News Updates
Upcoming Australian Immigration Changes 2019
2019 will see many changes introduced to the Australian Skilled (GSM) , Employer Sponsored visas (ENS) and Family Visa Program. The Migration updates and changes in 2019 page is updated on a regular basis. You can see the migration changes that happened in 2018 on our 2018 Australian Visas and Immigration Updates page.
Updated occupations list
Skilled Occupation List changes 186,187,189,190, 407; 482; 485; 489 were announced and are effective from 11 March 2019.
Commencing 11 March 2019, for the 189, 190, 489 visas there were 36 occupations added to MLTSSL; 27 occupations removed from the STSOL, 18 occupations added to the ROL. For the TSS visa, there were 2 occupations added to MLTSSL, 6 moved from STSOL to MLTSSL and 16 moved from STSOL to ROL. See the full list here.
Migration changes in 2019
Partner Visa Changes Ahead
The Family Violence Bill passed in Senate. The Bill means sponsorships have to be approved before Partner visas can be lodged. If you are planning to apply for a Partner visa we recommend booking an appointment to discuss and understand how these changes may impact you.
The new regulations proposed that partner visa sponsorship applications would need to be lodged under stricter criteria and approved before the overseas partner visa application could be lodged.
The new 2 step process is expected to delay the lodgement of the overseas partner application and require the overseas partner to have a valid visa until a visa application for the overseas partner can be lodged.
We recommend that our clients take advantage of the deferral of the new regulation and lodge their sponsorship and partner visa application prior to the 2019 changes.
The change of Partner Visa will require the sponsor, and not just the applicants, to be assessed as well.
These key changes amends the Migration Act 1958 to establish a sponsorship framework for the sponsored family visa program to: establish a sponsorship framework for the sponsored family visa program to:
- separate sponsorship assessment from the visa application process for family sponsored visas;
- require the approval of persons as family sponsors before any relevant visa applications are made;
- impose statutory obligations on persons who are or were approved as family sponsors and provide for sanctions if those obligations are not satisfied;
- facilitate the sharing of personal information between parties identified in a sponsorship application;
- enable the refusal of a sponsorship application and the cancellation or barring of a family sponsor in certain circumstances;
- enable the regulations to prescribe details for, and in relation to, the operation of the sponsorship framework; and make consequential amendments.
