Giuseppe Romano Giuseppe Romano

FEDERAL BUDGET PLAN 2020-2021- MIGRATION PROGRAM UPDATES

Important changes have been announced within the Migration Program of the Federal Budget plan for 2020-2021, specifically for partner visa applicants and for temporary visa holders unable to travel to Australia due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Partner visa

  • A family sponsorship framework will be introduced; those who wish to sponsor their partner must submit their own application first and be deemed suitable to sponsor before a visa application can be lodged.

  • English language requirements will be introduced for BOTH applicants and their permanent resident sponsors. The aim is to enhance their social integration and a better economic participation.

  • Priority will be given to applications made onshore and to applicants whose sponsor resides in regional area.

REFUND for temporary visa holders

VAC refunds, waivers or visa extensions will be offered to current visa holders who have been unable to travel to Australia due to the pandemic and the borders closure, including:

  • temporary skilled workers and visitor visa holders, who will be eligible to have a VAC for a subsequent visa application waived,

  • working holiday visa makers will be eligible to have a VAC for a subsequent visa application waived or otherwise to access the VAC refund.

  • prospective marriage visa holders will have access to VAC (Visa Application Charges) refund.

To make these changes effective, regulation amendments are required.

Further updates will be available soon

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Giuseppe Romano Giuseppe Romano

CRITICAL COVID-19 WORK IN THE HEALTHCARE AND MEDICAL SECTORS TO COUNT AS SPECIFIED WORK

The Department of Home Affairs has announced changes to the Working Holiday Visa program.

Working holiday makers, who have worked in critical healthcare and medical sectors in response to the COVID-19 emergency, will now be able to count work undertaken after January 31, 2020 as specified work to apply for a second and third working holiday visa.

Changes will also be made to allow those who had a working holiday visa and then switched to a COVID-19 pandemic event visa subclass 408, to continue doing critical COVID-19 works in the health and medical sectors, which will count as specific work for the purpose of a 2nd or 3rd WHM visa.

To make these changes effective, regulation amendments are required. Further updates will be available soon.

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