KOI University Assignment: Impact of PR Changes on Foreign Individuals

This report examines the implications of the 2020 changes to Australian Permanent Residence (PR) requirements for foreign individuals, particularly international students. It details the benefits international students expect from achieving PR, including the right to live and work indefinitely in Australia, access to higher education loans, and eligibility for Australian citizenship. The report outlines the nature of changes to the Australian government's requirements for foreign individuals seeking PR status, such as the introduction of new skilled regional visas and additional points for skilled migrants in regional areas, driven by a commitment to support regional development and address skills shortages. It further discusses how foreign individuals need to modify their study and work behaviors in response to these changes, emphasizing the importance of scoring highly in the points test and considering regional study and work opportunities. The report concludes by highlighting the complex changes in immigration policy and their impact on individuals seeking permanent residency in Australia. Desklib offers similar solved assignments and past papers.

Australian Permanent Residence (PR) 1
AUSTRALIAN PERMANENT RESIDENCE (PR)
Student’s Name:
Course name
Professor’s name
University
City, State
Date

Australian Permanent Residence (PR) 2
Australian Permanent Residence (PR)
Introduction
Australia Permanent Residence (PR) is a type of visa that allows the applicant to work,
live, and settle in Australia permanently with his family. The visa also allows an individual to
become a citizen after living in Australia for about 4 years. PR visa are offered by the Home
Affairs Ministry in Australia to the deserving skilled applicants. However, recently there have
been a number of changes in the visa categories and immigration programs to boost the
migration process to Australia in order to meet the short of skilled workers in the region.
To get the permanent residence visa, one must follow the guideline stipulated in the
immigration system. This system helps to determine the eligibility of the PR visa based on the
scores gained from the selection factors such as age, education, work experience, language
proficiency. After acquiring the Permanent Residence (PR), one can enjoy a number of benefits
that the citizens experience. Therefore, this paper will try to highlight some of the benefits that
international students can expect after getting the Australian Permanent Residence Visa, the
nature of changes required of foreign individual by the government of Australia and whether
foreign individuals modify their study or work experience in response to the changes to
Permanent Residence requirement.
1. What benefits do international students typically expect from achieving Australian
Permanent Residence & why are those benefits considered important?
Many international students study in Australia. These students study in various
universities and other institutions of higher learning across the country. The robust Australian
economy supports such immigrants seeking higher education (Watts 2019). The country also

Australian Permanent Residence (PR) 3
allows skilled workers to migrate into the country. As a result of its strong economy, the country
has attracted many migrants over some time up to date.
The country also possesses spectacular wonders of nature and most exciting cities, which
contribute to an increased number of people making their way into the country (Wright 2015).
Therefore, the many potential immigrants, including students, believe that after getting
permanent residency in Australia, their lives will improve coupled with enjoying other related
benefits. These benefits include the following:
 The Right to indefinitely live in Australia.
When the immigrant students get a permanent visa, they get entitled to travel outside and
into Australia for the period of their visas. Upon the expiry of their visas, they remain in
Australia indefinitely but fail only to travel out. Traveling outside will only require a
Resident Return Visa.
 Freedom to Work.
Permanent residency in Australia will guarantee immigrant students a week
permit. Permanent residents are allowed to work not only in any occupation but also for
any employer. However, working in Armed Forces and the Public Service remains a
privilege for the Australian nationals only. On the contrary, this does not make the
industrial laws between citizens and permanent residents distinct (Kain 2019). Permanent
residents usually enjoy similar benefits as the native citizens following the Australian
constitution is concerned. Immigrants with permanent residency are allowed to
participate in trade unions and can also claim compensation at their places or work.
 Freedom to Travel.

Australian Permanent Residence (PR) 4
Immigrant students with permanent residency can travel outside and within
Australia for the duration of their visas. The duration of their visas is usually a period of
five years (Kell and Vogl, 2012 ). When permits expire, they are still allowed to stay in
the country but cannot travel outside Australia without Resident Return Visa. They also
enjoy the benefit of entering and leaving New Zealand freely.
 The Right to freely Pursue Higher Education
There are some education loans in Australia that are only given to permanent
residents alone. Also, Australian citizens have various options when it comes to selecting
which universities to go to (Boucher 2013). These loans usually are critical when it
comes to managing financial crises that may arise unexpectedly as a result of additional
expenses. According to Australian law, only citizens of Australia and permanent
humanitarian visa holders access the Higher Education Loans Program (HELP) alongside
the related discount for up-front payments.
 Eligibility to apply and become an Australian Citizen
There are various requirements before someone becomes a permanent citizen in
Australia. Getting the final Australian citizenship is the ultimate dream and goal of many
immigrants (Choudaha 2017). This status can only be offered to those immigrants with
Australian Permanent Resident.
 Australian-Born Children
The children born to permanent residents in Australia are deemed to become
Australian citizens by birth. This becomes a privilege enjoyed by those immigrant
students with permanent residency (Cameroon and Harrison 2013). Their children
ultimately enjoy various benefits in health care and education.

