Every year from July 1st, Australia tends to change or implement new things for its immigration. Similarly, this year can even experience significant changes to its Australia’s Immigration System. Mr. Dizon, an immigration lawyer, practicing for Australia’s immigration programs, states the system as complicated. Due to the changing laws, Australia is always proved to be complex to understand for the applicants. The next coming months can result in many changes in the system, and these have to be known by every potential candidate for successful immigration. “July 1st is when the government sets quotas and planning levels for spots in state sponsorship and skilled migration.”
Increase in Visa Fees:
There will be an increase of 5.4% in many of the visa programs. These can result in several visa categories.
Visa Fee of Subclass 189 Visa:
- Base application charge – AUD 4045,
- Additional applicant 18 years or more – AUD 2020,
- Additional applicant below 18 years age – AUD 1015,
- For Dependents above 18 years (Not meeting functional English requirement)- AUD 4885 (Second Installment)
Visa Fee of Subclass 190 Visa:
- Base application charge – AUD 4045,
- Additional applicant 18 years or more – AUD 2020,
- Additional applicant below 18 years age – AUD 1015,
- For Dependents above 18 years (Not meeting functional English requirement)- AUD 4885 (Second Installment)
New Visa Fee of Subclass 489 (State/Relative) Visa:
- Base application charge – AUD 4045,
- Additional applicant 18 years or more – AUD 2020,
- Additional applicant below 18 years age – AUD 1015,
- For Dependents above 18 years (Not meeting functional English requirement)- AUD 4885 (Second Installment)
New Visa Fee of Subclass 476 Visa:
- Base application charge – AUD 405,
- Additional applicant 18 years or more – AUD 200,
- Additional applicant below 18 years age – AUD 100
New Visa fee of Subclass 155 and 157 Visa:
- Base application charge – AUD 405,
- 485 subclass visa the following new visa fee:
- Base application charge – AUD 1650
- Additional applicant 18 years or more – AUD 825,
- Additional applicant below 18 years age – AUD 415
Modifications in the Skilled Independent Points Test System:
There can be a change in the points test system from November 2019. These changes may be included in the additional points section for applicants who are sponsored by a state government or relative in a regional area.
The modifications to the point test system include:
- You can score 10 points for having a skilled spouse or de facto partner.
- A maximum of 15 points can be obtained for candidates receiving a nomination from a state or territory government or sponsored by a family member.
- You can avail 10 points for qualifying the STEM.
- A maximum of 10 points for candidates not having a spouse or de facto partner.
- You can obtain 5 points if your spouse or de facto partner has competent level English.
Partner Visas with more rigid rules:
The processing time for these visa categories can be longer from now. Mr. Dizon states that “A procedural change will happen where the Australian partner must be approved to sponsor their spouse or de facto partner. You will no longer be able to lodge a partner visa immediately until your Australian sponsor has had their criminal history or character assessed.”
DAMA or Designated Area Migration Agreements:
DAMA helps in sponsoring eligible applicants to regional employers. These sponsored temporary visas will then lead to obtaining an Australia Permanent Residency. Mr. Dizon shares that, the occupations included under DAMA usually have exemptions contained for language score, skills assessment, or work experience. The regions experiencing DAMA are Northern Territory, far North Queensland, Pilbara, Orana, South Australia, and Warrnambool. From July 1st, interested employers can participate in the program by sending their interest.
Queensland State Sponsorship Update: Opening of sponsorship by end of July 2019:
The Queensland business and skilled programs are presently closed and they will be not be opened on July 1st. These are scheduled to get started by the month-end of July. Also, the Business and skilled applicants are hereby stated that they shouldn’t submit an EOI for the programs of Queensland on or before of July 1st, 2019. The EOIs which are submitted either previously or before the opening of the Queensland program will not be considered. Applicants need to make sure that they submit new QSOL before submitting an EOI. This is an update related for applicants applying for state sponsorship with Queensland under 190 and 489 subclass.
Trade Recognition Australia Update: Delay in processing for Migration Skills Assessment and Migration Points Advice programs:
The Trade Recognition Australia has stated that the Migration Skills Assessment and Migration Points Advice are now experiencing a major increase of application rates. This increase will be affecting to the processing times and assessments which are taking longer than 90 days.
Since they are assessing the application in the order they have received, they have made it clear for not contacting for status updates. For all applicants applying for Skills Assessment and Point Advice with TRA, the process can be taken up to 120 days.
South Australia: Lists of State Nominated Occupations on List current as of 02/07/2019:
The 2019-20 ACT Occupation List will apply to all Canberra Matrix submitted on or after 1 July 2019 (If you submitted a Canberra Matrix on or before 30 June 2019, your Matrix score for a nominated occupation is valid for six months).
Victoria: In the afternoon of Monday 15 July 2019, Victoria’s Skilled and Business Migration Program will be launching a new online application system for visa nomination.
The new system will allow you to:
- Track the progress of your application.
- Access your account from multiple devices – from mobile to desktop.
- No visa nomination applications can be submitted on the Live in Melbourne website between 4.00pm Wednesday 10 July 2019 (AEST) and Monday 15 July 2019.
- If you have an existing account, you will not be able to log in to the system from 4.00pm Wednesday 10 July 2019.
- If you have a draft nomination application saved in the system, you will need to submit it by 4.00pm on Wednesday 10 July or restart your application in the new system on Monday 15 July 2019.
With the new changes, Mr. Dizon justifies Australia immigration to be a bit tougher. However, the demand for skilled professionals remains the same, including regional areas. There are significant needs of skilled workers in many of the regions of Australia. Even the students are availing the best opportunities; for example, the Western Australia government is sponsoring graduate students from their state.
Though new changes are emerging, the call for skilled professionals is still the same in Australia. If you are also a qualified professional aiming for Australia PR, get your eligibility check, and start for your immigration process with us. Call @ 040-40307077.
Source: sbs
