Nevett Ford in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia | Passport and visa service

Nevett Ford

Locality: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Phone: +61 3 9614 7111

Address: Level 16 Rialto, 525 Collins Street 3000 Melbourne, VIC, Australia

Website: nevettfordlawyers.com.au/migration

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25.01.2022 New visa arrangements for Hong Kong students, temporary graduates and skilled workers come into effect today. The new arrangements mean up to 10,000 Hong Kong passport holders in Australia will be able to extend their stay for five years and apply to remain here permanently.... Acting Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs Alan Tudge said Australia and Hong Kong have always shared a close relationship. Australia has a long history of attracting Hong Kongs best and brightest who have contributed significantly to our economic growth and job creation, and we are committed to ensuring this is further strengthened, Mr Tudge said. We know that recent events in Hong Kong mean that many highly talented individuals will want to remain in or relocate to a free, democratic country like Australia, and these new arrangements will ensure were attracting those who create jobs and opportunities for Australians. Under the new arrangements: - Hong Kong passport holders who held a Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) or Temporary Skilled Shortage (subclass 482 or 457) visa on 9 July 2020 will automatically have that visa extended for five years. - Current and future students from Hong Kong will be eligible for a five year Temporary Graduate visa on the successful completion of their tertiary studies. Applicants will still need to meet the usual requirements of this visa, including meeting the Australian Study Requirement. - Hong Kong passport holders who apply for a temporary skilled visa will be eligible for a five year visa if they have qualifications listed on the occupational skills lists and meet Labour Market Testing requirements. There are almost 10,000 temporary skilled, temporary graduate and student visa holders in Australia, with a further 2,500 outside Australia and 1,250 applications on hand. Those who receive the five year extension or who are granted a five year visa in the future will also be eligible for permanent residency at the completion of their five years, provided they pass all relevant character, security and health checks. For those who study at a regional campus and choose to live and work in regional Australia, the pathway to permanent residency will be available after three years. The Government is also developing further incentives to attract global talent and export-oriented businesses from Hong Kong to Australia, particularly where they have a strong potential for future growth and employment of Australians. Further details will be announced soon. Source: https://bit.ly/2DwK8my

25.01.2022 Visa options and pathways to Australian Permanant Residence for Hong Kong passport holders As political and social tensions rise in Hong Kong, the Australian Government has responded by offering Hong Kong citizens on temporary visas in Australia and potential future applicants; a safe haven visa to prevent them from forcibly returning to Hong Kong....Continue reading

24.01.2022 : For more than two years, Britney Plug has been waiting to start her life with her fianc Keno Gonzales. They have been waiting to get married here in Australia; waiting to start a family....Continue reading

24.01.2022 () ( ) All permanent residency visas have a 5 year travel facility attached to them As long as you can show that you have lived in Australia for 2 of the 5 year period you can apply for a 5 year RRV will be issued allowing for another 5 years travel. In certain circumstances you may only be granted 12 or 3 months. The requirements are as follows: If you have lived in Australia for 2 years (730 days) in the last 5 years as a permanent ...resident, former citizen or former permanent resident, then you meet what is known as the residence requirement and might be given a 5 year travel validity on your visa. If you have not lived in Australia for 2 years in the last 5 years as a permanent resident or former citizen or former permanent resident, then you might be given a maximum of 12 months travel validity on your visa if you can demonstrate substantial ties that benefit Australia. If you meet the requirements only because you are a member of family unit of a person who holds this visa, then you can only be given a maximum of 12 months travel validity on your visa. If you do not meet the requirement, but have compelling and compassionate reasons for departure, then you might only be given 3 months travel validity on your visa. - NZ Citizens who lived in Australia prior to 1 September 1994 (regardless of length of time) are considered exempt non-citizens and are essentially given the rights and entitlements of permanent residents. If you have lived in Australia since then, then citizenship applications are available or if you have exited but maintained close ties with Australia, then an RRV may be available to return you permanent residency status. ? Telephone: +61 3 9614 7111 Email: [email protected] Visit our website: www.nevettford.com.au

24.01.2022 - South Australian Skilled Migration has announced that significant changes to South Australia’s two Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMAs) following the first annual review and the opening of the Business Visas program. These include the following:... New occupations have been added to the DAMAs that focus on Commonwealth Government’s priority occupations/sectors of health care, manufacturing, high-tech sectors, agribusiness and food production. The Adelaide City Technology and Innovation Advancement DAMA allows South Australian employers to sponsor overseas workers in the defence, space, advanced manufacturing and technology industries - The South Australian Regional Workforce DAMA allows employers across the entire state of South Australia to sponsors overseas workers - . The South Australian agribusiness occupation list is also now available. South Australia also reports that all DAMA occupations will now have a permanent residency pathway through SC 482 to SC 186 or SC 494 to SC 191 (when commenced). Further additional English language and age, in addition to TSMIT concessions, have been secured and these will also extend to the permanent visa for some DAMA occupations. Changes to work experience requirements will also make it easier for qualified international graduates to be eligible to apply. The South Australian Government has been approved to act as a skills assessing authority for occupations that require a skills assessment that currently has no alternative skills assessment authority. This will allow previously ineligible occupations to now be available for skilled migration, ensuring workers filling those positions are appropriately skilled. ? ? Telephone: +61 3 9614 7111 Email: [email protected] Visit our website: www.nevettford.com.au

24.01.2022 '' A Federal Court judge has blasted acting Immigration Minister Alan Tudge for leaving a man in immigration detention after he was granted a protection visa, in the latest in a series of excoriating decisions about the federal government's immigration policy. In a decision on Wednesday, Justice Geoffrey Flick said Mr Tudge had "unlawfully deprived a person of his liberty" and his "conduct exposes him to both civil...Continue reading

23.01.2022 - Australia will recommence granting international student visas and allow current students to count online study while overseas in a push to restart international education....Continue reading

22.01.2022 Acting Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs Alan Tudge has announced that from , there will an updated ‘Australian Citizenship Test’ with a clear focus on Australian values. The Acting Minister stated The updated Citizenship Test will have new and more meaningful questions that require potential citizens to understand and commit to our values like freedom of speech, m...utual respect, equality of opportunity, the importance of democracy and the rule of law." The updated Citizenship Test will comprise of 20 multiple-choice questions, including five questions on Australian values. A person will be required to correctly answer all five of the questions on Australian values, with a mark of at least 75 per cent overall, to pass the test. There will be no changes to the English language or residency requirements for citizenship. From , most new visa and citizenship applicants will be required to affirm the updated Australian Values Statement (AVS). The updated AVS will better reflect the shared values of Australian society, including the rule of law, freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of association and equality of opportunity for all people in Australia. : +61 3 9614 7111 : www.nevettford.com.au : [email protected]

