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Southern Stone Migration

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Australia
Melbourne, VIC
Southern Stone Migration

Registered Migration Agency located in Mount Waverley, Melbourne Australia. Professional immigration service

30/07/2026

📌 Processing Priorities Update - What Direction 119 Means for Skilled Visa Applicants
The Department of Home Affairs has released Ministerial Direction 119, which sets out how skilled visa nominations and applications will be processed.

1. Highest Priority - Law Enforcement & Defence
Applications linked to occupations supporting Australia’s policing and defence are processed first. Applicants inside Australia receive the highest priority, followed by those outside Australia.

2. Healthcare, Teaching & Construction
Next in line are applicants working in:
• Healthcare
• Teaching
• Construction
Again, onshore applicants are prioritised ahead of offshore applicants.

3. All Other Skilled Applicants
After the above groups, the Department processes:
• All other onshore skilled applicants
• Followed by all other offshore applicants

This applies across key visa subclasses, including 186, 187, 482, 494, 189, 190, 491, 191, 887, 888, and more. If you’re unsure how your occupation fits into the new priority system - or whether your current visa strategy is still optimal - our team can provide a clear, personalised assessment.

If you’d like a professional review of your skilled visa pathway, we’re here to help.

10/07/2026

🎉 A strong start to the new financial year at Southern Stone Migration.

Over the past 9 days, we've been delighted to receive approvals across a range of visa categories, including:

✅ Employer Sponsored Nomination Approvals
✅ Skilled Nominated (Subclass 190) Visas
✅ Contributory Parent (Subclass 143) Visas
✅ Partner (Migrant) (Subclass 100) Visas

Two recent Employer Sponsored nominations were approved just one week after lodgement. While every application is assessed on its own merits and processing times vary, this outcome reflects the value of submitting a nomination that is carefully prepared, well-documented and strategically presented from the outset.

Whether you're an employer sponsoring skilled workers, a professional planning your pathway to permanent residence, or a family seeking to reunite in Australia, our team is committed to providing tailored advice and high-quality migration services.

Thank you to all of our clients for your continued trust and support. We look forward to helping many more individuals, families and businesses achieve their Australian migration goals.

📞 Contact Southern Stone Migration to discuss your visa options with our experienced team.

01/07/2026

Visa Application Charges Increase from 1 July 2026

From today (1 July 2026), the Australian Government has increased Visa Application Charges (VACs) across most visa subclasses, with some applications experiencing particularly significant fee increases.

For many applicants and families, these increases represent a substantial additional financial burden. While annual adjustments may be expected, some of the changes introduced this year are significant and will undoubtedly make Australia's visa system even more expensive to access.

Key changes include:

📌 Most visa subclasses
The first instalment of the Visa Application Charge has increased by 25%.

❤️ Partner Visas (Subclass 820/801 & 309/100)
The base application charge has increased from $9,365 to $11,710.

🎓 Student & Student Guardian Visas (Subclass 500 & 590)
The base application charge has increased from $2,000 to $2,500.

🛂 Resident Return Visa (Subclass 155)
The application charge has tripled, increasing by 200% (from $490 to $1,475).

✈️ Bridging Visa B (BVB)
The application charge has tripled, increasing by 200% (from $190 to $575).

These updated charges apply to valid visa applications lodged on or after 1 July 2026.

Whether these increases are justified is likely to be debated, but there is no doubt they will have a real impact on many visa applicants. For some, they may simply mean paying more. For others, they could delay or even prevent plans to reunite with family, study, work or travel in Australia.

If you're planning to lodge an Australian visa application, it is important to factor these new charges into your planning.

If you require professional advice or assistance with your visa application, the team at Southern Stone Migration is here to help.

24/06/2026

The Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) will introduce higher application fees from 1 July 2026. Here’s how the new fees compare to the current rates:

📌 Review of a reviewable migration decision: currently $3,580, increasing to $3,727
📌 Review of a reviewable protection decision: currently $2,203, increasing to $2,293 (generally payable only if unsuccessful)
📌 Standard application fee: currently $1,148, increasing to $1,195
📌 Concessional fee: remains $100 for eligible applicants

A key point for applicants: the new fee applies based on the date of payment, not the date of lodgement. This means even if an application is lodged before 1 July, paying the fee on or after 1 July will trigger the higher amount.

If you’re exploring a potential review or seeking informed guidance, our team is available to assist.

23/06/2026

📣The Department of Home Affairs has officially released the results of the 4 June 2026 Skilled Independent (Subclass 189) visa invitation round. This was the final Subclass 189 invitation round for the 2025–26 migration program year.

The latest round once again highlights Australia's continued demand for skilled professionals across key sectors including healthcare, education, engineering, construction, and skilled trades. Invitation thresholds varied significantly between occupations, reflecting ongoing workforce shortages and the level of competition within each occupation group.

