July 20th, 2023 at 03:46 am
Australia Top Immigration Changes in Effect 2023 | Australia Immigration
Certain decisions made in the federal budget, which was unveiled on May 9, have impacted Australia’s immigration laws since July 2023. The cost of applications has gone up, and funds to speed up the visa application process have also been announced.
Later, the government declared an expansion of the reciprocal Working Holiday Program between Australia and the UK.
Visa Policy Adjustments for 2023-2024
The Citizenship Process for New Zealanders
New Zealanders who have lived in Australia for four or more years and the start of the Australian fiscal year, July 1, 2023, are now qualified to apply immediately for citizenship. They won’t have to wait to apply for and be granted a permanent visa. New Zealand nationals having special category subclass 444 visas who came after February 26, 2001, are subject to the adjustments.
The right to apply retroactively for permanent residency will be available to long-term residents. The New Zealand stream of the skilled independent category 189 visa is currently closed.
New Visa for Migrants from the Pacific
A new visa with 3,000 places will be made available to qualified immigrants from the Pacific region. Each year, places for the Pacific Engagement Visa (PEV) will be determined by voting, and individuals who are chosen will be eligible to seek for permanent residency in Australia. Applications can now be submitted online.
Changes in Student Visa
To address labor shortages, work limitations on student visas were first relaxed throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and then lifted in January of last year. Due to this, students with primary and secondary student visas can work more than the standard 40 hours every two weeks. The time restriction for student visa work has increased to 48 hours every two weeks, nevertheless.
The foreign students working in the senior care sector would be exempt from the cap until December 31, 2023, according to the federal budget that Treasurer Jim Chalmers announced. Some holders of subclass 485 temporary graduate visas will also be qualified to remain in Australia for an extended period.
The extension results in a stay length of four years instead of two years for bachelor’s degree recipients, five years instead of three, and six years instead of four for master’s degree recipients.
Changes to the Australia-UK Working Holiday Program
The maximum age for Australians who travel to the UK on working vacation visas will increase, the government stated on May 31. Australian citizens who match the age standards for the UK’s Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) must be between the ages of 18 and 30 in light of the Australia-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement (AUKFTA), which went into force on May 31.
The maximum age will increase to 35. Australians aged 18 to 35 have the option of extending their working holiday from up to three years under the YMS as a result of the Free Trade Agreement. As of July 1st, 2023, British nationals must be 35 years old to apply for a working holiday visa in Australia.
Changes for Working Holiday Makers
As of July 1, the Australian government has allowed WHMs to continue working for the same company or group for an additional six months without requiring clearance. Therefore, the six-month restriction period will not apply to any work done before July 1. Even if the employment started before July 1st, WHMs are still qualified to work for any company for an additional six months.
The visa must, of course, still be valid for the additional six months for this to happen. To remain in compliance if it expires during that time, visa holders must reapply for the required visa.
Reduced Fees for Migration Review Applications
Following the Migration Act of 1958, this article addresses the fee adjustments for reconsidering a migration decision. The application fee for a review of a migration decision has been raised under part 5 of the Migration Act 1958 to $3374 as of July 1st, 2023. It’s interesting to note that the decreased charge for cases granted with a 50% fee reduction will be $1687.
Note that the revised charge is only applicable to requests for reviews of migration decisions made on or after July 1, 2023. Additionally, it covers applications for review submitted before July 1, 2023, that were required to pay the entire fee or 50% of the prescribed cost and weren’t eligible for a request for a fee reduction.
In addition, the application fee for the appeal of a protection visa decision is now $2076. This is, however, under part 7 of the Migration Act of 1989. Remember that you only pay this charge if your application proves unsuccessful.
Again, the new fees are still valid for requests for reviews of protection visa decisions. Thus, applications made on or after July 1, 2023. However, per the Migration Rules 1994, fee adjustments occur yearly by the Consumer Price Index.
Increased Visa Application Fees
Australia will start charging more for visa applications in July. Did you know that the Australian government raised the majority of paths’ visa application fees by 3% in July 2022? Let’s look at the most recent costs for various Australian visas.
- To begin with, the short-term stream of the temporary skills shortage (subclass 482) visa now costs 1,330 AUD.
- In a similar vein, the cost of a work short-stay expert visa (subclass 400) has increased to 325 AUD.
- Additionally, the fees for the employer nominations program visa (subclass 186) have increased to 4,240 AUD.
- The Australian government took action to increase fees for particular applications to the appellate reviews tribunal. Thus, an increment from 3,000 Australian dollars to 3,153 Australian dollars as of July 1, 2022.
However, this modification only applies to applications filed with the Administrative Appeals Tribunal on or after July 1, 2022. Additionally, note that, except for protection visas, there are fees for petitions for reviews of nomination and sponsorship decisions.
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