Working Holiday visa holders in Australia worried about their options during the Coronavirus crisis, received an unexpected boost to their possible options today.
The Immigration Minister released information this morning that special changes to the working holiday visas would mean that those who are currently in Australia will have their working conditions eased if they work in the critical sectors of health, aged and disability care, agriculture and food processing and child care.
In support of these sectors the government stated today;
In particular, working holiday makers who are working in these critical sectors will be exempt from the six month work limitation with the one employer and eligible for a further visa to keep working in these critical sectors if their current visa is due to expire in the next six months.
The government estimates there are about 118,000 working holidaymakers currently in Australia and is looking to attract as many as they can to the to these critical service areas. In return, the government is going to make it easier to stay with the one employer for a longer period and being able to apply for a second WH visa.
The government has added that those on other temporary stay visas will be able to access their superannuation if they need financial support. They stated;
There are another 185,000 other temporary visa holders in Australia, about half of them temporary graduate visa holders. They will also be able to access their Australian superannuation if needed for support.
In line with the Prime Minister’s previous statement, the Immigration Minister is still urging temporary visa holders to leave if they are not able to sustain themselves for the next 6 months. Easier said than done for many people who cannot get a flight home or their own country is in lockdown, not to mention the costs that some airlines are charging for a one-way ticket.
If you need assistance to apply for a visa to stay here for a while, give our office a call.