22.01.2022 : , - - - . The number of these visas increased strongly under the Howard Government until the Global Financial Crisis; they fell sharply after that before increasing again when the Rudd/Gillard Government injected stimulus into the economy....Continue reading

22.01.2022 The Department of Immigration consider the amount of time you have lived in Australia in the last 4 years. In certain cases, DHA may exempt you from this requirement (see below).... At the time you apply you must have been: - living in Australia on a valid visa for the past 4 years - a permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen for the past 12 months - away from Australia for no more than 12 months in total in the past 4 years, including no more than 90 days in total in the past 12 months For children 16 or 17 years old, if meeting this requirement would cause significant hardship or disadvantage, you will need to provide proof. Children under 16 do not need to meet the general residence requirement but must be permanent residents. For more information, please see our website. https://bit.ly/30B6VpP . #Citizenship #AustralianCitizenship #Citizenshipresidencerequirement #CitizenshipinAustralia #AustraliaCitizenship

21.01.2022 $ Declan Clarke has heard all the jokes about Russian mail-order brides. The 23-year-old from Northbridge, in Sydneys lower north shore, met his Russian fiancee Anastasiia Bazykina online in 2017. What began as a jokey friendship, with the couple swapping memes, became a love affair when he later travelled with a friend to Moscow on a break from university and met Anastasiia in person....Continue reading

21.01.2022 ( ) - A new Legislative Instrument amends the Migration Regulations by inserting new .. This change allows holders of the Subclass 300 visa to travel to, enter and remain in Australia until for those visa holders: whose visa was in effect at any time during the period beginning on 6 October 2020 and ending on 10 December 2020; the holder is Australia on 10 D...ecember 2020. Telephone: +61 3 9614 7111 Email: [email protected] Visit our website: www.nevettford.com.au

20.01.2022 The citizenship test will be updated to include new questions on Australian values and there will be changes to the Adult Migrant English Program. The citizenship test will be updated to include new questions on Australian values in a bid to help protect our social cohesion into the future, the acting immigration minister says.... Alan Tudge made the announcement in an address to the National Press Club on Friday but is yet to outline further details. Australian citizenship is both a privilege and a responsibility, and it should be granted to those who support our values, respect our laws, and want to contribute to Australias future, Mr Tudge said. We should ensure that those who come here and those who want to settle here clearly understand and are willing to commit to the shared common values that unite us all as Australians. Mr Tudge said the Commonwealth would also update the Australian Values Statement, which is signed by temporary and permanent migrants, and citizenship applicants. Substantial changes will also be made to the billion-dollar Adult Migrant English Program, which currently provides most migrants with 510 hours of free language tuition. On average, people only complete 300 hours of classes and only 21 per cent leave with a functional level of English, Mr Tudge said. The government will lift the cap on class hours and remove the time limits. Mr Tudge also used his speech to discuss foreign interference in Australia, which he said was at an unprecedented high. Every sector of our community is a potential target, including parliamentarians, their staff, and all levels of government, the media, opinion makers, business leaders and the university community, he said. The minister said he was particularly concerned about the reach in multicultural communities. Members of our diverse communities have been both victims of interference and used as vectors to engage in foreign interference, he said. Despite now being proud Australians, some communities are still seen by their former home countries as their diaspora to be harassed or exploited to further the national cause. Malign information or propaganda can be spread through multicultural media this can be particularly influential if local residents English is poor and hence they are more reliant on foreign language sources. His speech comes as the Commonwealth works to tighten foreign investment laws, announcing legislation that would allow state agreements with foreign governments to be torn up if they are considered against the national interest. Source: news.com.au

20.01.2022 : Almost all Australian visas carry with them health criteria requirements. You can check to see if a visa carries a health requirement by looking at the Public Interest Criteria (PIC) associated with the visa. ()... All Australian visas are subject to PIC 4005, and/or 4007. ETAs and E-visitor visas are subject to 8527 Free from TB - PIC 4005: General health requirement - PIC 4007: Health requirement and waiver. Applicants are assessed against significant cost to the Australian community i.e. health care and community services. Also, if prejudice will be caused to Australia citizens and permanent residents if you access health care or community services. For further details, please visit our blog:- https://bit.ly/31JLeol Contact Nevett Ford Lawyers today if you require any assistance : +61 3 9614 7111 : www.nevettford.com.au : [email protected] (Although our office is based in Melbourne, immigration is under the federal legislative framework and we can assist applicants based in or interested in any part of Australia.) . . #Immigrationlawyers #Visahealthcriteria #Healthwaiver #Healthtest #Healthcriteria #MedicalOfficeroftheCommonwealth

19.01.2022 / A small number of places have been allocated to the States and Territories for Subclasses 190 and 491 nominations and the Business Innovation and Investment classes. Below is an update on these programs for each of the state and territories. For further details, please visit our blog.... https://bit.ly/3aRSTUq ? : +61 3 9614 7111 : [email protected] : www.nevettford.com.au

19.01.2022 . As testing was unavailable during lockdown there will be significant demand for sessions, so PTE will be opening additional test centres in the Melbourne CBD to meet expected demand and help as many test takers find a test session on a date and time that is convenient for them. All test centres will open in strict accordance with local Government requirements and with all necessary health and safety mea...sures. In order to comply with official requirements and to protect test takers and test administrators there are restrictions on the number of test takers in each session. PTE will be continually monitoring their availability and will look to provide additional sessions where possible. Test takers are urged to check the PTE website on a regular basis so they don’t miss out on slots becoming available at their preferred test centre. ? . Telephone: +61 3 9614 7111 Email: [email protected] Visit our website: www.nevettford.com.au

19.01.2022 A former deputy secretary of the Department of Immigration has joined a chorus of criticism over the growing backlog of partner visas awaiting approval by Australias Department of Home Affairs. Offshore partner visa applicants are facing waits of around two years to be approved to live with their spouses in Australia....Continue reading

18.01.2022 '' , Since late March people entering Australia have been required to spend two weeks in hotel quarantine at their port of entry, before being allowed out into the community. But Mr Morrison said the Government's health advisory body, the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC), was considering whether people coming from "safe" countries could undergo quarantine at home....Continue reading

18.01.2022 : The Australian government is offering new and extended visa options to students and skilled workers from Hong Kong. This will help Hong Kong passport holders to remain in Australia, with pathways to permanent residency. Current and future students from Hong Kong will be eligible for a 5 year temporary graduate 9subclass 485) visa once they successfully complete eligible tertiary studies.... For further details, please visit our blog: https://bit.ly/3mfbVt7 : +61 3 9614 7111 : www.nevettford.com.au : [email protected] (Although our office is based in Melbourne, immigration is under the federal legislative framework and we can assist applicants based in or interested in any part of Australia.)

