Industry Updates

Please be advised that the following websites will be unavailable for short periods between 4 pm and 10 pm on Saturday 22 June 2019 (AEST)

The OMARA has recently informed practitioners that it will not be able to refund registration (or repeat registration) application charges for legal practitioners who will no longer be regulated by the OMARA. Although the OMARA is not itself able to offer refunds, we carried out research for our readers and found a piece of legislation which gives the Commonwealth government the discretion to make payments to individuals in certain circumstances, which in the case of OMARA fees could effectively work as a refund. We also discuss the government's policies on such circumstances and how to make a "refund" request.

The latest AAT Bulletin contains references to several citizenship & migration review decisions

BSMQ will present regional investment workshops focusing on 'educating small to medium enterprises seeking investment and briefing on the state nomination process for business and skilled visas'

General professional occupations: 'As of 14 February 2019, we will be considering the exact date, including day, month and year for the Date Deemed Skilled'; work outside last 10 years may be considered

323 invitations issued; next invitation round to take place on or before 2 June 2019

'A new graduate stream is now available for Western Australian State nomination'.

The new Class PS, Subclass 491 visa will "replace" visa subclass 489 (regional points-tested GSM) on 16 November 2019. But will the visa validity period, which is 4 years for subclass 489 visa holders in most circumstances, be the same for subclass 491?

Business & Skilled Migration Queensland 'will close from 21 December 2018 until the 02 January 2018 for the holiday period'

Withdrawing a bogus document does not prevent PIC 4020 issues