Australian Immigration Daily News

This Bill seeks to amend the Migration Act 1958 to enable, for a specified period, applicants for any visa to be granted the visa while either onshore or offshore. Applicants for various visa subclasses are required by the Migration Regulations 1994 to be either outside, or inside, Australia at the time of visa grant. Ordinarily, applicants who are in Australia on temporary visas can leave and return to the country relatively easily in order to meet this requirement. Similarly, applicants who may be working or travelling overseas on a temporary basis can return to Australia to be granted a visa, should they be required to do so.

The Bill enables the grant of visas onshore or offshore on a temporary basis, from the day after the Royal Assent is received until 31 December 2021, after which time the current processing requirements would resume.

Source: Migration-Amendment-Common-Sense-for-all-visas-Bill.pdf and

The following email update has been sent by the Director of the OMARA to Migration Alliance:

Some big changes have landed at Allianz Global Assistance, and on 16^th November 2020, Allianz Global Assistance commenced their rebrand to Allianz Care Australia.  These changes are a part of the International Health Transformation Project, which sees a major overhaul of systems and platforms as well as a transition to the global brand, Allianz Care.  The new transformation ensures Allianz Care can continue to be a progressive market leader and supports their strategy of becoming a truly global health partner.

Members with overseas student or overseas visitor health cover may have noticed the new branding in communications as well as updates to their member portal on the new Allianz Care Australia website. 

The new Allianz Care Australia website has an improved user-friendly design and a fresh look and feel.  Here members will still be able to find useful information to help during their stay in Australia, including:

BSMQ State Nomination Program Status

• The Skilled Program (Working in Queensland) 491 and 190 program is CLOSED.
• EOI s submitted from 01 07 Feb 2021 will continue to be assessed based on the published criteria.
• Queensland 491-SBO (Small Business Owners) Pathway is OPEN.
• The Business Program is OPEN.  

Skilled Program

The BSMQ Skilled program is now CLOSED. The next skilled opening will be in April 2021. EOI s submitted from 01-07 Feb 2021 will continue to be assessed based on the published criteria.

The following information was contained in an email sent to Migration Alliance today:

Skilled Migrants meeting the South Australian state nomination requirements will be able to directly apply for nomination from 8am, Monday 8th February 2021.

 
At this stage, any person who is currently residing offshore, or in another state of Australia, will not be eligible to apply. Full details of state nomination requirements can be viewed here.
 
Important: In order for South Australia to approve your nomination you will be required to meet both the Department of Home Affairs criteria and South Australia’s requirements. 
 
Our skilled migration program will focus on the following: