NZ stream subclass 189 visa – Minimum income thresholds and exemptions

Legislative Instrument – F2017L00723 – IMMI 17/035   – Specification of Income Threshold and Exemptions for Subclass 189 Skilled – Independent Visa (New Zealand Stream) Instrument 2017.

This Instrument specifies for Schedule 2, for 189.233(1)(a) the following minimum income threshold:

The Instrument also specifies exemptions for 189.233(1)(b) for those primary NZ applicants in the following situations:

The primary applicant must hold a Subclass 444 Special Category visa and have been unable to meet the income requirement for any period during the 5 years immediately before making an application, because:

• an Australian Authority (Family Court of Australia) has placed restrictions on the applicant removing a child in their primary care from Australia
• the primary applicant was receiving compensation for an injury which prevented them from earning at or above the income thresholdand the compensation and/or ongoing rehabilitation would be discontinued if they returned to NZ
• the primary applicant was on an approved period of parental or carer’s leave from their usual employmentand prior to that leave had an annual income no less than the thresholdand when resuming employment have an earning income no less than the threshold

The Instrument also specifies the documentary evidence required to apply for these exemptions.

This Instrument commence on 1 July 2017.

Clarification – Immigration South Australia 29 June 2017 outage

The MIA wishes to clarify the Immigration SA’s application system closure information provided in MIA Notice 40.

The application system will close at 3pm (ACST) on Thursday 29 June 2017 and will re-open at 12pm (ACST) on Tuesday 4 July 2017.

The re-opening of the application system on 4 July will coincide with the release of the updated State Nominated Occupation List (SNOL) for 2017/18.

Any Skilled Migration applications, Subclasses 189 & 489 in the system that have not submitted by 3pm on 29 June will be deleted from the system and will not be able to be accessed again.

Further information is available on the Immigration South Australia website

Spain – Work and Holiday visa numbers increased
Assistant Immigration Minister, Alex Hawke, has announced that the number of work and holiday visas between Spain and Australia will be increased from 600 to1500 annually from 1 July 2017.

The reciprocal work and holiday arrangement allows young people from Spain and Australia, aged between 18 and 30, to holiday for up to 12 months in each other’s countries and undertake short-term work.

AAT Brisbane Registry services – change of address
The AAT Brisbane Registry services will be changing address from 24 July 2017 to the Australian Government Centre, Level 6, 295 Ann Street, Brisbane City.

The current offices at the Commonwealth Law Courts, Level 4, 119 North Quay and Level 26, 215 Adelaide Street Brisbane City will close on Friday 21 July 2017 at 5.00pm.