The latest news on Australian immigration, including changes to regulations, government policy announcements, and analysis of media releases affecting current and future applications.
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Comprehensive analysis of the policy and ramifications behind the new regional skilled visas: the Subclass 494 – Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa, the Subclass 491 – Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa, and the permanent Subclass 191 – Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa, which will come into effect from 16 November 2019.
Read MoreThe regulations for the new regional visas have been written and will come into effect on 16 November 2019. From that date, Subclass 489 – Skilled - Regional (Provisional) visas will be replaced with the Subclass 491 – Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa, and Subclass 187 – Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme visas will also be replaced (except for transitional arrangements) with a provisional Subclass 494 – Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa, which will be parachuted into the employer sponsored temporary work visa program.
Surprisingly, instead of two new visas, there will also be a third, the permanent Subclass 191 – Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa, that will be available from 16 November 2022 for 491 and 494 visa holders who have held these visas for at least three years, complied with their visa conditions and meeting income requirements.
Read MoreThe Federal Budget handed down last night announced a 5.4 per cent visa application charge increase from 1 July 2019, and a change to the requirements for partner skills to be awarded for General Skilled Migration (GSM) visas. While the need for a skill assessment for the spouse or de facto partner of a visa applicant will be dropped, it may end up being a disadvantage as prospective visa applicants without partners will be awarded points for simply being single.
Read MoreThe much-rumoured new population policy and cut to Australia’s permanent migration was announced by the prime minister today. Permanent visa numbers will be cut from 190,000 to 160,000, however, for employer sponsored permanent visas, Subclass 186 – Employer Nomination Scheme visas and Subclass 187 – Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme visas, they will actually increase. Two new regional visas have been revealed along with a bonus year for Subclass 485 – Temporary Graduate visas for international students who study at a regional university.
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