Subclass 309: changes to review rights
The purpose of the new instrument is to change the eligibility requirements for merits review at the AAT for subclass 309 (partner) visa applicants
Class TK visas: form, place & manner of applications
"The purpose of the instrument is to update the approved form, place and manner (the arrangements) for making an application for the Extended Eligibility (Temporary) (Class TK) visa (Class TK visa)"
Removal of health workforce certificate requirements: part 2
"The amendments made by this instrument enable employers to nominate a proposed occupation in relation to a person with one of the abovementioned ... occupations who is the holder of or who has applied for a Subclass 482 visa or Subclass 494 visa without being required to provide a HWC or HWEC"
Can non-compliance with social distancing lead to cancellation?
"I will also say a very clear message to those backpackers who may not be adhering to the social distancing rules... [Y]ou will be breaching your visa condition and if we find that out, we will be kicking you out of the country". We discuss whether non-compliance with social distancing rules can in fact lead to a breach of a visa condition and ultimately the cancellation of a working holiday, work and holiday or other visas.
Working Holiday: age limit extended to 35
The new instrument increases the age limit to 35 for another country for subclass 417 visa applicants, effective 1 July 2019
Expiry extension for certain visa holders
The new instrument: "extends previously granted temporary skilled and temporary graduate visas (Subclasses 457,482, 485), and provides for future grants of those visas to be for five years, if ..."; "creates pathways to permanent residence for temporary skilled and temporary graduate visa holders from..."; and "brings forward the commencement of Schedule 3 to the Migration Amendment (New Skilled Regional Visas) Regulations 2019 from 16 November 2022 to..."
New citizenship fees
The new Regulations apply the Consumer Price Index (CPI) to Australian citizenship application fees from ...
Designated regional areas for certain skilled & temporary graduate visas
"The purpose of the instrument is to expand the parts and areas of Australia that are specified for subregulation 1.15M(1), the definition of regional Australia in subregulation 5.19(16), and for subparagraph 888.226(2)(c)(i) and paragraph 892.213(3)(b) of Schedule 2 to the Regulations. The instrument adds postcodes in the local government areas of..."
Coronavirus: classes of persons for student visas
A new instrument that commences on 25 Feb 2020: "The instrument operates for the Minister to specify classes of persons to whom subparagraph 1222(2)(a)(i) of Schedule 1 to the Regulations applies. For applicants included in these classes of persons, the first instalment of the visa application charge amount is nil... As a response to the cancellation of visas as a direct consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic, the instrument creates arrangements for applicants who are in Australia and who are former Student (Temporary) (Class TU) visa holders and whose visas were cancelled due to the risk of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern designated by the World Health Organisation, to the health, safety or good order the Australian community, or a segment of that community".
Strengthening the character test
The new Bill seeks to amend the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) to strengthen the character test in section 501 by "providing a new specific and objective ground to consider visa refusal or cancellation where a non-citizen has been convicted of certain serious offences against Australian or foreign laws involving violence against a person (including murder, kidnapping and aggravated burglary), non-consensual sexual acts, breaching of an apprehended violence order (or similar) or weapons"




















