a Ministerial Order:
https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/enrolling-medicare-if-youre-temporary-resident-covered-ministerial-order?context=60092

To enrol as an Australian resident you need to have a permanent resident visa or have applied for one.