Australian Immigration Daily News

The National Conference conducted by Migration Alliance was held on Friday 15 November attended by more than 700 migration agents.  

Several vital topics were covered during the session including: 

• TSS visas and transitioning employees to permanent residence
• An update from South Australian government in relation to skilled migration intake
• Representing an applicant at the Administrative Appeals Tribunal
• Presentation by the Orana Region, specifically focusing on DAMA
• An update from Victoria, NSW, BSMQ in relation to business skills as well as skilled migration programme
• Finally, the Mock AAT hearing

It was also a pleasure to host the Department of Home Affairs which provided insightful updates in relation to the new regional skilled visa subclass 491 and 494.  This was followed by an update on Immigration Program Management and Delivery: Skilled and Investment Visas, and Temporary Migration, Update on Global Talent Initiative. Lastly a stern update on provision of unlawful migration assistance and an update on migration advice industry. 

Migration (LIN 19/268: Period, Manner and Evidence of Labour Market Testing) Amendment Instrument 2019
This instrument amends the Migration (LIN 18/036: Period, manner and evidence of labour market testing) Instrument 2018 to specify the period within which labour market testing is required, the manner in which labour market testing is required to be undertaken and the kinds of evidence that must accompany a nomination. This instrument also specifies certain occupations and positions that are exempt from some of those specified requirements.
Item was repealed on 17/11/2019, and is no longer in force
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2019L01450

Migration (LIN 19/296: Arrangements for Applications for Bridging Visas) Amendment Instrument 2019
This instrument amends the Migration (LIN 19/186: Arrangements for Applications for Bridging Visas) Instrument 2019 to include approved forms 491D, 494V (Internet) and 494V as specified forms for Bridging A (Class WA) and Bridging C (Class WC) visa applications.
Item was repealed on 17/11/2019, and is no longer in force
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2019L01459

Migration (Skilling Australians Fund) Charges Amendment (Subclass 494 Visa) Regulations 2019
These regulations amend the Migration (Skilling Australians Fund) Charges Regulations 2018 to support the amendments to the Migration Regulations 1994 being made by Schedule 2 to the Migration Amendment (New Skilled Regional Visas) Regulations 2019.
Item was repealed on 17/11/2019, and is no longer in force
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2019L00553

Migration (Specification of Occupations and Assessing Authorities) Amendment (LIN 19/243: Subclass 491 Visas) Instrument 2019
This instrument amends the Migration (LIN 19/051: Specification of Occupations and Assessing Authorities) Instrument 2019 to make changes to the assessing authority for some occupations and removes references to the Subclass 489 visa that are no longer applicable.
Item was repealed on 17/11/2019, and is no longer in force
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2019L01402

Migration Amendment (Visa Application Charges) Regulations 2019
These regulations amend the Migration Regulations 1994 to make changes to visa application charges for certain visas.
Item was repealed on 17/11/2019, and is no longer in force
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2019L00932

Migration(LIN 19/267: Regional Certifying Bodies and Regional Postcodes) Amendment Instrument 2019
This instrument amends the Migration (IMMI 18/037: Regional Certifying Bodies and Regional Postcodes) Instrument 2018 to remove references to “regional Australia” as prescribed under subregulation 5.19(16) of the Migration Regulations 1994.
Item was repealed on 17/11/2019, and is no longer in force
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2019L01447

The state government of Victoria has published new nomination requirements for the 491 visa.  To follow is the summary of eligibility requirements:

Age: less then 45 years
English Proficiency: All applicants must have an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of at least six in each band score or equivalent.
Occupation: It must be listed on the Department's website
Finances: as listed on VIC website
Offer of employment: All applicants who wish to apply for Victorian nomination for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (subclass 491) visa must provide evidence of a current offer of employment in a position located in a designated regional area of Victoria (as defined by the Department of Home Affairs).
Positive skills assessment: in your nominated occupation.
CV: Your updated CV 

Applications for the 491 visa nominations open in VIC from 18 Nov 2019; 0900. There is No Fees for lodging the VIC nomination application. 

Tasmania has announced the closure of Category 3 applications in 190 visa. All the applications received after 15 Nov 2019; 11:59 pm in Category 3 - Overseas applicant (Job Offer) will not be processed. 

All the nomination criteria for the 491 visa are similar to the that of 489 visa. One more condition will be taken into account for the selecting the applicants while nominating them:

- The likelihood of you obtaining a personal income that would meet the minimum taxable income requirement for the subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (currently AU$53,900 per year for at least 3 years in the next 5 years). 

Applications for Northern Territory Government nomination under the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa subclass 491 and Skilled Nominated visa subclass 190 closed on 16 November 2019 and will re-open on Monday 9 December 2019.

From 9 December a fee of AUD 300 (plus GST where applicable) will be charged for subclass 190 and subclass 491 nomination applications. This fee is non-refundable. You will be charged an application fee for each future application you submit. The application fee must be paid online at the time of the application submission.

More information on subclass 491 nominations will be available on this website soon.

Source: https://theterritory.com.au/news/2019/changes-to-northern-territory-government-visa-nominations