18.01.2022 : () - () The Deputy President of the AAT Migration and Refugee Division, Jan Redfern, has provided updates on the operation of the Migration and Refugee Division (MRD) including: In person hearings are resuming in a limited capacity across Australia except in Victoria.... The MRD uses its discretion in assigning cases to face to face, online or telephone format hearings For further details, please visit our blog. https://bit.ly/2QmLlzm ? : +61 3 9614 7111 : [email protected] : www.nevettford.com.au

18.01.2022 - COVID-19 and the current climate has forced significant changes in many businesses which include downsizing, redundancies, standing down workers, and changing employees duties due to work from home arrangements. Companies are making rapid decisions, but need to remember the fundamentals of immigration compliance to avoid a breach of migration law and sponsorship obligations If compliance is not monitored carefully, your bus...iness could jeopardise its eligibility to sponsor future workers and may lead to legal ramifications for your companys immigration program. For further details, please visit our blog: https://bit.ly/3iY3ZtK ? : +61 3 9614 7111 : [email protected] : www.nevettford.com.au

17.01.2022 ' (CNN) The days of strolling into an airport, flashing a passport, then hopping on a flight to wherever one likes are, for now, a distant memory. The Covid-19 pandemic has transformed the travel landscape, potentially for decades to come....Continue reading

17.01.2022 When Claudia Ng* finished her studies at the Australian National University, she had intended to return to her native Hong Kong. But the Chinese Communist Partys rollout of a draconian national security law which many see as the culmination of Beijings desire to heavily restrict freedoms in the supposedly semi-autonomous city changed her mind....Continue reading

17.01.2022 ' , The federal government’s plan to force people seeking a partner visa to learn English could leave them without a safety net from family violence, critics have said, despite the Coalition’s claim that the measure is aimed at protecting women. The government announced in Tuesday’s budget that from late 2021 it would require partner visa applicants applying for permanency to have made...Continue reading

16.01.2022 Changes to the Adult Migrant English Program are among a number of moves the government is making to boost social cohesion as Australia emerges from the Coronavirus pandemic. A billion-dollar government English language teaching program is being extended and made more accessible amid concerns those who participate are not leaving with a "functional level" of skill....Continue reading

16.01.2022 - Applications for SC 188 Significant Investor Visa (SIV) are open for nominations only and can be applied for without prior completion of an Intention to Apply.... With Round 1 invitations, applications and nomination processing completed, for all other SC 188 & 132 visa nomination applications, the 2020/21 interim application requirements for Round 2 have been released and are available. Telephone: +61 3 9614 7111 Email: [email protected] Visit our website: www.nevettford.com.au

16.01.2022 : In response to the current Coronavirus pandemic, all States and Territories have closed their borders and implemented travel restrictions. As a result, applications for skilled visas that require the sponsorship of a State or Territory are temporarily closed. There has not been any indication from the State Governments as to when the States and Territories will be re-openingwith the exception of South Australia, which ...Continue reading

16.01.2022 Do you need a Police Clearance when travelling to Australia? Planning a trip to another country? Traveling to some countries like Australia requires you to have a character check certificate as a prerequisite for Australian visa approval. Some countries do not need a police clearance certificate to travel to, but countries like Australia do. It is because they want to keep records of anyone interested to travel. Per Australian law, an Australian visa will not be granted to so...Continue reading

15.01.2022 ( ) This visa allows migrant students who have completed at least 2 years of study in Australia to live and work in the country for between 18 months and 4 years. ...Continue reading

15.01.2022 , The Interactive Games and Entertainment Association (IGEA) has identified two major impediments to attracting senior international talent to Australia: the first is the lack of accommodations for game development related jobs in existing migration codes; and the second is the lack of clear pathways towards permanent residency for game developers who move to Australia for work. Recently, the Departm...Continue reading

15.01.2022 : Legislative Instrument - F2020L01047 - Migration Amendment (Hong Kong Passport Holders) Regulations 2020 amends the Migration Regulations to extend temporary skilled and temporary graduate visas for five years from 9 July 2020 to 8 July 2025 if the primary visa holder held a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the Peoples Republic of China passport when the visa was granted. For further details, please visit... our blog. https://bit.ly/34sQazK If you require advice and assistance , please contact us today? : +61 3 9614 7111 : [email protected] : www.nevettford.com.au

15.01.2022 : ’ Australia needs migration to boost income growth, but with ongoing border restrictions due to COVID-19, the policy landscape may need drastic reform. Australia relies very heavily on migration. A significant amount of Australia’s exports are people-based, such as tourism, education and business services all of which have been heavily impacted by COVID-19, says UNSW Business School’s Scientia Professo...Continue reading

14.01.2022 ' - As at 14 September 2020, there were 10,591 Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa holders outside of Australia. All visa holders in Australia have been subject to the country's COVID-19 travel ban, apart from the exemptions currently in place for diplomats, maritime and air crew, and those simply transiting through the country for less than 72 hours....Continue reading

13.01.2022 : () All businesses considering nominating overseas skilled workers on Subclass 457 Temporary Work, Subclass 482 Temporary Skill Shortage or Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visas, will now be required to advertise these vacancies on the Jobactive website. In addition, the previous requirement of advertising to position on two (2) other websites will also continue. The...se new Labour Market Testing (LMT) requirements apply from 30 September 2020. All advertisements must be publicly listed for at least four (4) weeks. The new requirements for advertising may be summarised as follows: - must be advertised on the Jobactive website, AND - must be advertised on at least two (2) other job vacancy websites. Please visit our blog for further details: https://bit.ly/2Z3iiWr Contact Nevett Ford Lawyers today if you require assistance : +61 3 9614 7111 : www.nevettford.com.au : [email protected] (Although our office is based in Melbourne, immigration is under the federal legislative framework and we can assist applicants based in or interested in any part of Australia.) #LabourMarketTesting #LMT #457visa #482visa #494visa #Subclass482visa #Subclass457visa #Subclass494visa #Jobactive

