Australian Immigration Daily News

This instrument operates to determine international trade obligations of Australia for the purposes of paragraph 140GBA(1)(c) of the Act. 

Paragraph 140GBA(1)(c) provides that the labour market testing condition in section 140GBA only applies to a nomination by an approved sponsor if it would not be inconsistent with any international trade obligation of Australia to require the sponsor to satisfy conditions relating to labour market testing, as defined in subsection 140GBA(7). 

Subsection 140GBA(2) allows the Minister to determine, by legislative instrument, an obligation of Australia under international law that relates to international trade. An obligation determined by the Minister by legislative instrument includes obligations that may arise under any agreement between Australia and another country (or other countries).

This instrument sets the exchange rates for currencies by country.  The start date is 1 January 2019.

The instrument operates to specify, under paragraphs 5.36(1)(a) and 5.36(1)(b) of the Regulations, in relation to the payment of a fee, as defined in subregulation 5.36(4) of the Regulations (other than a visa application charge (VAC) payment to which subsection 5.36(3A) of the Regulations applies), the places and corresponding currencies in which those fee payments must be made.

The purpose of the instrument is to undertake one of the biannual updates of the places and corresponding currencies in which payment of a fee may be made.

Source: Migration-LIN-19001-Payment-of-Visa-Application-Charges-and-Fees-in-Foreign-Currencies-Instrument-2019.pdf

NSW has temporarily closed applications for nomination for certain visas under the federal government’s Business Innovation and Investment Program pending the release of additional places by the Department of Home Affairs.

Applications now closed

Applications for nominations for the following visas are now closed:
Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188) – Business Innovation stream
Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188) – Investor stream
Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188) – Significant Investor stream
Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188) – Entrepreneur stream
Business Talent (Permanent) visa (subclass 132) – Significant Business History stream
Business Talent (Permanent) visa (subclass 132 – Venture Capital Entrepreneur stream

Joint members of the MIA-Migration Alliance have provided us with a copy of the MIA's "Vale - Kevin Lane FMIA' announcement today:

"It is with the greatest sadness that the MIA informs members that Kevin Lane, FMIA, passed away last night."

Migration Alliance recognises the contribution that Kevin Lane has made to the profession. Kevin had many friends within the industry.

The Bulletin regularly includes a sample of decisions recently published in the AAT’s Migration & Refugee Division and Social Services & Child Support Division.

It occasionally includes information on legislative changes that affect the AAT.

Source: AAT-Bulletin-17-Dec-2018.pdf