Amidst China’s crackdown on rights and freedoms in Hong Kong, 5-year visa extensions have been proposed for Hongkongers that are temporary residents in Australia.
In a press conference, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that the government will be adjusting policy to enable Hong Kong citizens who are currently in Australia on temporary visas to be granted 5-year extensions. They also plan to create a pathway to permanent residency for Hong Kong citizens still in Australia at the end of those 5 years.
Current and future Hongkonger students may be able to stay for a total of five years after graduation, with a pathway to permanent residency at the end of that period. All other Hongkongers on temporary visas are likely to have their visas extended by five years from today, again with a pathway to permanent residency at the end of those five years.
There are currently 8200 students, 570 temporary skilled migrants and 900 graduate visa holders in Australia, and many more Hongkongers holding Australian visas overseas. Those who already have an Australian visa but are outside the country will also be eligible for the proposed extension.
Whilst this is generally great news for Hongkongers, it does not appear that permanent residency will be the end result for all. Scott Morrison has stated that the grant of permanent visas will be “subject to meeting an updated skills list and appropriate market testing.” The humanitarian visa option will still be available, however there will not be a Hong Kong specific stream and it is unclear whether all citizens of Hong Kong will meet the requirements.
During the press conference, the Prime Minister also announced a plan to attract Hong Kong businesses to relocate to Australia, with staff being provided opportunities for resettlement under the humanitarian visa program. In addition, visa applicants from Hong Kong that have expressed interest in Australia’s talent and business innovation programs will be prioritised to come to Australia.
The Prime Minister has not provided a time frame in terms of policy implementation, however we are likely to be provided with updates in the coming weeks. For Hong Kong citizens that hold temporary visas nearing expiry, we recommend book a consultation to discuss interim visa options.
Students
Temporary skilled visas
There are almost 10,000 existing temporary skilled, temporary graduate and student visa holders in Australia who will be eligible for these special arrangements, with a further 2,500 outside Australia and 1,250 applications on hand.
Attracting the best and brightest
Attracting businesses
澳大利亚宣布对在澳香港居民的签证延长
在中国打击香港的权利和自由的同时,澳大利亚将在澳香港居民临时签证的期限延长5年。
澳大利亚总理斯科特·莫里森在新闻发布会上宣布,政府将调整政策,使目前持澳大利亚临时签证的香港公民可获五年延长。澳大利亚还计划在那五年结束时为仍在澳大利亚的香港公民创造永久居留权的途径。
现在和将来的香港学生毕业后总共可以居住五年,在这五年结束后可以申请永久居留。所有其他持有临时签证的香港人很可能将从今天起将签证延期五年,并且在这五年结束之时再次获得永久居留权。
目前,澳大利亚有8200名学生,570名临时技术移民和900名研究生签证持有人,还有更多在海外持有澳大利亚签证的香港人。那些已经拥有澳大利亚签证但在国外的香港人也将有资格获得签证延长。
虽然这对香港人来说是个好消息,但似乎永久居留并不是所有人的最终结果。斯科特·莫里森(Scott Morrison)表示,永久签证的授予将“取决于满足最新的技能列表和劳动力市场测试的要求”。人道主义签证选项仍然可用,但是将不会有针对香港的特定细类,目前尚不清楚是否所有香港公民都能符合要求。
在新闻发布会上,总理还宣布了一项计划,以吸引香港企业迁往澳大利亚,并根据人道主义签证计划为工作人员提供重新安置的机会。此外,对澳大利亚的人才和业务创新计划表现出兴趣的香港签证申请人将被优先考虑到澳大利亚。
总理尚未提供政策实施的时间表,但是我们可能会在未来几周内收到最新消息。对于持有即将到期的临时签证的香港公民,我们建议您进行咨询以讨论临时签证的选择。
学生
临时技术签证
吸引最优秀的人才
吸引企业
澳大利亞宣布對在澳香港居民的簽證延長
在中國打擊香港的權利和自由的同時,澳大利亞將在澳香港居民臨時簽證的期限延長5 年。
澳大利亞總理斯科特· 莫里森在新聞發布會上宣布,政府將調整政策,使目前持澳大利亞臨時簽證的香港公民可獲五年延長。澳大利亞還計劃在那五年結束時為仍在澳大利亞的香港公民創造永久居留權的途徑。
現在和將來的香港學生畢業後總共可以居住五年,在這五年結束後可以申請永久居留。所有其他持有臨時簽證的香港人很可能將從今天起將簽證延期五年,並且在這五年結束之時再次獲得永久居留權。
目前,澳大利亞有8200 名學生,570 名臨時技術移民和900 名研究生簽證持有人,還有更多在海外持有澳大利亞簽證的香港人。那些已經擁有澳大利亞簽證但在國外的香港人也將有資格獲得簽證延長。
雖然這對香港人來說是個好消息,但似乎永久居留並不是所有人的最終結果。斯科特· 莫里森(Scott Morrison )表示,永久簽證的授予將“ 取決於滿足最新的技能列表和勞動力市場測試的要求” 。人道主義簽證選項仍然可用,但是將不會有針對香港的特定細類,目前尚不清楚是否所有香港公民都能符合要求。
在新聞發布會上,總理還宣布了一項計劃,以吸引香港企業遷往澳大利亞,並根據人道主義簽證計劃為工作人員提供重新安置的機會。此外,對澳大利亞的人才和業務創新計劃表現出興趣的香港簽證申請人將被優先考慮到澳大利亞。
總理尚未提供政策實施的時間表,但是我們可能會在未來幾週內收到最新消息。對於持有即將到期的臨時簽證的香港公民,我們建議您進行諮詢以討論臨時簽證的選擇。
學生
臨時技術簽證
吸引最優秀的人才
吸引企業
將製定新的激勵措施,以吸引以出口為導向的香港公司遷往澳大利亞。除經濟激勵措施外,所有在香港工作的重要工作人員都可以使用永久簽證途徑。政府將特別針對目前在香港地區運營總部並在考慮搬遷到民主國家的企業。
*Legal Disclaimer: Please note that this article is for general information only. Always seek professional legal advice in regards to your situation as every situation is different. Immigration legislation changes regularly and thus always, get up-to-date advice on your situation. Lodging a visa application is a judicial process and is based on the quality of legal advice and legal representation you receive. It is illegal for any Migration Agent or Lawyer to guarantee 100% of a positive result as it is a judicial process.