Legislative Updates

The Migration (LIN 19/001: Payment of Visa Application Charges and Fees in Foreign Currencies) Instrument 2019 commences on 1 Jan 2019

'The Amendment Determination only clarifies... that a person who becomes the holder of [a visa subclass 309 or 820] is subject to the [newly arrived resident's waiting period]' of 104 weeks

Migration (LIN 18/215: Class of Persons eligible for a nil visa application charge for Class GG visa and Subclass 408 (Temporary Activity) visa) Instrument 2018

'The purpose of this instrument is to update the name of The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia to Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand'

Migration (LIN 18/138: Specification of Income Threshold and Exemptions for Subclass 189 (Skilled – Independent) Visa (New Zealand Stream)) Instrument 2018

The changes 'allow citizenship application fees, and refunds of citizenship application fees where appropriate, to be paid in foreign currencies and in foreign countries'

'[The instrument is made in] accordance with regular sunsetting practice and... introduce a power to make an Instrument of Delegation to ensure that powers delegated across the Home Affairs Portfolio and within State and Territory Child Welfare Agencies are delegated to positions that are sufficiently senior to exercise that power'

Starting on 13 Dec 2018, the Minister will be required to publish personal details of non-compliant sponsors, with retrospective effect from 18 March 2015

The changes allow sponsors, visa applicants, visa holders, former visa holders and others to lawfully provide the Secretary with the TFN of certain visa applicants, visa holders and former visa holders

From 13 Dec 2018, the eligibility for merits review will become much stricter, including for TSS applications