Australia offers new Visa pathway to Kiwis

A new visa pathway for Kiwis – New Zealand nationals has been offered by Australia. This is projected to decrease the overall immigration intake of the nation. The Kiwis residing in Australia will be permitted to apply for PR while they are immigrants.

The government was caught in contradictory reports emanating from its Ministers this week. Some reports indicated that Peter Dutton insisted for reducing intake of PR immigrants to Australia. On the other hand, some reports denied this.

Meanwhile, Malcolm Turnbull was firm to keep the annual intake of 190,000 PR immigrants. On the other hand, the Australian government has also launched new Visa pathway to Kiwis. It has also increased the fiscal requirement for fresh migrants’ families. This is for sponsoring the visa application of the relatives. All these measures are projected to decrease the numbers, as quoted by the Guardian.

Australia had offered Subclass 189 Skilled Independent Visa to Kiwis in 2017 July. This was for New Zealand nationals’ residing in Australia for 5 years. It offers pathway to Australian citizenship after 1 year. The Department of Homer Affairs has revealed that by February this year 1, 512 such visa shad been offered. 7, 500 applications were under processing, added DHA.

New Zealanders have now been offered Subclass Provisional 444 visas. They can now stay, study and visit Australia through this visa that has indefinite validity. Australia currently has a ceiling of 44, 000 through the Subclass s189 visas. If this is maintained, the addition of fresh Kiwis to Australia will decrease immigrants from other nations.

Subclass 189 visa applicants from other nations are assessed through a system of points. India is the highest recipient with 14, 484 visas followed by China with 6, 071 and the UK with 3, 462. Thse statistics are for the fiscal year 2016 17.