Australian Immigration Daily News

Some big changes have landed at Allianz Global Assistance, and on 16^th November 2020, Allianz Global Assistance commenced their rebrand to Allianz Care Australia.  These changes are a part of the International Health Transformation Project, which sees a major overhaul of systems and platforms as well as a transition to the global brand, Allianz Care.  The new transformation ensures Allianz Care can continue to be a progressive market leader and supports their strategy of becoming a truly global health partner.

Members with overseas student or overseas visitor health cover may have noticed the new branding in communications as well as updates to their member portal on the new Allianz Care Australia website. 

The new Allianz Care Australia website has an improved user-friendly design and a fresh look and feel.  Here members will still be able to find useful information to help during their stay in Australia, including:

BSMQ State Nomination Program Status

• The Skilled Program (Working in Queensland) 491 and 190 program is CLOSED.
• EOI s submitted from 01 07 Feb 2021 will continue to be assessed based on the published criteria.
• Queensland 491-SBO (Small Business Owners) Pathway is OPEN.
• The Business Program is OPEN.  

Skilled Program

The BSMQ Skilled program is now CLOSED. The next skilled opening will be in April 2021. EOI s submitted from 01-07 Feb 2021 will continue to be assessed based on the published criteria.

The following information was contained in an email sent to Migration Alliance today:

Skilled Migrants meeting the South Australian state nomination requirements will be able to directly apply for nomination from 8am, Monday 8th February 2021.

 
At this stage, any person who is currently residing offshore, or in another state of Australia, will not be eligible to apply. Full details of state nomination requirements can be viewed here.
 
Important: In order for South Australia to approve your nomination you will be required to meet both the Department of Home Affairs criteria and South Australia’s requirements. 
 
Our skilled migration program will focus on the following:    

Migration (Arrangements for Certain Skilled and Temporary Graduate Visa Applications) Amendment Instrument (LIN 20/297) 2020
This instrument amends the Migration (Arrangements for Certain Skilled Visa Applications) Instrument (LIN 20/162) 2020 to make a citation change and to correct a draft error in section 8.
Item was tabled on 2/02/2021
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2020L01703

Migration (COVID-19 Pandemic event for Subclass 408 (Temporary Activity) visa and visa application charge for Temporary Activity (Class GG) visa) Amendment Instrument (LIN 20/283) 2020
This instrument amends the class of person specified in subsection 8(2) of the Migration (LIN 20/229: COVID-19 Pandemic event for Subclass 408 (Temporary Activity) visa and visa application charge for Temporary Activity (Class GG) visa) Instrument 2020 to include any applicant whose substantive temporary visa is 90 days or less from ceasing to be in effect.
Item was tabled on 2/02/2021
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2021L00025

Migration (Income Threshold and Exemptions for Subclass 189 Visa (New Zealand Stream)) Instrument (LIN 20/170) 2020
This instrument specifies the minimum amount of taxable income for the income year 2019-2020 and previous income years since income year 2011-2012.
Item was tabled on 2/02/2021
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2020L01553

Migration (LIN 21/002: Places and Currencies for Paying of Fees) Instrument 2021
This instrument repeals the Migration (LIN 20/004: Places and Currencies for Paying of Fees) Instrument 2020 and specifies, for the purposes of paragraph 5.36(1)(a) and (b) of the Migration Regulations 1994, the places where a fee may be paid and the corresponding currencies in which a payment of a fee is to be made.
Item was tabled on 2/02/2021
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2020L01590

Migration (Regional Areas) Instrument (LIN 20/292) 2020
This instrument specifies parts of Australia to be a designated city or major regional centre or a regional centre or other regional area for the purposes of new regulation 1.15M of the Migration Regulations 1994. This is done by specifying postcodes for each area in table 1 and table 2 of Schedule 1 to the instrument, respectively.
Item was tabled on 2/02/2021
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2021L00044

Migration Amendment (Prospective Marriage Visas) Regulations 2020
This instrument amends the Migration Regulations 1994 to address the impact of COVID-19 travel restrictions by extending the duration of Subclass 300 (Prospective Marriage) visas, to 31 March 2022, if the visa holder or former holder was outside Australia on 10 December 2020, and the visa was in effect at any time during the period from 6 October 2020 to 10 December 2020.
Item was tabled on 2/02/2021
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2020L01577

Migration Amendment (Temporary Graduate Visas) Regulations 2020
This instrument amends the Migration Regulations 1994 to encourage international students to study in regional Australia on a student visa and to continue living in regional Australia on a temporary graduate visa. The regulations also make technical amendments to clarify the operation of a concession inserted by the Migration Amendment (COVID-19 Concessions) Regulations 2020.
Item was tabled on 2/02/2021
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2020L01639

Citizenship

Australian Citizenship (Class of Persons Who May Receive a Pledge of Commitment) Amendment (LIN 20/247) Instrument 2020
This instrument amends the Citizenship (LIN 20/084: Class of Persons Who May Receive a Pledge of Commitment) Instrument 2020 to include Governors of a State in Australia in a class of persons who are authorised to receive the Pledge.
Item was tabled on 2/02/2021
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2020L01684

Skilled migrants make a vital contribution to Australia. Prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 100,000 migrants entered Australia under the skilled migration program each year. These migrants play an important role in filling gaps in the Australian workforce and will continue to do so in future.

“The Committee will consider how we attract entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and highly skilled migrants to make Australia their first choice to invest, establish businesses and create jobs.”

Source: JSCOM---Skilled-Migrants.pdf