July changes to Migration Act

Australia's Migration Act is one of the most amended pieces of legislation in the country - second only to the taxation laws. thankfully most of the changes are made in two "batches" each year. Some of the changes taking place on 1 July 2009 are:

# Increase in fees and charges
# Form changes
# Contributory Parent Visas – removal of "split application" strategy
# Balance of family test – time of application
# Change of sponsor for remaining relative and parent visas
# Removal of work limitation condition on Retirement (Subclass 410) visa
# Extension of entry period for Subclass 462 (Work and Holiday) visa holders
# Bridging visas – including permission to work arrangements
# Subclass 050 Bridging (General) visas added to the list of relevant visas under Regulation 2.43(1)(a)(i)
# Technical Amendments: Gazette Notice
# Approval of electronic forms for Approved Destination Scheme visa applications.
# Changes to the People Trafficking Visa Framework
# Health Waiver – Participating States and Territories
# Same-Sex relationships
# General Skilled Migration (GSM) – English requirements
# Subclass 457 visa update
# Business Skills – Senior Managers Provisions for Subclass 163 – Policy Change

I am grateful to the Migration Institute of Australia (www.mia.org.au) for providing this summary of changes in their news bulletin to members.