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AUSTRALIAN OVERSEAS MIGRATION TO BE REDUCED BY 85 PERCENT DUE TO WIDESPREAD TRAVEL BANS OWING TO COVID-19

Australia is expecting to record a significant drop in net migration levels owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Australia’s overseas migration intake is expected to be reduced by more than 85 percent this financial year 2020-2021 due to widespread Covid-19 travel bans.

The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) on 1st July 2020 has directed State and Territory Government’s they would not be receiving nomination allocations for skilled visa subclasses  491 and 190 .  On this aspect most States and Territories have announced that their skilled migration programs will remain closed until further notice.  Please visit for more information: http://www.bilimoriaassociate.com/immigration-news-detail.php?rId=181

•    The Federal Government visualizes net migration to fall to just 36,000 in 2020-21.

•    The date for Federal Budget 2020-2021 has been delayed by the Federal Government due to the present COVID-19 Pandemic.

•    Due to the overseas migrants in the earlier year, Australia’s population raised by 239,600  according to Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data. The net overseas migration numbers take into account how numerous individuals enter Australia and stay for more than 12 months, related to how many people leave the country for the same period. 

•    The different State Government have stated its nomination program will remain temporarily closed. In the interim period of time candidates / applicants will not be able to apply for the State nomination visas for the following subclasses:
•    Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (subclass 491)visa
•    Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) visa
•    Business Innovation stream (subclass 188A) (Provisional) visa
•    Investor stream(subclass 188B) (Provisional) visa
•    Significant Investor stream (subclass 188C)(Provisional) visa
•    Entrepreneur stream (subclass 188E) (Provisional) visa
•    Significant Business History (subclass 132A)(Permanent) visa
•    Venture Capital Entrepreneur (subclass 132B) (Permanent) visa

OCCUPATIONS IN DEMAND: Presently priority is being given to occupations in demand and subdivisions critical to the coronavirus response COVID-19 such as medical, infrastructure, trade workers over other occupations. It also likely candidates / applicants working in critical sectors will be given high priority in the new financial year. From those, onshore are likely to receive priority processing at present.

PROCESSING TIMES: The Department of Home Affairs have directed that visas continue to be processed during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, however some applications may take longer as international shutdowns have made it problematic to source additional information like health and character checks.

VISA APPLICATION CHARGE CHANGES: At present there is No Visa application charge increases were announced however there is an upsurge in credit card surcharge fees. If you pay for your visa application charges, sponsorship or nomination fees by credit card or by PayPal, a surcharge may apply. The current surcharge rates are:

American Express — 1.40%, Diners Club International — 1.99%,  JCB — 1.40%,  Mastercard* — 1.40%, previously 1.32%,  PayPal — 1.01%,  Union Pay — 1.90%,  Visa* — 1.40%, previously 1.32%  * The surcharge will also apply to Debit Visa cards and Debit Mastercards once making payments.

INVITATIONS AND NOMINATIONS ISSUED TILL APRIL: The Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) had  issued invitations and nominations under the Subclasses 189 and 491 till April 2020. Please visit for more information:  http://www.bilimoriaassociate.com/immigration-news-detail.php?rId=177
 
The Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) has issued invitations and nominations under the Subclasses 189 and 491 for the year 2020 as follows: 

 
The State Government also invited applicants  for Subclass 190 State Nominated visa and for Subclass 491 Regional sponsored visa, which were issued by the State and Territory Government Nomination for March 2020 are as follows::

 
The State and Territory Government also invited applicants for Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated visa from 1 July 2019 to the end of March 2020 are as follows:

AUSTRALIA UPDATE ON 408 VISA, PENDING PARTNER VISA, STUDENT VISA, NURSING STUDENTS FOR COVID-19 PANDEMIC: The Government of Australia in response to COVID-19, has introduced flexible and Temporary visa arrangements that support Australia’s public health measures. Please visit for more information: http://www.bilimoriaassociate.com/immigration-news-detail.php?rId=176

Using a migration agent / MARA Representative may give an applicant rightful information to lodge a strong and a fully-loaded application which has the option of getting the applicant and his family the need of getting their permanent residence visa approved.

Bilimoria & Associate is specialised in Immigration visas to Australia with over 24 years of experience and will be able to guide applicants to lodge successful visa application based on their eligibility. Bilimoria & Associate liaisons with Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA) and Member of Migration Institute of Australia (MIA).  

Applicants can forward their resume to assess their eligibility towards obtaining successful family Immigration visa to Australia. You can write to us to assess your eligibility at:  neville@bilimoriaassociate.com  (or) contact us +91 44 2823 9229  / 4350 8191 /  2822 7127 / 2822 7222  between Monday and Saturday, 10.30 am to 5.30 pm to guide you and assist you in your visa application to Australia.

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