Loc Migration - Australia

Loc Migration - Australia 🇦🇺 Australian Registered Migration Agent
MARN: 2217882
📍 Online immigration assistance
☎️ Video / phone consultation

12/06/2026

🎉 NOW OPEN: WORK AND HOLIDAY (SUBCLASS 462) VISA BALLOT FOR 2026–27! 🎉



🌏 BIG NEWS FOR YOUNG TRAVELLERS FROM VIETNAM, CHINA & INDIA

The Department of Home Affairs has opened registrations for the Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa ballot for Program Year 2026–27.

If you hold a Vietnamese, Chinese or Indian passport and want to apply for your FIRST Work and Holiday (462) visa in 2026–27, you must register in your country's ballot first.

📅 KEY DATES (Australian Eastern Standard Time – AEST):
✅ Registrations OPEN: Thursday 04 June 2026
⏳ Registrations CLOSE: Thursday 25 June 2026

⚠️ The ballot window opens only ONCE a year, for about 3 weeks. Once 25 June passes, you must wait until next year.

📋 WHO NEEDS TO ENTER THE BALLOT:
This applies to first-time 462 applicants from:
🇻🇳 Vietnam
🇨🇳 China
🇮🇳 India
(Demand from these countries is higher than the number of visa places available, so a random ballot is used to select applicants fairly.)

✅ TO REGISTER, YOU NEED TO:
* Hold a valid Vietnamese, Chinese or Indian passport
* Be 18 to 30 years of age
* Have a valid national identity document
* Have a verified email address
* Register through your ImmiAccount
* Pay the AU$25 ballot registration fee (non-refundable)

🌟 HOW THE BALLOT WORKS:
* Register once during the registration window (04–25 June 2026)
* Applicants are selected randomly across selection rounds during the program year
* If selected, you'll be invited to lodge a 462 visa application
* Being selected is an INVITATION to apply — it does NOT guarantee a visa
* If invited, you must lodge within 28 days and still meet all eligibility criteria (including being outside Australia for a first 462 visa)

❗️ IMPORTANT NOTES:
❌ The ballot does NOT apply to second or third Work and Holiday (462) visas
❌ It does NOT apply to the Working Holiday (subclass 417) visa
❌ The AU$25 registration fee is separate from the visa application fee (payable later if you are invited)

🏢 Migration Consulting Group Pty. Ltd.
Trading as The Migration Group | Loc Migration | Loc Di Tru
🇦🇺 Registered Migration Agent | MARN: 2217882 | MIA: 26638
📍 Online immigration assistance
🧑🏻‍💻 Video / phone consultations

☎️ (02) 7255 5177
🌐 www.migrationgroup.au

‼️ Our social media post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

‼️ Only Australian Registered Migration Agents (with a MARN number) and Australian Migration Lawyers (with an LPN number) can lawfully give immigration assistance for a fee in Australia.

12/06/2026

🎉 NOW OPEN: WORK AND HOLIDAY (SUBCLASS 462) VISA BALLOT FOR 2026–27! 🎉

India ImmiAccount HomeAffairs

🌏 BIG NEWS FOR YOUNG TRAVELLERS FROM VIETNAM, CHINA & INDIA

The Department of Home Affairs has opened registrations for the Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa ballot for Program Year 2026–27.

If you hold a Vietnamese, Chinese or Indian passport and want to apply for your FIRST Work and Holiday (462) visa in 2026–27, you must register in your country's ’allot first.

📅 KEY DATES (Australian Eastern Standard Time – AEST):
✅ Registrations OPEN: Thursday 04 June 2026
⏳ Registrations CLOSE: Thursday 25 June 2026

⚠️ The ballot window opens only ONCE a year, for about 3 weeks. Once 25 June passes, you must wait until next year.

📋 WHO NEEDS TO ENTER THE BALLOT:
This applies to first-time 462 applicants from:
🇻🇳 Vietnam
🇨🇳 China
🇮🇳 India
(Demand from these countries is higher than the number of visa places available, so a random ballot is used to select applicants fairly.)

