New Code of Conduct for RMAs

The new Code of Conduct for RMAs takes effect from 1 March 2022 and includes provisions on: duty to disclose to the department the existence of false or misleading documents or information in some circumstances; duty not to evade a requirement of the migration law; duty to take all reasonable steps to verify the identity of the client; duties relating to work or services performed by persons other than RMAs; etc

Student visa: higher financial requirements

The purpose of the new instrument is to "revise and increase the amount of funds required to be evidenced by a Subclass 500 visa applicant or Subclass 590 visa applicant, to reflect the current cost of living pressures these visa holders will be subject to once they arrive in Australia"

From 500 to 1,500 places

The Work and Holiday arrangement with a particular country has just increased from 500 to 1,500 annual places

New arrangements for protection, refugee and humanitarian visas

The new arrangements "provide for internet lodgement of applications for Global Special Humanitarian (subclass 202) visas lodged under the Special Humanitarian Program (SHP), a Class XB visa (offshore refugee and humanitarian)"

Australia Tuvalu Falepili Union Treaty Visa

The new regulations "implement the commitment in Article 3 of the treaty, by establishing the new Treaty stream in the Subclass 192 (Pacific Engagement) visa. The Regulations create two streams in the Subclass 192 (Pacific Engagement) visa..."

Payment of VACs & fees in foreign currencies

"As a result of the bi-annual AC&FCER review, it was identified that there were very few transactions to support the continued specification of additional currencies and foreign currency exchange rates..."

Sub 462: specified areas of Australia & kinds of work

The new instrument commences on 5 Mar 2020: "One of the purposes of the instrument is to specify... areas of Australia affected by bushfires occurring after 31 July 2019 and before 1 March 2020 as areas of Australia. Another purpose is to specify bushfire recovery work as work undertaken, including work undertaken on a volunteer basis, carried out after 31 July 2019 in an area specified ... as a kind of work. Bushfire recovery work is defined in ... the instrument... The last purpose is to specify construction work as a kind of work for areas specified in [the instrument], in alignment with specified work for Subclass 417 (Working Holiday) visa".

Coronavirus: forms, place & manner for making visitor visa applications

A new instrument that commences on 25 Feb 2020: "The instrument operates for the Minister to: specify the approved forms, place and manner for making a valid visa application for a Visitor (Class FA) visa; and specify for the Approved Destination Status stream in the Visitor (Class FA) visa, which includes the  Subclass 600 (Visitor) visa, the travel agents that may organise a tour of which an applicant must be intending to travel to Australia as a member of  that tour. As a response to the cancellation of visas as a direct consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic, the instrument creates arrangements for ...".

Subclass 191: supporting family unit

The new regulations amend the Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth) to support family unity for skilled workers by...

New parent visa sponsorship fee

According to the new Migration (LIN 19/147: Arrangements for Sponsorship for Temporary Sponsored Parent Visa) Instrument 2019, the sponsorship application fee for the new parent visa (subclass 870) will be $420