Australian Immigration Daily News

Do miracles, or at least unexpected outcomes, ever happen in migration cases? 

Is it worth pursuing an application for judicial review even where it might seem at first blush that the Minister might have an “open and shut” case? 

Is the Genuine Temporary Entrant criterion for the grant of student visas an insurmountable obstacle? 

Highly skilled workers from around the world will have a new visa pathway into Australia as a part of the Government's new Global Talent Scheme pilot program.

From 1 July all businesses will be able to sponsor highly skilled and specialised workers who will help to grow their businesses and create more jobs.

The pilot will run for 12 months and provide businesses with a streamlined process to sponsor overseas workers with cutting edge skills, where there are no suitable Australians available to fill the vacancies.

From 1 July 2018, applicants wishing to apply for the following visa subclasses will be required to obtain a pass mark of 65 to be eligible to receive an invitation to apply: 

•             Skilled-Independent (Permanent) (Class SI) Subclass 189;

•             Skilled-Nominated (Permanent) (Class SN) Subclass 190; and

Pool and Pass Marks for General Skilled Migration Visas Instrument 2018. 

The Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs Alan Tudge said our visa programs need to work in our national interest. "Restoring the points test level will help to ensure that Australia continues to attract the best and brightest talent from around the world," Mr Tudge said.

It appears that Home Affairs has been sitting on Citizenship Applications hoping hope against hope that the foreshadowed changes to the Citizenship Act will eventually make its way across the line.

It appears that the backlog is now running at 120,000 unresolved applications. (as at April 2017)