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"This Bill seeks to amend the Migration Act 1958 to enable applicants for Subclass 309 (Partner (Provisional)) visas to be granted the visa onshore,...

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"

Among other VAC changes, the new regulations "reduce the VAC payable for an application for a Subclass 500 (Student) and Subclass 590 (Student Guardian) visa for applicants seeking to satisfy the primary criteria in Schedule 2 to the Migration Regulations for the grant of the visa and who are holders of a valid passport issued by a specified country in..."

Among other things, the new instrument specifies 2 new countries as eligible for visa subclass 462

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

"The main purpose of this Bill is to update specific references to short titles of regulations in the statute law of the Commonwealth that have become out of date due to the remaking or renaming of the regulations or that are at risk of becoming out of date in future due to remaking or renaming".

Schedule 1 extends subclass 476 (Skilled – Recognised Graduate) visas whose holders were outside Australia during the COVID-19 related travel restrictions. "Schedule 2 facilitates the ability to apply for an Electronic Travel Authority visa using a recently launched ... Schedule 3 facilitates short-term skilled visa holders accessing a pathway to permanent residence (currently generally only available to longer-term visa holders), by enabling them to apply for..."

Among other changes, new English tests will be accepted for registration as a migration agent

"This instrument operates to specify English language proficiency and related test scores which are used to establish this proficiency. It also specifies valid passports of citizens of listed countries that may be used as proof of English language proficiency."

The new instrument "updates the list of specified degrees for the purposes of the amended subclause 485.231(1) of Schedule 2 to the Migration Regulations"