✅ TO REGISTER, YOU NEED TO:
* Hold a valid Vietnamese, Chinese or Indian passport
* Be 18 to 30 years of age
* Have a valid national identity document
* Have a verified email address
* Register through your ImmiAccount
* Pay the AU$25 ballot registration fee (non-refundable)

🌟 HOW THE BALLOT WORKS:
* Register once during the registration window (04–25 June 2026)
* Applicants are selected randomly across selection rounds during the program year
* If selected, you’ll be invited to lodge a 462 visa application
* Being selected is an INVITATION to apply — it does NOT guarantee a visa
* If invited, you must lodge within 28 days and still meet all eligibility criteria (including being outside Australia for a first 462 visa)

❗️ IMPORTANT NOTES:
❌ The ballot does NOT apply to second or third Work and Holiday (462) visas
❌ It does NOT apply to the Working Holiday (subclass 417) visa
❌ The AU$25 registration fee is separate from the visa application fee (payable later if you are invited)

13/05/2026

🇦🇺 FEDERAL BUDGET 2026-27 — WHAT'S CHANGING FOR MIGRATION 🇦🇺



Key changes for visa applicants and employers:

📊 Permanent Migration Program remains at 185,000 places (Skill 132,240 / Family 52,760)
🏠 70% of visa places prioritised for onshore applicants
🎓 Temporary Graduate visa application fee doubled (effective 1 March 2026)
🎯 Points test to favour younger, higher-skilled, more educated applicants (skilled visa)
🛠️ Faster skills recognition for migrant trades workers (modernised TRA assessments)
🌏 Working Holiday Maker program — expanded use of ballots
🛡️ Strengthen migration system integrity
⚖️ New visa refusal and cancellation grounds (anti-hate legislation)
📚 Adult Migrant English Program — new model from 1 January 2029
🕊️ Refugee and Humanitarian Program maintained at 20,000 places

More details:

📊 PERMANENT MIGRATION PROGRAM
• Planning level held at 185,000 places
• 132,240 places allocated to the Skill stream (over 70%); 52,760 to Family
• 129,590 places (70%) prioritised for onshore applicants, plus 300 Special Eligibility
• 55,110 offshore places — predominantly for high-skilled migrants

🎯 POINTS TEST REFORM
The permanent migration points test (skilled visa) will be optimised to favour applicants who are younger, higher-skilled and have stronger educational backgrounds. Further detail to be released.

🌏 WORKING HOLIDAY MAKER PROGRAM (subclass 462, 417)
Expanded use of ballots to better manage numbers and allocation of WHM visas.

🎓 TEMPORARY GRADUATE VISA (subclass 485)
Visa Application Charge increased by 100% effective 1 March 2026 (Pacific Island and Timor-Leste applicants exempt).

🛠️ SKILLS RECOGNITION
• Modernised Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) skills assessment system, integrating occupational licensing
• Streamlined assessment-to-licensing pilots for electricians and plumbers
• Faster recognition of qualifications and trade experience held by onshore visa holders
• Strengthen regulatory oversight of Assessing Authorities, with annual Performance Reports from 2027
• Estimated to deliver up to an additional 4,000 skilled trades workers per year

🛡️ MIGRATION SYSTEM INTEGRITY
• Address protection visa system misuse; pre-filing duty lawyer pilot in Sydney and Melbourne FCFCOA registries
• Extension of the Protecting Migrant Workers Information & Education program
• Enhanced scrutiny of onshore and offshore student visa applications

⚖️ NEW VISA POWERS
Implement the migration elements of the Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism (Criminal and Migration Laws) Act 2026, including new visa refusal and cancellation grounds and updated character test provisions under the Migration Act 1958.

📚 ADULT MIGRANT ENGLISH PROGRAM
Eligibility tightened to target clients most in need of formal English tuition. A new program model with flexible tuition and student supports commences 1 January 2029.

🤝 ADDITIONAL MEASURES
• Refugee and Humanitarian Program maintained at 20,000 places
• Economic Pathways to Refugee Integration program extended
• Health in My Language program for refugee and migrant women continued
• Support for Trafficked People Program – Additional Referral Pathway extended to 30 June 2027
• Commonwealth Community Safety Order Scheme — state funding to support supervision or detention orders for certain non-citizens

🏢 Migration Consulting Group Pty. Ltd.
Trading as The Migration Group | Loc Migration | Loc Di Tru
🇦🇺 Registered Migration Agent | MARN: 2217882 | MIA: 26638
📍 Online immigration assistance
🧑🏻‍💻 Video / phone consultations

☎️ (02) 7255 5177
🌐 www.migrationgroup.au

‼️ Our social media post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

‼️ Only Australian Registered Migration Agents (with a MARN number) and Australian Migration Lawyers (with an LPN number) can lawfully give immigration assistance for a fee in Australia.

