It has been just over a month since the coronavirus pandemic has changed the way we live in Australia, and with that many changes have been implemented to support these changes. For one,the migration industry has been hit with the biggest blow. With over 2 million temporary visa holders in Australia, there are many visa holders who have been left scratching their heads.
At Migration Centre of Australia, we have sifted through the important facts that you need to know if you wish to apply for a visa during this crisis.
5 updates you should know:
- If you are thinking of applying for a visa, you should reconsider your need to apply for an Australian visa at this time and seek professional migration advice so we can assess your circumstances.
- Currently, the Department is prioritising processing visa applications for those travellers in the exempt categories to support urgent travel. The Department also encourages all visa applicants to apply online, rather than on paper, as online applications will be processed faster. More importantly, ETA online will be unavailable due to the current travel restrictions.
- Services related to your visa application process have been severely impacted by this pandemic. This includes overseas panel doctors, English language testing facilities, biometric collection and paper application lodgement centres. The unavailability of these services will impact visa applicants, however, the Department has given discretion to give additional time to visa applicants to complete checks and provide the requested information.
- If you have applied for a visa, you should be aware of disruptions to visa medical services, if you are scheduled for a health examination. The current pandemic has temporarily suspended My Health Declarations but visa processing officers are well aware of these disruptions and will take into consideration these extended timeframes. As such, the Health Requirement including the health examinations for your intended visa will be determined once your visa application has been lodged and you will not be required to contact medical offices in Australia or overseas.
- If you are thinking of studying in Australia, you do not need a visa if you are currently offshore as Australian education providers currently offer online study. It is important to note that Australian Education providers can now issue new Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) and enrol students to study online.
Our Registered Migration Agents at Migration Centre of Australia have been in the migration industry for many years and have helped thousands of clients onshore and offshore. We are trained professionals in Australian Migration Law and we are trusted providers in the industry for our services. If you wish to apply for any type of visa during this time, or you want to know more about your visa options, or you simply require professional migration advice regarding your visa status,don’t wait any longer and contact us today on (02) 4626 1002. Alternatively, you can send us an email at info@migrationcentreofaustralia.com.au and we will be ready to assist you.
