Australian Immigration Daily News

Thank you for being a valued partner 

At Migration Alliance, we are dedicated to nurturing strong partnerships within the industry, and we deeply value our collaboration with Allianz Partners. Your trust and support have been instrumental in our shared success, and for that, we extend our heartfelt appreciation. 

To express our gratitude and strengthen our partnership even further, we are thrilled to offer an exclusive 15% discount on Allianz Travel Insurance for Migration Alliance members.

Please refer to this flyer IH-Partner-Travel-Discount-Flyer---Apr24.pdf for the discount code and relevant terms and conditions. Kindly note that this code is valid until April 30th, 2024. For May 2024, a new code will be provided to ensure continued benefits for our valued partners.

We eagerly anticipate the opportunity to continue serving you and to further enhance our partnership. Should you have any questions or require further assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out.

The Migration (Granting of Contributory Parent Visas, Parent Visas, and Other Family Visas During Financial Year 2023-2024) Instrument (LIN 24/004) 2024, issued under the authority of the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services, and Multicultural Affairs, amends the Migration Regulations 1994 to specify the maximum number of various family visas that may be granted within the financial year 2023-2024.

This legislative instrument, effective from the day following its registration until its repeal on July 1, 2024, sets caps for the Contributory Parent visas at 6,800, Parent visas at 1,700, and Other Family visas at 500. These numbers include specific allocations for the Retiree Pathway under the Contributory Parent and Parent visa categories.

The instrument aims to manage the equitable and orderly processing of visa applications in these categories, addressing the significant demand that outweighs the available supply of visa places. This capping mechanism, an annual process since 2011, aligns with the Australian Government’s migration program numbers announced during the budget. The decision reflects consultations involving internal and external stakeholders, public submissions, economic forecasts, and various other considerations to determine migration program numbers.

The Migration Amendment (Dependent Secondary Partner Visa Applicants) Regulations 2024, issued under the authority of the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship Migrant Services, and Multicultural Affairs, introduces significant amendments to the Migration Regulations 1994. These amendments facilitate the grant of Subclass 309 (Partner (Provisional)) and Subclass 100 (Partner) visas to a specific cohort of secondary applicants who, due to extended processing times caused by the now-revoked Ministerial Direction 80, no longer meet the age requirement as a member of the family unit (MoFU).

Ministerial Direction 80 previously assigned the lowest processing priority to Family visa applications involving sponsors who were permanent residents entering Australia as Unauthorised Maritime Arrivals (UMAs), leading to delayed visa processing. The amendments address the impact of these delays by allowing secondary applicants who have aged beyond 23, the usual MoFU age limit, to qualify for visa grants based on their dependency on the primary applicant, irrespective of age.

This legislative adjustment is a targeted response to the disadvantages faced by affected families due to the processing priorities under Ministerial Direction 80. It ensures that applicants who made combined visa applications before 9 February 2023, but were not yet finally determined, are not further disadvantaged by age criteria. This change underscores the government's commitment to family unity and addresses human rights concerns by facilitating family reunification and reducing discrimination against families affected by processing delays.

The Migration Amendment (Removal and Other Measures) Bill 2024 aims to enhance the Australian migration system's integrity by amending the Migration Act 1958. This bill focuses on strengthening the legislative framework concerning the removal of certain non-citizens on a removal pathway from Australia, including those who are unlawful non-citizens and holders of specific bridging visas, such as the Subclass 070 (Bridging (Removal Pending)) visa.

Key aspects of the bill include establishing clear legislative expectations for the behaviour of non-citizens on a removal pathway, emphasising their cooperation with the Australian government's efforts for their prompt and lawful removal. To facilitate this, the bill grants the Minister the power to direct non-citizens on a removal pathway to cooperate with removal efforts. Non-compliance with such directions constitutes a criminal offense, attracting penalties that underscore the importance of adhering to lawful removal processes.

Additionally, the bill introduces provisions allowing the Minister to designate a country as a removal concern country, thereby affecting visa application processes for nationals of that country. This measure aims to encourage international cooperation in facilitating the lawful removal of non-citizens.

The Migration (Class of Persons for Nil VAC—LIN 24/008) Specification 2024, authorized by the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, and Multicultural Affairs, outlines significant updates to the Migration Regulations 1994. This instrument, which commenced the day after its registration and repeals the previous IMMI 14/032, is designed to extend visa application charge (VAC) exemptions for certain applicants of the Subclass 600 (Visitor) visa in the Tourist stream. Specifically, it applies to family members and approved representatives of passengers or crew aboard the Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, supporting those connected to the aircraft that disappeared on 8 March 2014.

LIN 24/008 maintains the policy established by its predecessor, IMMI 14/032, without altering the specified class of persons eligible for the nil VAC. This decision, made after consultation with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Office of Impact Analysis, reflects a commitment to continuing support for the families affected by the MH370 tragedy. The instrument underscores the Australian government's empathetic approach towards those impacted by the event, ensuring they face no financial burden should they need to follow up on developments related to the flight in Australia.

Source: LIN24008.pdf and LIN24008-Explanatory-Statement.pdf