New English requirements for student visas
"The purpose of the instrument is to specify English language proficiency requirements to satisfy the criterion for the grant of a Subclass 500 (Student) visa in subclause 500.213(1)"
Citizenship Cessation Bill
According to the explanatory memorandum to the Bill introduced on 19 September 2019, "a person who is a national or citizen of a country other than Australia ceases to be an Australian citizen if the person acts inconsistently with their allegiance to Australia by" engaging in certain type of conduct. Is this Bill a further erosion of the "sacred" concept of citizenship? Could it become a "slippery slope" towards citizenship cancellation on less serious, more subjective grounds?
Changes to work related visa conditions
The new Regulations enhance the labour market mobility of temporary migrants under the following visa subclasses: 457, 482, 494
Closure of the Pandemic event visa
The Pandemic event visa will close to all applicants from...
Consequential Bill for new Tribunal
Among other things, the Bill: "Abolishes the Immigration Assessment Authority and harmonises provisions relating to reviews of migration and refugee decisions (providing a broader suite of tools for the efficient and effective resolution of these matters). Adjusts the exhaustive statement of the natural justice hearing rule for migration and protection matters..."
AAT review rights removed for certain 482, 457 & 407 visa applicants
From 13 Dec 2018, the eligibility for merits review will become much stricter, including for TSS applications
New instrument on PIC 4019
The new instrument approves the values statement for the subclasses of visas specified in the instrument, for the purpose of PIC 4019
“Fake migration agents sentenced”
ABF: "Investigations revealed that although neither of the women were registered migration agents they had advertised migration assistance and charged a fee whilst not being registered, and provided immigration assistance to at least three travellers who were found to be in possession of fraudulently obtained identity documents".
Computerised decision-making
"The purpose of this Instrument is to allow for the use of computerised decision-making in certain circumstances"
Humanitarian response to events in Afghanistan
The new instrument amends the Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth) "to facilitate applications for permanent residence by persons evacuated to Australia for temporary safe haven following the crisis in Afghanistan in August 2021"