October 16 2024:
Visa Applicants can escape Family Violence without jeopordising their visa
A new immigration law has been enacted, to enable persons experiencing family violence to leave violent relationships without jeopardising their visa status.
The law change corrects the horrific reality that many persons, usually women and children, remain in abusive relationships for fear they could not secure an Australian visa.
In the words of the Immigration Advice and Rights Centre (IARC), “Everyone deserves to be safe, regardless of visa status”.
This law already applies to partner visa applications, and is now extended to the following skilled visas:
- Subclass 186 – Employer Nomination
- Subclass 187 – Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme
- Subclass 189 /190– General Skilled Migration
- Subclass 191 /887 – Skilled Regional Migration
- Subclass 858 – Global Talent
This is credit to the significant work of advocacy groups such as the National Advocacy Group on Women on Temporary Visas Experiencing Violence, the Australian Women Against Violence Alliance (AWAVA), Immigration Advice and Rights Centre (IARC), and others.
If you are experiencing family violence and are on a visa – there is help. IARC provides free legal assistance: https://iarc.org.au/immigration-and-domestic-violence/
If you are feeling unsafe call 000 in an emergency. For free, confidential counselling and information call 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732.
