COVID-19: Over half of inbound travel exemptions for 457/482 visa holders refused

COVID-19: Over half of inbound travel exemptions for 457/482 visa holders refused

The number of inbound travel exemptions approved for 457 or 482 visa holders from 1 August 2020 to February 2021 was just under half of all applications decided during this time. Critical skills represented over 86 per cent of approved travel exemptions for these visa holders.

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457/482/494 visa sponsor obligations: Beware the mandatory increase to superannuation on 1 July 2021

457/482/494 visa sponsor obligations: Beware the mandatory increase to superannuation on 1 July 2021

As mandated increases to superannuation took effect last week, employers may need to review their salary arrangements with primary sponsored 457, 482 and 494 visa holders to safeguard from inadvertently breaching their sponsor obligations to ensure equivalent terms and conditions of employment.

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PMSOL expands to 41 occupations; WHMs can count regional hospitality work for 2nd and 3rd WHM visas

PMSOL expands to 41 occupations; WHMs can count regional hospitality work for 2nd and 3rd WHM visas

Announcements today show that Australia’s economic recovery has outpaced the coronavirus pandemic with the need to more than double the Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL) and allowing WHMs on 417 visas still in Australia to count work in the hospitality and tourism sectors in certain areas of Australia towards their 2nd or 3rd 417 visa.

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UK FTA: WHM cap increase to 35; LMT likely exempt; agricultural visa coming

UK FTA: WHM cap increase to 35; LMT likely exempt; agricultural visa coming

An Australian-UK free trade agreement confirms the age cap for UK nationals lifted to 35 for working holiday visas. There are also likely to be other benefits including exemptions to labour market testing for 482 visas and perhaps an easier pathway to skill assessments for GSM visas. A dedicated agricultural visa was also announced.

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