The Australian Government has allowed the entry of 188 business migrant visa holders. This decision was made under a previously announced program to attract multinational corporations and talented individuals to Australia.
From March 20, all non-citizens and non-permanent residents will be banned from entering Australia.
There are only a few exemptions. Examples include next of kin of citizens and permanent residents, New Zealand citizens ordinarily resident in Australia, diplomats on 995 visas, visitors in transit within 72 hours of Australia, etc. Recently, these exemptions have been increased.
Recently, one of these exemptions has been added: the 188 category for business innovation and investment visa holders.
The Australian Border Enforcement Agency (ABF) told ABC Chinese that allowing 188 visa holders to enter the country is in line with Acting Immigration Minister Alan Tudge’s announcement last week of a working group to attract multinationals and talented people to Australia.
Under the plan, the Australian government will establish a Global Business and Talent Attraction Taskforce to attract multinational corporations and talented individuals to Australia to support the post-epidemic economic recovery and increase local jobs.
According to the ABF, the 188 visa program has successfully attracted $11.7 billion in investment since 2012.
Jason (last name withheld at his request) helped his wife and son start their business in Western Australia after receiving their 188 visas together.
When he returned to China in February this year, he thought he would return to WA after a while, but he didn’t realize that he had no home to go back to due to immigration restrictions.
Jason said, “It’s not easy for my wife to be alone in WA, running a business and taking care of the kids. Now, the new regulations allowing entry into the country have given him a glimmer of hope.
“I can plan to come to Australia to reunite with my family, which I haven’t seen in over six months,” he said.
Some immigration agency professionals believe that this change is undoubtedly the long-awaited good news.
“I believe this is a very good thing for Australia,” said Grace Xie, president of Australian Dream Migration Group.
Grace believes that these investors on 188 visas will come back with more investment. Australia needs people to spend money now, and business migrants make a huge contribution to education, property and the job market.
Registered migration agent Li Bo said that in the context of the fight against the epidemic and economic recovery, allowing 188 business migrants to enter the country would be beneficial to Australia’s economic growth after the epidemic.
According to the Department of Home Affairs, between 2012 and the end of 2018, hundreds or even thousands of 188 visas were issued each year.
Despite the waiver, allowing entry is only the first step in a long journey for many 188 business immigrants, who face several challenges.
According to Jason, there are currently very few flights from China to Western Australia and it is difficult to get a ticket. If you come in from the east, you face the problem of double quarantine, which is expensive and time-consuming.
Grace also told ABC Chinese that many of her clients are also worried about the two issues of airfare and segregation.
She said that even if the biggest problem of air tickets is solved, for many investment migrants who do not speak English well and are not familiar with the environment of the city where they land, it is a huge challenge to undergo compulsory quarantine in designated hotels after returning to Australia.
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