Partner visa: COVID-19 concessions

The new regulations amend the Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth) to "enable the ‘COVID-19 concession’ cohort to access the ... as part of meeting the criteria for grant of a Subclass 100 Partner visa or a Subclass 309 Partner (Provisional) visa"

Income threshold & exemptions for visa subclass 189

The purpose of the new instrument is to "include an exemption for New Zealand citizens who are unable to meet the income threshold requirements for the 2020-21 income year due to the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic"

Increased credit card & PayPal surcharges

From 1 July 2020, credit card surcharges relating to visa and citizenship applications will be increased, as detailed in this update. It is important to know the precise amount of charges and fees to be paid by clients in order to comply with cl 2.20(a) of the Code, which reads as follows: A registered migration agent must ... find out the correct amount of any visa application charge and all other fees or charges required to be paid for a client’s visa application...

Subclass 408: class of persons for nil VAC

"The purpose of this instrument is to specify the ... as an AGEE under clause 408.229 of Schedule 2 to the Regulations"

Improved access to permanent residence

"The purpose of the instrument is to specify a new cohort of specified persons who, after 30 June 2022, will be eligible to meet requirements under regulation 5.19 of the Regulations for applications seeking approval for a nomination of a TRT visa.  It also exempts the new specified persons and an additional cohort of subclass 457 visa holders after 30 June 2022 from the operation of paragraph 5.19(5)(c) of the Regulations"

DAMA for Orana (NSW)

​'Employers in the Orana region in the central west and western region of New South Wales have been given a boost, with a new migration agreement between the Federal Government and Regional Development Australia (RDA) Orana to attract skilled workers to the region'

Subclass 491: health waiver available?

The new Class PS, Subclass 491 visa will "replace" visa subclass 489 (regional points-tested GSM) on 16 November 2019. But will the health waiver, which is available for some subclass 489 applicants, be available for subclass 491?

Costs excluded from consideration under PIC 4005 & 4007

"By making a legislative instrument under subclauses 4005(3) and 4007(1B), the Minister can exclude the cost of specified ... from the consideration of costs under...

Updated table of ADS-approved travel agents in China

"This instrument provides an updated table of ADS-approved travel agents in China.  The travel agents listed in the table are authorised under the ADS stream to organise tours to Australia for eligible citizens from the People’s Republic of China."

AMSR’s alternative methodology

"The amendments allow the person making the nomination to use an alternative methodology for determining the [Australian Market Salary Rate] ..."