The Australian Border Force as the operational enforcement arm of the Department of Home Affairs is responsible for a broad range of compliance and enforcement operations. This includes sponsorship monitoring and managing visa holders’ compliance with their visa...

The long awaited quarantine free travel bubble arrangement between Australian and New Zealand commenced on 18 April 2021. All travellers who have been in either Australia or New Zealand for 14 days can travel by air between the two countries quarantine free and...

On 22nd March this year amendments to the Migration Act came into effect, allowing lawyers to provide immigration assistance without having to be registered with the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA). These changes mean that registered...

As Australian Immigration lawyers we can assist. Given the global COVID-19 pandemic, it is a good time to think about the available Australian Parent visa options and to plan for the future. Australia is an attractive country to be of residence. On a global standard,...

The Global Talent Visa Program (GTI), is a streamlined permanent residence visa for highly skilled professionals to work and live permanently in Australia. The Department of Home Affairs is aiming to fill 15,000 spots for the 2020 – 20201, yet only 1,600 spot have...

New requirements have been set by the Australian Border Force (ABF) for anyone who is travelling to, or transiting through Australia, after 22 January 2021.  Travellers must provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 (PCR) test to their airline. This test must be taken...

One of the most common areas of confusion with US immigration is the difference between an I-94 Entry/Departure Record and a Visa label.  However, this is likely the most important detail to understand regarding all US immigration. The visa stamp or label in your...

In late 2020 the government announced temporary changes to offshore family processing rules which meant that certain applicants who are in Australia but had applied for a visa offshore did not have to leave the country to have their visas granted. Initially the...

With the inauguration of Joseph Biden as the 46th President of the United States, U.S. immigration policy is back in the spotlight. The vast majority of former President Trump’s changes to U.S. immigration prior to the pandemic limited immigration to the United States...

Schedule 3 amends the Australian Migration Regulations to allow the following visa holders who were unable to enter or re-enter Australia due to COVID related travel restrictions to apply for a further Subclass 482 with a nil VAC: Subclass 482/47 applicants who were...

The following changes have been made by the Australian Department of Home Affairs to streamline processes for the Subclass 858 visa and support the work of the Global Business and Talent Attraction Taskforce: renames the Subclass 858 Distinguished Talent visa...

Eligible applicants make their visa application outside Australia and be granted the visa while outside Australia during the COVID concession period, commencing 1 February 2020. These applicants will also be given access to the following shorter employment...

From 27 February 2021 (inclusive) the following visas will be able to be granted while the applicant is in Australia, even though these usually require the applicant to travel offshore. Partner (subclass 309) visa Prospective Marriage (subclass 300) visa Child...

Applicants for Subclass 888 visas must usually have been physically present in Australia for a least 1 year in the 2 years immediately before they apply. During the COVID concession period which commenced on 1 February 2020, time spent overseas may be counted as being...

Concessions have been granted to all SC 485 streams, the Graduate Work, the Post Study Work and the Second Post Study Work streams, to allow eligible visa applicants to lodge and be granted their visa while they are outside Australia, if impacted by COVID travel...

The Subclass 870 visa is a temporary visa which allows a parent of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen visit Australia for up to three (3) or five (5) years. It provides parents and grandparents with a new pathway to...

Changes to the Global Talent Independent program now prevent Masters and Honours students from receiving an invitation, based solely on their academic qualifications. This policy change affects all future Expression Of Interest (EOI) assessments, and applies to EOI...

Over the 2019-2020 financial year, the Office of Australia Information Commissioner reported 1055 notifiable data breaches. For 84% of those breaches, fortunately this meant no more than a release of for example phone numbers, email addresses and 1300 numbers, with no...

In November 2020 the Australian Government announced visa changes to support applicants in five Family visa subclasses impacted by COVID-19 travel restrictions. On 28 January 2021, Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs, the...

As most people are aware, former Vice President Joseph Robinette Biden Jr., the Democratic Presidential candidate has been confirmed by the U.S. Electoral College as the winner of the U.S. presidential election and will take office on January 20, 2021.  For many...

What is an E-3 visa? The E-3 visa is a relatively new visa category established in 2005, specifically allowing Australian citizens to work and live in the United States in a specialty occupation. Who is eligible for an E-3 visa? Any Australian citizen who has either a...