A controversial immigration policy in Australia, known as Direction 99, has been revoked and replaced with a new measure called Direction 110. The new direction, which will come into effect on June 21, prioritizes community safety when making visa decisions and gives greater weight to the impact on victims of family violence. Immigration Minister Andrew Giles stated that the change aims to prioritize community protection. However, there are still 10 cases before the appeals tribunal that will be considered under the existing Direction 99. The decision to overhaul Direction 99 has raised concerns, with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon expressing his disagreement with the deportation of individuals who have no connection to New Zealand. The New Zealand government had previously voiced concerns about the deportation of New Zealand citizens with no ties to the country.
Starting July 1, 2024, the Australian government will implement strict regulations to end visa hopping among Nigerians and other international students. The move is part of Australia's efforts to end the practice of international students extending their stay in the country by changing their temporary visa type. The number of international students remaining in Australia on a second or subsequent student visa rose by over 30% to over 150,000 in 2022-2023. The new regulations will prohibit certain visa categories, such as holders of temporary graduate, visitor, and crew visas, from applying for student visas while living in Australia. Temporary Graduate visa holders are now asked to leave the country, secure skilled employment, and explore other visa options that may lead to permanent residency [b1524ba1].
In other news, Australians will no longer need a visa to travel to China, provided their stay is less than 15 days. The new arrangement is part of a reciprocal agreement between the Australian and Chinese governments. The visa-free scheme for short trips will come into effect on July 1, 2024, and will be available for tourism, business, visiting relatives and friends, and short transit stays. Additionally, multiple-entry visas of up to five years for tourism and business will be made available. The news has been welcomed by tour operators and is expected to encourage a robust return to destination China for Australian holidaymakers.
Furthermore, the Australian government has announced plans to grant skilled worker visa holders a six-month renewal window starting from July 1, 2024. The changes aim to address unfair labor practices and boost labor market mobility for temporary migrants. The new regulations allow visa holders who have stopped working with their sponsoring employers to have 180 days at a time, with a cumulative maximum of 365 days a year, to secure new sponsorship, apply for a new visa, or arrange departure from the country. Visa holders will be allowed to work with other employers, including occupations not included in their most recent sponsorship nomination. The Australian government has also drafted a comprehensive migration strategy to attract more international talent and address labor shortages. The strategy includes eight action points and over 25 policy commitments. The move is part of Australia's efforts to end the practice of international students extending their stay in the country by changing their temporary visa type [b1524ba1].
Australia has also doubled the visa fee for international students to A$1,600 from A$710. Visitor visa holders and students with temporary graduate visas are banned from applying onshore for a student visa. The government aims to restore integrity to the international education system and create a fairer and smaller migration system. Net immigration to Australia rose 60% to a record 548,800 people in the year to Sept 30, 2023. The rise in fees makes applying for a student visa in Australia more expensive than in the US and Canada. The government is also closing loopholes in visa rules that allowed foreign students to continuously extend their stay in Australia. The tightening of student visa rules began in late 2022, with English language requirements being tightened in March and the required savings for a visa being raised in May. The move has been criticized by the CEO of Universities Australia, who believes it will harm the economy and universities that heavily rely on international student fees. International education is one of Australia's largest export industries, worth A$36.4 billion in the 2022-2023 financial year [90daeac4].
From 1 July 2024, the Australian Government is implementing significant immigration changes affecting various visa programs and conditions. The Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) has risen from AUD 70,000 to AUD 73,150. Changes to visa conditions for 482, 457, and 494 visas provide more flexibility for visa holders. UK citizens on Working Holiday Visas now have new exemptions, including an extension of the eligible age range from 30 to 35 years and the removal of the 'specified work' requirement. Philippines passport holders aged 18-30 can now apply for a Work and Holiday (Sc 462) visa. The Business Innovation and Investment Program (BIIP) is closed and will be replaced by the National Innovation Visa. The 2024-25 federal budget sets the Permanent Migration Programme cap at 185,000 places, with 132,200 allocated to the Skill stream. Visa hopping restrictions are in place for certain temporary visa holders. Updates to the Temporary Graduate Visa program include renaming the Graduate Work Stream and introducing age caps. The Skilled-Recognised Graduate (subclass 476) visa is permanently closed. Changes have been made to support partner visa applicants experiencing family violence. Stricter employer compliance with migration laws is being enforced.
Meanwhile, New Zealand has amended its immigration rules to allow partners and spouses of international students to qualify for work visas. The new rule applies to international students enrolled in particular higher education programmes. It also allows international students to apply for visas for their school-aged children. The changes aim to make the country more attractive for students and their families by easing work eligibility criteria. Spouses of students enrolled in higher education schemes aligned with the country's Green List are now eligible for visas. The Green List identifies occupations in high demand in New Zealand. The new guidelines apply to spouses of students studying Level 7 or 8 qualifications, including graduate certificates, graduate diplomas, Bachelor's degrees, postgraduate certificates, postgraduate diplomas, and Bachelors Honours degrees. The updated Green List includes a comprehensive range of Bachelor's degrees and Bachelor's Honours qualifications that could lead to professional registration. Partners and spouses of the newly accessible work visas can also support their dependent school-aged children, allowing them to apply for a Dependent Child Student Visa [528c1567].