No Worker Left Behind – FAQs
I have heard that people from Hong Kong will have their Australian visas extended. Is this true?
If you held a Hong Kong passport when you were granted any of the below visas and held that visa on 9 July 2020 your visa may have been extended for an additional 5 years (i.e. until 8 July 2025):
- Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485);
- Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482) (TSS); or
- Temporary Work (Skilled) visa (subclass 457) (457 visa).
457 visas granted after 9 July 2020 to Hong Kong passport holders will also be extended to 8 July 2025.
Further, TSS visas granted after 9 July 2020 to Hong Kong passport holders may be valid for 5 years from the date of grant of the TSS. For example, a TSS visa granted to a Hong Kong passport holder on 1 January 2022 will be valid until 31 December 2026.
If you believe the above may apply to you and you are a member of a union, you can ask your union for a referral to Visa Assist for further advice.
I am on a Student visa and I am unable to complete my studies before my Student visa expires due to the COVID-19 pandemic. What can I do?
If you currently hold a Student visa and are unable to complete your approved course of study within the original visa validity due to COVID-19 you may be able to apply for a new Student visa to allow you to complete your studies without paying the visa application charge.
If you are a member of a union, you can contact your union for a referral to Visa Assist for further advice.
I am on my first Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) and want to apply for my second Working Holiday visa while in Australia but have not completed my specified work in a regional area. I have been working as a nurse in Melbourne in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Am I eligible for a second Working Holiday visa?
If you are on a Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) and have been working in critical COVID-19 work in Australia in the healthcare and medical sectors (e.g. nursing) after 31 January 2020 anywhere in Australia you may still be eligible for your next Working Holiday visa (subclass 417).
Note: similar provisions also apply to Work and Holiday visas (subclass 462).
If you are a member of a union, you can contact your union for a referral to Visa Assist for further advice.
Warning: The Australian Government has been announcing a lot of changes to the immigration system over the past few months in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Sometimes these announced changes take months to come into effect. We also anticipate that changes will continue over the next few months. It is important that you contact a reputable solicitor and migration agent to obtain advice about these changes and how they may affect your visa and any future visa applications.
If you are a member of a union, you can contact your union for a referral to Visa Assist for free, confidential, and competent immigration advice.
Or leave your details here and someone will give you a call.
