Legislative Updates

"The purpose of the instrument is to update the approved form, place and manner (the arrangements) for making an application for a Special Category (Temporary) (Subclass 444) (Class TY) visa (SCV)"

"The purpose of the instrument is to include an additional condition for passports issued by the authorities of Taiwan"

The new instrument amends the Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth) to "extend previously granted temporary graduate and skilled regional provisional visas whose holders have been impacted by COVID-19 related international travel restrictions in place from..." and to "extend certain Subclass 489 (Skilled – Regional (Provisional)), Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional (Provisional)) and Subclass 494 (Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional)) visas for three years"

"The purpose of the instrument is to specify circumstances, for subregulation 3.03AB(2) of the Regulations, in which a clearance officer may require a person to provide a completed passenger card"

The new instrument specifies "an additional circumstance where the first instalment of VAC may be refunded, to encourage visa holders in nominated subclasses to travel to Australia and participate in the Australian economy"

"The purpose of the instrument is to specify the exchange rates and foreign currencies used to make payments of certain fees, for paragraph 5.36(1A)(a) of the Regulations, from 1 January 2022"

The new instrument commenced on 1 January 2022 and makes changes to: the list of eligible countries; instances where approval from a foreign country is required; & more

The new Code of Conduct for RMAs takes effect from 1 March 2022 and includes provisions on: duty to disclose to the department the existence of false or misleading documents or information in some circumstances; duty not to evade a requirement of the migration law; duty to take all reasonable steps to verify the identity of the client; duties relating to work or services performed by persons other than RMAs; etc

The new regulations amend the Migration Agents Regulations 1998 (Cth) to repeal the current Code of Conduct from 1 March 2022 and make amendments consequential to that repeal and the introduction of a new Code

"The purpose of the instrument is to specify Australia and a number of foreign countries for paragraph 5.36(1)(a) [of the Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth)] and the associated currency, or currencies, in which a fee may be paid in that country for paragraph 5.36(1)(b)... It is noted that the instrument has an additional purpose for the Australian Citizenship Act 2007 ..."