12.01.2022 () Business and Skilled Migration has its Business Program as at 10 December 2020.... However, it is noted that BSMQ will be first assessing EOI’s submitted from the interim quota received from 29 September 05 October 2020, then from 6 October 9 December 2020 openings. This will result in extended processing times for subsequently submitted EOIs. BSMQ also advises that not all EOI’s submitted will receive an invitation and BSMQ Business Program Guidelines should be followed. BSMQ will nominate high quality applications related to the COVID-19 economic recovery, or those businesses which focus on productive investment and job creation, or have a regional investment focus within the business program. Priority processing for: Subclass 132 Significant Business History stream Subclass 188 Business Innovation stream Subclass 188 Significant Investor stream Subclass 188 Entrepreneur stream The BSMQ skilled program remains while the backlog of applications from 29 September 05 October 2020 interim quota opening are processed. Also noted is that only related to the COVID response and recovery will be processed as a priority. If an invitation is not received before the 25 December 2020, a new EOI will need to be lodged when the skilled program reopens at the end of January 2021. Telephone: +61 3 9614 7111 Email: [email protected] Visit our website: www.nevettford.com.au

12.01.2022 , ’ , . Wealth manager Atlas Advisors Australia has commended the Government and the states a...nd territories - including the important business centres of NSW and Victoria - for taking the "important step" of opening their doors to applicants ahead of the Budget and says it has already seen a dramatic increase in interest from high net worth migrant investors including from destinations such as Hong Kong. We commend the Australian Government and the states and territories for recognising the important role business migration plays in driving our economy, Executive Chairman of Atlas Advisors Australia, Guy Hedley said. This will have a tremendous impact on the post-pandemic recovery of business. It will assist Australian businesses and entrepreneurs to counter the lack of availability of domestic capital investment. We encourage the Australian Government to go further by prioritising its review of the BIIP to maximise the benefits to the economy in a post-pandemic era. Hong Kong is a vibrant business destination with many rich and highly experienced entrepreneurs and business people. These migrant investors are keen to help stimulate business and employment through ventures in their new homeland. Source: itwire.com

12.01.2022 : Visa Application Charge (VAC) refunds and waivers Acting Minister Alan Tudge and Minister Simon Birmingham have announced various measures to support Australian tourism and agricultural sectors, including VAC refunds and VAC free applications for various visa subclasses. VAC waivers will be available for the following visa subclasses:... - Visitors visa holders - overseas and with visas that expired or will expire between March 2020 and December 2021 will be eligible for VAC waiver for a new visa. - Working holiday maker visa holders - unable to enter Australia or who left Australia early due to COVID-19 - eligible for a VAC waiver for a new visa. - Temporary skilled visa holders - who have been unable to make initial entry to Australia, or who returned home due to COVID-19 - eligible for VAC waiver for subsequent applications. VAC refunds will be available for the following visa subclasses: - Prospective Marriage visa holders - visa holders unable to enter Australia before their visa expired due to COVID-19 related travel restrictions - eligible for refund of VAC. - Seasonal and Pacific Island workers - who applied for visas before 20 March 2020 and were unable to enter Australia - eligible for refund of VAC. ? Telephone: +61 3 9614 7111 Email: [email protected] Visit our website: www.nevettford.com.au

11.01.2022 () () - - - - - - , provides information on the data that will be acquired by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) from the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) for these financial years. The data collected will include information on visa holders and applicants, sponso...rs, education providers and Registered Migration Agents. There is little change to the data previously notified as being shared by the two agencies. This data is specified to include: Address history for visa applicants and sponsors. Contact history for visa applicants and sponsors. All visa grants. Visa grant status by point in time. Migration agents (visa application preparer who assisted or facilitated the processing of the visa). Address history for migration agents Contact history for migration agents. All international travel movements undertaken by visa holders (arrivals and departures). Sponsor details Education providers (educational institution where a student visa holder intends to undertake their study). Visa subclass name. It is estimated that 10 million records will be obtained each financial year. Telephone: +61 3 9614 7111 Email: [email protected] Visit our website: www.nevettford.com.au

11.01.2022 : On 9 July 2020, in a joint statement, Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Immigration Minister Alan Tudge announced that the Australian Government has committed to providing visa pathways to Hong Kong passport holders to extend their stay if already located in Australia, or to relocate their families and businesses to Australia. In summary, the key announcements included:...Continue reading

11.01.2022 : - If your business is advertising to fill job vacancies, you may find that the right candidate needs visa sponsorship (e.g. for a subclass 482 (TSS) visa or a subclass 494 visa). To avoid having to re-advertise, try to ensure you meet the Department of Home Affairs' requirements from the outset. While there are some exemptions for certain occupations and for cert...ain countries below are the essentials for the advertisement: Advertising must have been conducted in the four months before lodgement of the visa nomination and be of 28 days' duration each (remember to screenshot start and end dates as evidence). & Additional advertising requirements apply for nominations lodged from 1 October 2020. You need at least () advertisements in total: () on recruitment websites (such as seek.com.au, careerone.com.au or indeed.com.au), in print media with national circulation or national radio with national coverage (LinkedIn is acceptable under certain circumstances and if your company is an accredited sponsor, advertisements may be placed on your website); and () on www.jobactive.gov.au Remember that the position must have been advertised in Australia and in English. The position advertised must have the following information included: the position title and description; the skills required for the position; the name of the sponsoring company (or their recruitment agency); and the salary (or salary range) (unless the salary is more than AUD96,400) You should keep a copy of the published advertisements and screenshots of relevant recruitment websites. Contact Nevett Ford Lawyers today if you require any Australian immigration assistance : +61 3 9614 7111 : www.nevettford.com.au : [email protected]

11.01.2022 - (): - - Acting Minister for Immigration Alan Tudge has announced a new Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL) in a joint media release with Senator Michaelia Cash on 2 September 2020. The PMSOL contains 17 occupations in the healthcare, construction and IT sectors that will 'supercharge' Australia's health and economic response to COVID-19.... Visa holders sponsored by an Australian employer in an occupation on the PMSOL have been added to the categories of people eligible for an exemption from Australia's current travel ban. Applicants applying for an employer-sponsored visa under a PMSOL occupation will also have their visa application prioritised for processing. The 17 occupations (with ANZSCO codes) currently on the PMSOL are: - Chief Executive or Managing Director (111111) - Construction Project Manager (133111) - Mechanical Engineer (233512) - General Practitioner (253111) - Resident Medical Officer (253112) - Psychiatrist (253411) - Medical Practitioner nec (253999) - Midwife (254111) - Registered Nurse (Aged Care) (254412) - Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency) (254415) - Registered Nurse (Medical) (254418) - Registered Nurse (Mental Health) (254422) - Registered Nurse (Perioperative) (254423) - Registered Nurses nec (254499) - Developer Programmer (261312) - Software Engineer (261313) - Maintenance Planner (312911) The occupations on the PMSOL were identified in consultation with the National Skills Commission and other relevant agencies and will be reviewed regularly. Australian businesses nominating occupations on the PMSOL are still required to satisfy labour market testing requirements to demonstrate that no Australian workers are available to fill the nominated position. The announcement of the PMSOL is also accompanied by additional labour market testing requirements outlined in the section below. For further details, please visit the following website.

