York Immigration Services Australia

24/11/2021

The Australian government has announced easing of the Australian border restrictions starting from 1 December 2021. From 1 December 2021, fully vaccinated travellers to Australia may enter Australia without needing to apply for a Travel Exemption. In order to be eligible, you must hold an eligible v...

09/07/2021

We have rebranded to Verde Lawyers!

York Immigration Services Australia and Davityan Lawyers are excited to announce that we have merged our expertise to establish the new firm Verde Lawyers.

Our Principal Solicitor Shahen Davityan and our team at Verde Lawyers are committed to providing you with the same standard of high-quality advice and work. We are located in the same office and we will continue to prioritise the needs of our clients to obtain the best possible outcome.

Verde Lawyers is excited to grow and continue to provide excellence in all our areas of practice. Our team would like to thank you for your continued support over the years.

If you have any questions about any legal or migration matters, please email our friendly team at [email protected] and we'll get back to you as soon as we can. You can find more information about Verde Lawyers at www.verdelawyers.com.

Thank You,
Verde Lawyers

10/06/2021

IMPORTANT CHANGES FOR STUDENT VISA HOLDERS
On 8 May 2021, the Australian government announced two important updates for student visa holders.

WORKING HOUR CAP TEMPORARILY REMOVED
For international students working whilst on a Subclass 500 visa, the 40-hour fortnightly working hour limit for when your course is in session will be temporarily removed if you are employed in the following sectors:
· Employed by an aged care Approved Provider or Commonwealth-funded aged care service provider with a RACS ID or a NAPS ID, before 8 September 2020;
· Employed by a registered National Disability Insurance Scheme provider;
· Enrolled in a health care related course and you are supporting the health effort against COVID-19, as directed by health officials;
· Employed in the agriculture sector; or,
· Employed in the tourism and hospitality sector.

To check if you fall within these categories, refer to the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) system for definitions of each sector.

However, students need to ensure they continue to comply with their student visa conditions including:
· Maintaining enrolment in their course;
· Ensuring satisfactory course attendance; and
· Ensuring satisfactory course progress.

Students holding a Subclass 500 visa should regularly refer to the Department of Home Affairs website regarding the working hours cap as this is a temporary change.

ACCESS TO THE SUBCLASS 408 VISA
Students holding a Subclass 500 visa may also be eligible to apply for a Subclass 408 visa under the COVID-19 Pandemic event if:
· You are working or have an offer of employment in the critical sectors mentioned above; and,
· You have finished your course.

Upon meeting these requirements, you can only apply for this visa 90 days before your student visa is due to expire. This visa will allow you to remain in Australia for up to an additional 12 months.

If you are interested in applying for a Subclass 408 visa, or wish to learn more about the recent changes, please contact our friendly team at [email protected] or call us on 02 9283 5290 to schedule a consultation.

On 8 May 2021, the Australian government announced two important updates for student visa holders. Working hour cap temporarily removed For international students working whilst on a Subclass 500 visa, the 40-hour fortnightly working hour limit for when your course is in session will be temporarily....

07/06/2021

CHANGES TO THE BUSINESS INNOVATION AND INVESTMENT VISA
Changes to the Subclass 188 visa were announced by the Australian government on 17 December 2020 and these will be implemented on 1 July 2021. If you are a current holder of a Subclass 188 visa, it is important you are aware of these changes to prepare for your Subclass 888 visa.

These changes will also affect new applicants for the Subclass 188 visa. The Australian federal government and the NSW governments are seeking to attract business, investors, entrepreneurs, targeted skilled migrants and students with proven business acumen under this program.

This program is ideal if you are looking to invest in the Australian economy, manage a business in Australia or conduct investment or entrepreneurial activities in Australia. Holders of the Subclass 188 visa are also exempt from current COVID-19 travel exemptions, can travel in and out of Australia, and bring family members.

