Australian Immigration Daily News

For the complete update please see the link below for Temproary Protection Visas (TPV) and Safe Haven Enterprise Visas (SHEV):

TPV-and-SHEV-briefing.pdf

Minor changes on approved forms and place of lodgement:

8. Specification of Arrangements for E-Visitor and Subclass 676 Applications: http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/F2015L00559

The purpose of the Instrument is to specify the form numbers of the approved form or forms, the manner of lodgement and the addresses to which an application must be made for applications for subclass 676 (Tourist) and subclass 651 (eVisitor) visas

1: New TSMIT and highly paid position for 457 and ENS: http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/F2015L00569

The purpose of the Instrument is to specify that the annual earnings threshold for the purposes of subregulation 2.72(10AB) and paragraph 2.79(1A)(b) is AUD 180,000. In addition, the Instrument retains the temporary skilled migration income threshold, specified in paragraph 2.72(10)(cc) under the previous Instrument, at AUD 53,900.

The Instrument is made following an independent review of the Subclass 457 Programme, the 457 Integrity Review, which recommended amending the threshold annual earnings amount to improve the flexibility with which businesses can employ skilled and desirable employees.

The following information has been received from BSMQ:

The Commonwealth Government has advised that nominations for the Significant Investor Visa (SIV) will be suspended from 24 April 2015 until 30 June 2015.

This means that state and territory governments, including Queensland, cannot make any nominations during this period.

If you wish to apply to the Queensland Government for a Significant Investor Visa under the current criteria and receive your nomination before 24 April, the following timeframes will apply:

• Lodge an Expression of Interest via SkillSelect by 17 April 2015;
   
• You will then be sent an email from BSMQ requesting further information, which will be required to be returned by 21 April 2015.

We ask that you send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. when you have lodged your Expression of Interest in SkillSelect.

For more information about the temporary suspension visit the Department of Immigration and Border Protection.

Agents and applicants should urgently check the postal address on any acknowledgement/grant/refusal letter.

An agent member of MA lodged a student visa app online on Friday and the address on the back of the letter and grant letter was the applicant's previous address. The electronic application form shows the correct residential address.

This has implications for refusal letters being sent to the wrong address.