Australian Permanent Residence (PR) 5
 Sponsor Privilege.
Permanent residents in Australia are allowed to sponsor their relatives abroad to
acquire permanent residency.
 Entitlement in Healthcare and benefits in Social Welfare.
Immigrant students with permanent residency are eligible for Medicare. Medicare
refers to comprehensive coverage that all the various aspects of healthcare. They also get
cheaper insurances in healthcare. They also get entitled to the use of Centre Link to get
social security from the Australian government. This social security is normally extended
to families, unemployed, students, retirees, and people with disabilities.
 Grant for First Home Owners.
An Australian permanent citizen gets typically $ 7000 as an incentive to purchase
a new home for the first time and a stamp duty waiver. Additionally, various restrictions
from the Foreign Investment Review Board put during the purchase of residential
property fail to apply as you cease to be considered as a foreigner (Darian-Smith and
Hamilton 2019).
 Credit Rating.
Immediately an immigrant student becomes an Australian Permanent Resident,
their credit rating rises. They will then be privileged to get access to car loans, credit
cards, personal loans, and home loans.

Australian Permanent Residence (PR) 6
2. What is the nature of the change to the Australian government’s requirement of foreign
individuals seeking PR status & what are the reasons for this change? As published by the
government & according to research & media commentary.
Immigration is greatly defining the nature of both social and economic life in Australia.
Starting from the creation of an immigration department and the idea of “populate or perish,”
many migrants from different parts of the globe have increasingly shaped the character and
development of the country. Thus, the government of Australia is introducing many changes to
foreign individuals seeking permanent residency status in Australia (Lindsey and Parsons 2010).
The state does not possess a strict population policy or a ministry to deal with matters of
immigration. The yearly migration intake usually is set as part of the budget by the government.
This makes its immigration policy to be described as a de facto population policy.
Thus, the government of Australia is greatly committed to supporting migrants to stay in
the different regional areas of the country (Akbari and MacDonald 2014). It announced the
various changes to its immigration program to strengthen its economy and enhance its different
regional areas. These changes include the following:
 Two new skilled regional visas. These visas will be provisional and will give a pathway
to permanent residence.
 A new skilled regional permanent resident visa.
 Extra points within the Skilled Migration Points Test for skilled migrants selected to live
and work in regional Australia.
 A new definitive ‘regional Australia’ for migration.
 Additional options for migrant students graduating from regional universities.

Australian Permanent Residence (PR) 7
All these amendments will support and enhance local communities and businesses to
flourish by getting the appropriate skills into deserving regions (Darian-Smith and Hamilton
2019). The government works hand in hand with the state, territory, and local authorities to
entice migrants to regional areas. Also, the various skilled migrants settling in different regions
of Australia get a wide range of existing occupations to match with their skills, qualifications and
experiences. As a result of COVID-19, the Australian government does not intend to hold any
information sessions to the immigrants.
The New Skilled Regional Visas
There exist two new skilled regional visas which remain provisional. These started in
November 2019. These include:
 Skilled Work Regional Visa. This applies to individuals fronted by a territory
government or a state or financed by an eligible family member to work and live in
regional Australia (De Wit 2020 ).
 Skilled Employer-Sponsored Regional Visa for individuals financed by various
employers in regional Australia.
To be eligible for permanent residence, the various holders of new skilled provisional
visas shall be required to give proof of having worked in regional Australia while in possession
of one of these two visas (Oishi 2020). Ultimately, they can then make an application for the
Skilled Regional Residence Visa.
Under these changes, regional employers will possess access to the following:

Australian Permanent Residence (PR) 8
 Increased local occupations to finance migrants to work in regional Australia.
 A lot of significance will be put towards the processing of regional visa applications.
 Extra points for some Points-tested migrants financed to settle in regional Australia.
Migrant Graduates studying in regional areas
Beginning 2021, migrant students learning in all areas outside Melbourne, Sydney, and
Brisbane will be granted an extension on the current two years of Post-study workstream that
applies to Bachelors and Masters via course work graduates (Toossi, 2012). Eligibility shall
include migrant students studying at a regional college of a metropolitan university (Earnest,
Farivar and Strauss 2015). The extra post-study work arrangements shall be available from 2021
and will need a continuing residence in a given regional area (Sone & Thang, 2020). The migrant
graduates who shall have studied and lived in category two shall be eligible for an extra year on a
second Temporary Graduate visa. Also, migrant students that shall have lived and studied in
Category 3 shall be available to an extension of two years on a second Temporary Graduate visa.
The initiative will offer an extra incentive to the migrant students to study at a regional
institution. The students will also live in local areas post-study enhancing both prosperity and
diversity in regional Australia (Piller & Lising, 2014). Likewise, it will assist in the reduction of
pressures on infrastructure in major cities in Australia. There will be no amendment to student
visas. The option is only available for migrant students to live and study in regional Australia.
The Eligible Regional Areas
The regional areas are categorized into the following categories:

