The Australian Government has announced changes that benefit migrants holding skilled, temporary graduate visas and those working in critical sectors. Have a look!

2022 started with good news for international students in Australia since they have been allowed to work up to 40 hours a week as a temporary measure to cope with the labour shortage.

Along with that, the Government released new adjustments to welcome more overseas students and skilled professionals.

Related article:
Check your eligibility for General Skilled Migration and calculate your likely score with our online Immigration Points test.

Let’s get through them:

1. More PR pathways for skilled migrants working during the pandemic

While many migrants left Australia when the COVID-19 pandemic started (500.000 according to the Parliamentary Committee on Migration), the remaining stayed to support the economy by working for critical sectors such as health and hospitality.

For those of the second group, the Government will extend visas for skilled regional (provisional visa) holders (subclass 489, 491 and 494) in recognition that this cohort has been adversely affected by COVID-19 related travel restrictions.

“Current and expired skilled regional provisional visas will be extended, providing additional time to meet regional work requirements for permanent residence,” said Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs Alex Hawkey.

“There are currently around 9,000 skilled regional provisional visa holders overseas. These visa holders can enter Australia from the 1st of December 2021, and they will also be eligible for an extension of their visa,” he added.

2. Length of postgraduate visa (485) extended

In yet another significant decision, the Government will also increase the length of stay on the 485 visas from the current two to three years for Masters by coursework graduates, matching that of Masters by research graduates.

Related article:
Know the benefits you will get after your Postgraduate Visa (485) is approved

The new visa settings will also extend existing measures for students and temporary graduates to recognise time spent online studying to qualify for a temporary graduate visa.

3. Australian borders opening and further support for students

To encourage overseas students to return, the Government will:

• Allow Temporary Graduate visa holders who have been unable to travel to Australia due to COVID-19 international border restrictions to apply for a replacement visa.
• Simplify the requirements for Temporary Graduate visa applicants for VET sector graduates.

4. Better options for migrants living in regions

From the 16th of November 2022, there will be benefits for people who have lived, worked and studied in a designated regional area on a previous, eligible visa. “It’s a pathway; you have to be on a 494 visa for three years and then apply for the 191,” the Minister assured.

5. Changes: Visa refusals and cancellations

Skilled migrants in Australia are also temporarily being given the opportunity to apply onshore for three skilled migration visa subclasses following a change to section 48 of the Migration Act.

Section 48 bar applies to applicants who have had a visa refused or cancelled since their last entry into Australia.

On the 13th of November, Mr Hawke agreed to temporarily include the following visa subclasses in the list of exempted visas: 491, 494 and 190.

“You have enormous subsets of people in Australia who are on bridging visas waiting for a migration hearing, which can take five years,” Mr Watt said.

Read more:
What should I do if my visa was cancelled or refused?

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Sources:
Australia Home Affairs website
SBS Australia

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Bill Mitroulas

Head of Migration at Questra Immigration. Managing and overseeing the growth and performance of Questra’s team of migration agents, while maintaining a client-centric and quality-driven approach. A registered migration agent since 2015 and a member of the Migration Institute of Australia, with over 15 years’ experience in international education and 11 years in Australian Migration law.