Subclass 309 and 820 visas are temporary visas which applicants for partner visas receive while their permanent Partner visa is being processed.

In the case of the subclass 309 Partner (provisional) visa, applicants usually receive the permanent subclass 100 Partner (migrant) visa within 2 years.

The same processing time applies for the subclass 801 Partner visa (permanent), with applicants receiving a subclass 820 Partner visa (temporary) while waiting.

Applicants for the subclass 309 provisional visa previously had to be outside Australia to apply for and be granted the visa and applicants for the subclass 820 visa had to be inside the country.

The changes mean spouses or de facto partners of Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents and eligible New Zealand citizens who can demonstrate they are in a genuine relationship with a sponsor can be granted subclass 309 or 820 visas from inside or outside Australia.

The median processing times for these visas is 5 months for the subclass 820 and 10 months for the subclass 309. They both cost $A8,850, which covers the application for the permanent partner visa as well.

Subclass 309 applicants can now also apply for merits review in their own right, rather than having to use their sponsor.

This move is being interpreted by many as a fairer way to process Partner visas and is aimed at allowing victims of domestic violence better access to permanent visa options.

Applicants for the subclass 485 temporary graduate visa, which allows international students to live, work and study in Australia for up to four years after they have finished their course, can also now be granted the visa from inside or outside the country. There are four streams of the subclass 485 visa and they cost between $A745 and $A1,895 to apply.

The Partner visa is one of the most common pathways to permanent residency and the temporary graduate visa is also a popular option for migrants looking to start a new life down under.

The substantial cost associated with Partner visas in particular make it essential to contact and employ the services of a registered migration agent.

Easy Migrate is one of Australia’s oldest and most experienced agencies with a proven track record of securing visas for its clients.

Our qualified migration lawyers and agents bring a wealth of knowledge to the table and will make sure you receive the best advice to help you on your migration journey.

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There will be more places for skilled visas, places for partner visas have been reduced, the budget says, “partner visa granting arrangements will move to a more demand-driven basis going forward.”

Some 10,000 places were moved to the skilled stream from the partner visa allocation, plus another 20,000 places on top of that, totalling 109,900 places.

As unemployment in Australia dips below 4%, more room for skilled visas is evident in this budget, Australian businesses are sorely missing the working holidaymaker and student visa workforce of 3-4 years ago.

The skilled stream will count for a whopping 70% of all visas issued, the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189), Employer-Sponsored visa (subclass 186) and the State and Territory Nominated visa (Subclass 491 and 190) are all skilled visas.

There was a small increase of Parent visa places of 1,500 places up to 6,000.

The government announced the fiscal plans for its humanitarian program as well, outlining further spending to assist visa holders from Afghanistan and Ukraine, $9.2 million will be allocated to youth transition services and $1 million will be available over 5 years from 2022-23 to offer grants to organisations who advance Australia’s human rights priorities.

Places will increase for working holiday-makers who will be allocated another 11,000 of them and visa holders who arrive in Australia between the 9th of January 2022 and the 19th of April 2022 will be eligible for a refunded Visa Application Charge.

The future is looking bright in Australia, with unemployment at record lows, jobs are everywhere and this budget shows the government’s plans to increase the number of skilled visa places in stark reality.

The time to make the call is now, get your application in early and don’t miss out on a wonderful future in a beautiful country!

The Australian economy badly needs more skilled workers to grow, now is the time to make the secure, safe decision and start planning your Australian migration.

The post More Places for Skilled Visas and Less “Demand” for Partner Visas in Budget appeared first on Easy Migrate.

According to the Department of Immigration, offshore partner visa applicants will be able to have their visas approved from within Australia from early 2021.

Under previous regulations, offshore applicants had to be physically offshore to recieve their visa, but as international travel became expensive and difficult during the pandemic, this option was unfeasible for many migrants.

The changes mean around 4000 partner visa applicants will not have to fly home to recieve their visa amid the turbulence of pandemic travel.

