Perth Migration Agent Updates
MigrationAgents.com
DISCLAIMER
ANQUIRE.COM WORLDWIDE is committed to providing quality services to you.
We don't publish all the updated information about Australian Migration Law, Australian Migration Regulations or Australian Immigration Policy because Applicant should use our services.
ANQUIRE.COM WORLDWIDE is also known as PERTH EDUCATION AGENT and PERTH MIGRATION AGENT.
We publish Australian Migration Law Updates that is most relevant to us only and the information here is for internal use and may not be up to date.We don't publish all the updated information about Australian Migration Law, Australian Migration Regulations or Australian Immigration Policy because Applicant should use our services.
The information contained within this website is to provide advice of a general nature for our new employee only and is not to be taken as individual advice for your personal circumstances.
Information provided is subject to change at any time without notice, and before proceeding with an application you should seek professional PERTH MIGRATION AGENT personalised advice about your circumstances.
We cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions because Australian migration law, Australian migration regulations and Australian immigration policy change regularly, it is best to contact us before making any decisions.
Up to date information can found on the website of the Australian Immigration Department (but you should read their disclaimer).
19 December 2024
Student Visa - New Ministerial Direction Number 111
Ministerial Direction 107 has been revoked and replaced by Ministerial Direction 111
The international education sector is important to Australia, and the Australian Government is committed to ensuring its equality, quality, integrity and sustainability.
MD107 has been revoked
Ministerial Direction 107 Order for considering and disposing of Student Guardian visa applications and offshore Subclass 500 (Student) visa applications (MD107) was designed to support providers with strong recruitment practises for international students and support the Department of Home Affairs at a time of increasing volumes and of risk in the caseload. The Australian Government acknowledges that the Student visa processing arrangements in accordance with MD107 unevenly impacted education providers.
MD107 was revoked on 18 December 2024.
New Ministerial Direction 111
Ministerial Direction 111 Order for considering and disposing of offshore Subclass 500 (Student) visa applications (MD111) came into effect on 19 December 2024 replacing MD107. MD111 applies to onhand, unfinalised Student visa applications lodged from offshore, as well as those lodged on or after that date, and sets out priority categories for processing Student visas applications.
Under MD111, priority processing (Priority 1 – High) will apply to offshore Student visa applications associated with a provider in the higher education and vocational education and training sectors who have not yet reached their prioritisation threshold as indicated by PRISMS, the Department of Education’s system that manages enrolment information. Once the prioritisation threshold has been reached for a provider, visa processing will continue at Priority 2 - Standard priority.
This new approach creates a more even approach to visa processing across a range of different provider types and locations, including for regional and small providers. MD111 will continue to support the well-managed and orderly processing of visa applications that supports the education sector equitably, while achieving Government’s wider international education objectives.
Priority 1 – High will move faster through processing relative to Priority 2 – Standard. MD111 is not a cap, nor does it set the criteria to approve or refuse a student visa application.
As always, the department will continue to prioritise the offshore Student visa caseload as we move into Semester 1 2025, while the onshore caseload will also continue to be processed.
What is most important, is that intending students lodge their visa applications as early as possible, and complete with all requested information at time of lodgement to support smooth processing.
The development of MD111 and its prioritisation approach has been informed by consultation with the international education sector undertaken by the Department of Education and the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations throughout 2024. The Department of Home Affairs, the Department of Education and the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations are working with the education sector to provide information about this new processing arrangement for Student visas. This will include targeted engagement through webinars, discussions with peak bodies in the education sector, as well as our website updates and social media outreach.
So who is eligible for ‘Priority 1 – High’ visa processing?
In brief, Priority 1 – High, processing will apply to Student visa applications associated with providers who have not yet reached their prioritisation threshold, which is 80 percent of their 2025 indicative allocation of new overseas student commencements in the higher education and Vocational Education and Training sectors.
Indicative allocations for both higher education and vocational education and training providers can be found at:
- Indicative allocations for higher education new overseas student commencements 2025 - Department of Education, Australian Government and
- Indicative allocations for VET new overseas student commencements 2025 - Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Australian Government
Priority 1 – High visa processing will also apply to a range of sectors and student types, for example, the schools and higher degree by research sectors, as well as scholarship and TAFE students, and those from the Pacific and Timor-Leste.
Priority 2 – Standard visa processing will apply to providers who have reached their prioritisation threshold, subsequent entrants, and any other offshore Student visa application.
7 December 2024
Important changed to skilled visa program begin - Skills in Demand Visa
A modernised skilled occupation list and a new Skills in Demand (SID) visa are included in changes to Australia’s skilled visa program begin on 7 December 2024.
Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL)
The CSOL replaces existing multiple skilled occupation lists previously used for the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS visa). The CSOL has more than 450 occupations in sectors such as:
- construction
- cyber security
- agriculture
- health.
The list is based on labour market analysis and stakeholder consultations by Jobs and Skills Australia. It will only apply to the SID Core Skills stream and Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) visa (Direct Entry stream).
Skills in Demand (SID) visa
The Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa replaces the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa. The SID allows most visa holders to stay in Australia for up to 4 years. It offers a streamlined process for both migrants and employers needing more skilled workers to grow their businesses.
SID visa holders have a clear pathway to permanent residence. This will give certainty to both migrants and employers.
The SID visa has 3 streams:
- Core Skills stream to meet targeted workforce needs. Most SID visa holders will use this stream.
- Specialist Skills stream. This stream will help drive innovation and job creation.
- Labour Agreement stream. This stream will be replaced by an Essential Skills stream (under development).
With a SID visa, you:
- have a pathway to permanent residence. Any work with an approved employer counts towards permanent residence.
- benefit from a work experience requirement that is one year less than the TSS. SID applicants must have one year of work experience in their nominated occupation or related field.
- have the same English language requirement as the TSS medium-term stream.
SID visa Specialist Skills stream
This stream recognises that highly skilled migrants lift national productivity. It is for applicants who meet general eligibility requirements and are:
- in any occupation on the ANZSCO 2022 except ANZSCO Major Group levels 3, 7 and 8:
- trades workers
- machinery operators
- drivers and labourers
- earning at least the Specialist Skills Income Threshold of AUD135,000 and no less than Australian workers in the same occupation.
SID visa Core Skills stream
This stream is for applicants who meet general eligibility requirements and:
- have an occupation on the CSOL that has been identified as being in shortage. This also applies where we have committed to giving access to our labour market through international trade agreements
- will be paid a salary at or above the new Core Skills Income Threshold of AUD73,150.
Applications for the TSS visa closed on 6 December 2024. We will process all outstanding applications lodged before then in line with existing arrangements.
Arrangements for existing TSS visa holders
TSS visa holders will still have a pathway to permanent residence. This is subject to meeting all relevant eligibility criteria.
3 December 2024
New Core Skills Occupation List to target the skills that Australia needs
On 3 December 2024, the Australian Government announced the release of the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL).
The new CSOL fulfils the Government’s commitment to replace complex, out of date and inflexible occupation lists in our temporary skilled visa program. The CSOL is a single consolidated list, informed by labour market analysis and stakeholder consultations by Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) that provides access to temporary skilled migration for 456 occupations.
The CSOL will apply to the Core Skills stream of the new Skills in Demand visa, which will replace the Temporary Skill Shortage (subclass 482) visa on 7 December 2024. The CSOL will also apply to the Direct Entry stream of the permanent Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) visa.
More details on other reform taking place on 7 December 2024, including the Skills in Demand visa and National Innovation visa, will be announced shortly.
9 September 2024
Anquire.com Worldwide - EducationAgents.com and MigrationAgents.com (formerly Perth Education Agent and Perth Migration Agent) supports the Immigration Department's plan to introduce a cap for Australian student visa for University and Vocational Education Training Providers (VET) to improve the quality of Australian Education for Overseas students. The international student visa processing time will be faster and student visa decision will be fairer.
The Australian government could improve the Australian quality education further for overseas students (international students) by including a points test to the cap system. Australia can now enrol only the best and brightest students that are available.
Genuine Vocational Education Training Providers (VET) should be provided a cap of a minimum of 400 or more overseas students per year depending on the amount of location and the size of their colleges to enable them to compete in providing quality education.
Any Vocational Education Training Providers (VET) provided with a cap less than 400 overseas students per year will not survive and will be forced to cut corners to reduce the quality of Australian education. This will eventually tarnish Australia's Education Quality internationally.
The Vocational Education Training Providers (VET) receiving a cap less than 400 overseas students per year will create a lasting bad reputation for Australia in the short term.
2 September 2024
The Government has announced that, subject to the passage of the Education Services for Overseas Students Amendment (Quality and Integrity) Bill 2024, it will set a National Planning Level (NPL) for new Australian international student commencements of 270,000 for calendar year 2025.
The cap is aimed at providing a faster and fairer Australian student visa application assessment rather than refusing Australian student visa applications. The Immigration Department is aware that there are unfair Australian student visa refusal and is always looking at improving their assessment quality.
