With the international borders fully reopening, there are additional measures that will benefit students and skilled workers while supporting the country’s economic recovery. If you are planning to study, work and stay in Australia, keep reading:
1- International borders full reopening
From February 21, international borders will be open for tourists, students and working holiday visa holders, with the only condition to be double vaccinated. Those not vaccinated will be required to apply for a travel entry exemption and undertake quarantine if granted permission to enter the country. Yes! Finally after two years!
2- Student and WHM work rights changes – BVA holders
Regarding the announcement that Student Visa holders will be able to work unlimited hours and that the six-month work limitation has been lifted for Working Holiday Makers (WHM), Home Affairs has confirmed that these same conditions also apply to Bridging Visa A holders
Key to know: The Bridging Visa (BV) holder’s last visa held was a student visa, and they have 8104 or 8105; the visa holder is able to work unlimited work hours. BV holders who do not have this condition cannot work unlimited hours.
Are you looking to apply for a Student Visa? Get in touch TODAY!
3- States and Territories – Update
New South Wales (NSW) Skilled Nominated visas
Some changes have been made to the invitation processes for NSW Skilled migration nomination. These changes will be applied to all SkillSelect EOIs regardless of when they were submitted or amended:
- Offshore candidates
Offshore candidates skilled in occupations within some ANZSCO unit groups will now be considered in invitation rounds.
- Work experience requirement
A minimum of three years of work experience in the nominated (or closely related) occupation is required for occupations within some ANZSCO unit groups.
Do you want to know more? Go to the NSW Migration website.
ACT (Canberra) Migration
Some changes have also been made to the ACT Doctorate/PhD streamlined nomination process. The ACT Government has added an additional requirement:
Significant economic benefit
“You may be invited to apply for ACT nomination if we think your employment is of significant economic benefit to the Territory and you do not meet the current eligibility criteria. You cannot request or apply for this pathway. The invitation can ONLY be initiated by the ACT government.”
Further details about the ACT migration program are available on the ACT Migration website.
South Australia Migration
Changes to Business Migration client meetings – from 1 February 2022, current and future holders of a Subclass 188 or Subclass 132 visa will no longer be required to meet with Skilled & Business Migration on-arrival or during their visa qualification period.
This change will not affect any current or future visa holders’ eligibility to meet the requirements at the Subclass 132 Review or Subclass 888 Permanent Residency stage.
Further information is available on the SA Migration website.
4. VETASSESS fees rises
VETASSESS has announced skills assessment fee rises from 1 March 2022 in line with the CPI.
Further information may be found on the VETASSESS website.
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