MTA 030 - How the Covid-19 Restrictions affect temporary residents in Australia

This episode is the recording of a live stream we did to look at the issue for the various temporary residents in Australia under a range of visa subclasses. 

The most important thing to remember is that while you hold a Visa you must apply for another Visa BEFORE your current visa expires.

You cannot let yourself become unlawful.

So if you’re on a Visa and your Visa is expiring soon, you must apply for a new Visa.

It’s vital that you don’t become unlawful.

We won’t talk about the consequences of becoming unlawful because we don’t know what the government will do to people in these times.

For international students, School is in session, everything is being delivered online.

There must be some very unhappy international students who paid substantial sums of money to study here and are getting an online experience that they could undergo cheaper and easier at home.

International students who are employed with major supermarkets and supermarkets noted on the government website can work more than 40 hours a fortnight during term.

The problem with that is that they already have to be working in supermarkets.

So International students who have lost jobs in other sectors cannot take advantage of the relaxing of rules.

Same goes for the aged care sector.

International students who are working in the aged care sector are not restricted to 40 hours a fortnight.

When school is in session they can work more than 40 hours a fortnight.

I would hope that International students in other sectors might be allowed employment in the sectors.

I would also hope that international students in other sectors benefit from relaxing of rules to help meet the needs of Australians and to keep themselves solvent.

We want international students to support themselves while they’re here.

If you are here on a tourist visa, on holidays, you must apply for another Visa before your current visa expires.

You must must must not let yourself become Unlawful!

If you have condition 8503, 8534, 8535 you can’t apply for another Visa while you’re in Australia.

You must apply for a waiver of these conditions.

Once you’ve got a decision on the waiver and it’s positive, you can apply for another Visa.

Please note that your next visa will probably have a no further stay on it.

Once again you can make a request for a waiver on that Visa as well.

Important take-home is to make application for a waiver now.

You don’t want to department having not made a decision on your way over and your Visa expiry.

Temporary Visa holders such as people on 500 visas, 482 Visas, 457 visas - it is not known what further assistance or conditions the government may introduce in the future.  It is undecided at this stage what aid if any they will be eligible for.  We will put out further updates as soon as the government makes further announcements.

Please everyone, stay safe, exercise good hand hygiene, and stay home as much as you can. We will be putting out a 'regular episode' on Monday, and a live stream update when necessary.

If you need specific advice about your case, make an appointment with David by clicking on the big button on the Migrating to Australia Podcast website or reach out to him on Twitter.