19 July 2024
2024-25 State Nomination Migration Program
The Western Australian State Nominated Migration Program (SNMP) 2024-25 program year is now open.
For the SNMP 2024-25 program year, the Western Australian government will continue to waive the $200 application fee.
A new feature of the 2024-25 SNMP includes additional employment contract arrangements for candidates invited through the General Stream – WASMOL – Schedule 1.
Invitation rounds for the 2024-25 program year are anticipated to be held the first week of each month, commencing in August 2024.
1 July 2024
State Nominated Migration Program
Following successful negotiations with the Commonwealth Government Department of Home Affairs (Home Affairs), Western Australia will be allocated 5,000 state nominated migration places for the 2024-25 program year.
Invitation rounds for State nomination for the 2024-25 program year will begin once the Western Australian Government formally receives its allocation from Home Affairs.
27 June 2024
Onshore visa hopping student visas
Migration (Specification of Categories of Visas that Preclude a Person from Lodging a Student Visa Application in Australia) Amendment Instrument (LIN 24/051) 2024 amends IMMI 16/016 to specify additional categories of substantive temporary visas that preclude a person in Australia from making an application for a Student (Sc 500) visa or a Student Guardian (Sc 590) visa.
This instrument is made under Item 1222(5)(c) of Schedule 1 and if an applicant is in Australia and holds the visas listed in IMMI 16/060 and LIN 24/051 they cannot make a valid application for a Student (Sc 500) visa or a Student Guardian (Sc 590) visa.
LIN 24/051 adds six substantive temporary visa subclasses which cannot make an application for a Student (Sc 500) or a Student Guardian (Sc 590) onshore, these are the following:
LIN 24/051 adds six substantive temporary visa subclasses which cannot make an application for a Student (Sc 500) or a Student Guardian (Sc 590) onshore, these are the following:
- Temporary Graduate (Sc 485)
- Electronic Travel Authority (Sc 601)
- Medical Treatment (Sc 602)
- eVisitor (Sc 651)
- Maritime Crew (Sc 988).
- Visitor (Sc 600) - (The entire subclass will not be able to apply for a student visa previously only the Sponsored Family and Approved Destination Status streams were specified).
This instrument commences on 1 July 2024.
25 June 2024
Republic of Philippines passport holder eligible to apply for a Work and Holiday (Sc 462) visa
Phillippines passport holder is able to apply for Subclass 462 Work and Holiday visa if they can meet all requirements.
Migration (Arrangements for Work and Holiday (Subclass 462) Visa Applications) Amendment (The Philippines) Instrument (LIN 24/041) 2024 amends LIN 21/019 to:
- specify the Philippines as a foreign country for the purpose of paragraph 1224A(3)(a) of Schedule 1 to the Migration Regulations; and
- specify the educational qualifications required for Subclass 462 visa applicants from the Philippines for the purpose of paragraph 462.221(c) of Schedule 2 to the Migration Regulations.
The amendments made by this instrument enable applicants who hold a valid passport issued by the Republic of the Philippines to apply for a Work and Holiday (Sc 462) visa.
Australia work and holiday visa for Philippines instrument commences on 1 July 2024.
21 June 2024
Federal Court and Tribunal fee increases 1 July 2024
Fee increases have been gazetted for Federal Courts and Tribunals commencing 1 July 2024.
From 1 July 2024, the application fees for review by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal will be the following:
From 1 July 2024, the application fees for review by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal will be the following:
- For a review of a review of a migration decision under Part 5 of the Migration Act 1958- $3496, up from $3374
- In cases where a 50% fee reduction is granted, the reduced fee will be $1,748.
- For review of a protection visa decision under Part 7 of the Migration Act 1958 - $2151, up from $2076 (generally, this fee is payable only if the application is not successful)
From 1 July 2024, the fees for filing an application with the Federal Circuit Court for a migration decision will be the following:
- full fee - $3920, up from $3785
- If a registrar or an authorised officer has determined that a reduced fee may be paid under s 2.06A - $1960, up from $1890
Applicant can refer to the Government gazette for more information on the Federal court and tribunal fee increases.
Applicant can also find information on the AAT fee increases on the AAT website and the Federal Circuit Court fee increases on the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia website.
19 June 2024
No more free translating service (FTS)
Students entering Australia on visa subclass 500 will no longer be eligible for the Free Translating Service (FTS).
This change was made by Government as part of Budget 2024-25, and reflects the intent of the Free Translating Service (FTS) to support people settling permanently in Australia in their participation in employment and community engagement.
This change was made by Government as part of Budget 2024-25, and reflects the intent of the Free Translating Service (FTS) to support people settling permanently in Australia in their participation in employment and community engagement.
