Shire Migration

02/10/2026

There are new rules for Student visa (subclass 500) and Student Guardian visa (subclass 590) applications.

From 2 October 2026, the rules affect who can apply while in Australia and whether family can be included in an application. Limited exemptions apply.

17/09/2026

The Minister for Home Affairs (Australia) announced the next stage of migration policies today, 17 Sep 2026.

The changes include:

📌Strengthening compliance measures to ensure people without valid visas leave Australia.

📌Updating Ministerial Direction 119 to ensure the skilled migration program supports priority processing for a range of key sectors, including healthcare, construction, education, law enforcement, defence, resources, agriculture, aquaculture and fishing.

📌Improving the integrity of student visas by stopping visa hopping and restricting secondary applicants on most student visas.

📌Cracking down on rogue migration agents who knowingly support visa applications without merit.

📌Introducing a No Further Stay condition ('8503') to all visitor visas to ensure they are only used by genuine visitors and not as a pathway to extending a stay in Australia.

📌Updating Ministerial Direction 110 to combat hate and criminal behaviour by:
-​better protecting children who are victims of crime
-better protecting victims of domestic and family violence, and
-reflecting modern Australia’s commitment to stamping out hatred.

📌Changing the Working Holiday Maker Program to introduce a ballot system for years two and three, where there will be a regional work requirement in support of regional Australia. The government will also stabilise processing times for Working Holiday Maker applications to three months.

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We will continue monitoring the changes and their implementation. For professional advice and assistance, contact us at: [email protected]

14/08/2026

Protect yourself and use only licenced advisors.

The Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA) provides safeguards for people who need help with their visa by regulating the registered migration advice profession in Australia.

If you need immigration assistance, make sure you’re using a registered migration agent or a legal practitioner.

Learn more about OMARA and how to find a registered migration agent here: https://www.mara.gov.au

31/07/2026

Happy clients - happy Shire Migration! 🤩🤩🤩

Check out our Google reviews: https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=216fa5c4d45a54f4&sxsrf=APpeQnvphRxPoF_he9qJBeTAQAL523yTmg:1785478951712&si=APenkKm7iecQ4G6P-TsbSMFKIQtv3EFIqRAFw-i8uEbk55Z-_3niLCRwDRwQdzBbA_yiVnZGi1089uDFmm3bGqONas6EBjuEleHNO7B48ApVAQ4j8FWzfsSkpDYSrWWFtGx-Yy27_K-9&q=Shire+Migration+Reviews&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjbwq61o_yVAxUHSmwGHYziH8YQ0bkNegQIOBAF&biw=1707&bih=791&dpr=2.25

23/06/2026

The next invitation round for the Skilled Independent (subclass 189) visa is expected to be held by 30 September 2026.

Ensure your Expression of Interest is up to date and that all the information you have provided is accurate!

23/06/2026

It’s that simple.

If you’re charging people for immigration assistance in Australia without being a registered migration agent or an Australian legal practitioner, you are committing a serious criminal offence.

The penalties are severe. You could face up to 10 years’ imprisonment and significant financial penalties. And if you’re also a non-citizen, you risk detention and removal from Australia.

We are actively tracking visa applications and targeting people who facilitate visa fraud, including submitting false or non-genuine Protection visa applications.

Don’t risk your future by giving illegal immigration advice.

Anyone with information about individuals or businesses facilitating immigration fraud is encouraged to make a report online to Border Watch: https://www.borderwatch.gov.au

19/05/2026

Stay scam safe

We are aware of a current phone scam impersonating the “Department of Immigration”.

Scammers may contact you by phone claiming they are working on our behalf and ask for your personal information. They may also leave a voicemail asking you to call them back.

Do not follow any instructions by the scammer to press a number on the phone keypad for further information. Hang up the call.

Our staff will always identify themselves before they ask for any information. You can verify that you are speaking with a departmental officer by asking them to confirm your file number or your application lodgement date.

Remember, our staff will never intimidate you or ask for your:
- Credit card information
- Banking details
- Payment over the phone.

Stay scam safe and remember you can help others by reporting scams to Scamwatch here: www.scamwatch.gov.au/report-a-scam

20/03/2026

For our Partner visa clients.

If you hold a Partner (provisional) (subclass 309) or Partner (temporary) (subclass 820) visa, you may receive a phone call from a departmental officer.

This is so we can get more information to progress your application. This phone call may come from any of our onshore processing offices. Please be aware that any calls from the Department of Home Affairs will come from a private number.

Be aware of scammers who impersonate the Department. They may contact you by phone and say they are calling on our behalf. Our staff will always identify themselves before they ask for any information. To verify that you are speaking with a departmental officer ask them to confirm your file number or your application lodgement date.

Our staff will never ask for:
• credit card information
• banking details
• ImmiAccount password
• payment over the phone.

Partner (subclass 309) holders see: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/partner-offshore/migrant-100
Partner (subclass 820) holders see: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/partner-onshore/permanent-801

10/03/2026

Significant changes to the subclass 407 visa will fundamentally alter the migration strategy for many visa applicants.

📌 The Australian Government has introduced the Migration Amendment (Training Visas—Sponsorship Requirements) Regulations 2026. They amend the Migration Regulations 1994 and update the validity requirements for the Subclass 407 (Training) visa.

✅ Under the amendments, an applicant will only be able to make a valid application for a Subclass 407 visa if they have an APPROVED Temporary Activities Sponsor. In addition, where the sponsor is not a Commonwealth agency, there must also be an APPROVED nomination for an occupational training program before the visa application can be lodged.

❌ Previously, it was possible to lodge an application for sponsorship approval, a nomination, and a Subclass 407 visa concurrently. The amendments remove this ability, meaning that both the sponsor approval and nomination approval must now occur before a visa application can be made.

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What this means for the majority of the onshore applicants is that they will have to plan early, so they can stay in Australia lawfully while the Sponsorship and Nomination are being processed, before they can lodge a visa application.

Contact us to discuss further:

[email protected]

23/02/2026

C'mon, UK and Irish citizens! Protection visa? Really? Please don't.

We’re seeing more visa holders from the UK and Ireland being told to apply for a Protection visa just to extend their stay in Australia.

This is seriously bad advice.

A Protection (subclass 866) visa is for asylum seekers – people at real risk of significant harm or persecution if they return to their home country. It’s not for people who just want to stay longer in Australia.

Applying for a Protection visa when you don’t meet the criteria can lead to:

❌ Visa refusal – which stays on your immigration record for life
❌ Cancellation of your current visa
❌ Long-term bans from Australia
❌ Problems getting visas for other countries.

Don’t risk everything you love about your time in Australia on bad advice from mates or social media. Know the rules and protect your ability to come back again in the future.

Get proper guidance about Protection visa eligibility at homeaffairs.gov.au/protection