Key changes for current visa holders
1. Applications to extend your Subclass 188 visa
If you do not meet the requirements to apply for permanent residency under the Subclass 888 visa and hold either a Business Innovation provisional visa or Significant Investor provisional visa, you have the option of applying for a two-year extension of your current Subclass 188 visa.

Under the new changes:
• Business Innovation: You can apply for one 1-year extension and must demonstrate a realistic commitment to continuing to manage a business that has been actively operating for the previous two years.
• Significant Investor: You can apply for two 2-year extensions and must continue to maintain your complying significant investment.
Key changes for new applicants

2. Available streams
There will only be four visa streams within the Subclass 188 visa: Business Innovation, Entrepreneur, Investor and Significant Investor. Applications for the Premium Investor, Significant Business History and Venture Capital Entrepreneur streams are closed and only applications lodged before 31 May 2021 are being processed.

3. Length of the Subclass 188 visa
The Subclass 188 visa will now be valid for five years instead of 4 years and 3 months.

This means applicants now have additional time to meet the requirements to for permanent residency under the Subclass 888 visa. To apply for a Subclass 888 visa, you must meet the requirements after 3 years of holding your Subclass 188 visa.

4. Requirements for the Business Innovation stream
These have increased under the new changes, and these can differ if you are seeking to migrate to Sydney or regional NSW. At the federal level, the applicant must hold net personal and business assets of at least $1.25 million and businesses with an annual turnover of at least $750,000.

5. Requirements for the Entrepreneur stream
The previous $200,000 funding threshold has been removed as a requirement. However, applicants still need to be nominated by the State or Territory government they are applying in.

The Australian government has not yet released the full changes to the Subclass 188 visa that will be implemented, but our office will keep you updated as soon as the details are released.

If you are interested in applying for a Subclass 188 Business Innovation and Investment visa, or wish to learn more, please contact our friendly team at [email protected] or call us on 02 9283 5290 to schedule a consultation.

Changes to the Subclass 188 visa were announced by the Australian government on 17 December 2020 and these will be implemented on 1 July 2021. If you are a current holder of a Subclass 188 visa, it is important you are aware of these changes to prepare for your Subclass 888 visa. These changes will....

29/01/2021

PARENT VISAS: PARENTS NOW ALLOWED TO REMAIN IN AUSTRALIA TO HAVE THEIR VISAS APPROVED
The Australian government has just announced that the requirement for parent visa applicants to be overseas for the grant of their visa will be temporarily waived. This includes applicants for the Subclass 103 Parent visa, Subclass 173 Contributory Parent visa and the Subclass 143 Contributory Parent visa.

This means that Parent visa applicants who have been unable to travel overseas for the grant of their visa due to the COVID-19 pandemic will now be allowed to remain in Australia to have their visa granted.

Whilst there has not yet been a set date for when the temporary changes will take effect, the government has stated that it will be in the first quarter of 2021.

If you or your family member is interested in learning more about Parent visas or other options for migration to Australia, please contact our friendly team at [email protected] or on 02 9283 5290.

The Australian government has just announced that the requirement for parent visa applicants to be overseas for the grant of their visa will be temporarily waived. This includes applicants for the Subclass 103 Parent visa, Subclass 173 Contributory Parent visa and the Subclass 143 Contributory Paren...

27/10/2020

SUBCLASS 188 BUSINESS INNOVATION AND INVESTMENT VISA
The Australian government recently announced that holders of a Subclass 188 Business Innovation and Investment Visa are exempt from the travel restrictions and can enter Australia without obtaining an individual exemption. A Subclass 188 visa will allow you to travel in and out of Australia while you hold the visa, bring some family members to Australia with you and you may be eligible for permanent residency by applying for a subclass 888 visa.

