0

2022-2023 SKILLED MIGRATION PROGRAM

Tang Law is pleased to hear of the Australian Government’s continued recognition of skilled migrants with 109,0000 places available to eligible skilled applicants under the 2022-2033 Migration Program. This will provide further visa options and permanent residency pathways for skilled workers.

A notable few of the new measures commencing 1 July 2022 include:

 

1. Pathway to Permanent Residency

Permanent residence arrangements will extend to existing Subclass 457 and Subclass 482 visa holders in the short-term stream under the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS), Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream. Certain eligibility requirements apply:

  • You must have been in Australia for at least one year between 1 Feb 2020 to 14 Dec 2021; and
  • Meet all other nomination and visa criteria for the TRT stream of the ENS visa

Exemptions are available for Subclass 457 visa holders who no longer meet the age requirements and for Subclass 482 visa holders who are unable to apply for third short-term TSS visa in Australia.

This permanent residency pathway will only be in place for up to 2 years from 1 July 2022.

 

2. Working Holiday Visas  

There will be a 30% increase to the number of places available to first working holiday makers from certain countries via the Subclass 462 visa, and access to the program has been now extended to Switzerland, Brazil and Mongolia.

Applicants must meet all visa criteria including age limit requirements of being 18 and 30 years.

 

3. WA Graduate Occupation List

On 26 May 2022, the WA Government announced that as part of its Reconnect WA Strategy to attract skilled migrants, 194 occupations will be added to the State’s Graduate Occupation List under the 2022-2023 Migration Program.

This brings the list to an expanded selection of 331 occupations for prospective international students and skilled workers.  A few of the new additions to the list include:

  • Driving instructor
  • Cook
  • Welfare worker
  • Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner
  • Systems analyst or administrator
  • Teachers – special education, special needs, or middle school
  • Farmers – poultry, deer, or pig

 

 

If you would like advice on your immigration options to study, work and live in WA, give us a call today at (08) 9328 7525 to book in a consultation with one of our experienced migration lawyers. We will you help find the best pathway for your migration journey to Australia.

0

Wills & Property Podcast – Gabriel Wong & Property Avenue WA

Our Legal Director, Gabriel Wong was invited to deliver valuable insights into the topic of Wills & Property Ownership.

Gabriel joined Tony Viner from Property Avenua WA and Oscar D’souza from Dedicated Property Management to unveil matters associated with Wills, in an interactive and engaging live stream. The session also covered different types of ownership and its importance in a Will.

Listen to the podcast here.

0

Was Novak Djokovic’s Australian visa lawfully cancelled?

The questions and issues raised in Novak Djokovic’s court hearing highlight just how difficult it is for travellers to understand when they can or can’t enter Australia.

Djokovic’s Temporary Activity visa was cancelled under section 116(1)(e) on the basis that, as an unvaccinated person, he presents “a risk to the health, safety or good order of the Australian community or a segment of the Australian community.”

This is an incredibly broad cancellation power, one that could theoretically catch out any temporary visa holder in Australia. Who can definitively say they do not pose any kind of risk to any part of the Australian community at any time?

The Australian Government is clear that they will decide who enters this country. They also have the power to decide who will stay in this country.

This case may then open the floodgates for delegates to cancel the visa of any unvaccinated temporary visa holder in Australia without medical contraindication.

Contact Tang Law for expert advice if the above may affect you.

0

Change of Rate & Admission Announcement

We are pleased to announce the change of rate of our Lawyer, Ms Briony Chen with effect from 18 January 2022. Briony’s new hourly rate will be $350 (exclusive of GST).

We are truly honoured to have Briony in our team and we look forward to her continued success at our company.

We would also like to congratulate Ms Alexia Avdoulas on her admission to the Supreme Court of Western Australia in December 2021. Alexia’s hourly rate is $300 (exclusive of GST).

Should you have any queries in regards to the content above, please do not hesitate to contact our office.

New visa concessions offer permanent residency pathways for select skilled migrants and post-study visa rights for returning international students

On 25 November 2021, Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs Alex Hawke announced new special temporary concessions for around 200,000 highly skilled visa holders in Australia.

 

These positive changes will take affect gradually from 1 December 2021 to 1 July 2022 and will primarily benefit the following visa holder groups:

 

  1. Temporary Skills Shortage visa (subclass 482) (TSS) and Legacy TSS (subclass 457) visa

 

The concession presents an exciting opportunity for 20,000 skilled migrants who remained in Australia during the pandemic, to be eligible for permanent residency. This will apply to:

 

  • primary holders of the TSS (short-term stream) who will no longer be subject to the two-year stay limitation in Australia; and
  • primary visa holders of the now discontinued subclass 457 visa who previously did not meet the age cap.

 

  1. Skilled Regional (provisional) visa (subclass 489, 491 and 494)

 

Current and expired visa holders of the skilled regional provisional visas, including the 9,000 holders who have remained overseas and unable to travel to Australia due to COVID border restrictions, will now be able to apply for a visa extension; offering additional time to meet the regional work requirements for a permanent residency application.

 

  1. Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485)

 

The new concessions delivers targeted measures in support of Australia’s international education sector by awarding further study and post-study visa rights for students returning in the 2022 academic year including:

 

  • 30,000 current and former subclass 485 visa holders, whose visas expired on or after 1 February 2020 and unable to enter Australia due to border restrictions, will be able to seek a replacement subclass 485 visa to remain in Australia to live, study or work after graduation;

 

  • The stay period for students completing a masters by coursework will be extended permanently to three years to match that of masters by research graduate;

 

  • Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector graduates will also be receiving a two-year Subclass 485 visa.

 

  • Students who spent time completing online studies while offshore will continue to have their study recognised in meeting qualification requirements for the subclass 485 under the extension of existing measures; and

 

  • Streamlined application processing with the removal of the skills occupation list nomination requirements for the subclass 485 from 1 July 2022.

 

TANG LAW is pleased to hear of the Government’s continued recognition of skilled migrant workers and the return of international students to Australia in support of our COVID economic recovery efforts coming into the new year.

 

The Migration Team of TANG LAW has significant experience in preparing and lodging a variety of visa applications. If you would like to see advice on your immigration options, give us a call today and we can help you find the best pathway for your migration journey to Australia.

 

1 2 3 4 5 16