The latest news on Australian immigration, including changes to regulations, government policy announcements, and analysis of media releases affecting current and future applications.
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Disclaimer: Any posted material is not intended to be immigration advice and does not purport to represent all requirements for a successful application or applications. No person should act on the basis of the material contained in any post without obtaining advice relevant to their situation, and without considering and taking professional advice where necessary. All opinion expressed is that of the author and nobody else.
The Department of Home Affairs (Home Affairs) has released an FAQ to confirm among other things that the number of permanent migration places allocated for this program year (2020-21) is the same as for the last program year. This is not set in stone and is likely to change when the Federal Budget is handed down in October.
Read MoreImmiAccount and other major online services provided by the Department of Home Affairs will be down for scheduled maintenance from 7 pm (AEST) 30 June 2020 until 9 am (AEST) 1 July 2020. While there has been no news on any changes to visa application charges or other migration- and citizenship-related fees, the surcharge for Visa and Mastercard payments and PayPal will increase, with an important warning for any applicant seeking to avoid surcharges altogether by using BPAY.
Read MoreThe Administrative Appeals Tribunal’s (AAT’s) 2018-19 annual report shows the Migration and Refugee Division continues to be weighed down by the number of review applications lodged despite their best efforts in adopting case management strategies and increasing the number of finalised applications. A crucial target they have met is making legally sound decisions, which means the chances of success if a matter is taken to court is much more difficult.
Read MoreA recent Freedom of Information (FOI) request shows that the number of bridging visa holders in Australia has increased by 49 per cent in two years. This may have important implications to any claims made of restraining permanent visa grant numbers, however, this is not as straightforward as it may appear.
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