The 2018 – 2019 Federal Budget passed late last night included the following changes affecting the immigration program. Here’s the summary.
Here’s an interactive online calculator by SBS where you can see exactly how this budget affects you.
SUMMARY OF CHANGES AFFECTING IMMIGRATION
1. 4 Year Wait to Access Welfare
- What: For the second time in 6 months, access to welfare payments for migrants have been extended.
- When: From July 1, 2018
- What Does This Mean For Me? You will now need to wait 1 more year to access certain welfare payments, including Newstart allowance , paid parental leave, carers allowance and the family tax benefit. Currently the wait is 3 years. You will still be able to access Medicare.
2. Reduced Quota for General Practioners (GPs)
- What: Visa places for overseas trained doctors will fall by 200 places to 2,100 per annum. Additionally, the government “will improve the targeting of visas for general practitioners to areas of doctor shortages.”
- When: From January 1, 2019
- What Does This Mean For Me? With the reduction in visa places and increased emphasis on training Australian doctors, it may become harder for you to get a visa as a General Practitioner, particularly if you’re not looking to work in a regional area.
3. PR Pathways for Existing 410 and 405 Retirement Visas, and Closing of New Applications
- What: Retirement (subclass 410) and Investor Retirement (subclass 405) visas will now have a pathway to PR via the Parent (subclass 103) or Contributory Parent (subclass 143) visa streams. The 405 visa will also soon be closed to all new applications.
- When: TBC
- What Does This Mean For Me? If you already hold these visas, you will now have a chance at obtaining PR. However, if you were planning to migrate to Australia on the 405 visa, you should do this as soon as possible before this visa is closed to you.
Other budget changes includes: tax cuts for low and medium-income earners, new pension loans and bonuses for older Australians, significant infrastructure funding for projects such as Melbourne Airport Rail Link, Western Sydney Airport Rail, Gold Coast M1 upgrade…Find out the details in article here.
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