“POST STUDY WORK RIGHTS TO INCREASE IN CRITICAL SECTOR”

To improve the number of skilled workers, the Australian government will extend the post-study work rights of international students. Post-study working rights for specific degrees in fields where skill shortages have been established will expand for selected from:

• Bachelor’s degrees, from two to four years
• Master’s degrees, three to five years
• PhDs, four to six years are required

The Ministers of Home Affairs and Education will receive advice from a working group on the advancement of this and other relevant topics. Representatives from Universities Australia, the National Tertiary Education Union, the Council of International Education, and the Departments of Home Affairs and Education will be included on the working group. By October 28, 2022, the group will report to the ministers.

The $36.1 million the government will spend on visa processing to support 500 extra employees over the next nine months will also benefit international education.

“The current 485 visa holders will get clarity on the critical sector and the extension of work rights after 28th October 2022. Those 485 visa holders whose visa is expiring on or before 28th October 2022 need to hold a substantive visa to stay lawfully in Australia”

WHAT ARE THE CHANGES IN CURRENT AUSTRALIAN POLICIES

The number of permanent immigration visas available in 2022–2023 has been increased by the Albanese Labor Government from 160,000 to 195,000 slots.

This indicates that an additional 35,000 permanent visas are needed to address areas of the Australian economy that are now facing acute shortages, which have an impact on Australians’ day-to-day life.

There will be 34,000 slots available in the Skill stream for Regional visas, which represents an increase of 9,000 slots from earlier estimates.

IS SKILL ASSESSMENT REQUIRED WHILE LODGING A SUBCLASS 485 VISA APPLICATION?

It is not a requirement now to apply for a skill assessment while lodging for a subclass 485 Temporary Graduate Visa but it is a requirement to have a Skills Assessment while applying for any state nomination, EOI or Permanent Residency. It is a temporary relief for student visa holders applying for a new visa after graduating.

OPTUS SECURITY BREACH & DATA PRIVACY RULES AUSTRALIA- A LEGAL CONCERN

Legal organizations have expressed concern over Australia’s data privacy rules in the wake of the Optus customer data breach, which may have put the personal data of millions of users in the hands of cybercriminals and left Minister for Home Affairs Clare O’Neil “baying for Optus’ blood.” While the possibility that people’s identification documents may have been exposed was one of the “most concerning” aspects of the data leak, telecommunication providers are required under Commonwealth metadata regulations to keep track of the IDs of their customers.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA INVITATION ROUND

Invitations issued on 22 September 2022 for State Nominated Migration Program (SNMP)

• Skilled Nomination Visa (Subclass 190)

General Stream WASMOL Schedule 1= 373

General Stream WASMOL Schedule 2= 216

Graduate Stream (Higher Education)= 245

Graduate Stream (Vocational Education & Training)= 63

• Skilled Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491)

General Stream WASMOL Schedule 1= 127

General Stream WASMOL Schedule 2= 284

Graduate Stream (Higher Education)= 130

Graduate Stream (Vocational Education & Training)= 62

NT GSM NOMINATION APPLICATIONS FOR 2022-23

Both onshore and offshore applicants may now submit NT GSM nomination applications. Please review the updated eligibility requirements for applicants from offshore.

Summary:

• Offshore applicants are often only nominated for subclass 491 visas.
• Have at least three years of post-qualification job experience in your specified field within the last ten years.
• Applicants must show they are committed to residing and working in the NT for the long term,
• Have proof of their ability to make ends meet in the NT and meet the requirements for one of the three streams—NT Job Offer Stream, NT Family Stream, or Priority Occupation Stream.