491 and 494 visas: 2,000 more regional visas; regional areas defined; extra year for graduates clarified

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491 and 494 visas: 2,000 more regional visas; regional areas defined; extra year for graduates clarified

Today, the Government announced there will be an increase of 2,000 regional visas due to the high demand and a rise in visa grants in the first quarter of the program year. The regional/non-regional dichotomy will be split into three categories: Major cities, Cities and major regional centres, and Regional centres and all other locations. This will impact the new Subclass 494 – Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa and Subclass 491 – Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa. Incentives for these areas are also explained, including the potential for an additional 2 years for international students who study at a regional university for a Subclass 485 - Temporary Graduate visa under the Post-Study Work stream.

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Regional 494 and 491 visas: Minimum salary/income threshold set to TSMIT $53,900 per year

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Regional 494 and 491 visas: Minimum salary/income threshold set to TSMIT $53,900 per year

The Department of Home Affairs has made known that the minimum salary threshold for nominations for 494 visa and the minimum taxable income threshold for 191 visas will be pinned to the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) which is currently $53,900 per annum, with exceptions for 494 nominations under labour agreements and Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMAs). There is, however, an important difference on how this will operate for both visas.

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457/TSS visas: The 2019 massage and beauty therapy sponsor blitz; caveats; and the world’s oldest profession

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457/TSS visas: The 2019 massage and beauty therapy sponsor blitz; caveats; and the world’s oldest profession

An update to the register of sanctioned sponsors has turned up an increasing number of massage and beauty therapist businesses falling foul of their sponsor obligations in 2019. Why this is so may be because of the caveat, otherwise known as applicable circumstances, which restricts the type of businesses and situations where massage therapists can be successfully nominated.

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482/TSS Designated Area Migration Agreement: Far North Queensland open for business

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482/TSS Designated Area Migration Agreement: Far North Queensland open for business

The remaining Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) announced prior to the election, for Far North Queensland, is now accepting applications. DAMAs come under the Subclass 482 – Temporary Skill Shortage visa program to fill critical skill shortages in specific regional areas. This DAMA has access to permanent visas for most occupations and includes three occupations not found in the ANZSCO.

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