Migration Centre of Australia

#subclass 190

  • July 30, 2020

Suspension of General Skilled Migration Applications in Australia

According to SBS News Australia, States and territories across the country have temporarily suspended the nomination program for the General Skilled Migration Program (GSM) while they await the federal government’s allocation of state nomination places for the program year 2020-21. The General Skilled Migration Program (GSM) is aimed at overseas skilled workers who have the skills needed to fulfill occupations in Australia that is otherwise not fillable by an Australian citizen. Each year, every state receive quotas from the government, based on which states and territories nominate skilled and business migrants for Skilled Nom­inated Subclass 190 and the Skilled Regional Sponsored Subclass 491 visa categories. SBS News Australia reports that this year the Department of Home Affairs has advised the states and territories to put their programs on hold until further notice. The Department further stated that the ongoing impacts of the pandemic worldwide, both medically, socially and economically, will have a “significant influence on the shape of Australia’s Migration Program going forward”. Victoria: State nomination program remains temporarily closed. But applicants can still lodge an EOI through the Department of Home Affairs SkillSelect system. New South Wales: NSW is currently closed to applications for nomination under the Business Innovation and Investment Program (BIIP) and the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491). The state will open to new nominations once they receive their quota for the current financial year. South Australia: The state’s business and skilled migration programs are scheduled to re-open from early August. Queensland: Business and Skilled Migration Queensland (BSMQ) has also announced that its state nomination program will remain closed until further notice. The state has declared that it will not be accepting any EOIs. The state is now awaiting advice from the Department of Home Affairs with regards to its nomination allocation for the financial year 2020-21. Tasmania: Applications remain open and will continue to be considered, but no nominations can be made until the state receives its allocation for the program year. Northern Territory: NT Government has also declared that it is currently unable to issue nominations under the skilled and business migration programs. Western Australia & the Australian Capital Territory: No update is available for Western Australia and the Australian Capital Territory. What is important to take away from this change is to know that skilled migration is integral to Australia’s migration program and economic growth, so rest assured that it will not be suspended forever! 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 want to know more about general skilled migration, the skilled nominated subclass 190, skilled regional sponsored subclass 491, or working in Australia in general, contact us today on (02) 4626 1002 or send us an email at info@migrationcentreofaustralia.com.au and one of my registered migration agents will be ready to help you.
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  • July 25, 2020

July 2020 changes to Australian Migration

In response to the growing pandemic being faced by all of us at home and internationally, the Australian Government has set up some new changes that will affect the growth of Australian Migration as we enter the new financial year according to SBS News Australia. Changes across the country: Victoria The state government will start accepting new applications for the Skilled Nominated (Permanent) visa (subclass 190) and the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) in the financial year 2020-2021, subject to an announcement. With this said, priority will be given to occupations in sectors critical to the coronavirus response, such as medicine, infrastructure and trade. New South Wales In a significant development for visa hopefuls, NSW opened its Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) – applications for which closed on June 26, 2020. The state relaxed the 12-month living and removed the working requirement paving another pathway for skilled migrants planning to work and live in the state. South Australia The state has said it will reopen its nomination application system for 190/491 in early August, subject to an announcement. Western Australia The WA government made changes to their occupation list on 16 June 2020, removing Registered Nurse (Mental Health) (254422) and adding Nuclear Medicine Technologist (251213) and Physicist (234914) – with the specialisation of Medical Physicist. Queensland Business and Skilled Migration Queensland (BSMQ) has also closed its state nomination program. The state is now awaiting advice from the Department of Home Affairs with regards to its nomination allocation for the financial year 2020-21. Northern Territory The NT program remains closed to offshore applicants at this stage. New eligibility requirements for all nominations will apply as of 1 July 2020. It is said that international students living in the territory will have a higher chance to be considered for the permanent residency visa nomination. Australian Capital Territory In Australian Capital Territory, only 81 invitations were issued for subclass 190 in the latest round on June 3, as compared 485 in the previous round. Whereas, no invitations were issued for subclass 491 owing to “sufficient applications in the queue,” as per information available on the state website. The next invitation round is due on or before 15 July, subject to an announcement. Tasmania Tasmania has allowed some flexibility for some applicants affected by COVID-19 who are trying to meet the requirements for state nomination. As of 20 March 2020, 491 applications have been temporarily restricted until further notice to occupations listed in the ‘high demand’ section of the Tasmanian Skilled Occupation List (TSOL). Processing times Unfortunately, due to the international lockdowns, visa processing times have been greatly affected leading to ‘significant’ processing delays due unavailability of key assessment services and the consequent inability of applicants to meet visa criteria. According to SBS News Australia, a spokesperson for the Department of Home Affairs earlier said: “Visas continue to be processed during the coronavirus pandemic, though some applications may take longer as international shutdowns have made it difficult to source supplementary information like health and character checks.” It looks like it will be a long road ahead for now until everything returns to normal… 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 want to know more about applying for an Australian visa, whether you are in Australia or overseas, or if you are currently a visa holder who has been affected by the current pandemic, contact us today on (02) 4626 1002 or send us an email at info@migrationcentreofaustralia.com.au and one of my registered migration agents will be ready to help you.
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Options for you to consider if your Job situation has changed

