Australian Immigration Daily News

The Australian Government has introduced the Australian Passports Amendment (2024 Measures No. 1) Determination 2024, which aims to strengthen the legal framework for disclosing personal information to support identity verification services such as the Document Verification Service (DVS) and Face Verification Service (FVS). This legislative amendment, issued by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, is designed to enhance the security and efficiency of identity verification processes while upholding individual privacy.

Key Highlights:

• Legislative Authority: The amendment is enacted under the Australian Passports Act 2005, specifically sections 46 and 57, which permit the disclosure of personal information to designated individuals for identity verification purposes.

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Summary of the Education Services for Overseas Students Amendment (Quality and Integrity) Bill 2024

The Education Services for Overseas Students Amendment (Quality and Integrity) Bill 2024 introduces significant changes to enhance the quality, integrity, and sustainable growth of Australia's international education sector. Key amendments include:

1. Education Agents and Commissions:

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Migration (Arrangements for Pacific Engagement Visa Applications) Instrument (LIN 24/012) 2024

Issued by Authority of the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs

Purpose and Scope: The instrument LIN 24/012, under subregulation 2.07(5) of the Migration Regulations 1994, specifies the form, manner, and place for applying for the Subclass 192 (Pacific Engagement) visa, which grants permanent residence to citizens of select Pacific island countries and Timor-Leste, along with their families.

Key Provisions:

The document titled "Migration (LIN 19/198: Evidence of financial capacity—Subclass 500 Visa and Subclass 590 Visa) Amendment (LIN 24/042) Specification 2024" details significant updates to the financial capacity requirements for applicants of the Subclass 500 (Student) Visa and Subclass 590 (Student Guardian) Visa.

Key Updates and Purpose:

• The amendment revises the financial requirements for these visa subclasses to reflect the current cost of living in Australia, ensuring that visa holders can adequately support themselves during their stay.
• The updated financial requirements are calculated based on a new methodology tied to the Australian National Minimum Wage, aiming to align the visa holders' financial capacity with the minimum standard of living similar to the lowest-paid Australian workers.

Specific Changes:

Starting May 10, 2024, the financial capacity requirements for Student and Student Guardian visa applicants in Australia will increase. This change aligns the required proof of financial resources with 75% of the national minimum wage, reflecting a more realistic estimate of the costs needed to maintain a minimum standard of living in Australia. The adjustment accounts for the fact that students may spend up to 25% of the year out of session, during which they might return home or have opportunities for unrestricted employment.

Key Changes:

• The financial requirement for the primary applicant will increase from AUD 24,505 to AUD 29,710.
• For a spouse or de facto partner of the primary applicant, the requirement will rise from AUD 8,574 to AUD 10,394.
• The required funds for a dependent child will go from AUD 3,670 to AUD 4,449.
• Annual school costs are set to increase from AUD 9,661 to AUD 13,502.
• The personal annual income requirement will change from AUD 72,465 to AUD 87,856 for individuals without a family member, and from AUD 84,543 to AUD 102,500 for those with a family member.

These adjustments aim to reduce financial distress among students in Australia, lessen the likelihood of visa condition breaches due to excessive work, and mitigate the risks of worker exploitation. Applications submitted before May 10, 2024, will be assessed under the current financial requirements.