13/05/2026

🇦🇺 FEDERAL BUDGET 2026-27 — WHAT’S CHANGING FOR MIGRATION 🇦🇺



Key changes for visa applicants and employers:

📊 Permanent Migration Program remains at 185,000 places (Skill 132,240 / Family 52,760)
🏠 70% of visa places prioritised for onshore applicants
🎓 Temporary Graduate visa application fee doubled (effective 1 March 2026)
🎯 Points test to favour younger, higher-skilled, more educated applicants (skilled visa)
🛠️ Faster skills recognition for migrant trades workers (modernised TRA assessments)
🌏 Working Holiday Maker program — expanded use of ballots
🛡️ Strengthen migration system integrity
⚖️ New visa refusal and cancellation grounds (anti-hate legislation)
📚 Adult Migrant English Program — new model from 1 January 2029
🕊️ Refugee and Humanitarian Program maintained at 20,000 places

🏢 Migration Consulting Group Pty. Ltd.
Trading as The Migration Group | Loc Migration | Loc Di Tru
🇦🇺 Registered Migration Agent | MARN: 2217882 | MIA: 26638
📍 Online immigration assistance
🧑🏻‍💻 Video / phone consultations

☎️ (02) 7255 5177
🌐 www.migrationgroup.au

‼️ Our social media post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

‼️ Only Australian Registered Migration Agents (with a MARN number) and Australian Migration Lawyers (with an LPN number) can lawfully give immigration assistance for a fee in Australia.

01/05/2026

🎉 ANOTHER AUSTRALIAN CITIZENSHIP APPROVAL 🇦🇺 FOR ONE OF OUR CLIENTS! 🎉



We are delighted to share that another one of our clients has just received their Notification of Approval of Australian Citizenship from the Minister for Home Affairs.

Receiving the approval letter is a moment worth celebrating — but it is not the final step. You officially become an Australian citizen only after making the pledge of commitment at an Australian citizenship ceremony.

A letter of invitation to your ceremony will be issued by your local council or the Department of Home Affairs.

⏳ CEREMONY WAIT TIMES
Wait times vary depending on your local council and location. Current information is published on the Department of Home Affairs website.

✈️ TRAVEL AFTER BECOMING A CITIZEN
Once you have made the pledge and become an Australian citizen:
* You are no longer eligible to hold an Australian visa
* It is recommended you travel into and out of Australia on an Australian passport

🗳️ ENROLLING TO VOTE
Voting in federal elections, by-elections and referendums is compulsory for Australian citizens aged 18 and over living in Australia.

🏢 Migration Consulting Group Pty. Ltd.
Trading as The Migration Group | Loc Migration | Loc Di Tru
🇦🇺 Registered Migration Agent | MARN: 2217882 | MIA: 26638
📍 Online immigration assistance
🧑🏻‍💻 Video / phone consultations

☎️ (02) 7255 5177
🌐 www.migrationgroup.au

‼️ Our social media post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

‼️ Only Australian Registered Migration Agents (with a MARN number) and Australian Migration Lawyers (with an LPN number) can lawfully give immigration assistance for a fee in Australia.

23/04/2026

‼️ MAJOR UPDATE: PERMANENT PARENT VISAS CAN BE LODGED ONLINE FROM 22 APRIL 2026



✅ PERMANENT PARENT VISAS - NOW LODGED ONLINE:
* Parent visa (subclass 103)
* Aged Parent visa (subclass 804)
* Contributory Parent visa (subclass 143)
* Contributory Aged Parent visa (subclass 864)

⚠️ Paper applications for these 4 subclasses will only be accepted in exceptional circumstances, such as ImmiAccount technical issues.

