The Federal Government’s budget announcements last Tuesday were very much focused on the ‘average-family’ dynamic. Prime Minister Scott Morrison, and his Team, have given a budget, that, for most Australians, will either line their pockets with more funds/less taxes, or offer opportunities for families to work without extreme childcare costs.

So how has the 2021 Federal Budget impacted travel, visa holders, and those looking to live in Australia, either temporarily or permanently?

It was announced the budget deficit would be $106.6bn in 2021-22. To help make this reduced expected deficit a reality, the biggest savings will be made through new migrants.

The 2021-22 Migration Program ceiling will be maintained at 160,000 places – which includes 79,600 Skill and 77,300 Family stream places. The Government will also extend the validity period for Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visas by 18 months for individuals who are unable to use their visas due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.

New migrants to Australia will, as of 1^st Jan 2022, be required to wait four years before they can access government benefits, thus saving the government an estimated $671m. The cost-cutting measure is expected to impact 13,200 future migrants and 45,000 families.

With the international borders expected to be closed until at least mid-next year, Net Overseas Migration (NOM) is expected to fall from around 154,000 in 2019-20 to around 72,000 by the end of 2020-21, before gradually increasing to around 201,000 in 2023-24.

The number of Family and Skilled Visa places will be maintained at their 2020-21 levels, with a continued focus on onshore visa applicants and reducing the onshore Partner visa pipeline.

Skilled visas will make up around 50% of the migration intake with the program giving priority to highly skilled migrants in the Employer-Sponsored, Business Innovation and Investor Program and Global Talent visa steams.

Family visas will be set at 77,300 places for 2021-22.

International students: Good news on the work front. International students can soon work more than 40 hours in the hospitality and tourism sectors.

The budget also contains $464.7m spending on the immigration detention network.

Other areas of major interest include:

• Refugees & women’s safety –The government is extending funding for support services that help women on temporary visas who may be experiencing domestic and family violence.
• Adult Migration Program: English Study – The cap of 510 hours will be removed, and migrants will be able to study until they have reached the level of ‘vocational’ English.

For more information on the 2021 Federal Budget go HERE

If you, or someone you know is considering travelling to Australia, or is currently in

Australia and wished to discuss their visa situation and/or options, now is the time to contact our office on: +61 3 9654 8611 or contact us HERE & don’t forget to follow us on TWITTER, friend us on FACEBOOK & subscribe to our Youtube.

The REAL cost of COVID-19 on our Universities & Students

While the physical health and safety of each of our residents was, and remains the priority, #Covid has massively impacted almost every financial and business sector of our community. And even as some industries are in an upsurge; for example, building, renovations & landscaping, for the majority, 2020/2021 were difficult and will continue to be so.

This is very much the case for our universities and the students within.

The impact on study, the financial burden on students, the uncertainty – these are all realities of studying, post covid. And for international students, and the universities that depend on those students, the cause/effect of Covid_19 has been, and will continue to be for the foreseeable future, a minefield of uncertainty.

Financial universities are struggling without the massive boost of international student fees. And with the number of students in various courses vastly reduced, many courses have been suspended, or removed, due to lack of students and therefore a need to focus resources on areas, and courses, still active and effectual.

A recent report found the contribution to the economy from international student fees are set to almost half, from + $40 billion in 2019 to an estimated $22 billion by the end of this year.

An article in The Age on this subject can be found HERE

The good news is we are, at last, seeing our international borders begin to open, and one hopes this will mean a steady increase in returning students. However, #Covid has already swung its pendulum back and forth in various States around the country and has also hit back with vengeance in many countries; therefore, the situation is, at best, tentative.

Students are anxious. Will they be able to return to Australia to start or complete their studies? What if they arrive in June and during the Summer break, returning to their families, find their home country is again in lockdown? Is it worth attempting international study in Australia currently, even with student numbers increasing?

Since the pandemic began, and Australia closed its borders, over 250,000 students have been stranded offshore, unable to start, or return, to complete their studies.

From The Age:

“…After more than four years of study in Australia, Mr.  Ahmed went home to visit family in Pakistan in January 2020. He has been stuck there ever since, waiting anxiously as the temporary graduate visa he paid $1950 for nears its expiry date.

“My visa is expiring in December 2021 and I don’t know if I would ever be able to get back…”

Universities are looking at ways to encourage, support and reassure their international students. John Brumby, the former Victorian treasurer, and now chair of the International Education Advisory Council, is pushing for a standalone quarantine facility to be built near the airport, partly funded by universities and commercial developers, to help stabilise international students/studies.

With so much uncertainty, there is only one reality – the world, generally and especially for international travellers, will be changing, from day-to-day and month-to-month. What was not allowed yesterday will be re-opened today. And what is currently working may well need to be reassessed tomorrow. With so much uncertainty, it has NEVER been more important to keep up to date with the latest news.

Here as AustMss we have been dedicated to the pursuit of study from the very beginning of starting our company back in 2000. However, the upheaval #Covid has caused, even as vaccines are beginning to be distributed throughout the world, is beyond any forecast we, or anyone, could have imagined more than 20-years-ago. Because the impact of Covid_19 will be felt for some time, we are committed to keeping our followers and friends updated on all changes.

We will be creating follow-up blog posts, as well as videos on our Youtube channel, which can be found HERE, to ensure everyone is well informed and prepared, as and when new information is made available.

You can also read our previous blog post on the impact of Covid on International Students HERE

Our dedicated, professional, Team are ready to help. If you have any questions regarding your international study, your travel arrangements or your current and/or future visa status, please contact us on: +61 3 9654 8611 or contact us HERE

And don’t forget to follow us on TWITTER, friend us on FACEBOOK & subscribe to our Youtube Channel. In a changing world, the only way to move forward is through up-to-date, informed, knowledge.