Critical technology encompasses a wide array of technologies crucial for various sectors in Australia including cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and advanced manufacturing. The unwanted transfer of critical technologies, along with associated expertise or knowledge, poses risks to Australia’s interests, from economic competitiveness to national security and sovereignty.

Australia’s Migration Regulations have been amended to target visa applicants and holders involved in critical technology-related activities. These changes allow the Minister for Home Affairs to refuse certain visas if there is an unreasonable risk of unwanted technology transfer. 

The revised regulations apply to various visa categories, including student visas, skilled migration visas, and temporary work visas. Visa applicants intending to pursue postgraduate research qualifications or apply for critical technology-related occupations must undergo enhanced screening procedures and some existing student visa holders must seek prior approval from the Minister for Home Affairs before enrolling in further studies.

The approval process entails submitting a request form and providing necessary evidence to demonstrate compliance with regulations specified by the Department. Failure to obtain approval before undertaking critical technology-related courses may result in visa cancellation. 

Australia aims to strike a balance between fostering international research collaboration and mitigating risks associated with critical technology transfer by enhancing its visa screening. Visa applicants and holders must comply with the new regulatory framework to ensure smooth processing and avoid potential refusal.

The new rules aim to ensure Australia remains a destination and partner of choice for innovation and research, while safeguarding its critical technologies and national interests.

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An amalgamation of the Pacific Labour Scheme (PLS) and the Seasonal Worker Program (SWP), PALM will give employers easier access to workers with a single application process for the scheme and enable more regions to recruit workers from the Pacific region.

Reforms to the scheme mean the validity period for labour market testing has increased from 6 months to 12 months, recruitment caps for SWP approved employers with a good record and financial capacity have doubled and accommodation businesses like hotels and resorts are now allowed to employ SWP workers.

PLS workers who have spent 3 years in Australia are able to continue working for an additional 12 months while COVID-19 travel restrictions remain in place and COVID-related flexibilities continue, allowing redeployments of workers to other approved employers.

The upper age limit of 45 for workers has been removed completely, allowing anyone over the age of 21 to participate in the scheme.

There will be further reforms to PALM later this year which promise to remove even more hurdles for Australian employers who would like to utilise the seasonal labour market available in the Pacific region.

These reforms are part of the continued economic response to the Covid-19 pandemic and are a good indicator of what regions and which Australian industries will increase recruitment of migrants in 2022.

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To solve this situation the Government is considering the creation of a new visa allowing the entry of workers from Southeast Asian nations.

They have not given details about how this visa will work yet, but some ideas were presented by Agriculture Minister David Littleproud last week.

At first, the visa will be a temporary work visa for specific circumstances, while new legislation is passed.

It will offer a pathway to permanent residency for skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled workers who work in the agricultural sector and would provide farmers with a long-term, structural solution to labour supply according to Minister Littleproud.

“This is the biggest structural reform to the agricultural workforce in our nation’s history.”

“We are moving away from reliance on a working holiday maker to now trying to bring the next generation of migrants to Australia, to grow, not just agriculture, but to grow regional Australia.”

There will be no cap on the amount of this type of visa the government will approve, with the number of visas issued dependent on industry demand for workers.

The bi-lateral agreements necessary to enact this visa will be offered to Southeast Asian nations such as Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines and Vietnam, among others.

The government says this is due to Australia’s already close migration ties to these countries.

Very good news for people wishing to migrate to Australia permanently from these countries the visa will offer a pathway to Permanent Residency!

Easy Migrate can make your visa experience simple and most importantly successful, if you are looking for the peace of mind you get by using locally-based expertise, look no further.

The post Australian Agricultural Skills Shortage Means New Visa: Pathway to PR appeared first on Easy Migrate.

The Department of Home Affairs has produced a PDF regarding COVID-19 temporary visa measures which includes frequently asked questions from temporary visa holders in Australia.

SUBCLASS 408 COVID-19 STREAM – The Migration Insitute of Australia (MIA) has written to the Department of Home Affairs (16/04/2020) regarding an error about having an employer for Subclass 408. We will update you when we know more.

