Premium

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".

"The purpose of the [new] instrument is to undertake a biannual update of the places and corresponding currencies in which payment of a fee may be made".

"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.

The new Bill would require the Tribunal to make decisions in relation to certain kinds of visa applications without holding an oral hearing

The purpose of the new instrument is to increase the temporary skilled migration income threshold (TSMIT) from $73,150 to ...

The new Regulations "amend the Migration Regulations 1994 (the Migration Regulations) to expand access to the Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream of the Subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme) visa (Subclass 186 visa). The changes also apply to the TRT stream of the Subclass 187 (Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme) visa (Subclass 187 visa)."

"Amends the: Australian Citizenship Act 2007 to: replace the current arrangements, whereby a person’s Australian citizenship automatically ceases through certain conduct, with a discretion for the Minister for Home Affairs to determine that a person who is a national or citizen of a country other than Australia ceases to be an Australian citizen if they have: engaged in specified terrorism-related conduct; fought for, or been in the service of, a declared terrorist organisation outside Australia; or engaged in conduct that results in a conviction for a specified terrorism offence..."

This instrument makes various amendments to the Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth), including to assist certain visa applicants and holders adversely affected by covid-19

The new Regulations allow applicants for two visa subclasses to be either in or outside Australia at the time of visa grant and amend who can apply for merits review for one of those subclasses

The new Subclass 494 visa will "replace" subclass 187 on 16 November 2019. But will the health waiver, which is available for some subclass 187 applicants, be available for subclass 494?