Australian Immigration Daily News

The Albanese Labor Government is easing financial insecurity for temporary visa holders leaving a violent relationship.

We don’t want any person experiencing violence to have to choose between their safety or financial security and we know those on temporary visas can often face additional barriers to escaping family and domestic violence.

From today the Government will boost the financial assistance available to temporary visa holders experiencing family and domestic violence from the current $3000 to $5000.

The Government has committed $4.4 million over two years for the increase which is expected to assist up to 2000 people nationally.

The funding is in addition to the $38.2 million committed to extend the Temporary Visa Holders Experiencing Violence Pilot and Escaping Violence Payment trial to 31 January 2025.

Source: Increasing-financial-support-for-visa-holders-experiencing-violence.pdf

List of courses revealed for students to receive extended post-study work rights - Courses allow to receive extended working rights - CRICOS courses eligible for extended poststudy work rights - Paper Below

The full list of courses that allow international graduates to receive extended post-study working rights has been released.

If anyone needed another reason to study in Australia, international students enrolled in courses linked to workforce shortages can apply to live and work for longer in Australia.

From 1 July 2023, a two-year extension of post-study work rights is available for international graduates enrolled in eligible courses including teaching, nursing, and engineering.

There are over 3,000 eligible courses available. International graduates enrolled in these courses will have an additional two years added to their Temporary Graduate visa.

Source: List-of-courses-revealed-for-students-to-receive-extended-post-study-work-rights.pdf

DEPT HOME AFFAIRS:

From 1 July 2023, New Zealand citizens who have been living in Australia for four years or more will be eligible to apply directly for Australian citizenship. They will no longer need to first apply for and be granted a permanent visa. This means all New Zealand citizens who hold a permanent visa or a Special Category (subclass 444) visa (SCV) are eligible to apply directly for citizenship (by conferral).

These changes only apply to citizenship applications submitted on or after 1 July 2023. If you are a New Zealand citizen, you can check on the day you want to apply to confirm your eligibility.

Source: Direct-pathway-to-Australian-citizenship-for-New-Zealand-citizens.pdf

Purpose

The purpose of the instrument is to specify the qualifications that entitle certain graduates from Australian educational institutions to apply for an additional Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa in the Post-Study Work stream at no cost – i.e. without paying a visa application charge (VAC).

The Migration Regulations, as amended from 1 July 2023 by the Migration Amendment (Extension of Subclass 485 (Temporary Graduate) Visa and Increase in Subclass 500 (Student) Visa Work Hours) Regulations 2023, provide the Minister with flexibility to extend post-study stay in Australia with unrestricted work rights for certain international students who have graduated from an Australian higher education provider. The policy is to provide the extended stay to graduates with specified qualifications that are in high demand.

The extended stay will be implemented, under policy, from 1 July 2023. Current settings, detailed in published policy, will be increased by two years. This will extend post-study stay in Australia from:

The amendments made by this instrument implement a commitment made before the 2022 federal election. The lifting of the TSMIT from $53,900 to $70,000 is the amount the TSMIT would have been, had it been indexed annually since 2013.

The increase in the TSMIT is in line with the Government’s policy intention, to ensure skilled migrant workers are able to sufficiently support themselves while in Australia and to provide a safeguard against exploitation.

This instrument will also insert an application provision to ensure nomination applications lodged prior to 1 July 2023 but not finally determined will continue to be assessed against the TSMIT of $53,900.