With the harrowing effects of the coronavirus pandemic, many of us have experienced that our job situation has changed. In fact, this pandemic has hit the employment sector of Australia the hardest, with thousands losing their jobs or having their hours reduced. If you were sponsored or nominated by your current employer, state or territory government or relative and your job situation has changed, outlined below are some important facts that you need to be aware of. 1. Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) visa (subclass 400), Temporary Work (Training and Research) visa (subclass 402), Temporary Work (International Relations) visa (subclass 403), Temporary Work (Training) visa (subclass 407) You will first need to check your Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) to see your visa details and conditions. And, if you stop working for your sponsor, you must take one of these actions within 60 days:  find another employer to sponsor you (it must first approved by the Department before you can start working for them)  be granted a different visa  leave Australia (You will have 90 days to do this if we granted your visa on or before 19 November 2016.) The Department may send you a Notice of Intent to Consider Cancellation if you have stopped work if the Department finds that you have breached your visa conditions 2. Temporary Work (Activity) visa (subclass 408) If the employer who sponsored your visa no longer has a job for you, then you must take one of these actions: find another organisation to sponsor you, and apply for a new visa find another organisation or person to support you, and apply for a new visa apply for a different visa (if you can) leave Australia within 28 days (or sooner if your visa ends before the 28 days have passed) 3. Temporary Work (Skilled) visa (subclass 457) If you are the primary visa holder, you can change jobs or do a different job while you still hold a valid 457 visa.You do not need to apply for a new subclass 457 visa. Your sponsor must lodge a new nomination and the Department must approve it before you can start working for the new sponsor or in the new role. However, if you stop working for your sponsor, you must take one of these actions within 60 days: find a new employer to sponsor you and lodge a new nomination (approved by us before you can start working for them) be granted a different visa leave Australia (You will have 90 days to do this if we granted your visa on or before 19 November 2016.)If your new nomination is approved, as the 457 visa holder, you may need to keep working for your past sponsor for a short time. Australia's industrial relations law obliges you to give the right amount of notice to your employer. This will not be considered a breach of condition 8107 if you are meeting the requirements of the law. 4. Temporary Work (Skilled Recognition Graduate) visa (subclass 476) If you have a 476 visa, you do not need a sponsor. You can work for anyone anywhere in Australia. You do not need to tell us about changes to your job situation. 5. Temporary Work (Skilled Regional [Provisional]) visa (subclass 489) You will also need to check your Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) to see your visa details and conditions. You can usually only work 6 months with one employer. 6.Permanent Work (Regional Sponsor Migration Scheme) visa (subclass 187) You need to work for at least 2 years with a Regional Sponsored Migration visa. You must carry out the agreement you made when your employer nominated you for the visa. If you do not meet the agreement,your visa may be cancelled. You must always let the Department know of any changes! 7. Permanent Work (Skilled Nominated) visa (subclass 190) and Permanent Work (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 887) Like the subclass above, you must carry out the agreement you made when your employer nominated you for the visa. If you do not meet the agreement, your visa may also be cancelled. If you don’t inform the Department online, you can print and complete Form 1022 Notification of changes in circumstances. You can scan and email, or post, your completed form to the same place that assessed your application. Check that you have signed it first. For the subclass 190 visa, if you want to move interstate, ask the person or organisation who nominated you for a 'release notice'. A release notice will let you work in another state or territory. 8. Temporary Work (Temporary Skill Shortage visa) (subclass 482) As the primary visa holder, if you want to change jobs or do a different job while you still hold a valid Temporary Skill shortage visa (subclass 482) your employer must submit a new nomination and you must apply for a new visa. Like all others, the Department must first approve the nomination and your visa must be granted before you can start working for the new sponsor or in the new role. If you stop working for your sponsor, you must take one of these actions within 60 days: find a new employer to sponsor you and lodge a new nomination (approved by us before you can start working for them) be granted a different visa leave Australia If you are not the primary visa holder, you will not have condition 8607 (Must only work in the nominated occupation) on your visa. Therefore, you do not need to have a sponsor to work and so you do not need to notify the Department if you change jobs or roles. If the Department approves your new nomination and visa, as the 482 visa holder, like the subclass 457 visa. You may need to keep working for your past sponsor for a short time and this will not be seen as a breach of condition 8607. Our Registered Migration Agents at Migration Centre of Australia have been in the migration
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