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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The coronavirus pandemic did not stop the administration of more Australian citizenship tests in 2019-20 than 2018-19. The fail rate for the citizenship test was over 3 per cent higher in 2019-20 at 15.6 per cent. Last year also saw a record number of people conferred citizenship with more than 200,000 people becoming Australian citizens by conferral.
Read MoreThe much-anticipated May 2020 and June 2020 invitation rounds have finally been published by the Department of Home Affairs (Home Affairs). While there has been an increase in invitations issued from the dismal April 2020 round, the goalposts have been moved from highest points first to a “targeted” invitation system due to COVID-19.
Read MoreTo shore up the education sector and to reassure existing and prospective international students, offshore student visa processing will re-commence despite Australia’s borders still closed to most if not all international students. Furthermore, current and future student visa holders who require a further student visa because of COVID-19 will not be required to pay an application fee. Other benefits for COVID-19-affected 485 visa applicants including counting online study, the ability to lodge their application while offshore and additional time to provide evidence of English language ability.
Read MoreThe 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.
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