Australian Immigration Daily News

The Migration (Subclass 462 (Work and Holiday) Visa Pre-application Process) Determination (LIN 24/060) 2024, effective from 16 September 2024, introduces a pre-application process for the Subclass 462 visa. This process, applicable to countries such as India, China, and Vietnam, involves a random selection (ballot) of registered participants who seek to apply for the visa.

Key details:

• The ballot system is designed to manage high demand for the Subclass 462 visa from certain countries.
• To register for the pre-application process, applicants must be 18 to 30 years old and hold a valid passport from a participating country.
• Registration and selection periods will be published on the Department of Home Affairs website, and selections will be made via a computerised random draw.

The ballot system ensures fair and equitable access to the visa program, allowing selected participants to submit a visa application within a specified timeframe. This measure helps manage the volume of visa applications and aligns with bilateral agreements between Australia and participating countries.

The Migration (Arrangements for Work and Holiday (Subclass 462) Visa Applications) (India) Amendment Instrument (LIN 24/059) 2024 introduces key changes to visa eligibility for Indian nationals, effective from 16 September 2024. This amendment allows Indian passport holders to apply for the Subclass 462 (Work and Holiday) visa, under revised conditions set by the Australian Government.

Key points include:

• Indian nationals are now eligible to apply for the Subclass 462 visa.
• Indian applicants are exempt from the requirement to provide evidence of support from the Indian government for visa applications.
• Applicants must have successfully completed a minimum of 2 years post-secondary education to qualify.

This amendment follows the agreement reached between the Australian and Indian governments as part of the India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement, strengthening bilateral relations and promoting work and holiday opportunities between the two countries.

The Migration Amendment (Subclass 462 Work and Holiday Visa) Regulations 2024 introduces significant changes to the application process for the Subclass 462 Work and Holiday visa. The key amendment is the implementation of a visa pre-application process, often referred to as a "ballot," for applicants from certain countries. This process requires applicants from specified foreign countries, such as China, India, and Vietnam, to be randomly selected in a ballot before they can submit a valid visa application.

The amendment aims to manage the high demand for Subclass 462 visas from these countries more effectively and to ensure a fair distribution of visas. The ballot process allows all registered participants an equal opportunity to be selected, addressing the issue of oversubscription relative to the agreed visa allocation for each participating country.

The regulations also include provisions to maintain the integrity of the process, ensuring that applicants continue to hold a valid passport from the specified country throughout the application stages. The amendments are set to commence on 16 September 2024 and will apply to new applicants who have not previously held a Subclass 462 visa.

The document titled "Migration Visa Pre-Application Process Charge Amendment Work and Holiday Visa Regulations 2024 - Explanatory Statement" outlines amendments to the Migration (Visa Pre-application Process) Charge Regulations 2024. These amendments, issued under the authority of the Migration (Visa Pre-application Process) Charge Act 2023, specifically focus on the Subclass 462 (Work and Holiday) visa.

Key points include:

1. Charge Implementation: A charge of $25 is introduced for the registration of participants in a visa pre-application process (ballot) for the Subclass 462 visa. This charge is intended to ensure that only genuine applicants participate in the ballot, reducing the risk of disingenuous registrations that could undermine the process's integrity.

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Australia needs a National Migration Institute to address widespread misinformation about migration, which is threatening democracy and social cohesion, according to ANU expert Professor Alan Gamlen. The call for a National Migration Institute aims to provide clear, factual information on migration, counteracting myths and fear-driven narratives. The institute would focus on researching and educating the public about migration's true impact on Australia’s economy, society, and international relations.

Migration Alliance fully supports this initiative. Our founder, Liana Allan, also recommends establishing this institute as an essential step forward for the country. We must all get behind this effort to ensure that migration policies are informed by facts, not fear.

Read more: Australia-needs-a-National-Migration-Institute---ANU-expert.pdf.