📌 If you received an invitation:
• You must lodge your visa application within 60 days from the date of invitation.
• Ensure all points claimed in your Expression of Interest (EOI) can be fully supported by evidence.
• Confirm your skills assessment, English test results, employment evidence, and other supporting documents remain valid and accurate.

📌 If you were not invited:
• Your EOI remains in the SkillSelect system and may be considered in future invitation rounds.
• This is a good opportunity to review your points score and explore strategies to improve your competitiveness.

Receiving an invitation is only the first step. A well-prepared and thoroughly documented visa application is critical to achieving a successful outcome.

If you would like professional assistance with your Subclass 189 visa application or advice on improving your migration strategy, the team at Southern Stone Migration is here to help.

04/06/2026

The Department of Home Affairs has issued a new round of invitations under the Skilled Independent (Subclass 189) visa program today.

This invitation round demonstrates the Government’s continued focus on addressing skills shortages across key sectors, including healthcare, education, and the skilled trades.

Applicants who have received an invitation are required to lodge their Subclass 189 visa application within the 60-day period.

Prior to lodging, applicants should carefully review their Expression of Interest (EOI) to ensure that all information remains accurate and is supported by appropriate documentary evidence. In particular, applicants should confirm that:

• Their skills assessment remains valid
• Their English language test results remain valid
• All points claimed in the EOI can be substantiated with supporting documentation

Receiving an invitation is a significant milestone; however, the quality and accuracy of the visa application itself remain critical to a successful outcome.

If you require professional assistance with your Subclass 189 visa application, our team at Southern Stone Migration is available to provide guidance and support throughout the process.

01/06/2026

⚠️ Affected by the Gold Migration Lawyers Closure? We're Here to Help.

The recent closure of Gold Migration Lawyers has left many visa applicants uncertain about the status of their immigration matters.

If you were previously represented by Gold Migration Lawyers, it is important to understand that the closure of a law firm does not pause or extend deadlines imposed by the Department of Home Affairs or the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART). Your matter may still require urgent attention.

Our experienced migration team is currently assisting affected clients with:

✅ Reviewing the status of ongoing visa applications and ART review matters
✅ Identifying critical deadlines and outstanding Department requests
✅ Providing strategic advice on complex migration matters
✅ Transferring representation and ensuring continuity of communication
✅ Managing ongoing visa applications, appeals, and review proceedings

Whether your matter involves an employer-sponsored visa, partner visa, parent visa, skilled migration, protection visa, citizenship application, visa cancellation, or ART review, obtaining timely professional advice can be critical.

We understand that unexpectedly changing representatives can be stressful. Our team is committed to providing clear, practical, and professional support to help you navigate this transition with confidence.

📞 (03) 9981 9559
📧 [email protected]
🌐 www.southernstone.com.au

25/05/2026

🔖 Australia's Permanent Migration Program Planning Levels

The latest 2026–27 permanent Migration Program settings outline how Australia will balance skilled migration, family pathways, and long term workforce needs in the year ahead. For a full breakdown of the program settings, see the details in the image 👇️

Understanding the program settings is only the first step - interpreting what they mean for your pathway is where true strategy begins.

At Southern Stone Migration, we specialise in transforming complex policy into tailored, forward looking visa solutions. Our approach is discreet, precise and deeply considered, ensuring every client receives guidance that aligns with their goals and long term future in Australia.

# PlanningLevels

18/05/2026

📢 Australia has just released the 2026–27 migration planning levels. The Employer Sponsored program receives a major boost - jumping from 44,000 to 58,040 places. That's 14,040 new opportunities in one year. This is one of the strongest signals yet that Australia is prioritising employer‑driven skilled migration.

For employers and skilled workers, this means a more favourable environment, more certainty, and a better chance to secure permanent residency through sponsorship.

At Southern Stone Migration, employer‑sponsored visas are one of our core strengths. We help businesses and applicants navigate these programs with clarity, strategy, and a deep understanding of how policy shifts translate into real‑world outcomes.

If you're considering an employer‑sponsored pathway, now is the time to plan ahead - and we're here to support you every step of the way.

📊 Data source: Australian Department of Home Affairs - Migration Program Planning Levels 2026–27: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/what-we-do/migration-program-planning-levels

12/05/2026

JUST ANNOUNCED: Australia’s Latest Migration Changes (2026–27 Budget)

The Australian Government has just released new updates to the migration program, reshaping priorities for skilled migration and trade workers.

Key highlights from the latest announcement:

• The permanent migration program will remain at current levels
• Skilled migration continues to be the main focus of the program
• The points test will be reformed to prioritise younger and more highly skilled applicants
• Faster pathways will be introduced for trade workers entering the workforce
• Improvements to skills recognition processes for in-demand occupations, including construction and trades

This marks a clear shift toward a skills-focused migration system, especially supporting in-demand trades and productive workers.

📌 Southern Stone Migration will continue to monitor and share further updates as more details are released.

Address

Suite 1, 241-243 Blackburn Road, Mount Waverley
Melbourne, VIC
3149

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+611300188999

Website

http://southernstone.com.au/contact-us/

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