Australian Immigration Daily News

Migration (Arrangements for Certain Skilled and Temporary Graduate Visa Applications) Amendment Instrument (LIN 20/297) 2020
This instrument amends the Migration (Arrangements for Certain Skilled Visa Applications) Instrument (LIN 20/162) 2020 to make a citation change and to correct a draft error in section 8.
Item was tabled on 2/02/2021
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2020L01703

Migration (COVID-19 Pandemic event for Subclass 408 (Temporary Activity) visa and visa application charge for Temporary Activity (Class GG) visa) Amendment Instrument (LIN 20/283) 2020
This instrument amends the class of person specified in subsection 8(2) of the Migration (LIN 20/229: COVID-19 Pandemic event for Subclass 408 (Temporary Activity) visa and visa application charge for Temporary Activity (Class GG) visa) Instrument 2020 to include any applicant whose substantive temporary visa is 90 days or less from ceasing to be in effect.
Item was tabled on 2/02/2021
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2021L00025

Migration (Income Threshold and Exemptions for Subclass 189 Visa (New Zealand Stream)) Instrument (LIN 20/170) 2020
This instrument specifies the minimum amount of taxable income for the income year 2019-2020 and previous income years since income year 2011-2012.
Item was tabled on 2/02/2021
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2020L01553

Migration (LIN 21/002: Places and Currencies for Paying of Fees) Instrument 2021
This instrument repeals the Migration (LIN 20/004: Places and Currencies for Paying of Fees) Instrument 2020 and specifies, for the purposes of paragraph 5.36(1)(a) and (b) of the Migration Regulations 1994, the places where a fee may be paid and the corresponding currencies in which a payment of a fee is to be made.
Item was tabled on 2/02/2021
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2020L01590

Migration (Regional Areas) Instrument (LIN 20/292) 2020
This instrument specifies parts of Australia to be a designated city or major regional centre or a regional centre or other regional area for the purposes of new regulation 1.15M of the Migration Regulations 1994. This is done by specifying postcodes for each area in table 1 and table 2 of Schedule 1 to the instrument, respectively.
Item was tabled on 2/02/2021
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2021L00044

Migration Amendment (Prospective Marriage Visas) Regulations 2020
This instrument amends the Migration Regulations 1994 to address the impact of COVID-19 travel restrictions by extending the duration of Subclass 300 (Prospective Marriage) visas, to 31 March 2022, if the visa holder or former holder was outside Australia on 10 December 2020, and the visa was in effect at any time during the period from 6 October 2020 to 10 December 2020.
Item was tabled on 2/02/2021
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2020L01577

Migration Amendment (Temporary Graduate Visas) Regulations 2020
This instrument amends the Migration Regulations 1994 to encourage international students to study in regional Australia on a student visa and to continue living in regional Australia on a temporary graduate visa. The regulations also make technical amendments to clarify the operation of a concession inserted by the Migration Amendment (COVID-19 Concessions) Regulations 2020.
Item was tabled on 2/02/2021
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2020L01639

Citizenship

Australian Citizenship (Class of Persons Who May Receive a Pledge of Commitment) Amendment (LIN 20/247) Instrument 2020
This instrument amends the Citizenship (LIN 20/084: Class of Persons Who May Receive a Pledge of Commitment) Instrument 2020 to include Governors of a State in Australia in a class of persons who are authorised to receive the Pledge.
Item was tabled on 2/02/2021
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2020L01684

Skilled migrants make a vital contribution to Australia. Prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 100,000 migrants entered Australia under the skilled migration program each year. These migrants play an important role in filling gaps in the Australian workforce and will continue to do so in future.

“The Committee will consider how we attract entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and highly skilled migrants to make Australia their first choice to invest, establish businesses and create jobs.”

Source: JSCOM---Skilled-Migrants.pdf

Subclass 190 and 491 now open 

The standard 491 and 190 program is currently OPEN from 1 February 2021 - 07 February 2021. Only onshore applicants, currently working in Queensland will be considered. The next skilled opening after this week will be in April 2021.

Please submit a BRAND new EOI if you meet the criteria and occupation/sector requirements below. 

The Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Subclass 491 visa (from 65 points and above)

The standard subclass 491 pathway and subclass 190 will not re-open until the 01 February 2021, and new EOIs for the skilled program will not be picked up until this time, so please do not submit an EOI prior to this date. 

491- SBO (Small Business Owner) Pathway

IMPORTANT: Applicants need to submit a 491-SBO Assessment Form prior to submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI), so that your EOI will be picked up.

The Tasmanian Nominated Skilled Migration Program will reopen with updated requirements to general applications on 29 January 2021 at 1pm (AEDT). 

Until this time interim program restrictions remain in place. 

Due to related system maintenance, online application access will be shut down at 5pm (AEDT) 28 January 2021 and all draft applications on-hand will be closed and archived.