What Implications of the Changes to Australian Visa and Immigration Effective from July 2023

MELBOURNE, Australia - June 29, 2023 - PRLog -- As the focus continues on Australia's Migration Program and rules are altered to meet our determined immigration targets, address the nation's skills shortages and excite our economic wealth. It's important to keep up to date on the changing controlling situation related to retaining workers from overseas.

• Applying for an Australian visa to get more expensive; all visas will increase by 6%.
• The work restrictions for student visas will be capped at 48 hours per fortnight, while international students working in the aged care sector as of 9 May 2023 can continue until 31 December 2023.
• Temporary Graduate Visa subclass 485 visa holders whose visas expire between September 1st, 2022, and July 1st, 2023, can apply for a work right extension. They can utilize the temporary activity Subclass 408 Covid Visa, which grants a two-year validity period.
• Temporary Graduate visa holders with specific degrees in health teaching, engineering, and agricultural fields will now enjoy an additional two years of post-study work rights.
• Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) raised to $70,000
• New Zealand citizens residing in Australia under the 444 visa will be eligible to apply for Australian citizenship.

Increase in visa application charge

From 1 July 2023, visa application charges will increase between 6% and 40%.

The increases are distributed across the following visa subclasses:

1. Visa Subclass   Percentage increase over indexation

2. Visitor, working holiday, work and holiday, training, temporary activity, and temporary work (short stay specialist) visas   15%

3. Pacific Engagement Visa and Pacific Australia Labour Mobility visas   Exempt from increase

4. Business innovation and Investment visas   40%

5. Other Visas   6%

Given the difficulty and rapidly changing environment concerning Australian visa and entry requirements, we strongly recommend that both employers and visa applicants seek professional legal advice. Please contact Ghothane Lawyers (https://ghothane.com.au/) for any inquiries.