Legislative Updates

"Specifically, the instrument specifies forms 491D and 494V (Internet) as approved forms for Bridging A (Class WA) and Bridging C (Class WC) visa applications. This ensures that applicants who make an application for a substantive visa using approved forms 491D and 494V (Internet) will be able to make a combined application for a bridging visa with their application for a substantive visa".

The new legislative instrument specifies the period, manner and evidence of Labour Market Testing for the purposes of visa subclasses 457, 482 (TSS) and 494 (new regional visa)

"The purpose of this instrument is to amend Migration (IMMI 18/033: Specification of Income Threshold and Annual Earnings and Methodology of Annual Market Salary Rate) Instrument 2018 (IMMI 18/033) to address changes to the Regulations as a result of amendments to the Regulations by the Migration Amendment (New Skilled Regional Visas) Regulations 2019 (the amending Regulations)".

"The instrument operates to specify the requirements for making an application for a Subclass 494 visa. For the purposes of subitem 1242(1) of Schedule 1 to the Regulations, the instrument specifies the approved form for making a valid application. For the purposes of paragraph 1242(3)(a) of Schedule 1 to the Regulations, the instrument also specifies the manner in which an application must be made".

"The instrument specifies bodies as Regional Certifying Bodies, who can give advice to the Minister about the matters set out in subregulation 2.72C(18) of the Regulations, in relation to applications for approval of an nomination for a subclass 494 (Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional)) visa".

The new legislative instrument specifies the postcodes that constitute "regional areas" for the purposes of the new regional visas and subclasses 189, 190, 888 and 892

The new legislative instrument specifies the forms and fees for the purposes of: an application for approval as a standard business sponsor or a temporary activities sponsor, or to vary a term of approval as a temporary activities sponsor; a nomination of an occupation in relation to a subclass 457, 482 (TSS) or 494 (new regional visa). It also specifies: the circumstances in which a sponsorship application or nomination can be made in a different way, the different way, and the approved form; and the process for nomination of a program of occupational training for a Subclass 407 (Training) visa.

The new instrument specifies the assessing authorities for the new subclass 494 (regional) visa. For some occupations, the assessing authorities will depend on the date of the assessment, as we explain in this article.

"the instrument specifies ... that holders of the new [regional visas] are eligible for approved English courses through the AMEP"

The new instrument specifies the pool and pass marks for the following visa subclasses: 491, 189 and 190