Legislative Updates

"The purpose of the instrument is to specify circumstances under these provisions to allow refunds of the first instalment of visa application charge.  Refunds are being made available in respect of visa holders and former visa holders who have been impacted due to COVID-19 pandemic travel restrictions introduced on 20 March 2020 and hold, or have held, the following visas"

The new instrument increases the maximum age for certain applicants for a Subclass 417 visa from 30 to 35 years

The purpose of the instrument is to amend the areas of Australia and the kinds of work that are specified in another instrument for the definitions of specified Subclass 417 work and specified Subclass 462 work

The new regulations amend the Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth) to "to cease certain bridging visas, held by a non-citizen if they have been determined by the Foreign Minister or their delegate, as a person whose presence in Australia may be directly or indirectly associated with ..."

A new stack dated 2 March 2019 was added to Legendcom with updated policies and instructions on migration and citizenship matters

The new instrument commences on 5 Mar 2020: "One of the purposes of the instrument is to specify... areas of Australia affected by bushfires occurring after 31 July 2019 and before 1 March 2020 as areas of Australia. Another purpose is to specify bushfire recovery work as work undertaken, including work undertaken on a volunteer basis, carried out after 31 July 2019 in an area specified ... as a kind of work. Bushfire recovery work is defined in ... the instrument... The last purpose is to specify construction work as a kind of work for areas specified in [the instrument], in alignment with specified work for Subclass 417 (Working Holiday) visa".

The new Regulations "permanently close the Subclass 189 (Skilled – Independent) visa in the New Zealand Stream to new primary applications. Partners and dependants of primary applicants ..."

"The purpose of the instrument is to specify ... as the health service provider for the purposes of subregulation 1.15AA(2)" of the Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth)

The new instrument specifies the approved form and the place and manner in which applications must be lodged for the following visa subclasses: 189, 190, 485, 476, 489, 491 and 887.

'If an officer knows or reasonably suspects that a transitory person is a legacy minor, the officer must bring the person to Australia for the temporary purpose...'