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The new Regulations make important changes to the conditions imposed on visa subclasses 600 (visitor) and 870 (parent) and to the eligibility for merits review for subclass 870 applicants. Some of the changes commence on 19 December 2019 and some on 29 February 2020.

The temporary graduate skills assessment pathway offered by the Australian Computer Society (ACS) requires that applicants have completed an Australian Bachelor Degree or higher. We explain how it is possible, in some circumstances, for a person who obtained an AQF Diploma and Advanced Diploma in IT to apply for a subclass 485 visa, despite the above rule.

It is commonly said that a BVE holder cannot apply for, and obtain, a BVA. With respect, we explain why that is not necessarily true.

In order to avoid situations where applicants, sponsors or visa holders can claim they have never in fact received a document from the Department, the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) contains provisions that deem receipt of that document. The time when the person is deemed to have received a document will depend on whether the document was given by hand, by handing it to a person at the recipient's last residential or business address, dispatched by post or email.

The Migration Act 1958 (Cth) has been amended with effect from 5 December 2019 to "repair" (in the words of the Bill) what has become known as the "medevac" legislation.

It is commonly said that the giving of immigration assistance by a person who is not an RMA makes that person liable for imprisonment, with exceptions. That is not an accurate statement. Unregistered assistance itself does not lead to imprisonment. What can lead to imprisonment is something else, as we explain.

It is common sense that visa applicants must notify the Department as soon as practicable of changes of circumstances that occur before visa grant. But does the obligation to notify apply to changes that occur after grant? If not, are there good reasons to notify the Department of changes of address or email address anyway?

Common mistake: "An unlawful non-citizen is necessarily barred under s 48 of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) from making an application for most visa classes while in the migration zone". With respect, we explain why that assertion is wrong.

If the Minister issues a written direction to a person or body having functions or powers under the Migration Act 1958 (Cth), are those directions binding on them? Are there circumstances where those persons or bodies are not required to comply with certain aspects of a Ministerial direction?

"The purpose of the instrument is to determine the maximum number of visas for [parent and other family] visas for the financial year commencing 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2020".