Questions
Are you:
- on a Working Holiday visa subclass 462 that is about to expire?
- worried about the pandemic crisis preventing you from returning home?
New Rules
The Australian Government has recently announced changes to its policy which allows visa subclass 462 holders to extend their stay if they have completed either 3 months or 6 months of volunteer or paid bushfire recovery work in specified areas of Australia, including:
- construction, farming, or any other work in association with the recovery of land, property and animals
- providing support services or assistance to people in affected areas
Finer Details
The bushfire recovery work must have commenced after 31 July 2019 to be considered as ‘specified work’ towards eligibility for a second or third 462 visa.
Furthermore, from 17 February 2020, Working Holiday makers assisting in bushfire recovery efforts can now undertake paid or unpaid work for up to 12 months (instead of 6 months) with the same employer without permission from the Federal Government.
Importantly, visa holders must ensure they are undertaking the right work and in the right locations in order to meet the relevant requirements to extend their stay in Australia.
More Information
If you would like to discuss your options further, we invite you to contact our dedicated migration agent, Minh Huynh from our Commercial Law Team at Matthews Folbigg Lawyers on 9635 7966.
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DISCLAIMER: This article is provided to clients and readers for their general information and on a complimentary basis. It contains a brief summary only and should not be relied upon or used as a definitive or complete statement of the relevant law.
