Working holiday visa holders who work, or are willing to work, in essential industries - farming, health care, aged care - are now eligible for a 6-month visa extension due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

They will also be exempt from the 6-month limitation on working for the same employer.

The Government has also announced that temporary visa holders will now be able to access superannuation funds to help them through this period financially.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-04/coronavirus-backpackers-allowed-to-extend-stays-in-australia/12121004 

If you are a student visa holder, you might be able to work more than 40 hours a fortnight temporarily during term if your employer needs you to stock shelves at a supermarket. This temporary arrangement applies to aged care workers as well.
“To keep up with this demand, supermarkets have told us they need to give extra hours to current staff to stock shelves and serve Australian customers. While many of these will be Australian workers, international students will also be able to increase their hours,” Mr Tudge (Acting Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs) said.
For further information, please click the link below
​https://minister.homeaffairs.gov.au/davidcoleman/Pages/more-help-aussie-shelves-stocked.aspx?fbclid=IwAR2wmxxJ-uHw-AuzLHezS4ROQq_6jkK7XqnuvUVYYnH68hYyf6eh77CK88E

Student visa holders who need more time to complete their required courses due to the Coronavirus pandemic will need to apply for an updated Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) and a new student visa down the track.
"Student visas can’t be extended. The student will need to apply for a new visa". (Department of Home Affairs website).

With day-to-day changes in the advice coming from Federal and State governments in Australia regarding the Coronavirus pandemic, here is the most recent available information on travel restrictions:
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• Nobody may enter Australia except Australian citizens, permanent residents, or their immediate family members. New Zealand citizens who usually reside in Australia are also exempt.
• Anyone permitted to arrive in Australia is required to self-isolate for 14 days, either at home or in a hotel. You may board an additional domestic flight to do so
• Four states or territories - South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory - have closed their borders to travellers from other states. Anyone entering these states will be required to self-isolate for 14 days.
• Visa holders in Australia must apply for a new visa before their current visa expires. You may be eligible for a bridging visa that allows you to remain here until a decision is made on your visa application.

If you are concerned about how this crisis affects your current or future status in Australia, please contact us for professional advice.

The Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business has commenced a review of the skilled migration occupation lists, scheduled to be announced in March 2020.

Online submissions from interested parties are not open until December, but the Department wishes to meet directly with stakeholders in a consultation process prior to then.

If you are interested in having your say, whether from an individual, business, education, or interest group perspective, please email skilledmigrationlist@employment.gov.au to organise a meeting. 

Once the initial consultation and labour market analysis has been done, the Department will issue a 'traffic light' bulletin in December, indicating which occupations are proposed for removal (red light), addition, or no change (green light).

Formal online submissions from other stakeholders will be accepted online after publication of the traffic light bulletin.

For more information, see  https://www.employment.gov.au/consultation-skilled-migration-occupation-lists or contact us here at KP Migration.

If you wish to immigrate to Australia, the chances appear to be higher if you are prepared to live in regional areas.

Under the government’s decentralisation plan for the migration program, aimed at easing population pressure in the major cities, permanent residency will be more likely for people who are willing to live and work in regional Australia.

Click HERE for the Guardian's article.

According to the Australian Financial Review, the Immigration Minister will unveil the Government's new Global Talent Independent Program tonight, with the aim of fast-tracking 5000 visas per year to promote hi-tech industries in Australia. 

This high-skilled migration stream will be included in the annual 70,000 cap for skilled migrants.

The Department of Home Affairs is sending officials overseas to begin actively recruiting people with advanced degrees and experience in specific industries, such as agricultural technology and quantum computing,

The Government is seeking expert advice on which 5 or 6 industries to target in their first-ever sustained recruiting program of overseas skilled migrants.
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