Immigration update

Immigration update

482 visas

Decision Time Frames – Immigration is increasing staff to improve service. They say complete cases that meet all the criteria could be decided within 1-4 weeks, and that cases with complexity may taking longer.

Work Limiting Condition Changed

Workers are currently allowed to leave their sponsor and work for other employers in any job for up to 6 months. That was announced here: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/news-media/archive/article?itemId=1213

I hear Immigration implemented this allowance to prevent exploitation of workers, and was surprised when workers exploited the new rules.

Sponsorship obligations continue to apply after a worker leaves (often until another sponsor takes over) so employers should notify Immigration ASAP when a worker ceases work.

Student visas

IMMI is cracking down on student visa applications that don’t meet their new expectations. Currently more than 1 in every 5 is being rejected.

Parent visas

The government is aware of the various technical issues impacting parents (in particular secondary applicants for aged-parent onshore & holders of temporary parent visas) and is working to resolve them. While Immigration have indicated they will deal with individual situations ‘flexibly’ there’s currently no indication of when the issues will be resolved.