11.01.2022 ' ': Australia will suffer its first reversal in net migration in more than seven decades in a hit to growth to be revealed in next week's federal budget, as the pandemic also cuts the nation's birth rate. With thousands of people leaving the country and fewer returning, the net result will be negative for the first time since 1946 and the country is at risk of a population slump not seen since the Gr...eat Depression. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg confirmed the blow and said he wanted a return to a generous intake to revive the "great Australian success story" of steady migration. "It's in Australia's interest to maintain a strong immigration program across a range of areas skilled migration, family, reunion and humanitarian," he said in an interview. "Migration will come back as the virus is brought under control. And to be honest, this is why a vaccine is so important. "A vaccine will help bring back confidence around the world and will speed up the relaxation of international border restrictions." Last year's budget forecast the population would grow by more than one million people over four years to almost 27 million in 2022, but the pandemic has taken its toll on natural growth as well as migration. Net overseas migration was forecast to be 271,300 this calendar year and 267,600 next year but is now on track to be negative. Abul Rizvi, a former deputy secretary in the Department of Immigration, estimated this week that population growth could fall as low as 83,000 in 2021 compared to last year's forecast of 455,000 for the same year. "The 2020 budget will include the biggest reversal in any Australian government's forecast of population growth, ever," he wrote. The Treasury has been told the fertility rate will fall to a long-term average of 1.62 births per woman, dashing old assumptions it would rebound to 1.9 births. The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age revealed on September 22 that Australia faced a deficit of 280,000 babies by 2024 due to the recession and unrealistic forecasts. Then-treasurer Peter Costello offered women a baby bonus worth $2500 in the 2002 budget and later urged families to have three babies "one for mum, one for dad and one for the country" to boost the population. Labor scrapped the baby bonus in the 2013 budget. Mr Frydenberg did not promise a financial incentive for families and instead argued the birth rate would revive as confidence returned after the pandemic. "I would love to see more children being born across this great country," he said. "It will be a function of people feeling confident about their economic circumstances. And as restrictions are eased, as people get back to work, more kids will be born. And that's a good thing." Source: smh.com.au

11.01.2022 ‘ ’: The peak body for migration agents in Australia says they received no prior warning of government plans to add an English language requirement to partner visas, after it was revealed in last week's budget. Agents are still in the dark about how the requirement will function as they field calls from concerned clients, according to the Migration Institute of Australia....Continue reading

10.01.2022 ? Here is an update on the current travel restrictions. If you are an Australian citizen or permanent resident, you are still prohibited to travel outside of Australia unless you are exempt or have applied for an exemption and received approval. The restriction is in place until 24 October 2020 but most likely to be extended. ... If you are an Australian citizen or permanent resident, you are automatically exempt from the travel ban and can enter Australia. If you are not an Australian citizen or permanent resident, you must have a valid visa to enter Australia, no matter whether you are exempted from the travel restrictions or not. For more detailed information, please visit our blog:- https://bit.ly/31I30s4 Contact Nevett Ford Lawyers today if you require assistance : +61 3 9614 7111 : www.nevettford.com.au : [email protected] (Although our office is based in Melbourne, immigration is under the federal legislative framework and we can assist applicants based in or interested in any part of Australia.) . . . #travelwaiver #travelexemption #COVID19travel #COVID19 #travelwaiverexemptions #immigrationservices #immigrationlawyer

10.01.2022 : There is a range of visa options for overseas companies looking to establish in Australia. Some employment-related visa programs have been in place for years, while others were recently created to address growing needs to attract innovation and entrepreneurial investment in Australia. Understanding the Australian immigration landscape to establish a business operation in Australia i...Continue reading

10.01.2022 - . Earlier this month, Prime Minister Morrison announced a series of measures aimed to benefit Hong Kong citizens residing in Australia, in response to the new security legislation. Hong Kongers currently in the country will be offered a five-y...ear extension with a path to permanent residency and this. This has, in turn, led to a significant uptick in migration interest from Hong Kong which have seen a handful of foreign governments looking to welcome capital and talent from the city following legislation. In addition to Australia, active wooers include the U.K., Japan and Taiwan. Black Diamondz Property Concierge, a luxury real estate brokerage firm with $200 million annual turnover and 20 percent client base of Hong Kongers, saw inquiries from the city increase 35 percent since last November and 45 percent since Morrisons visa announcements, according to an ABC report. An increase in property purchases is expected to follow within six to 12 months. According to another firm focused on migration services, inquiries about Australias temporary visa options doubled after Morrisons announcement mostly from young families aged between 24 and 44 working in IT, engineering and education alongside investors and business owners aged between 35 and 60. Australia is an attractive destination for many Hongkongers as it offers world-class education, political and economic stability, said the migration agent, named Mei Hoong Lai. They will bring along their business skills, invest in new business and create job opportunities for Australians [] and provide a richness in history and cultural diversity. Theres a long, long history of success of Hong Kong migrants in Australia, said former department of immigration deputy secretary Abul Rizvi. Hong Kong migrants who came around the time of the handover went on to become very successful migrants on connecting Australia back to Hong Kong. According to Rizvi, Hong Kongers will make a good fit in the country due similar backgrounds in the English language, legal system, democracy and business system in addition to much needed economic momentum. But he notes that Australia is not the lone wooer and that the government needs to make haste. The opportunities are there [] but I think the Australian Government and the state governments need to move now, he added. Therell be many countries who want to attract Hong Kong business migrants right now. If Australia waits until COVID-19 has passed, I think it will miss the opportunity. Source: finews.asia

08.01.2022 , : , In a world where many companies are shifting to allow remote work, the race to attract global remote workers is kicking off. Australia should be a first mover....Continue reading

