News

News March 29, 2022 newstarsec

Major Good News! Subclass 491/189 Quotas More Than Double in the New Financial Year — 190 and Employer-Sponsored Visas Rise Sharply! Parent Migration Allocation Up to 6,000!

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.

News March 28, 2022 newstarsec

A Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity? Vocational Work Visas Set for Major Relaxation — Skills Assessment to Skilled Migration, Saving Time and Money in One Go!

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.

News March 25, 2022 newstarsec

“Online Study Won’t Be Recognised?” — Setting the Record Straight! “Four-Year Work Visa for All Bachelor’s and Master’s Graduates!” Think Tanks Champion International Students!

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.

News March 24, 2022 newstarsec

Practical reminders for those waiting on a skilled migration visa grant — especially if you’ve been waiting a long time.

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.

News March 23, 2022 newstarsec

Budget Livestream Preview | NSW Quotas Still Plentiful! More Supplementary Allocations on the Way? Net Overseas Migration Forecast to Turn Positive Next Financial Year!

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

News March 22, 2022 newstarsec

Important visa alert! Thinking of cancelling your student visa after lodging a migration application? Or switching from a student visa to a full-time work-rights Subclass 408? Please think very carefully!

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.

News March 18, 2022 newstarsec

ETA Applications Failing? Here Are Your Short-Term Visa Options for Work, Study and Travel in Australia

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.

News March 17, 2022 newstarsec

“Clearer Pathway to PR, All Occupations Eligible, Free to Change Jobs!” — Think Tank’s Sharp Reform Recommendations! Post-Election Review of Migration Occupation List to Add Occupations!

Yesterday, at a public event, the Minister for Immigration — in addition to revealing news about next financial year’s PR quota (see: Minister Reveals: Skilled PR Quota Could Return to Two-Thirds Next Financial Year!? State Nomination Quota Increases — Core Logic Analysis!) — also stated that if the Coalition wins re-election in the May federal election, his first post-election priority would be to review the migration occupation list and add more occupations to the MLTSSL.

News March 16, 2022 newstarsec

Minister Reveals: Could Skilled PR Quota Return to Two-Thirds Next Financial Year?! State Nomination Quotas — A Breakdown of the Key Logic

After attending an event with the Minister for Immigration on 15 March, the CEO of the Migration Institute of Australia revealed details about the federal government's PR quota for the next financial year. The Minister said he cannot yet disclose the total number or the exact allocation breakdown for next financial year's migration quota (expected to be known after the 29 March budget announcement). He indicated it is unlikely that the total will return to pre-COVID levels, but the overall allocation could shift to two-thirds for skilled migration and one-third for family migration (this financial year has been roughly a 50/50 split, with the skilled stream only about 2,000 places ahead of family). Additionally, once the federal election is over, his top priority will be to review the migration occupation list and add more occupations to the MLTSSL.

News March 15, 2022 newstarsec

Work Overseas + Australian PR — Skip the 4.57-Million-Applicant Queue! Top 200 Global Universities Across the Ocean Are Waiting for You!

Millions battling for postgraduate places — 4.57 million applicants? On 11 March 2022, China's national postgraduate admission score lines were released. In 2022, the number of postgraduate applicants reached 4.57 million. Universities plan to enrol approximately 1.1 million students this year, meaning more than 3 million candidates will miss out — an admission rate of just 24%.