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Month: August 2020

Proxy marriages – what are they and are they legal?

This topic seems particularly pertenant at the moment, what with people being separated from their loved ones courtesy of Covid-19. But what exactly are proxy marriages? A proxy wedding or proxy marriage is a wedding in which one or both of the individuals being united are not physically present, usually being represented instead by other persons. If both partners are absent …

These visa holders affected by Australia’s border closure will not be nominated for skilled migration

In a big blow to visa applicants unable to leave the country due to the coronavirus-induced travel restrictions, some Australian states have declared that they will not nominate applicants who are subject to a section 48 bar of the Migration Act. The section 48 bar applies to applicants who are in Australia without a substantive …

Act for Peace Ration Challenge Update

ACT FOR PEACE RATION CHALLENGE!Sponsorship update:Two of our team, Professor Harris and Bronwyn Huntly, are taking part in the ‘Act for Peace Ration Challenge’ again this year – 13-19th September. As Registered migration agents they are often supporting refugees and those requiring humanitarian visas so it feels right to support this cause.Today they have been …

How Australia’s coronavirus crisis could reshape the treatment of temporary migrants

Various groups and peak bodies have made submissions to a parliamentary inquiry examining Australia’s temporary migration program and its impact on the economy. There are calls to make migration a critical focus of Australia’s coronavirus recovery and better support visa holders left exposed during the pandemic.  The pushes have been made in new evidence to …

Visa application fee waiver available from August 5

The Department of Home Affairs has advised that the visa application fee waiver will be available on lodgement of new international student visa applications from midnight (AEST) 5 August 2020. The Australian government had last month announced a raft of changes to visa arrangements to ensure Australia continues to remain a priority study destination in …

Almost 20,000 refugees could lose their jobs in Australia

A new academic report commissioned by the Refugee Council of Australia suggests thousands of refugees and asylum seekers will lose their job as a result of the coronavirus economic downturn, with many at risk of homelessness. Read more in this worrying article from SBS: https://www.sbs.com.au/news/almost-20-000-refugees-could-lose-their-jobs-in-australia-this-mother-of-two-is-one-of-them