paulhand Posted November 4, 2018 Share Posted November 4, 2018 In case people missed it, the Australian and Irish governments have announced that the age limit for the working holiday programme between the two countries has been raised from 30 to 35. As of November 1st, Irish citizens, as well as Canadians, up to the age of 35 will be able to apply for Working Holiday Visas. https://www.dfa.ie/news-and-media/press-releases/press-release-archive/2018/october/increase-to-eligible-age-for-ireland-australia-working-holiday-programme.php The DHA website has been updated with the news. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CivCdn Posted November 5, 2018 Share Posted November 5, 2018 Holders no longer required to move employers after 6 months. Length of visas also may be extended. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulhand Posted November 5, 2018 Author Share Posted November 5, 2018 2 hours ago, CivCdn said: Holders no longer required to move employers after 6 months. Length of visas also may be extended. More specifically: • Work and Holiday makers (subclass 462) will be able to undertake regional plant and animal cultivation work in additional priority areas to become eligible for a second visa. • Extension of the period a WHM (subclass 417 and 462) may work with the same agricultural employer from six to 12 months. • Introduction of a third year visa option for WHM (subclasses 417 and 462), who from 1 July 2019 onwards complete six months of regional work in the second year. • Increase the number of places available for Work and Holiday Maker program (subclass 462) by lifting annual caps available to a number of countries participating in the subclass 462 visa program. These changes require a strict workforce test to be applied to ensure Australian workers are given the first opportunity for work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CockerSpaniel Posted November 5, 2018 Share Posted November 5, 2018 Are there any time frames on when these are applicable from? There was nothing earlier today regarding the 6 to 12 month extension on the department website. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nemesis Posted November 5, 2018 Share Posted November 5, 2018 3 hours ago, CockerSpaniel said: Are there any time frames on when these are applicable from? There was nothing earlier today regarding the 6 to 12 month extension on the department website. It was only announced today, give them a chance!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CockerSpaniel Posted November 5, 2018 Share Posted November 5, 2018 (edited) 47 minutes ago, Nemesis said: It was only announced today, give them a chance!! Blimey, no need to be quite so patronising with that comment. It isn't needed and isn't constructive. Especially when the ABC have quoted... "Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the visa changes today, effective immediately, at a strawberry farm in southern Queensland as part of a four-day tour of the state." https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2018-11-05/seasonal-worker-backpacker-visa-changes-announced-scott-morrison/10464972 Edited November 5, 2018 by CockerSpaniel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nemesis Posted November 5, 2018 Share Posted November 5, 2018 1 hour ago, CockerSpaniel said: Blimey, no need to be quite so patronising with that comment. It isn't needed and isn't constructive. Especially when the ABC have quoted... "Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the visa changes today, effective immediately, at a strawberry farm in southern Queensland as part of a four-day tour of the state." https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2018-11-05/seasonal-worker-backpacker-visa-changes-announced-scott-morrison/10464972 Its just my opinion! Not meant to be patronising at all, its just logic. I'd be very surprised to have seen the departments website updated while his words were still hanging in the air. The ABC can report what he says as he says it, they are just open source media, but for the full policy and rules to be posted on the website a bit more care needs to be taken so that people get the complete and proper information. A few hours wait to see it on the department's site can mean the difference between people making a right or wrong decision about their visa pathway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest The Pom Queen Posted November 6, 2018 Share Posted November 6, 2018 The Australian Government has announced changes to the Working Holiday Maker (WHM) visa program to support regional and rural communities. Changes to the WHM visa program include: From 5 November 2018, expanding the regional areas where subclass 462-visa holders can work in agriculture (plant and animal cultivation) to qualify for a second year of stay in Australia. Currently only those who work in Northern Australia are eligible. From 5 November 2018, increasing the period in which subclass 417 and 462 visa holders can stay with the same agricultural (plant and animal cultivation) employer, from 6 to 12 months. The option of a third-year for subclass 417 and 462 visa holders who, after 1 July 2019, undertake 6-months of specified work in a