January at Nomos
The first month of the new year has been exciting and interesting. Here are some of the highlights:
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- After an enjoyable break over the festive period, our team has returned refreshed and ready for a new year. We’ve already hit the ground running this year with a number of new enquiries as the border rules continue to be adjusted in response to COVID-19, vaccination numbers and the official health advice. We have also seen a range of changes to some visa programmes in direct response to the ongoing workforce shortages Australia is experiencing, including the temporary removal of a limit on working hours for Student and Working Holiday visa holders across all sectors. Other changes include flexibilities for Skilled Regional [Provisional] (subclasses 489, 491 & 494) and Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa holders. Follow us on LinkedIn if you want to stay on top of developments in this space as they arise.
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- Whilst the Australian border gradually reopens, the New Zealand border remains firmly shut. At this point in time, we have no clear indication of when New Zealand’s borders will reopen, as the uncertainty around the Omicron variant continues to present challenges to the country. Currently, we expect the government will announce updates on their plans around the border towards the end of February, which will hopefully give businesses, migrants and tourists more clarity on when New Zealand will be back in business.
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- The year started with a spotlight on the Australian immigration system as the Novak Djokovic saga unfolded. This particularly public case has been interesting, to say the least. For many, it demonstrated just how challenging immigration law can be, even for the best male tennis player in the world. For us, it highlighted many of the complexities of the immigration system that many of our clients have to contend with on a regular basis. If you or anyone you know is looking down the barrel of immigration issues, please contact us or put them in touch with our office.
That’s the Nomos wrap-up for January. See you next month!
*This is general information only, as at the date of publication, and should not be interpreted as legal advice. For an accurate and current assessment of your circumstances and visa options, please contact us to receive this advice.