What is the Subclass 188 Business Innovation and Investment Visa?
The Subclass 188 visa allows people with business skills to reside in Australia and to own and manage a business in Australia, conduct business and investment activity in Australia or undertake entrepreneurial activity in Australia. The visa has several different streams:

-Business Innovation stream - for people who want to establish, develop and manage a business in Australia.
-Investor stream - for people who want to make a designated investment of at least AUD$1.5 million in an Australian State or Territory and maintain business and investment activity in Australia.
-Significant Investor stream - for people who want to invest at least AUD$5 million in complying investments in Australia and maintain business and investment activity in Australia.
-Premium Investor stream - for people who want to invest at least AUD$15 million in complying investments in Australia and maintain business and investment activity in Australia.
-Entrepreneur stream - for those who have a funding agreement with a third party to carry out entrepreneurial activities.
The visa allows applicants to include family members and visa holders may extend their visas or be eligible for permanent residency through the Subclass 888 stream.

How do I apply for a Subclass 188 Business Innovation and Investment Visa?
The Subclass 188 visa application has 3 steps:
1. Expression of Interest
You must submit an expression of interest indicating which State or Territory you wish to seek nomination from and outlining how you meet the criteria for the stream you wish to apply for. The expression of interest may be submitted from within Australia or overseas.

2. State or Territory Nomination
Once you have submitted your expression of interest, you may receive a nomination from the State or Territory. Each State and Territory has their own requirements for nominating a person for a subclass 188 visa. Please contact us if you want to know more about the different requirements.

3. Visa Application
If you are invited to apply for the subclass 188 visa, you can apply from within Australia or overseas, with certain exceptions (contact us to learn more about the exceptions). Your visa application must satisfy the requirements for the subclass 188 visa and the requirements for your particular stream.

If you are interested in applying for a Subclass 188 Business Innovation and Investment visa, or wish to learn more, please contact our friendly team at [email protected] or call us on 02 9283 5290 to schedule a consultation.

The Australian government recently announced that holders of a Subclass 188 Business Innovation and Investment Visa are exempt from the travel restrictions and can enter Australia without obtaining an individual exemption. A Subclass 188 visa will allow you to travel in and out of Australia while yo...

15/09/2020

COVID-19: FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR OVERSEAS AUSTRALIANS
Australian citizens and in some circumstances, Australian permanent residents, who have been unable to return to Australia due to COVID-19 restrictions and are suffering from financial hardship may be eligible to access financial support from the Australian government. The financial support comes in the form of loans and grants, and is aimed at covering living costs and/or a flight back to Australia.

You can apply if you:

-are an Australian citizen
If you’re an Australian permanent resident, you may be eligible to receive funding if an immediate family member who is an Australian citizen applies on your behalf.

If the only Australian citizen in the family is a child, other links to Australia will need to be identified before a loan can be approved (e.g. Australian residential property).

-are at least 18 years of age

-have made all reasonable efforts to seek financial assistance through other means. You’ll need to provide evidence of this. See examples of documentation under ‘The application process’ section.

-In addition, you and/or the immediate family member over 18 years of age you’re applying on behalf of, need to meet one or more of the following criteria. You:

-are overseas temporarily and want to return to Australia urgently for medical or other reasons

-are in financial distress as a result of the travel disruptions caused by COVID-19

-require financial assistance to shelter in place until you can secure a seat, or purchase a ticket to return to Australia

-are in a location with restricted or no available commercial airlines operating.

Australian citizens and in some circumstances, Australian permanent residents, who have been unable to return to Australia due to COVID-19 restrictions and are suffering from financial hardship may be eligible to access financial support from the Australian government. The financial support comes in...

15/09/2020

UPDATED EXEMPT PERSONS LIST FOR TRAVEL TO AUSTRALIA
The Department has updated their travel restrictions to allow additional categories of persons to be exempted from travel restrictions. These people may enter Australia without obtaining an individual travel exemption:

-an Australian citizen
-a permanent resident of Australia
-an immediate family member of an Australian citizen or permanent resident*
-a New Zealand citizen usually resident in Australia and their immediate family members
-a diplomat accredited to Australia (holding a subclass 995 visa)
-a traveller transiting Australia for 72 hours or less
-airline crew
-maritime crew including marine pilots
-recruited under the Government approved Seasonal Worker Program or Pacific Labour Scheme
-holder of a Business Innovation and Investment (subclass 188) visa

* certain immediate family members who hold a temporary visa or do not hold a valid visa must apply for an exemption before travelling to Australia

If you require help with a visa application please contact our friendly team at [email protected]

The Department has updated their travel restrictions to allow additional categories of persons to be exempted from travel restrictions. These people may enter Australia without obtaining an individual travel exemption: an Australian citizen a permanent resident of Australia an immediate family membe...