08.01.2022 '- ': The Federal Government is being urged to take "urgent and immediate" action to address a visa that traps foreign parents in Australia with restrictions the UN says have a "serious impact" on human rights. The 461 visa allows foreign nationals who are partners of New Zealand citizens to live and work in Australia but problems arise when the relationship ends.... It can be renewed every five years, even when the relationship has ended, but only as a temporary visa, not permanent and with no avenue to change that. This means foreign nationals who are the primary caregivers and ordered to stay in Australia, live without many rights. These include access to government financial support, housing and childcare subsidies, and they are unable to vote. Other aspects include that they face prohibitive penalties on buying property as they're classed as "foreign investors". Mary* is one of multiple women the ABC has heard from who are being treated as what she says are "second-class citizens". Mary, a foreign national, moved to Australia from an affluent London suburb with her New Zealand husband and two young sons in 2014, but the relationship broke down soon after. She says she and her ex-husband spent close to $500,000 on legal fees in the family court, which ruled she must stay in Sydney. She has three masters degrees and works in Sydney in property. Now, her employer is restructuring and her landlord wants to sell the place she's renting. With the potential for a job loss and needing a new lease, Mary says she and her sons are at risk of poverty and homelessness. ' ' Mary has taken her case to the UN, who wrote to the Australian Government in July voicing concerns about the impact of the visa, which it says has a "serious impact" on the human rights of migrant women. Women like Mary are unable to return to their homeland with their children, where they would have greater rights. This could be because of restrictions under the Hague Convention where children can't be taken across borders without the permission of both parents, or because the family court has denied a relocation application. Mary and advocates are urging a change in migration regulations so that if they are ordered by the court to stay in Australia as the primary caregiver, they should be afforded the rights and privileges of permanent residents. If she had been married to an Australian citizen, there is a potential provision for the temporary visa to be changed to permanent in the event of a relationship breakdown. The Government says it has issued 2,450 permanent visas on that basis over the past five years. But on an Australian visa attached to a New Zealand citizen, there is no such pathway. Source: abc.net.au

08.01.2022 '' - Dominic Pangrazio's chance meeting with his wife Kumi at a Japanese bar could have been a scene straight out of a rom-com. "My friend tried to pick her up, but I had to do the translating for him, so in the process of translating, I probably got to know her a bit better than he did," said the Australian, who lives in Osaka.... The couple married two years ago and have plans to move back to Melbourne, where they'd like to "plant their roots" and also to be closer to Mr Pangrazio's sick mother. However, the Australian Government's announcement earlier this week that partner visa applicants will have to learn English to a "functional level" to stay here permanently has added yet another hurdle to what Mr Pangrazio says is an already expensive and lengthy process. The application fee starts from about $7,700 and the processing time for 90 per cent of applications is just over two years, according to the Department of Home Affairs. " ' 13 ," Mr Pangrazio said. " . , . . ' , , , ' ." Acting Immigration Minister Alan Tudge this week revealed new details of the English language requirements for people applying for partner visas. The test also applies to an applicant's spouse if they are a permanent resident rather than an Australian citizen. " ," Mr Tudge said. " , 500 ." He later told the ABC's Afternoon Briefing there was "no hard-and-fast test at the end of it that's going to prevent someone from staying in the country", but he said he wanted people "to have a crack at learning our national language". ' The new requirements and a promise to boost the number of partner visas were announced in Tuesday's Federal Budget. "These changes will help support English language acquisition and enhance social cohesion and economic participation outcomes," the budget papers said. But Mr Pangrazio said integrating into Australian society wasn't all about English language skills. To read more, please visit https://ab.co/3dXktBg

08.01.2022 ‘ ' The : Expanding Access to English Tuition Bill 2020 was introduced in the Lower House by Acting Minister Tudge last week. This Bill, if enacted, will support the changes to the Partner Visa requirements for sponsors and visa applicants, by removing the 510 hour limit on tuition, allow eligible persons to continue to study up to the level of vocational English. It will also remove time limits for a...pplying by specified persons and extending the program of English tuition to specified visa applicants or holders offshore. We will provide further updates once available. Telephone: +61 3 9614 7111 Email: [email protected] Visit our website: www.nevettford.com.au

08.01.2022 - - The Hon Ministers Alan Tudge and Dan Tehan have released a joint media statement outlining the arrangements to be put in place for student visa applicants and student visa holders who have been impacted by the COVID-19 travel restrictions. The release notes five (5) visa changes:... Grants of student visas in all locations lodged outside Australia will recommence, so visa holders will be ready to travel when borders reopen Free Visa Application Charge (VACs) for international students who lodge further student visa applications, if they were unable to complete their studies within their original visa validity due to COVID-19 Current student visa holders studying online outside Australia due to COVID-19 will be have that study counted towards the Australian study requirement for a post-study work visa Graduates who held a student visa will be eligible to apply for a post-study work visa outside Australia, if they are unable to return due to COVID-19 Additional time will be given for applicants to provide English language results where COVID-19 has disrupted access to these services As these announcements will required legislative changes, there is no further detail available at the moment and we will update you further at that time. ? : +61 3 9614 7111 : [email protected] : www.nevettford.com.au . #Studentvisa #StudentvisaAustralia #Subclass485visa #Graduate485visa #Australianvisa #Australianstudentvisa #ImmigrationlawyersAustralia #ImmigrationlawyerMelbourne #ImmigrationlawyerSydney #Australianimmigrationlawyer #StudentvisaapplicationAustralia #Subclass500 #Subclass500visa #Subclass485visa

07.01.2022 : () The acting Minister for Immigration Alan Tudge has announced a new Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL) with 17 selected occupations to be allowed to enter Australia, despite the current travel restrictions, to assist with the Australias economic recovery. The government believes that this decision has been made to strengthen the current labour market by allowing small numbers of... skilled employees to return to Australia and fulfil the urgent needs of critical sectors. For further details, please visit our blog: https://bit.ly/31ZczTE Contact Nevett Ford Lawyers today if you require any Australian immigration assistance : +61 3 9614 7111 : www.nevettford.com.au : [email protected] . #PMSOL #PriorityMigrationSkilledOccupationList #WorkinAustralia #COVID19 #Travelwaiver #Travelexemption #Travelwaiverexemption #Subclass482visa #482visa #Subclass482 #Employersponsoredvisa #Australianworkvisa

07.01.2022 With waiting times for partner visas blowing out due to COVID-19, a new campaign is calling for a fairer and more transparent processing system to help families who have waited years to be together in Australia. Amy Alhashimi and her husband Karrar first met in unusual circumstances. ...Continue reading

07.01.2022 The partners of Australians granted marriage visas while stuck overseas due to the pandemic have been offered a reprieve, with news they will be able to apply for an extension. Approval of a prospective marriage visas usually comes with a deadline of nine months for the future bride or groom to enter Australia.... However, Acting Immigration Minister Alan Tudge announced visa extensions will be available for prospective marriage visa holders whose visas are still valid. In last week's budget, it was revealed those granted marriage visas would be granted a refund of their $8000 application fee if they expired. People granted temporary skilled visas, visitor visas and working holiday visas that have expired due to COVID-19 restrictions will be offered waivers on their next application if they apply again. Several Australian have previously told nine.com.au their partner's visas had been granted but they were fearful the offer would expire before they could come to Australia because of COVID-19 travel restrictions. This would have meant couples would have to go through the lengthy process of starting their visa applications all over again. Brisbane man Luke Craig, whose Mexican fiancée Mariana Lopez has been unable to travel to Australia despite being granted a marriage visa, said the announcement of extensions was "a step forward". However, Mr Craig said their main problem was getting permission for Ms Lopez to fly into Australia. Yesterday, the couple's 17th application for a travel exemption was rejected. " ," he said. "' ' . ."

