Invitation Round: 17 October 2022 Matrix nominating Small Business Owners: 17 invitations 457 visa / 482 visa holders: 01 invitation Matrix nominating Critical Skill occupations: 175 invitations Overseas Applicants Matrix nominating Critical Skill occupations: 274 invitations Invitations were not issued if the applicants have an active application in the system or have previously received an ACT nomination. The next Canberra Matrix invitation round will be held before 28 November 2022.
Migration (Temporary Activity (Class GG) Visa and Visitor (Class FA) Visa) Specified Class of Persons (Virtus Oceania Asia Games) Instrument 2022, dated 17 October 2022, specifies that certain applicants for temporary Activity (Class GG) visas and Visitor (Class FA) visas will have a nil visa application charge if they provide evidence of being invited to participate in Virtus Oceania Asia Games— Brisbane 2022 (OA Games). The applicant for Temporary Activity (Class GG) visas and Visitor (Class FA) visas must provide as evidence ‘Official Letter of Invitation to the Virtus Oceania Asia Games — Brisbane 2022 issued by the Oceania Asia Games 2022 Organising Committee or Sports Inclusion Australia. The applicant must also be listed on the ‘Official Letter of Invitation. The instrument is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation on 19 October 2022 and commenced on 20 October 2022. It is currently in force. To know more, click here.
It is advised that the eligible Student and Working Holiday/Work and Holiday visa holders seeking a refund under Student and Working Holiday VAC Refund Scheme, must lodge their request through the Student and WHM refunds portal and not through their ImmiAccount. Fully vaccinated Students and Working Holiday Makers who travelled to Australia during a specified period are eligible for a refund of the visa application charge. The eligible candidates can make a claim any time up to 31 December 2022. To access the Student and WHM refunds portal for making a claim for a refund, click here.
The Skilled and Business Migration has taken measures to manage the high demand and a limited interim allocation of 70 nomination places from the Commonwealth Government. The following measures have been taken by Skilled & Business Migration:
Migration (Points for Business Innovation Stream and Investor Stream of Subclass 188 Visa) Instrument (LIN 22/083) 2022 dated 4 October 2022 specifies the minimum score on the Business Innovation and Investment points test required by the applicant for a subclass 188 visa in the Business Innovation stream or the Investor Stream. The instrument specifies that an applicant for a Subclass 188 visa in the Business Innovation or the Investor stream must score at least 65 on the Business Innovation and Investment points test. The Instrument is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation on 10 October 2022 and commenced on 11 October 2022. It is currently in force. To access the instrument, click here.
VETASSESS will resume offshore practical assessments for electricians in India next month and also new dates are out for the UK and South Africa. VETASSESS will be conducting skills assessments in: Applicants can book for skills assessment through VETASSESS online portal. To know more, click here.
The Australian Government has announced three Skills Assessment Pilots this year to provide greater opportunities for onshore migrants to join the workforce and provide assistance to Australian businesses facing critical workforce shortages. The Skills Assessment Pilots will provide free, fast-tracked skills assessments, free employability assessments, and subsidized training to onshore migrants to improve their employment arrangements. The Skills Assessment Pilot includes: Pilots 2 and 3 are currently available. To know more about the available pilots, click here.
The temporary removal of the limitation of working 40 hours per fortnight for international students for providing immediate assistance to Australian businesses facing critical workforce shortages will end on 30 June 2023. Unrestricted work rights are available to student visa holders only till 30 June 2023 and all current student visa holders as well as new student arrivals can work more than 40 hours per fortnight in any sector of the economy only till this date. To know more, click here.
Invitation Round: 22 August 2022 The number of invitations issued: Minimum points score:
Migration Amendment (Repeal of Australian Agriculture Worker Stream) Regulations 2022[“the Regulations”], dated 29 September 2022 amends the Migration Regulations 1994 to repeal the Australian Agriculture Worker (AAW) stream from the Temporary Work (International Relations)Subclass 403 visa, which was inserted into visa Subclass 403 on 30 September 2021 to “provide for the temporary entry of agricultural workers under the AAW program administered by DFAT”. On 4 April 2022, the Migration Amendment (Pacific Australia Labour Mobility) Regulations 2022 repealed the Seasonal Worker Program and the Pacific Labour Scheme streams and replaced them with single Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) stream in Subclass 403. The purpose of the PALM stream is to meet the agricultural workforce shortages by providing for the temporary entry of workers under the PALM scheme administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade(DFAT). Therefore, Agriculture Worker Stream is no longer required as agricultural workers can be accommodated through the PALM stream of Subclass 403 using the existing regulations. The instrument is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation on 30 September 2022 and commenced on 1 October 2022. To access the instrument, click here.