Australian Immigration Daily News

Generally, an application for a student visa (subclass 500) will need to be accompanied by sufficient evidence of English where appropriate. Whilst evidence of English language is not a time of application criteria, applicants seeking to meet the primary criteria for grant of a student visa must provide evidence of English language proficiency in order for the visa to be granted. The maximum time periods in which an English test must be taken is either two years before the application is lodged or two years before a decision is made on the application.  The Department of Home Affairs will accept the following tests in order to satisfy the English language requirements:

• IELTS Test
• TOEFL iBT
• Certificate in Advanced English
• PTE and;
• OET

Relevant test score can be found here: https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2018C00474

Students who have completed a Toefl paper based test will be able to rely on instrument “English Language Tests and Evidence Exemptions for Subclass 500 (Student) Visas 2016/019 (IMMI 16/019)” as it continues to apply in relation to applications for a Subclass 500 (Student) visa if that application is made before 6 June 2018 and is not finally determined on or before 6 June 2018.

I have just lodged my online repeat registration as a RMA, and the payment system on the Office of the MARA website is now working again.  My repeat registration fee was successfully processed on the OMARA website today.  

I believe mine was the first application to be lodged online since the online payment system went down.

As reported previously, the Department of Home Affairs confirmed that Skilling Australians Fund is likely to commence in the first quarter of the new migration year.   An estimated $1.5 billion will be available from the Commonwealth for the ongoing Fund between 2017–18 to 2021–22. With matched funding from states and territories (states), the Fund will grow the number of apprentices and trainees to support Australia's future productivity, jobs and growth.

It has now been publicly announced that Five states have signed have signed the Agreement: New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory. These states will have the opportunity to develop projects for consideration by the Australian Government. 

During a recent press release statement Hon Karen Andrews MP stated that “The Turnbull Government is committed to seeing an extra 300,000 apprenticeships over the coming four years through the Skilling Australians Fund and I expect that many of them will find on-going employment with Australia’s various manufacturers.”

On the 19th of July 2018, the Hon Minister Alan Tudge MP delivered a speech at the Australia-UK Leadership Forum in London. 

The subjects covered were immigration, social cohesion, unemployment rates, immigration, border security, migrant integration, multiculturalism, population trends, business migration, national values and citizenship. 

Source: Lessons-from-Australia-----Speech-at-Australia-UK-Leadership-Forum.pdf

The purpose of this instrument is to amend the application of the repeal provision in Part 2 of Schedule 2 to the instrument.

The amendment is to clarify that, despite its repeal, IMMI 16/019 applies to all applications for a Subclass 500 (Student) visa made, but not finally determined, before 6 June 2018, the date of commencement of IMMI 18/015.

This is consistent with Part 3 of IMMI 18/015, which provides that the instrument applies to applications made on or after commencement. The amended savings provision still covers applicants who took the TOEFL-PBT and submitted their application before 6 June 2018.