02/09/2020

NEW PRIORITY MIGRATION SKILLED OCCUPATION LIST
Earlier today the Department of Home Affairs released a new Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL) identifying 17 occupations which fill critical skills needs to support the Australian recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. Employer sponsored nomination and visa applications with an occupation on the PMSOL list will be given priority processing, although all other skilled occupation lists will still remain active.

The occupations on the PMSOL list are:

· Chief Executive or Managing Director (111111)

· Construction Project Manager (133111)

· Mechanical Engineer (233512)

· General Practitioner (253111)

· Resident Medical Officer (253112)

· Psychiatrist (253411)

· Medical Practitioner nec (253999)

· Midwife (254111)

· Registered Nurse (Aged Care) (254412)

· Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency) (254415)

· Registered Nurse (Medical) (254418)

· Registered Nurse (Mental Health) (254422)

· Registered Nurse (Perioperative) (254423)

· Registered Nurses nec (254499)

· Developer Programmer (261312)

· Software Engineer (261313)

· Maintenance Planner (312911)

Visa holders who have been sponsored by an Australian business in a PMSOL occupation are able to request an exemption from Australia's travel restrictions, but will still be subject to the strict 14 day quarantine upon arrival at their own expense.

If you or a family member require assistance with a visa application or an appeal, contact us now at [email protected] to find out more or to book an appointment.

Earlier today the Department of Home Affairs released a new Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL) identifying 17 occupations which fill critical skills needs to support the Australian recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. Employer sponsored nomination and visa applications with an occupa...

27/08/2020

CHANGES TO TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS FOR AUSTRALIAN CITIZENS AND PERMANENT RESIDENTS
With the ongoing COVID-19 situation constantly changing, the Department of Home Affairs has changed the requirements for Australians and permanent residents seeking to leave Australia. If you are seeking to leave Australia, you must apply for a travel exemption and meet the necessary criteria and provide evidence to support your claims for travel. All evidence provided must be officially translated into English and you should apply for an exemption at least two weeks but not more than three months before you plan to travel.

For more details on the requirements and evidence necessary, please see the Department of Home Affairs website: https://covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/leaving-australia

With the ongoing COVID-19 situation constantly changing, the Department of Home Affairs has changed the requirements for Australians and permanent residents seeking to leave Australia. If you are seeking to leave Australia, you must apply for a travel exemption and meet the necessary criteria and pr...

21/07/2020

NEW TRAVEL RESTRICTION EXEMPTION PORTAL
The Department of Home Affairs has released a new Portal for people who meet the following criteria and want to travel into or out of Australia during the current COVID-19 travel restrictions:
• are an immediate family member of an Australian citizen or permanent resident (being spouses, de facto partners, dependent children and legal guardians)
• are a New Zealand citizen who is usually resident in Australia
• have a compelling or compassionate reason to travel to Australia urgently, including critical skills and medical emergencies
• believe you meet a departure travel restriction exemption.

Please note that requests should be submitted at least 4 weeks, but not more than 3 months, prior to travel. It is best to check the Department of Home Affairs website regularly as the travel restrictions may change at any time.

https://travel-exemptions.homeaffairs.gov.au/tep

The Department of Home Affairs has released a new Portal for people who meet the following criteria and want to travel into or out of Australia during the current COVID-19 travel restrictions: are an immediate family member of an Australian citizen or permanent resident (being spouses, de facto part...