Australian Permanent Residence (PR) 9
 Category 1. Includes vital cities such as Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne which shall
not get any of the local incentives.
 Category 2: Includes cities and major centers in regions such as Perth, Gold Coast, and
Adelaide.
 Category 3: Includes regional centers and regional Areas.
3. Do foreign individuals need to modify their study and work behaviors as a response to
changes to PR requirements? What, how & why?
Immigration policy in Australia has undergone several changes in 2020 as compared to
the previous year. Experts say that it is a year of complex changes in immigration policy due to
the introduction of relaxation in new visa streams (Piller & Lising, 2014). (Visa) Some of these
changes include changes in points for PR, new regional work visas for subclass 491 and 494
replacing two old subclasses and introduction of a new permanent visa (Burbidge, 2012). Staying
in the continent after completing your degree so as to gain work experience and improve
language skills through the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485); as well as workplace
experience, are ways in which international students and workers can secure a PR status.
Although not very drastic changes have been made, applicants with a desire to achieve PR status
is Australia have to make changes in how they do things in response to these new requirements
(Passarelli & Kolb, 2012).
Scoring highly in the points test is one way of increasing your odds of getting PR status
in Australia. After expressing your interest in becoming a permanent resident through the EOI
and submitting it, applicants must score a minimum of 60 in the points test for them to be
allowed to apply for a visa (Drometer & Méango, 2020).

Australian Permanent Residence (PR) 10
New regional work visas for subclass 491 and 494 have replaced the visas for subclass
489 and 187 respectively. These new visas are the Skilled Work Regional visa, under the
subclass 491 and the Skilled Employer-Sponsored Regional visa under the subclass 494. The set-
aside allocation is 25,000 seats anually for these two subclasses (Mahajan & Yang, 2020). The
regional areas include all areas of Australia excluding Melbourne, Brisbane, and Sydney. These
visa owners will be allowed to work and live in appointed regional areas until they got approval
for the PR permit (Meurrens, 2011). The skilled workers will also have the chance to work and
live in regional areas in Australia for a period of 5 years. And after 3 years of residing, they will
have an opportunity to apply for a permanent visa and henceforth work in various appointed
Australian areas (Mahajan & Yang, 2020). Naturally the requirements for the individual visas
have to be met and some will be covered in the points test
A new visa scheme for the highly skilled ‘Global Talent Independent Program’ has also
been introduced. Its aim is to recruit 5000 highly talented workers from all over the globe. The
allocation for this new visa program is included in the overall cap of 160,000 seats which is
under the 70,000 cap of skilled migration (Mares, 2016). The new residents will be now have the
ability to live and work anywhere in Australia (Passarelli & Kolb, 2012). For an applicant to
eligible to apply for this new PR program, they will have to Firstly, be a qualified professional
from either of these sectors; Finance Technology, Agriculture Technology, MedicalTechnology
, Cyber Security, Quantum Information and Advanced Digital/Data Science and ICT, Space and
Advanced Manufacturing, and lastly Energy and Mining Technology (Oreg, et al., 2011).
Secondly, has the ability and liklihood to earn more than $149,000 (the bare minimum
threshhold) annual salary. Lastly, has been sponsored or refered by: any of the designated Global

Australian Permanent Residence (PR) 11
Talent officers and an organization or an individual with a national reputation in the same field
of study (Passarelli & Kolb, 2012).
The government of South Australia has also made an agreement with “Designated Area
Migration Agreement (DAMA)”federal government. This new sponsored visa program was
started started to cover the dilemma of shortage of skilled workers in some designated areas of
South Australia (Passarelli & Kolb, 2012). The program will be under the “temporary shortage
skill visa program (subclass 482)” and in the end will enable applicants to get the PR afterward.
What can be deduced from the new PR regulations is that those under 45 will have a
relatively easier time applying for permanent residence than those who are older who might be
forced to look for different means of applying (Passarelli & Kolb, 2012). Various courses and
what one does after completing their studies is another thing that students and those in the work
force will have to take into consideration. Despite this new, seemingly difficult changes, the
advantages of obtaining a PR status clearly outweigh them (Shin, et al., 2007). This is because
permanent residents can work, study and live in Australia without any restrictions, and are given
most of the rights and entitlements of Australian citizens. Not to mention they will have access to
Medicare, which is national health scheme of the Australian Government.

Australian Permanent Residence (PR) 12
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