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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There were 140,366 permanent visas granted, which is 88 per cent of a total of 160,000 visas set aside for the 2019-20 migration program year. This distribution was not even as some visa programs and subclasses met their targets while others missed their mark.
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.
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.
Read MoreThe number of permanent parent visas that can be granted this program year has been cut by 15 per cent for both the contributory and non-contributory parent visas. Other family visas, which include aged dependent relatives, remaining relatives and carer visas increased by 12 per cent, however, this will probably do little in arresting their processing times. There is one very good political reason for these changes.
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