Month: July 2021

Visa application costs for permanent and temporary residents have been raised by the federal government from July 1.

 This is close to a hike in the cost of citizenship applications from $285 to $490. 

The fee for the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT), which hears appeals on visa-related issues, has increased dramatically, from roughly $1,800 to $3,000.

According to the most recent data from the Department of Home Affairs, the cost for the Business Innovation and Investment (Significant Investor stream) visa has increased by the greatest amount. The price has increased from $7,880 in 2020-21 to $8,925 in 2021-22, representing a 13.2 percent increase.

The Visa Application Charge (VAC) is a general taxation charge imposed by the government in accordance with policy goals.

Along with the CPI [Consumer Price Index] adjustment in accordance with the 2020-21 Budget, the VACs for the majority of Business Innovation and Investment Program visas were raised by 11.3 percent on 1 July.

For example, the fees for Subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme visa), Subclass 187 (Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme visa), Subclass 189 (Skilled independent visa), Subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated visa), and Subclass 489 (Skilled Regional (Provisional)) have increased by 1.7 percent from $4,045 to $4,115 in the current financial year.

For the current financial year, the initial visa application fee for Subclass 143 (Contributory Parent visa) has increased from $4,155 to $4,255. However, the overall cost is about $48,000.

Individuals seeking for a partner visa (onshore or offshore) will now have to pay an additional $135.

A migration agent in Perth said the increase in visa fees is minimal and is based on the current Consumer Price Index (CPI), a statistical tool that measures inflation.

The Australian government raises visa costs on an annual basis, and the increases are usually modest. We are more worried about the significant increase in AAT fees. There has been an increase in the price from $1,800 to $3,000. It seems that this was caused by an increase in the number of visa applications being rejected, he added.

Reference

The Skilled Migration Program for 2021-22 will start accepting new Registrations of Interest (ROIs) on July, 7 2021. The Department of Home Affairs has allocated 3,500 subclass 190 places and 500 subclass 491 places to Victoria.

As part of our selection process this year, we will be looking for individuals who are presently living and working in Victoria and who are using their STEMM skills in a targeted industry. Health, life sciences, digital, medical research, agri-food, advanced manufacturing and New energy, emissions reduction, and circular economy are some of the sectors that we are focusing on.

For further information on eligibility criteria, kindly look below:

Skilled Nomination Visa (Subclass 190)

The Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) is a permanent visa for skilled migrants who have advanced talent and are presently employed in Victoria as STEMM professionals with advanced skills. Before you may apply for the visa, you must first obtain a nomination from Victoria.

Who can apply?

To qualify for a Victorian Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) visa nomination, you must:

●have been selected for Registration of Interest (ROI)
●live and work in rural Victoria
●be working as a STEMM professional in a target industry in Victoria
●must be under the age of 45
●possess adequate English proficiency and a valid Skills Assessment
●Have obtained a minimum of 65 points

How to apply?

To apply for a Victorian skilled visa nomination (subclass 190), you must:

●Make an Expression of Interest (EOI) using SkillSelect
●Fill out a Registration of Interest Form (ROI)
●Have your ROI chosen and receive an invitation to apply
●Prepare your supporting evidence to submit with your application
●Submit an application for nomination

What you will need?

You must provide the following documents with your application to show that you fulfill the requirements:

●Passport
●English language proficiency exam
●Assessment of skills
●Contract of employment
●Payslips
●Superannuation
●Description of the position
●Enrollment (if required, e.g. AHPRA)
●Form of Victorian declaration
●Form for appointing an agent (if required)

Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491)

The Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) enables skilled migrants to live, study, and work in specified regional areas for a term of five years. Before you can apply for the visa, you must first obtain Victoria’s nomination.

Who can apply?

To qualify for a Victorian Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) visa nomination, you must:

●have been selected for Registration of Interest (ROI)
●live and work in rural Victoria
●Be working as a STEMM professional in a target industry in Victoria
●must be under the age of 45
●possess adequate English proficiency and a valid Skills Assessment
●Have obtained a minimum score point

How to apply?

To apply for a Victorian skilled visa nomination (subclass 190), you must:

●Make an Expression of Interest (EOI) using SkillSelect
●Fill out a Registration of Interest Form (ROI)
●Have your ROI chosen and receive an invitation to apply
●Prepare your supporting evidence to submit with your application
●Submit an application for nomination

What you will need?

You must provide the following documents with your application to show that you fulfill the requirements:

●Passport
●English language proficiency exam
●Assessment of skills
●Contract of employment
●Payslips
●Superannuation
●Description of the position
●Enrollment (if required, e.g. AHPRA)
●Form of Victorian declaration
●Form for appointing an agent (if required)

The following are the most significant changes to the 2021-22 program:

●The requirement for minimum experience and hours worked is eliminated.
●Incremented in the targeted industries.
●Applicants must have STEMM abilities and be employed in a Skill Level 1 or 2 profession.
●Subclass 491 nomination applicants may additionally have a Skill Level 3 occupation using their STEMM skills.

Reference

As the situation in New South Wales continues to worsen, the ACT Government will make the wearing of face masks when out in the community mandatory.
In the ACT, there are no active cases. However, since the safety of our community is important, we are bringing this requirement as a preventative measure to support the strengthened travel restrictions we have implemented.
This new rule requires individuals to wear a face mask while they are with people they do not normally live or work with, or when they are on public transportation.

For Example, Masks Must Be Worn in:

● supermarkets, shopping malls, and retail,
● hospitality establishments such as restaurants, cafés and other licensed establishments,
● other restricted business activities that come into close contact with the public, such as hairdressers, beauty and tanning salons, and gyms
● high-risk environments, such as hospitals and old age homes

For hospitality venues, mask requirements will be consistent with those presently in effect in regional NSW, which means that workers who come into contact with customers must always wear a mask. While customers are highly urged to wear masks while inside the venue, they may remove them to eat and drink.

Along with wearing a face mask, the community reminds of all the other important steps they can take to be COVID-free.

First and foremost, if you are sick, stay at home and get tested for COVID-19 if you have any symptoms. When you’re out in Canberra, make sure you’re checking in with the CBR app. Maintain a safe distance from others in busy areas.

New Advice For Northern Territory

Travel directions between sections of the Northern Territory (NT) and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) are being established in response to the COVID-19 situation in the NT and to coincide with the NT Government’s stay-at-home directives.

Travel instructions will complement the NT Government’s efforts to end the spread of COVID-19 in the Territory.

Residents of the ACT returning from the City of Darwin, City of Palmerston, and Litchfield LGAs in the Northern Territory, including the Darwin rural region, will be subject to a stay-at-home order in the ACT.

Reference