“The Australian Government is committed to protecting the health of Australians, supporting businesses and jobs and securing food supply while we combat the COVID-19 virus.
The livelihood of Australians who become unemployed as the economic impacts deepen is paramount to the Government.
The Government is making a number of changes to temporary visa holder arrangements during the coronavirus crisis in order to protect the health of our community, safeguard job opportunities for Australians, support critical industries, and assist with the rapid recovery post
the virus.
The priority of the Government during this period is public health. All temporary visa holders should follow public health advice with respect to COVID-19.
It is important that temporary visa holders retain a lawful status wherever possible. Whatever a person’s visa status, there is no barrier to engaging with our health system if they are sick.
Visitor Visa Holders
Visitor visa holders in Australia should return home if it is possible to do so.
 There are currently over 213,000 visitor visa holders in Australia.
 A visitor visa only allows a temporary stay and due to current circumstances associated
with COVID-19, including state and territory border restrictions, business closures and
social distancing requirements, all visitors are encouraged to depart Australia”.

The fact sheet about  COVID-19 Temporary Visa Measures Frequently Asked Questions Fact Sheet (Current as at 4 April 2020) is available to download below.

For general advice and updates to Australia’s immigration and border arrangements during the COVID-19 outbreak, please register for our latest updates. The Government will continue to update and amend COVID-19 implications for temporary visa holders as the pandemic continues.

EasyMigrate is currently offering all temporary visa holders in Australia a FREE 10-minute telephone Pre-Assessment…

Download Fact Sheet

The post COVID-19 Temporary Visa Measures FAQs appeared first on Easy Migrate.

The Department of Home Affairs (formerly the Department of Immigration) has announced that the new TSS visa (Temporary Skills Shortages Visa) subclass 482commenced on Sunday 18 March 2018.

TSS (Subclass 482) main features are as follows:

1. The rules remain very similar to the old Subclass 457 temporary work visa – it will require a company-sponsorship stage, a company-nomination stage and the visa-application stage.
2. The Department’s fees also remain the same at A$420 for company sponsorship stage, A$330 for company nomination stage, etc.
3. The Training Expenditure requirement was to be amended to include a fixed “Training Levy” amount per nominee per year. But the relevant legislation has not passed yet. For the moment the old regime regarding the 457-visa will continue i.e. Training Benchmarks A and B ( 1% to 2% of the gross company-payroll to be spent on training Australian staff per year).
4. Visa applicants holding a 457-visa before 18^th March 2018, or those who hold the new subclass 482 under the Medium Term Stream or the Short Term Stream WILL be eligible for the transitional arrangements (TRT system).
5. The qualifying period for the TRT stream will increase from 2 years to three years in most occupations.
6. As from 18 June 2018, the Labour Market Testing (LMT) must have been undertaken within last SIX months (currently it is previous 12 months).
7. For occupations on the TSS Short Term stream list: The English-language skill requirements remain the same as the previous Subclass 457 visa – Average 5.0 (or equivalent) with no band less than 4.5. An exemption can be obtained by providing proof of five-years full-time study at secondary or higher education level where the medium of instruction was English.
8. For occupations on the TSS Medium Term stream list: Same as above, except that the English-language skills requirements have been raised to a MINIMUM score of 5.0 in EACH component.
9. The Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) has remained the same: A$53,900 per annum based on 38 hours per week, plus superannuation plus leave entitlements.
10. Mandatory Skills Assessment – A formal Skills assessment completed within last THREE years will be required for Project & Program Administrators and most Specialist Managers (NEC).
11. Mandatory Skills assessment completed within last THREE years will also be required for most “trade” applicants who hold the following passports:
    Brazil, China, Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Macau, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, Vietnam or Zimbabwe. This will cover most trade occupations including, Carpenters, Motor Mechanics, Electricians, Fitters, Metal Fabricators, Panel beaters etc.
12.  Mandatory Skills assessment completed within last THREE years will also be required for  Chefs, Cooks, Bakers, Pastrycooks who hold the following passports:
    Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Macau, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, Vietnam or Zimbabwe;
13. Exemptions from Mandatory Skills Assessment may be available to 
    (a) current 457 or 482 holders, 
    (b) employees of an established overseas business, 
    (c) holders of AUSTRALIAN QUALIFICATIONS specified in ANZSCO, 
    (d) Holders of Offshore Skills Assessment Program (OSAP),
    (e)  have an income of more than A$180,000 per annum

If you have any questions regarding TSS (Subclass 482) please contact our team on +61  9221 4888 or email reception@easymigrate.com

The post LATEST NEWS – AUSTRALIA LAUNCHES THE NEW TSS VISA (SUBCLASS 482) ON 18 March 2018, replacing the subclass 457 temporary work-visa appeared first on Easy Migrate.