Australian Immigration Daily News

The Migration Amendment (Subclass 462 Work and Holiday Visa) Regulations 2024 introduces significant changes to the application process for the Subclass 462 Work and Holiday visa. The key amendment is the implementation of a visa pre-application process, often referred to as a "ballot," for applicants from certain countries. This process requires applicants from specified foreign countries, such as China, India, and Vietnam, to be randomly selected in a ballot before they can submit a valid visa application.

The amendment aims to manage the high demand for Subclass 462 visas from these countries more effectively and to ensure a fair distribution of visas. The ballot process allows all registered participants an equal opportunity to be selected, addressing the issue of oversubscription relative to the agreed visa allocation for each participating country.

The regulations also include provisions to maintain the integrity of the process, ensuring that applicants continue to hold a valid passport from the specified country throughout the application stages. The amendments are set to commence on 16 September 2024 and will apply to new applicants who have not previously held a Subclass 462 visa.

The document titled "Migration Visa Pre-Application Process Charge Amendment Work and Holiday Visa Regulations 2024 - Explanatory Statement" outlines amendments to the Migration (Visa Pre-application Process) Charge Regulations 2024. These amendments, issued under the authority of the Migration (Visa Pre-application Process) Charge Act 2023, specifically focus on the Subclass 462 (Work and Holiday) visa.

Key points include:

1. Charge Implementation: A charge of $25 is introduced for the registration of participants in a visa pre-application process (ballot) for the Subclass 462 visa. This charge is intended to ensure that only genuine applicants participate in the ballot, reducing the risk of disingenuous registrations that could undermine the process's integrity.

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Australia needs a National Migration Institute to address widespread misinformation about migration, which is threatening democracy and social cohesion, according to ANU expert Professor Alan Gamlen. The call for a National Migration Institute aims to provide clear, factual information on migration, counteracting myths and fear-driven narratives. The institute would focus on researching and educating the public about migration's true impact on Australia’s economy, society, and international relations.

Migration Alliance fully supports this initiative. Our founder, Liana Allan, also recommends establishing this institute as an essential step forward for the country. We must all get behind this effort to ensure that migration policies are informed by facts, not fear.

Read more: Australia-needs-a-National-Migration-Institute---ANU-expert.pdf.

The Attorney-General, Hon Mark Dreyfus KC MP, has announced several key appointments to both the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) and the newly established Administrative Review Tribunal (ART), which will commence operations on 14 October 2024.

Mr. Michael Hawkins AM has been appointed as the inaugural Chief Executive Officer and Principal Registrar of the ART. Currently serving as the Registrar of the AAT, Mr. Hawkins brings a wealth of experience and leadership to his new role, having also served as a part-time AAT Member from 2016 to 2022.

In addition to Mr. Hawkins' appointment, 17 members have been appointed to the AAT, including one Senior Member and 16 Members, who will transition to the ART upon its commencement. Furthermore, 20 members have been appointed to the ART, consisting of 7 Senior Members and 13 General Members. All appointments were made following a transparent and merit-based selection process.