September at Nomos
We happily greeted the warmer weather of spring in September! Here’s a round-up of what’s kept Nomos busy this month:
- This month, we have seen quite a few decisions from the Department of Home Affairs, with a number of nominations approved and/or visas granted across the partner, employer-sponsored and visitor visa categories. We have also had a number of clients seeking advice on travel exemptions, partly driven by the increase in Australia’s international passenger arrival caps that has recently taken effect.
- In the current climate, it isn’t surprising that we have had a number of clients who are confused about the operation of Condition 8607, which is imposed on all Temporary Skills Shortage (‘TSS’) visas. Briefly, this condition requires (amongst other things) that the visa holder does not cease employment for more than 60 consecutive days. If you are a TSS visa holder who has been made redundant or has lost their job, we strongly recommend getting in touch to understand the impact of this condition on your visa before you make any decisions, including whether or not to leave Australia, whether or not to apply for another visa or how to respond to a Notice of Intention to Consider Cancellation, if received.
- The Department of Home Affairs’ 2019–20 Migration Program Report was released this month. According to the report, the permanent migration intake during the migration year (ending 30 June 2020) was 140,366, with 70% of visas being granted through the skilled stream (a total of 95,843). 41,961 visas were granted in the Family program, which included 37,118 Partner visa grants. These statistics reflect the overall aims of Australia’s migration programme, which is to attract highly skilled immigrants whilst enabling Australians to reunite with family members from overseas.
That’s the Nomos wrap-up for September. We hope you all continue to stay safe and look forward to seeing you back 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.
