The Australian Government has announced its budget for 2021-22 and the news for migrants and international students is seriously disappointing.  With borders predicted to remain closed until mid-2022, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has structured a budget with very few opportunities for immigration, and an annual Net Overseas Migration (NOM) figure of -72,000.  It’s been 16 months since the WHO declared Covid a pandemic.  China built a hospital in Wuhan in 10 days, so why can’t Australia build quarantine facilities in a year?

Late last year, we published the states’ allocations but we have just discovered a new increase of 650 nominations for South Australia and 350 for Tasmania!  These allocations were increased without an announcement from the government and at this stage, are not widely known of.  That's 1,000 new places for Skilled Nominated visas and Skilled Work Regional visas!

Since Australia closed its border in 2020 due to Covid, international students have been locked out of the country where they are enrolled to study.  This crisis is escalating as thousands of people’s lives are thrown into turmoil, and the Australian economy suffers from the loss of this lucrative industry.  As months turn into years, the growing frustration and resentment can be heard echoing through the internet as students, universities, and Australian businesses cry out for a return strategy.

In a speech given to the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Federal Minister Alan Tudge said the country would not see a return of international students until 2022 but are students willing to wait until then?

Living in a different country from your spouse or partner can be difficult, frustrating, and at times, very lonely.  So how can you reunite if one of you lives in Australia?

The Global Talent Visa is the Australian Government’s latest passion project with the nation more enthusiastic than ever to attract high-value enterprises and talented individuals to its shores.  A new Taskforce has been created to locate and prioritise high talent individuals, and a new ministerial direction sets out which areas of expertise Australia is looking for.

188C重大投资者签证, 又称为500万投资移民签证。如果您有能力投资，188C签证可能适合您。但是这个签证是如何运作的呢？本律所带您了解188C投资签证的7大要素。

Prefer to read this in English? Click here

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinta Arden announced yesterday that travellers from Australia will be able to enter the country without mandatory quarantine starting 11:59pm on Sunday, April 18 New Zealand time.^[i]

An exemption to travel restrictions, allowing people to leave Australia, will not be required for those travelling to New Zealand.^[ii]

This bubble will effectively allow people to travel freely between Australia and New Zealand, subject to certain conditions.

On 30 Mar 2021 the Hon Karen Andrews MP was appointed as new Minister for Home Affairs.^[1]  This follows the previous Minister for Home Affairs the Hon Peter Dutton MP, being appointed as Minister for Defence the same day.^[2]

The Hon Alex Hawke MP continues in his role Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs.

Move to South Australia released one of the longest Occupations List for 491 and 190 visas.

Move to South Australia (Move to SA) released its Skilled Occupation List for 491 and 190 visas on 4 February 2021. The list is the longest among all the states; it covers 23 categories with hundreds of occupations.

Move to SA will started accepting application from Sat, 8 February 2021.

The Australian Department of Home Affairs has updated their policies on 20 January 2021 so that Bachelor with Honours and Masters (both research and coursework) graduates are no longer eligible for invitation under the GTI program.

Prior to 20 January 2021, the Department’s policy had been that candidates with a Bachelor with Honours or a Masters from the last 3 years with high grades were considered “highly likely” to earn at or above the required threshold (the Fair Work High Income Threshold, currently $153,600). This is no longer the case.

While these qualifications no longer meet the requirements, candidates with those qualifications can still be invited if they are able to show through other evidence that they can attract the high salary.