Qiqi

For the Australian education sector, the arrival of Chinese students will be “the key to the country’s economic recovery.” This is particularly true in Victoria, the so-called education state, where Chinese students have returned to the top spot by number — in 2022, Indian students briefly overtook Chinese students and made up a quarter of the state’s international student population, but before COVID-19 China had always led.

In this financial year’s 189 invitation rounds, after 12,200 places were issued when the floodgates opened on 22 August, a second round of invitations was issued on 6 October, with 11,714 places. This second round invited large numbers of offshore engineering candidates on 65 points, with commonly invited occupations including Civil, Electronic, Electrical, Materials, Mechanical, Environmental, Industrial and Mining engineers, among others.

Most importantly, the scores were essentially 65 points. What does 65 points mean? It is the minimum score required under the points-tested skilled migration system.

In the 2022-23 Budget released this Tuesday, the Commonwealth committed an additional A$576 million to the Department of Home Affairs over the next four years for visa processing.

Clearing the processing backlog has been one of the Labor government’s top priorities since it took office in May, with an earlier emergency allocation of A$36.1 million already announced to boost resources.

To get straight to the point, 189 invitations have finally been issued recently — cause for widespread celebration.

For a summary of the invitation round, see: 189 Sudden Invitation Downpour — Scores for Several Occupations Dropped Sharply!

But when delighted applicants discovered that their skills assessment and English test had expired, they were completely stunned — feeling that after finally securing an invitation, it was now beyond saving. They might miss this opportunity, with no way of knowing when independent skilled migration would come around again.

Don’t panic — this article explains in depth why it may still be worth trying.

Earlier today, according to a Guardian report, unions and employers have reached an agreement to support the Government in increasing the immigration quota by 40,000 in the October Budget update — that is, lifting it from the current 160,000 to 200,000, with the 200,000 quota to be maintained for at least the next 2 years! Combined with yesterday’s news of major increases to state sponsorship quotas, it’s fair to say that those who have been waiting for skilled migration have finally welcomed spring!

Great news about successful AAT appeals keeps rolling in!

Last week the Minister for Immigration released a media statement showcasing visa approval figures since taking office, noting that for some time the Department of Home Affairs has been prioritising offshore temporary skilled visas, student visas and visitor visas. Since June this year about 745,000 applications have been processed, with roughly 86.5% being offshore.

Next week we welcome in a new financial year, and the news rolling in over the past few weeks has been one piece of good news after another! The government has committed to prioritising the backlog of visa applications, and on top of that:

WA was the first state to release its new financial year list, adding close to 200 occupations to the graduate list: The first new-financial-year state nomination policy and list is out! Over 190 occupations added including ICT / audit, plus open to offshore — a quick read on the positive signals for migration trends ahead!

Canberra’s new financial year occupation list has been released early, with 95 occupations including mechanical engineering, ET, massage therapists, interpreters and translators returning: Canberra new financial year state nomination | nearly 100 occupations added to the list, mechanical engineering / translation and more return! ACT government’s forecast invitation scores for the new financial year!

The Northern Territory’s MINT program has been significantly relaxed, with the occupation list expanded to cover every migration occupation, adding many finance and IT occupations, and overseas-graduate students now also have a chance to apply: NT MINT program significantly relaxed for the new financial year! All migration occupations eligible, covering multiple finance / IT / engineering / marketing roles — overseas-graduate students may also have a chance!

With the state governments making such cheerful updates, the federal Department of Home Affairs has also chimed in about its arrangements after 1 July in the new financial year.