Australian Immigration Daily News

Since the global financial crisis we have been impressing on clients the need to have a diversified portfolio, both by assets class and geographically. It’s been a sound strategy as over the past decade it has become clear we are in an age of change, and it is driving volatility and making the wealthy ponder how to protect their wealth.

Events like the GFC, European sovereign crisis in 2011, Chinese stock market crash in 2016, trade wars last year and COVID-19 this year have made markets difficult to navigate, and increased reliance on Australian migration and immigration agents to provide avenues for investment guidance.

We have adopted the term VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, confusion and ambiguity) to describe this change, and it is being driven by technology, globalisation, rising lifespans and increasing wealth in developing nations, particularly China.

It’s well-known that moving to a foreign country can be extremely stressful. There’s the pressure of settling into a new home, job or school, adjusting to the culture and language, and being far away from usual family and friend networks.

It’s also natural to feel worried about the impact of COVID-19, and social distancing and self-isolation can make things particularly challenging.

Providing mental health and wellbeing support for your clients is a crucial element of the important job you do.

Do you think you have seen and heard it all?

Well, sometimes when you read through the decisions of the Federal Courts, you can find something that is amazingly, astonishingly, insanely bad.

Are you ready for this one?

A fast track decision is one where the Department of Home Affairs refused the application because of a discrete criterion that does not require a subjective assessment, and evidence has now been given to the Tribunal that unequivocally satisfies the objective criterion in dispute. For example, if a visa application was refused only because suitable evidence of an English test result was not given to the delegate, and evidence of that suitable test result is now given to the Tribunal, a fast track decision may be possible. 

A fast track decision cannot be made where a subjective assessment of criteria is required (eg. genuineness); or where the Tribunal must consider all relevant criteria in order to reach a favourable decision (eg. Employer nomination/sponsorship).  

A high number of unsuitable requests for fast track decisions slow down this important process and reduce the overall efficiency of Tribunal operations, particularly during this difficult time. Requests that cannot be fast-tracked as I have described above will receive a short statement to this effect and the application will be dealt with according to its order of lodgement without further consideration. 

The purpose of the instrument is to provide a pathway for certain former and current holders of temporary visas to lawfully remain in Australia and who would otherwise be required to depart Australia who, but for the COVID-19 pandemic, are unable to leave Australia.

The instrument limits the class of persons who can be granted the visa to those who hold a visa that is 28 days or less from ceasing to be in effect, or held a visa that is no more than 28 days from ceasing to be in effect. It further limits the class of persons to those who are unable to apply for the same temporary visa they hold or held or any other subclass of temporary visa other than the Subclass 408 visa.

Source: LIN20122.pdf