Month: March 2022

On Tuesday evening, 29 March, the federal government released the 2022–2023 budget. Skilled migration categories account for nearly 70% of the total allocation, with employer-sponsored migration, the Subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa, and Subclass 190/491 state-nominated skilled visas all seeing significant increases — some approaching pre-pandemic levels. This is excellent news for both onshore and offshore applicants.

On 29 March, the federal government announced the 22–23 financial year budget, with overall skilled migration PR quotas rising! In terms of percentage increase, the Regional category (mostly Subclass 491 plus some Subclass 494) and the Subclass 189 were the biggest winners, with visa numbers up 123.21%.

Because the family stream partner visa backlog has been substantially cleared, 10,000 places originally allocated to the family stream will be reallocated to the skilled stream this financial year — bringing the skilled stream PR allocation from 79,600 to 89,600. The most direct impact is that grants may speed up. While 10,000 extra places is a drop in the ocean compared to the backlog, we have seen the Department actively processing older applications lodged between late 2019 and early 2020, and we hope to see that momentum continue.

In January this year, I published a predictive analysis of the removal of the requirement to nominate an MLTSSL occupation for the 485 Graduate Work visa (old TR). The removal of this requirement directly affects how certain students studying vocational programmes in Australia apply for the Subclass 485 — and for those looking to capitalise on this policy change, what courses to choose.

From early December last year to late January this year — less than two months — the government received a total of 559 budget-related submissions. Many think tanks may not have formally lodged a submission, but have put together carefully crafted reports with their recommendations.

With borders reopening, the Department of Home Affairs has been clearing the backlog of visa applications from late 2019 to early 2020 over recent months. Our clients and community members have shared that during that period, both onshore and offshore Subclass 189/491/190 applicants received requests for further information, or completed their submissions and were subsequently granted.

With less than a week until the 2022–23 federal budget announcement, a number of details are beginning to surface.

Large numbers of onshore temporary residents gain 6/12-month visa extension opportunities. Australia introduced the Subclass 408 visa COVID-19 pandemic event stream during the pandemic, and eligibility was significantly broadened in recent months — meaning that essentially any temporary resident with employment onshore is eligible to apply for a Subclass 408 visa with full-time work rights: one year for those in critical industries, six months for other sectors.

Since Australia reopened its borders, many of our Malaysian friends have been applying for the Australian Subclass 601 ETA (Electronic Travel Authority) — the electronic travel authorisation widely discussed in the community. Previously, ETA approval rates were very high; out of ten applicants, nine would typically be granted a one-year visa, with only one being unsuccessful.