📋 TEMPORARY PARENT VISAS – STILL LODGED BY PAPER (via post or courier):
* Contributory Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 173)
* Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 884)

📂 PAPER APPLICATIONS ALREADY LODGED PREVIOUSLY?
Once you've received your acknowledgement letter, you can still import your paper application into ImmiAccount to manage it online – except for Parent visas (subclass 103) lodged before November 2018.

🌟 BENEFITS OF MANAGING YOUR APPLICATION IN IMMIACCOUNT:
* No postal or courier fees (for online lodgement)
* Upload additional supporting documents easily
* View correspondence from the Department
* Update your personal details
* Lodge Bridging visa applications online

🏢 Migration Consulting Group Pty. Ltd.
Trading as The Migration Group | Loc Migration | Loc Di Tru
🇦🇺 Registered Migration Agent | MARN: 2217882 | MIA: 26638
📍 Online immigration assistance
🧑🏻‍💻 Video / phone consultations

☎️ (02) 7255 5177
🌐 www.migrationgroup.au

‼️ Our social media post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

‼️ Only Australian Registered Migration Agents (with a MARN number) and Australian Migration Lawyers (with an LPN number) can lawfully give immigration assistance for a fee in Australia.

23/04/2026

‼️ MAJOR UPDATE: PERMANENT PARENT VISAS CAN BE LODGED ONLINE FROM 22 APRIL 2026

MigrationUpdate

✅ PERMANENT PARENT VISAS - NOW LODGED ONLINE:
* Parent visa (subclass 103)
* Aged Parent visa (subclass 804)
* Contributory Parent visa (subclass 143)
* Contributory Aged Parent visa (subclass 864)

⚠️ Paper applications for these 4 subclasses will only be accepted in exceptional circumstances, such as ImmiAccount technical issues.

📋 TEMPORARY PARENT VISAS – STILL LODGED BY PAPER (via post or courier):
* Contributory Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 173)
* Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 884)

📂 PAPER APPLICATIONS ALREADY LODGED PREVIOUSLY?
Once you’ve received your acknowledgement letter, you can still import your paper application into ImmiAccount to manage it online – except for Parent visas (subclass 103) lodged before November 2018.

🌟 BENEFITS OF MANAGING YOUR APPLICATION IN IMMIACCOUNT:
* No postal or courier fees (for online lodgement)
* Upload additional supporting documents easily
* View correspondence from the Department
* Update your personal details
* Lodge Bridging visa applications online

🏢 Migration Consulting Group Pty. Ltd.
Trading as The Migration Group | Loc Migration | Loc Di Tru
🇦🇺 Registered Migration Agent | MARN: 2217882 | MIA: 26638
📍 Online immigration assistance
🧑🏻‍💻 Video / phone consultations

☎️ (02) 7255 5177
🌐 www.migrationgroup.au

‼️ Our social media post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

‼️ Only Australian Registered Migration Agents (with a MARN number) and Australian Migration Lawyers (with an LPN number) can lawfully give immigration assistance for a fee in Australia.

06/04/2026

🐣🐰 HAPPY EASTER 2026 🐣🐰



🌸 Wishing You a Joyful Easter Monday!

As we wrap up the Easter long weekend, we want to take a moment to celebrate with all of our clients and their families — here in Australia and around the world. 🌏

🌟 Whether you've been enjoying quality time with family, sharing a festive meal, or simply taking a well-deserved rest, we hope this Easter season has brought you rest and happiness with those you love

🏢 Migration Consulting Group Pty. Ltd.
Trading as The Migration Group | Loc Migration | Loc Di Tru
🇦🇺 Registered Migration Agent | MARN: 2217882 | MIA: 26638
📍 Online immigration assistance
🧑🏻‍💻 Video / phone consultations

☎️ (02) 7255 5177
🌐 www.migrationgroup.au

‼️ Our social media post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

‼️ Only Australian Registered Migration Agents (with a MARN number) and Australian Migration Lawyers (with an LPN number) can lawfully give immigration assistance for a fee in Australia.

Address

Suite 188/20-40 Meagher Street
Sydney, NSW
2008

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 6pm
Tuesday 10am - 6pm
Wednesday 10am - 6pm
Thursday 10am - 6pm
Friday 10am - 6pm

Telephone

+61272555177

Website

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