Changed to 189 Visas - Reduction in Age Ceiling - Pathway for New Zealand Citizens
#1
Migration Agent
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Joined: May 2002
Location: Offices in Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Geelong (Australia), and Southampton (UK)
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Changed to 189 Visas - Reduction in Age Ceiling - Pathway for New Zealand Citizens
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2017L00549
The Australian Government is making changes to the Skilled Independent subclass 189 visa from the 1st of July 2017:
However, concessional arrangements have been introduced to the New Zealand Citizen Stream, whereby 20 per cent of the VAC will be payable at the time of lodging the visa application, with the remainder of the VAC to be paid before the visa is granted.
For Points Tested Stream applicants the reduction in the maximum age requirement will only impact those applicants who are invited to apply on or after the 1st of July, 2017, or who been issued with a visa invitation before the 1st of July, 2017 and who have not accepted the invitation at that date.
Best regards.
The Australian Government is making changes to the Skilled Independent subclass 189 visa from the 1st of July 2017:
- Two separate pathways or "streams" will be available: a Points Tested Stream, and a New Zealand Citizen Stream.
- The maximum age permitted to apply for a subclass 189 visa under the Points Tested Stream will be 44 - ie applicants must be aged under 45 when the invitation to apply for the visa is issued by the Department of Immigration.
- The New Zealand Citizen Stream will facilitate New Zealand citizens who are already resident in and contributing to Australia to become permanent residents.
- More specifically, the New Zealand Citizen Stream will be available to New Zealand citizens who:
- Were usually resident in Australia on or before 19 February 2016; and
- Since that time have continued to be usually resident in Australia for at least five years before applying for the visa; and
- Have been contributing to Australia by earning a certain level of taxable income; and
- Meet mandatory health, character and security criteria.
However, concessional arrangements have been introduced to the New Zealand Citizen Stream, whereby 20 per cent of the VAC will be payable at the time of lodging the visa application, with the remainder of the VAC to be paid before the visa is granted.
For Points Tested Stream applicants the reduction in the maximum age requirement will only impact those applicants who are invited to apply on or after the 1st of July, 2017, or who been issued with a visa invitation before the 1st of July, 2017 and who have not accepted the invitation at that date.
Best regards.
#2
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2007
Location: Queensland
Posts: 100
Re: Changed to 189 Visas - Reduction in Age Ceiling - Pathway for New Zealand Citizen
Having just read this, plus the age reduction to 45yrs for 186/7 PR visa's in July is it not inevitable that all 189/190 visa's will follow?
#3
Migration Agent
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Joined: May 2002
Location: Offices in Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Geelong (Australia), and Southampton (UK)
Posts: 6,459
Re: Changed to 189 Visas - Reduction in Age Ceiling - Pathway for New Zealand Citizen
This new legislation pertains to subclass 189.
Whether the age ceiling for the 190s and 489s will also reduce remains to be seen.
Best regards.
#4
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2007
Location: Queensland
Posts: 100
Re: Changed to 189 Visas - Reduction in Age Ceiling - Pathway for New Zealand Citizen
The policy appears to be a reduction to 45 yrs in points related skilled migrant visa's 'In line with the government's initiative to better target migrants'. I will be very surprised if the 190 doesn't follow. Which would effectively means no PR for me