Immigration Lawyers and Migration Agents

Your Australian Visa Our Focus

The Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs, the Hon David Coleman MP, has asked the Joint Standing Committee on Migration to inquire into and report on migration in regional Australia.

In April we outlined new details on several regional visas to be introduced on 16 November 2019. Coinciding with these new visas are changes to the existing points test for skilled migration.

Immigration SA has conducted a mid-year review that resulted in an updated occupation list for the General Skilled Migration (GSM) visas.

Throughout the 2018/2019 programme year, Australian immigration has witnessed some massive changes. These changes range from new government, policy changes, the abolishment of the 457 visa, and new visas being implemented. Scroll the index below to find an in-depth summary of changes and what we predict will come in 2019.

Overview

When it comes to Australian immigration it is essential to know what deadlines you have and that you abide by them. The Department of Home Affairs adheres to strict time limits that apply to all applicants. With that being said, in November 2018 the Federal Court of Australia (FCA) set a new precedent that grants the AAT power to extend time limits for review cases. This meant that the Australian visa appeals and migration review tribunal, on a case by case basis, would be able to allow a refused applicant extra time to appeal the administrative decision. Less than a month later though, the Full Court repealed the decision of the FCA and decided that every applicant in a migration matter must apply to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) within the allotted time limit.