Australian Immigration Daily News

The Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) is working with providers to minimise the impact COVID-19 has on both providers and students.

Coronavirus regulatory information for universities VET, ELICOS and higher education providers

DET to reduce administrative burden for higher education providers while they respond to the COVID‑19 situation, DET, Skills and Employment will be delaying a number of higher education activities, such as reports and data required from higher education providers.

Eligibility for the Australian Government Endorsed Events (AGEEs) activity type is based on the Minister listing major Australian events in a legislative instrument which was released in April 2020 this year. The instrument also includes the classes of persons eligible under this activity type. They must be invited by the event organiser.

This allows the Department to manage most, if not all, visa applications associated with an AGEE through a single visa pathway. The visa criteria are streamlined to take into account that the event and the activities associated with the event have already been assessed and approved by the Department. Visa applicants continue to be subject to genuine temporary entry requirements and other standard Subclass 480 criteria.  The GTE criterion has also been eased to include evidence that you will abide by your visa conditions and evidence that you do not intend to use this visa for longer than expected to prolong your stay in Australia.

The maximum stay for this visa is 12 months, however, there has been a number of setbacks with this visa including:

If you are an Australian citizen or a permanent resident you cannot leave Australia due to COVID-19 restrictions unless you have an exemption.

The Australian Borderforce moved to an online lodgement system where you can lodge your restriction by creating a secure account.  Unlike the previous system you will be able monitor the progress of your exemption.  The processing times have also improved to 24 to 48 hours. 

However you must meet at least one of the following:

The following email has been received this morning:

The Commonwealth Department of Home Affairs has provided a limited number of visa nomination places to the Victorian Government up until the Federal Budget is delivered on 6 October 2020.

We are preparing to re-open with new policies and nomination criteria to support Victoria’s economic recovery and the public health response.

The following message is on the College of Law website:

The College of Law announces today that its arrangement with the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA) on the important work of the Migration Agents Capstone Assessment will conclude on 31 December 2020 as per our Agreement. 

The College established the Capstone assessment at a time when the Department was implementing a new regime for testing and licensing of migration agents. The Capstone is now fully established and the College is pleased with its contribution to the Migration Agents registration regime. We wish the Department well with its oversight of the important work which migration agents do on behalf of the Australian community.