Australian Red Cross announcement – Assistance to Temporary Visa Holder
The Red Cross has announced on its website that it will be receiving funding from the Australian Government for the next six months to deliver emergency relief and casework support to temporary visa holders who have no way to support themselves and who have urgent needs.
Please note that the we understand that the funds have not yet been received and the Red Cross will work as quickly as possible with the Department of Social Services to finalise the details of the funding and expand assistance to people who are experiencing significant vulnerability. Assistance will include food, medicine and crisis accommodation costs.
Certain visa holders may be eligible for Red Cross Safety Net support if they:
- are in Australia on a temporary visa
- are in urgent financial hardship
- cannot access Centrelink, Medicare or similar services
- have no income, savings or other financial support (including from family overseas).
Eligible visa holders are requested to contact the Red Cross by email in the first instance so that can be advised when the funds and arrangements are in place.
Further information is available on the Red Cross website.
Condition 8504 – Must enter Australia before specified date
The Department has provided information for the holders of skilled and business visas who were offshore at the time of grant and are subject to Condition 8504 ‘must enter before a specified date’. This condition applies to most independent skilled and business and investment visas.
Skilled visas
Skilled Migration is aware that in certain circumstances the visa holder and/or family members may not be able to comply with this condition. Failure to comply with visa conditions can render a visa liable for cancellation under the Migration Act 1958 and visa holders are strongly encouraged to make their first entry to Australia by the initial entry date provided in your grant notification.
However, generally the Department will not seek to cancel a Skilled visa where the only reason for doing so would be a breach of this condition related to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
This information applies to the following visa subclasses:
• Skilled Independent (subclass 189)
• Skilled Nominated (subclass 190)
• Skilled Regional (subclass 489)
• Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491)
Business Visas
Holders of Business Skills or Distinguished Talent visas in this situation are requested to send an email to:
business.skills.adelaide@homeaffairs.gov.au
for further information if they are affected by this condition and their inability to travel as a result of the virus pandemic.
Adrian Felton
Migration Consultant (MARN:0105680)
Please contact us directly if you have any questions regarding the above information.
Please Note: Many of the comments in this publication are general in nature and anyone intending to apply the information to practical circumstances should seek professional advice to independently verify their interpretation and the information’s applicability to their particular circumstances.