06.01.2022 During the recent federal budget announcement, one of the most shocking revelations was the requirement of the English language test for spouses and their partners to be satisfied prior to granting the permanent residency. The minimum level required would be functional English and the required score for functional English is a minimum overall score of 4.5 in each component of Speaking, Reading, Writing, and Listening, in an IELTS (International Eng...lish Language Test System) exam. In addition to the English requirement, it has been further confirmed that the mandatory family sponsorship provisions for Partner visas will be implemented, requiring character checks and sharing of personal information with the applicant, and enforceable sponsorship obligations. It was further explained that if the spouse and sponsor could not demonstrate functional English proficiency before they are granted with the permanent residency, they will be required to undergo 500 hours of free English language lessons. For further details, please visit out website: https://bit.ly/2FoKFb7 #Englishtest #Partnervisa #PartnervisaEnglish #Immigration #ImmigrationLawyers

06.01.2022 , With not enough workers to pick the upcoming harvest, Australia faces potential food shortages, and its farmers face economic devastation. As Victorias Covid-19 outbreak threatens to spiral out of control and beyond its borders, Australia faces another pandemic-related crisis....Continue reading

05.01.2022 : () - The AAT is mindful that hearing matters remotely is not always practical in some circumstances and where the matter may not be deferred. The AAT is taking steps to resume limited in-person hearings in the Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Hobart, Perth and Sydney registries.... The AAT will consider list in-person hearings on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the AATs practice directions. In appropriate matters, in-person hearings are expected to commence within the next few weeks. Parties will be contacted by the Tribunal as to hearing arrangements. Most AAT hearings and all AAT conferences will continue to be conducted remotely by video conference or telephone for some time. ? : +61 3 9614 7111 : [email protected] : www.nevettford.com.au

05.01.2022 , ? The concept of a COVID-19 germ bubble refers to close contacts with whom we dont practise mask use or keep physical distancing. In strict lockdown, this generally means just the members of your own household. But several countries, such as New Zealand and the United Kingdom, have experimented with bubbles larger than a single household. Victorian Premier Dan Andrews will unveil a roadmap out of restriction...Continue reading

05.01.2022 () Acting Minister Tudge has released information on changes to the Business innovation and Investment Program (BIIP) which will come into effect from .... The new program will be reduced to four instead of : Business Innovation Entrepreneur Investor Significant Investor : The provisional visas will now be with provisional visa holders in all four streams able to apply for permanent residence if they meet the requirements after . There will be a clear path to permanent residency or each category. There will be further consultations on changes to the Complying Investment Framework in the first half of 2021, to give sufficient time for businesses and investors to adjust. Business Innovation visa holders will continue to be able to if they do not meet the business and residence thresholds in the required timeframe. Business Innovation provisional visa holders can apply for a - extension provided they demonstrate a realistic commitment to continuing to manage a business that has been actively operating in Australia for the previous two years. Business Innovation visa holders will be required to hold increased $. (up from $800,000) and have an $, (up from $500,000) to prove their business acumen. Significant Investor visa holders will continue to be able to if they do not meet the business and residence thresholds in the required timeframe. Significant Investor provisional visa holders can apply for - extensions provided they continue to maintain their complying significant investment. The $200,000 funding threshold required for Entrepreneur visa applicants will be abolished. Entrepreneur visa applicants will need to be endorsed by a State or Territory government. The following BIIP streams will be for new applications from 1 July 2021 are: Premium Investor Significant Business History Venture Capital Entrepreneur Telephone: +61 3 9614 7111 Email: [email protected] Visit our website: www.nevettford.com.au

04.01.2022 Australian citizenship testing and interviews, which were suspended due to COVID-19 restrictions, have now resumed in Perth, Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide. Acting Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs, Alan Tudge, said appointments will be held in line with state and territory restrictions and with the safety of both staff and applicants as the top priority.... More migrants can now continue to progress towards becoming Australian citizens, joining the record number of people who pledged their allegiance to Australia last year, Minister Tudge said. This Government has placed an increased emphasis on Australian citizenship, recognising it is one the foundations of our democratic, socially cohesive nation. We acted quickly to ensure citizenship ceremonies continued online when COVID-19 hit and we restarted in-person ceremonies in June. The interview and test are important steps in the process of applying for Australian citizenship, ensuring the integrity of our citizenship decisions. The citizenship test assesses an applicants knowledge of Australia and the responsibilities and privileges of being an Australian citizen. More than 1150 people have attended a citizenship appointment since they resumed in Perth on 6 July 2020. Appointments will resume in Canberra, Hobart and Darwin throughout August. A record 204,000 people were conferred citizenship in 2019-20. During COVID-19 more than 73,000 people have attended online ceremonies and a further 5,000 have attended in-person ceremonies since they resumed on 3 June. Source: miragenews.com

03.01.2022 - Nurses, doctors, and software engineers on temporary visas blocked from returning to Australia because of travel restrictions will have their exemptions fast-tracked under a new government plan. The federal government has announced a priority skill list to lure back temporary visa holders who have been stranded overseas by the coronavirus pandemic. ...Continue reading

03.01.2022 : The Departments website has been update with a new Travel Restrictions Exemption Portal. >> https://travel-exemptions.homeaffairs.gov.au/tep... The portal is for the use of those who meet the criteria below and wish to or Australia during the current COVID travel restrictions: an immediate family member of an Australian citizen or permanent resident (being spouses, de facto partners, dependent children and legal guardians) a New Zealand citizen who is usually resident in Australia have a compelling or compassionate reason to travel to Australia urgently, including critical skills and medical emergencies believe they meet a departure travel restriction exemption. ? : +61 3 9614 7111 : [email protected] : www.nevettford.com.au

03.01.2022 ? / The following updated information has been released by the Australian Border Force (ABF) relating to travellers wishing to LEAVE Australia....Continue reading

02.01.2022 A recent measure introduced by the Australian government in light of the recent political developments has automatically granted 10,000 Hong Kong passport holders in Australia a five year extension of their visas, creating a path to permanent residency. Acting Immigration Minister Alan Tudge said in a statement that "Australia has a long history of attracting Hong Kong's best and brightest who have contributed sig...nificantly to our economic growth and job creation, and we are committed to ensuring this is further strengthened," and, "we know that recent events in Hong Kong mean that many highly talented individuals will want to remain in or relocate to a free, democratic country like Australia, and these new arrangements will ensure we're attracting those who create jobs and opportunities for Australians." For more details, please visit our blog: https://bit.ly/33rUnkR Contact Nevett Ford Lawyers today if you require any Australian immigration assistance : +61 3 9614 7111 : www.nevettford.com.au : [email protected] (Although our office is based in Melbourne, immigration is under the federal legislative framework and we can assist applicants based in or interested in any part of Australia.)

