On Friday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that the international border will re-open from next month (November 2021) for States with an 80% vaccination rate - starting with New South Wales (NSW) - with the exact date varying from state to state depending on vaccination rates.
"The time has come to give Australians their lives back," he said.
This is very welcome news given that Australia's international border has been closed for more than 18 months and many people have been waiting to reconnect with loved ones.
That said, it appears many foreigners and prospective migrants are confused or are being led to believe that this is of benefit to them.
While this is very good news and clearly shows movement in the right direction by the Australian government, the truth is that this news does not have any bearing on foreigners wishing to visit Australia or in terms of having their visas granted. This is only applicable to Australian citizens and residents.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison says international tourists will have to wait until at least 2022 to be able to come to Australia. Morrison said Australians stranded overseas will be first to come back, followed by skilled workers and students.
“The next priority is our skilled migrants that are very important for the country and who are double vaccinated, as well as students who are coming and returning to Australia” said Morrison.
So, while things are getting ever better, a little more patience is required for those waiting on visas to be granted. For those still concerned that things may never get back to normal, this is a sure sign that they most certainly are, and there is no better time to take the steps towards their dreams, so email me at david@pathwaylawyers.com for a free review of your visa prospects.
