Australian Immigration Daily News

The following information is found on the Department of Home Affairs website, updated on 28 November 2020:

From 19 September 2020, a number of concessions will be available for certain visa holders impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 concessions are to help you continue on your visa pathway if you have been disadvantaged by COVID-19 border closures, business restrictions or the economic downturn.

The following email has been received today:

The Morrison Government is making further changes to the Family visa program to support applicants impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The Government has been working over recent months to minimise the impact of COVID-19 on visa holders and has already introduced a number of arrangements to support those who have been impacted. This includes providing visa holders flexibility to remain in Australia, or to continue their visa pathway even if they have been unable to travel due to the current international border restrictions.   

Skilled Migration program allocation 

South Australia is yet to receive our full allocation of nomination places, and is therefore not in a position to open a full Skilled Migration program at this stage.

Their interim process will continue until further notice with applicants who meet state-nomination requirements encouraged to lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI) through the Department of Home Affairs SkillSelect system.

If the state is satisfied with your EOI, you will be invited to submit an online application for state nomination.

Please review the current state nomination requirements. if you are identified as an applicant who meets the Commonwealth and State Government critical skills, SA State nomination authority will send you an invitation to submit an application for state nomination.

Applicants living and working in regional South Australia will continue to be prioritised for nomination.  

Source: https://www.migration.sa.gov.au/news-events/skilled-migration-program-allocation-update

The following email has been received from the Department of Home Affairs today:

The Department of Home Affairs advises that on 27 November 2020, the Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL) was updated to include the occupation of Social Worker (272511), based on advice from the National Skills Commission. 

As you know, the Government is committed to protecting the health of Australians during the global pandemic and is carefully calibrating skilled migration to fill critical skills needs that support Australia’s economic recovery from COVID-19. On 2 September 2020, the Government announced the introduction of a Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL) as part of this commitment.

Priority IELTS booking for Victorian Employer Sponsored Visas (subclass 186 and 187) applicants

As a result of Covid-19 restrictions across Victoria, some applicants for Subclass 186 or a Subclass 187 have been unable to get their IELTS test in time to lodge an application. If these applicants are unable to lodge a visa application, they could experience significant delays. Or they may have to restart the nomination process. Some applicants could lose the ability to obtain the visa altogether if, for example, they no longer meet the age requirement.

In collaboration with the Department of Home Affairs, IELTS has offered to help these applicants with a priority booking.