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Latest News

A word from the Acting Immigration Minister on the priority skills shortage

Acting Immigration Minister Alan Tudge: “Just a few days ago I announced a new priority skills shortage list which consists of 17 occupations and they will be prioritised first and will now have exemptions automatically at the borders as well to be able to come in”. If you think you may fall into these specialist …

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

Fears $150m missing as part of federal government visa program

In the recent collapse of the failed property group iProsperity, we see yet another example of fraud in the Significant Investor Visas (known as 188C vias) space. Here clients can buy their way into Australia for $5m (a paltry sum for many Chinese these days). There is insufficient oversight (no-one wants to upset the Chinese …

Australia resumes processing international student visas to boost numbers post-coronavirus

A raft of measures have been announced by the federal government to ensure Australia remains an attractive destination for international students. The federal government has resumed the processing of student visa applications lodged in locations outside Australia in an attempt to boost the number of international students once borders reopen. It is part of five …

Petition to restart tests and interviews for Australian citizenship now active.

Hundreds have signed a petition calling on the government to restart tests and interviews for Australian citizenship. Australian citizenship tests and interviews were put on hold due to COVID-19 outbreak while citizenship ceremonies were moved online.  With most states easing restrictions and resuming business activities, those awaiting citizenship have signed a petition demanding tests and …