The Immigration Department’s external provider of the Free Translating Service, The Migration Translators, has been notified of this change and is expected to update its webpages shortly.
13 June 2024
Further 1 July changes- Minister for Home Affairs media release on ending onshore visa hopping
The Minister for Home Affairs published a media release that announces further changes to the migration system that were articulated within the Migration Strategy.
These changes are to stop what is referred to in the Migration Strategy and the media release as visa hopping where temporary visa holders continue to apply for further temporary visas onshore to extend their stay in Australia with little prospect of becoming permanent residents.
As a measure to restrict visa hopping the media release outlines the following changes to commence from 1 July 2024:
- Visitor visa (sc 600) holders will not be able to apply for Student (Sc 500) visas onshore.
- Temporary Graduate (Sc 485) visa holders will not be able to apply for Student (Sc 500) visas onshore.
The complete list of visa holders that will be unable to apply for student visas onshore are:
- Temporary Graduate (Sc 485)
- Visitor (Sc 600)
- Electronic Travel Authority (Sc 601)
- Medical Treatment (Sc 602)
- e-Visitor (Sc 651)
- Transit (Sc 771)
- Maritime Crew (Sc 988)
- Diplomatic Temporary (Sc 995) – primary visa holders only
- Temporary Work (International Relations) Sc 403 – Domestic Worker (Diplomatic or Consular) stream
- Domestic Worker (Temporary)– Diplomatic or Consular (Sc 426)
The legislative instruments that will bring about these changes have not yet been released.
29 May 2024
Increase to TSMIT
Following the Government’s commitment at the Jobs and Skills Summit in 2022 and the announcement in the Migration Strategy last year, the Immigration Department has announced that the TSMIT will increase from $70,000 to $73,150 effective from 1 July 2024.
Anquire.com Worldwide - EducationAgents.com & MigrationAgents.com (Perth Education Agent and Perth Migration Agent) has decided to stop processing Employer Sponsorship Visa until further notice.
New nomination applications that are lodged from 1 July 2024 will need to meet the new TSMIT or the annual market salary rate, whichever is higher. However, if the market salary is less than TSMIT, an application cannot be lodged for that position.
This change will not affect existing visa holders and nominations lodged prior to 1 July 2024.
The Immigration Department has confirmed that more information will be made available regarding future income thresholds and the indexation methodology, including for the new Skills in Demand visa, later in 2024.
Administrative Review Tribunal Act 2024
The Administrative Review Tribunal Act 2024 establishes the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) as a replacement for the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT).
27 May 2024
Sc 485 1 July changes- Masters (research) and doctoral degree (PhD) graduates age maintained at 50 years of age
The Department will be maintaining the maximum age at 50 for masters (research) and doctoral degree (PhD) graduates applying for a sc 485 in the Post-Higher Education Work stream (former Post-Study Work stream) after 1 July 2024.
17 May 2024
CPA Australia cease providing Sc 485 provisional assessment
Due to the upcoming changes to the Temporary Graduate (Sc 485) visa proposed for 1 July 2024, CPA Australia will cease providing provisional assessment services from 15 June 2024 onwards.
13 May 2024
Temporary Graduate (Sc 485) 1 July 2024 changes
The Immigration Department from 1 July 2024 will be removing the restrictions in Schedule 1 for Sc 485 visa applicants whose first Student visa was granted because of an application made on or after 5 November 2011.
The Immigration Department have updated their 'Changes to the Temporary Graduate visa program- proposed 1 July 2024' webpage with the following note:
Note: Restrictions that were in place for applicants whose first Student visa was granted because of an application made on or after 5 November 2011 will no longer apply.
7 May 2024
TOEFL iBT now accepted for all Australian visas
The Department has reapproved the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT) as an English test which they accept for Australian visa and migration purposes.
TOEFL iBT tests taken from 5 May 2024 are now valid as an English test for Australian visa and migration purposes.
TOEFL iBT tests that were completed between 26 July 2023 and 4 May 2024 will not be accepted for Australian visa and migration purposes as during this period, the TOEFL iBT test being offered was not an approved test. However, tests taken before July 26th, 2023, remain valid for two years.
Please note that TOEFL iBT must be taken at a secure test center as the Department does not currently accept any English-language tests that are taken online for Australian visa and migration purposes.
Student visa (Sc 500) financial requirement increase
It has been reported that the student visa (Sc 500) financial requirement will be increased potentially by around 20%.
No legislative instrument has been released at this time. Any increase would be expected to occur from 1 July 2024.