02.01.2022 If you an overseas student who has been studying in Australia, it is important to remember that in September 2020 the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) announced changes to the graduate visa program. This was to assist student visa holders stranded outside Australia due to COVID-19. Students were allowed to receive the Subclass 485 visa from outside Australia. They were also granted a concession to apply for this graduate visa within 12 mo...nths of completing their course as opposed to the usual 6 months. Those in ‘regional’ Australia may extend their 485 visa by one or two years, depending on where they attended university. This extra time is in addition to the two years currently afforded by the Temporary Graduate Visa. ? Telephone: +61 3 9614 7111 Email: [email protected] Visit our website: www.nevettford.com.au

01.01.2022 & (-) Arguably, Temporary Skill Visa holders in Australia at the time the COVID -19 pandemic struck have felt the impact more so than any other group of people within the Immigration diaspora. According to government statistics, at the time the pandemic first hit, there were over 2 million people in Australia on a temporary visa of one type or another, of which about 140,000 were Temporary Skill Visa holders on either two o...Continue reading

01.01.2022 Previously, one of the main requirements for a Subclass 189 New Zealand pathway applicant is to demonstrate a taxable income above the Temporary Skilled migration Income threshold (‘TSMIT’) for at least five (5) years at the time of submitting a valid applicationthe TSMIT amount is $53,900. This requirement has created difficulties for some New Zealand applicants, and has resulted in them being unable... to apply for their permanent residency in Australia. However, this criteria has recently been reformed by the Government to reduce the financial requirement period to at least three (3) years of the last five (5) income years, including the most recent year. This is great news for New Zealand stream applicants as this new announcement may provide more leniency in the income threshold requirement for any applicants who were previously unable to apply under this visa stream. For further information, please visit our website: https://lnkd.in/gisFCxS

01.01.2022 ‘ ’ Any Working Holiday visa holder that wishes to extend their stay in Australia will be required to undertake the prescribed ‘regional work’ to be eligible to apply for a second or third year Subclass 417 visa. The Department has further clarified and amended the definition of ‘regional work’ and replaced this with 'specified Subclass 417 work'. This will allow any Subclass 417 holders who ha...ve undertaken ‘critical sector work’ in response to the COVID pandemic to have that work counted towards their second or third year working holiday visa extension. Specified Subclass 417 work means work that: (a) was carried out in one or more areas in Australia within the category of Agriculture, Construction and Mining work. (b) was of one or more kinds of work specified for the purposes of this definition. This amendment applies to applications made on or after 14 November 2020 and the specified work must have been carried out before that date. In addition, application and transitional provisions recognise the contribution of Working Holiday visa holders by allowing that ‘special Subclass 417 work’ and ‘special Subclass 462 work’ in specific critical COVID pandemic sectors undertaken on COVID stream Subclass 408 and associated bridging visas will also count towards for further working holiday visas. This special COVID work refers to ‘Critical COVID19’ work in the healthcare and medical sectors, carried out after 31 January 2020, including but not limited to: medical treatment, nursing, contact tracing, testing and research; support services such as cleaning of medical and health care facilities and equipment. Subsequent Working Holiday visas granted to COVID stream 408 visa holders will have twelve (12) month validity, starting on the day the COVID 408 visa ceases, to allow visa holder to gain the maximum benefit from both visas. All specified work undertaken on the COVID Subclass 408 or associated Bridging Visa may be claimed for the subsequent Working Holiday visa applications, as long as some special Subclass 417 or Subclass 482 work was undertaken, there is no minimum requirement for this special work. A gap of 28 days between the cessation of the previous Working Holiday Visa and the lodgement of the COVID stream under the Subclass 408 visa is permitted in line the lodgement requirements of the latter visa. Work on multiple COVID stream Subclass 408 and associated Bridging visas may be claimed, as long as there is not more than the 28 day gap between these COVID visas. Do you need further assistance to understand about your eligibility for a Working Holiday visa extension? Contact Nevett Ford Lawyers today and make an appointment for a consultation.

01.01.2022 ' ' A travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand is getting closer by the day with both prime ministers currently in discussions to make it happen. Australia's Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said there had been "very productive discussions" between the two countries.... "It's looking good to have that New Zealand bubble, that Trans-Tasman bubble," Mr McCormack told Today. "It's going to be important." Earlier this morning New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern confirmed she was "working hard" to get the travel agreement in place. "We want it to be safe," Ms Ardern told Today. "We want everyone to be comfortable with it and know that we are safeguarding our own strategies as we do it." Mr McCormack said the travel bubble would be particularly beneficial to regional communities desperate for workers. "There is always work to be done in shearing sheds in Australia," he said. "We don't have enough Australian shearers to be able to do the whole job, so we would welcome that. "There is plenty of work in regional Australia." The government has announced a 12-month visa extension that will allow holiday workers to fill jobs in regional areas, while incentives will also be provided to Australians. "There is money to be made. Money that people wouldn't have otherwise had. If you are lounging around with your surf board up the coast and you want to make some money and new friends, want to get those Instagram moments, get on board, get to an orchard," Mr McCormack said. Further details will be announced in next week's budget. The travel bubble talks have also reignited the debate about home quarantine, with the prime minister yesterday suggesting it was being looked at for returning Australians and tourists. "We are looking at and will listen and heed the best medical advice," Mr McCormack said. "The protection committee has done such a good job making sure we kept our case rate low compared to the rest of the world. "New Zealand has done the same. That's why we are looking at easing restrictions." But, he said, a home quarantine system was dependant on people following the rules. "We would like to think that they would," he said. "The option is an ICU bed and palliative care. Let's be serious about yourselves, about your family, about people you may never have met, but it's really important." Source: 9news.com.au

01.01.2022 The Morrison Government states that changes to visa rules will mean Australia will remain an attractive destination for tourists, and temporary visa holders who often fill critical skills shortages, by offering refunds or waivers of Visa Application Charges (VAC). Tourists, working holiday makers, seasonal and pacific workers, prospective partners and temporary skilled workers w...Continue reading