specified regional area during their second year. Over the coming weeks, offering an increase in the annual caps to a number of countries that participate in the subclass 462 visa program. Increase the eligible age for subclass 417 visa applicants from Canada and Ireland to 35. How will these changes address regional workforce shortages The key focus is on providing farmers with immediate access to workers in key parts of regional Australia. The changes aim to increase the number of Working Holiday Makers available for seasonal work needs. Employers will be able to retain trained and experienced employees doing agricultural (plant and animal cultivation) work for up to 12-months, rather than the previous 6-months. The availability of a third-year visa will attract working holiday makers to work for longer in regional Australia. What does plant and animal cultivation include Plant and animal cultivation includes most agricultural work, such as: the harvesting and/or packing of fruit and vegetable crops pruning and trimming vines and trees general maintenance crop work cultivating or propagating plants, fungi or their products or parts immediate processing of plant products maintaining animals for the purpose of selling them or their bodily produce immediate processing of animal products including shearing, butchery, packing and tanning manufacturing dairy produce from raw material. What additional parts of regional Australia will be included in the expanded arrangements From 5 November 2018, this will be extended to regional areas in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia, and all of Northern Territory, South Australia, and Tasmania. Details of specific postcodes will be published on the Department’s website shortly. Are any changes being made to the subclass 462 Northern Australia initiatives No change is being made to the existing Northern Australia concessions: subclass 417 & 462 visa holders can continue to work with one employer in northern Australia for up to 12 months in Aged & Disability Care; Agriculture; Construction; Mining; and Tourism & Hospitality subclass 462 visa holders can continue to complete specified work in northern Australia in tourism and hospitality or agriculture, forestry and fishing industries, to become eligible for a second year visa. How long will subclass 462-visa holders need to work in the additional regional areas to get the second year Participation in the second-year program is voluntary. Subclass 462-visa holders need to complete a total of three-months (88 calendar days) of specified work to be eligible to apply for their second-year visa. They may combine work completed in any existing specified industry and location with new industries and locations to meet the work requirement. What types of work completed will count towards third-year eligibility Specified work for the third-year visa are the same as the eligibility for specified work for the second-year visa. For more information about applying for a subclass 417 or 462 visa, see Visit and work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattD Posted January 2, 2019 Share Posted January 2, 2019 Happy New Year all! Just a quick one on this, does anybody know whether the Australian government are considering increasing the WHV age from 30 to 35 for British citizens too? Thanks in advance! Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marisawright Posted January 2, 2019 Share Posted January 2, 2019 (edited) 5 hours ago, MattD said: Happy New Year all! Just a quick one on this, does anybody know whether the Australian government are considering increasing the WHV age from 30 to 35 for British citizens too? Thanks in advance! Matt Edited January 2, 2019 by Marisawright Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetBlast Posted January 2, 2019 Share Posted January 2, 2019 6 hours ago, MattD said: Happy New Year all! Just a quick one on this, does anybody know whether the Australian government are considering increasing the WHV age from 30 to 35 for British citizens too? Thanks in advance! Matt Its a mutual agreement between the two countries involved. I am guessing that the UK is too busy with Brexit and other immigration related issues to negotiate this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay19 Posted January 4, 2019 Share Posted January 4, 2019 Good evening all, i know my question not not related to this topic. but I thought I should ask from here and someone might have answer for my question! Hi everyone! I’ve applied my first work holiday visa on 11 of December. never had any previous convictions until Christmas Day got arrested drink driving test breath is 87 i am also a new driver passed my licence in January 2018 after so many attempts. i am so ashamed of myself for this matter:(( anyway, my work holiday application is still ongoing and also I’m released on bail. i have court next Friday! does anyone know if this drink driving conviction will affect on my application and I they will refuse my visa? do I need to call Australian embassy in London and tell them about my circumstances? or I must wait to until the court results? thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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