The Department has indicated that partners whose visas are about to run out will be allowed to stay in the country until the changes are made official in early 2021.

The changes will apply to other visas; child, adoption, dependent child and prospective marriage visas.

Labor MP Julian Hill is not impressed by the Government’s actions saying, “Couples who’ve already wasted tens of thousands of dollars on flights and quarantine are right to be pissed off. They deserve an apology and compensation from the Morrison government.”

Mr Hill said the changes in regulation did not have a clear enough schedule and left many in limbo, “so for months to come, partners still face a risky and expensive round trip overseas just to have their visa granted”.

If would like to know your visa options, schedule a comprehensive visa consultation with an Easy Migrate migration agent on +618 9221 4888.

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Summary by Cyrus Mistry (Founding Partner – Easymigrate AMCS):

The Australian Federal Budget for 2020-2021 was announced today – 6th October 2020.

With increased places available, I expect the processing-time for Partner Visas will reduce from the current 24-30 months waiting periods. The places allotted for Global Talent visas has been tripled from 5,000 to 15,000 so we expect to see more activity within this program stream.
The bad news is that the Australian Government expects the net overseas migration numbers fall from the current 154,000 persons by almost 45% – down to about 83,000 in this financial year 2020-21. The good news is that net overseas migration is expected to bounce back to about 201,000 persons in another two years (2023-24).
 

• Previous Program Planning level (2019-20) was set at 160,000 places
• Current Program Planning level (2020-21) will stay the same at 160,000 places however the Family Stream will benefit by increasing the places from 47,700 to 77,300 for 2020-2021 only.
• In 2019-20 the net overseas migration was 154,000 persons.
• In 2020-21 the net overseas migration is expected to reduce by about 71,000 (net 83,000), increasing to around 201,000 by 2023-24 (further two years)
• Employer Sponsored, Global Talent, Business Innovation and Investment program visas will be prioritised.
• Onshore visa applicants will be prioritised.
• Partner Visa applicants will be prioritised especially where the sponsor lives in a “designated regional area”
• Temp Skilled Workers, Visitors, Working Holidaymakers: subsequent visa application fees may be “waived” in future – where they were affected by travel restrictions.

Subclass 189 New Zealand Pathway: Eligibility requirement is that applicants need to show fours years of taxable income above the TSMIT threshold in the last five years. This may be reduced to three years including the most recent year.
 
Business, Investment and Innovation Program: Focus will be given to higher value investors. Places will be increased to 13,500. The Government has announced a “Taskforce” that will focus on attracting “exceptional talent” and international businesses to Australia. This initiative is likely to increase local employment opportunities and assist in a post-COVID recovery.
 
Global Talent Independent (GTI) Program: This pathway will receive the best allocation yet. Placed will be TRIPLED to 15,000 places.
 
Family Stream Program: 72,300 places out of a total of 77,300 places will go towards “Partner Visas”, remaining 5,000 places will go to other visas within the Family stream. Sponsorship provisions and obligations will be strengthened. Partner visa applicants may be required to show English-language skills. This may give better social and economic participation outcomes.
 
Humanitarian Stream: The ceiling will e set at 13,750 places. Quota division between onshore and offshore applicants will be kept flexible, keeping COVID restrictions in mind.
 
Unauthorised Maritime Arrivals: Additional funding will be provided to continue processing the backlog of applicants who arrived between August 2012 and January 2014.
 
Federal Law Circuit Court: A$35.7 million will provide additional resources to the FCC. This will enable the backlog of pending cases relating to immigration matters.
 
The full Federal Budget papers can be accessed on the Budget.gov.au site.

The post Australian Budget Migration Opportunities appeared first on Easy Migrate.

Watch Peter Loughton (MARN 9789986) from EasyMigrate discuss applying for an Australian partner visa onshore.

If you would like to speak with Peter about a visa application, please book a FREE 10-minute call here – https://easymigrate.as.me/pre-assessment

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