A warm hello to you,

The last few months have seen quite a lot of change in the Australian & New Zealand migration arena.

There have also been a number of changes with Migration Matters, with some old faces leaving and some new faces joining. Stay tuned for further updates on our new team members.

A round up on migration as follows:

Australia

* Changes to General Skilled Migration

* Updated Migration Occupation Demand List

* New English Language requirements for Temporary Business Subclass 457 visa

* A number of Trade occupations for certain countries are now assessed by VETASSESS

* Repeal of the Subclass 471 (Trade Skills Training) visa and sponsorships

* Removal of Skill Pathway D from TRA skills assessment (work experience only pathway)

* Australia and the United States strike Work and Holiday deal

New Zealand

* New Active Investor Migrant Category to replace the old Investor Policy

* Seasonal Work Permit policy – changes to the list of regions of absolute labour shortage

* Skilled Migrant Residence policy changes

* Temporary Entry policy changes

* New Long Term Skill Shortage List and the Immediate Skill Shortage Lists

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Things sure are never dull in the area of migration, with constant changes and as we saw with the Removal of Skill Pathway D from TRA skills assessments, can sometimes happen with no prior warning and be applied retrospectively. Before applying for any type of visa it's always best to consult with a qualified practitioner to ensure your eligibility.

If you are thinking about applying for a visa to Australia or New Zealand and you want to discuss your visa options or are looking for a fixed fee quotation for assistance with your visa application, don't hesitate to get in contact with us.

Best regards,
The Migration Matters Team