On the 1st July, there will be two changes happening: visa application fees will be increasing and 3 transitional arrangements for the Canberra Matrix will lapse. Here's what these changes mean for you and why you should try lodge your application before 26th June where possible.
Change #1: Visa Application Fees Increasing 1 July 2019
As a part of the 2019 Federal Budget, it was announced that base visa application charges for all visa subclasses (except the 600 Visitor Visa) will be increasing by 5.4%.
For all visa applicants, lodging your application before the price rise could save hundreds of dollars, especially if you have secondary applicants (e.g. partner and children).
Here are the expected new prices for some common visa types:
820/801 Partner Visas - $7,160 to $7,547 (+$387)
482 TSS (Medium-Term Stream) visas - From $2,455 to $2,588 (+$133)
482 TSS (Short-Term Stream) visas - From $1,175 to $1,238 (+$63)
186 ENS & 187 RSMS visas - $3,755 to $3,958 (+$203)
189 Skilled Independent & 190 Skilled Nominated visas - $3,755 to $3,958 (+$203)
500 Student visas - $575 to $606 (+$31)
485 Temporary Graduate visas - $1,535 to $1,618 (+$83)
Change #2: Canberra Matrix & Potential 15 Points Drop on 1 July
For those wanting to apply for Canberra state nomination, this is where you need to really pay attention. These changes could mean the difference between getting PR a whole year earlier and potentially not getting PR at all!
When introducing the Canberra Matrix in mid-2018, 3 transitional arrangements were made by ACT that will lapse on 1 July 2019:
One academic year of study at an ACT tertiary institution currently awards 5 points. From 1 July, this will become 0 points.
The 'Prospective Applicants' category will cease on 30 June 2019. Currently, you'll get 10 points for being a resident in Canberra before 29 June 2018. From 1 July, this will also become 0 points.
For those having held a student visa/temporary graduate (TR) visa within the last 2 years, the minimum ACT residency requirement is currently 12 months. From 1 July 2019, this will increase to 2 years.
Invitations for Canberra state nomination seem to have stabilised around 65 points, so 15 points could make a significant difference. We'd highly recommend checking your eligibility and points profile today. If you can score 65 points, it would be worth lodging an application before 1st July.
Tip from Principal Agent and Former-Immigration Officer
As we head into 1 July, we are approaching a peak period in the migration calendar. Whenever wide-spread changes are about to happen and the system gets put under pressure, there could be temporary downtimes to the ImmiAccount system. So to avoid disappointment, stress and delays, it is best if you lodge your application at least 3 business days before the deadline, which means 26th June 2019.
If you are worried about how this affects your personal situation, feel free to book in a free consultation with Principal Migration Agent here.
Here at Skylark Migration, we have maintained 100% success rate across almost every visa application type. If you're not feeling entirely confident about the process, we can give you that peace-of-mind and speed up your application process.
Don't want to just take our word for it? Take a look at some of our clients' stories here.
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