Australian Immigration Daily News

A member of Migration Alliance, and Registered Migration Agent, John Young, received the following email from the Department of Home Affairs today:

"Due to COVID-19 and the global travel bans, no Bridging Visa B’s for travel are being granted. 

The applicant can depart on their current Bridging Visa A but would need to apply for a new visa to enter Australia if their intention is to return, bearing in mind the travel restrictions and quarantine requirements. 

With Coronavirus starting to spike in Victoria, and new cases picking up again in NSW, now is probably not a good time for CPD providers to begin scheduling face-to-face CPD events.  This is especially the case for all-day events like 10 point blitzes which have RMAs sitting in close quarters for ten hours or more.  Social distancing would be particularly difficult for a workshop of up to thirty agents.

It makes sense to us that no face-to-face CPD events are scheduled for the Registered Migration Agent profession over the next few months.   

The current state-by-state rules and restrictions are clearly explained here by the Guardian:

The Deputy President and Division Head of the AAT- MRD has requested we distribute this information:

I am writing to let you know that the AAT is taking steps to resume some in-person hearings from 3 August 2020, at all AAT registries except for Melbourne. 

The AAT has, to date, been able to minimise the impact on our services through the provision of online registry support and by hearing matters remotely. However, we are mindful that there are some circumstances in which a remote hearing may not be practicable and where the matter may not be deferred. 

A media release by the Hon Alan Tudge MP, Minister for Education states as follows:

The Morrison Government is making a number of changes to student visa arrangements to ensure Australia remains a priority destination for international students as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic. International students are extremely important to Australia and our economy, contributing $40 billion annually and supporting 250,000 jobs.

Many also go on to become great Australian citizens. While the closure of our international borders has been critical to our success in slowing the spread of the coronavirus, and Australia has been a leader in this regard, it has presented challenges to the education sector and students, both here and offshore. These five visa changes will ensure international students are not worse off due to the coronavirus pandemic and that Australia remains competitive with other countries.

There are now a number of Facebook groups sprouting up for RMAs, Students, Action Groups for RMAs, Capstone Groups, Class Action Groups, and the list goes on and on.

Migration Alliance keeps an eye out across all of the available groups and can vouch for the professionalism, friendliness and mentoring shown within the following Facebook group for RMAs.  With around 2000 members this is the group we suggest:

• Support Network for Migration Professionals  An excellent Facebook group for RMAs established by Joey Barnard.  RMAs must provide their MARN when applying to enter the group.

These groups, in our view, also adhere to the "Relations Between Agents" requirements in the Code of Conduct and are effectively moderated so that they do not bring the migration industry into disrepute.