Cessation and grant of bridging visas
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 ..."
New instrument on complying investments
The new instrument "specifies the investments permitted for certain streams for Subclass 188 (Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional)) visa and Subclass 888 (Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent)) visa under Australia’s Business Innovation and Investment Program (BIIP)"
Chemicals of security concern
"The purpose of the instrument is to specify chemicals of security concern under subclauses 8551(2) and 8560(2) of Schedule 8 to the Migration Regulations, for the purposes of visa conditions 8551 and 8560"
Subclass 491: an additional Schedule 1 requirement
The new Class PS, Subclass 491 visa will replace visa subclass 489 (regional points-tested GSM) on 16 November 2019. However, the new class will have an additional requirement under Schedule 1 which does not currently exist for subclass 489. Non-compliance with that requirement will lead to an invalid 491 visa application.
Caps on family visas
The instrument determines the maximum number of parent visas and other family visas that may be granted between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026
Subclass 870 (Sponsored Parent (Temporary)) visa
The rules for the new Subclass 870 (Sponsored Parent (Temporary)) visa are contained in the new Migration Amendment (Temporary Sponsored Parent Visa and Other Measures) Regulations 2019, to commence on 17 April 2019
New instrument on values statement
'The purpose of the instrument is to update the language of the values statement for all visa subclasses specified to better reflect the values that are important to Australian society'
Extension of temporary graduate and skilled regional provisional visas
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"
Subclass 870: sponsors “inherit” public health debt
Sponsors "inherit" any outstanding public health debt incurred by visa applicants and the government can recover the debt from sponsors in court, which could add up to several thousands of dollars of out of pocket health expenses, not to mention legal costs. Practitioners might need to advise both visa applicants and sponsors about that liability. Otherwise, sponsors could seek compensation from, and/or complain against, practitioners on the basis that, had they been informed of the liability, they would not have applied for sponsorship.
Queensland skilled nomination program closed
'The Queensland skilled state nomination program has now closed 10 May 2018 at 12pm. Expressions of interest (EOI’s) submitted after this date and time will not be considered'


















