Australian Immigration Daily News

The Australian Study Requirement PI was updated on 26 February 2021 to cover new students.

Section 3.13.3 (Online study) now states:

Note: The requirements that overseas students can study up to 25% of their course online and visa applicants must have been physically present in Australia for study to count towards meeting the Australian study requirement will not be applied to COVID-19 impacted Subclass 485 visa applicants.

The Director of the OMARA is sending out the following email today:

As advised in email correspondence of 22 February 2021, you have been identified as a registered migration agent (RMA) who holds an unrestricted legal practising certificate (ULPC).

Legislation commencing on 22 March 2021 will remove holders of ULPCs from the statutory scheme governing RMAs and as a result, on that date, holders of ULPCs will be removed from the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA) Register of Migration Agents (Register). 

Source:  Benchmark

Please note: the OMARA sanction of 8 March has been posted on the Department of Home Affairs website. 

https://www.facebook.com/AusHomeAffairs/photos/a.371903576177377/4101947543172943 

“The Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA) has sanctioned an agent on 8 March 2021. The OMARA found that the Agent had facilitated the lodgement of four nomination applications without the sponsoring employers’ knowledge or permission. The applications also contained false and misleading information and documents.

For details about the actions taken by the OMARA to protect visa clients visit: https://www.mara.gov.au/news-and-publications/public-notices”

Purpose of the bill

The bill was introduced into the House of Representatives on 10 December 2020 by the Minister for Home Affairs, the Hon Peter Dutton MP. In his Second Reading Speech, the minister explained the purpose of the bill and its provisions to amend the Migration Act 1958 (Migration Act):

Criminal intelligence and related information is vital to assessing the criminal background and associations of non-citizen visa applicants and visa holders. The measures in this bill will ensure that sensitive information – disclosed in confidence by law enforcement and intelligence agencies – is appropriately protected.