mteb/FeedbackQARetrieval huggingface dataset:
Frequently Asked Questions
Temporary visa measures supporting the agriculture sector
Employers
Due to the COVID-19 border restrictions, seasonal workers and pacific labour scheme participants are unable to travel to Australia at present. What other options are available to access workers to address labour needs?
In response to the current COVID-19 pandemic, the Australian Government has
announced temporary measures to assist temporary visa holders currently in
Australia, including Seasonal Worker Programme and Pacific Labour Scheme
participants, who are unable to currently return to their home country, to
extend their stay in Australia, and enable flexibility in changing approved
employers where required.
Under these temporary measures, current approved employers may wish to employ
Seasonal Worker Programme or Pacific Labour Scheme participants who have
finished employment with their current approved employer, but who are unable
to return to their home country.
Approved employers, like any employer, may also wish to employ Temporary
Activity (subclass 408) Australian Government Endorsed Event (AGEE) stream
visa holders

This visa will have a nil visa application charge (VAC) for the COVID-19 pandemic event. 
Employer sponsorship arrangements similar to the Seasonal Worker Programme will also apply to the subclass 408 visa.

These temporary measures are not intended to prevent the recruitment of
Australians to undertake this work. Before seeking access to seasonal workers
under the Seasonal Worker Programme, approved employers must first try to
recruit Australians.
Where Australian workers are unavailable, employers can also seek seasonal
labour through the Working Holiday Maker program. Working Holiday Makers who
are working in critical sectors (i.e. agriculture, food processing, health
care, aged care, disability care or child care) will be exempt from the six
month work limitation with one employer and eligible for a Temporary Activity
(subclass 408) visa in the Australian Government Endorsed Event (AGEE) stream.
Employers are still required to abide by all relevant Australian workplace
laws. Overseas workers have the same rights under Australian workplace law as
all other employees.
These temporary measures will be in place for a timeframe that allows relevant
critical industries to bridge the gap between their immediate needs and the
time to recruit, train and on-board Australians. The Department of Home
Affairs is working with the Department of Education, Skills and Employment to
ensure Australians are prioritised for future job opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Bridging visa holders
I am a Bridging visa holder in Australia and my substantive application is pending a decision. What does this mean for my Bridging visa?
Your Bridging visa will keep you lawfully in Australia until a decision has
been made on your substantive visa application. If your substantive visa is
not granted, and you are unable to depart Australia, you will need to apply
for a further Bridging visa to keep you lawful.
Frequently Asked Questions
New Zealand 444 Special Category Visa (SCV)
What is a protected New Zealand citizen?
A person is a protected SCV New Zealand citizen holder if they fall within one
of the following groups:

in Australia on 26 February 2001
in Australia for 12 months in the 2 years immediately before this date
assessed as a protected SCV by Services Australia holder before 26 February 2004.

More information and advice on protected SCV holders can be found at the
Services Australia
website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Temporary visa measures supporting the agriculture sector
Seasonal Worker Programme visa holders
Do I need to meet quarantine requirements? I have only travelled between states/territories? 
Yes – all visa holders must adhere to all COVID-19 health measures, including
social distancing and self-isolation.
State and Territory governments are responsible for arrangements for safe
accommodation of temporary visa holders working in agriculture to manage the
spread of COVID-19. This includes quarantine and self-isolation requirements.
Visa holders must follow all instructions provided by the State or Territory
in which they are working.
Frequently Asked Questions
COVID-19 Pandemic - Australian Government Endorsed Event (AGEE) stream of the Temporary Activity (subclass 408) visa
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for the COVID-19 Pandemic event visa?
Apply online via the Department of Home Affairs online lodgment portal
ImmiAccount.
You will need to complete the ‘Temporary Activity Visa (408)’ online form and
to select “Australian government endorsed events” from the Activity Type
dropdown menu on page 2 of the application form.
You can select the ‘COVID-19 Pandemic event’ in the Event details section of
the application form.
The COVID-19 Pandemic event visa application is VAC Free. You will be required
to select ‘YES’ to the Visa application charge concession question on page 2
and then select ‘NIL VAC’.
Frequently Asked Questions
International students
How will students be assured they will not jeopardise their visa?
Written advice will be provided to approved employers setting out the
temporary relaxation of working hours for student visa holders.
Supermarkets must register with the Department of Home Affairs to be given
access to the temporary relaxation of working hours for existing workers. A
list of registered businesses is
published on the Department’s website.
Aged Care service providers should refer to the correspondence provided to
them by the Department of Health for further details.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can access early superannuation and under what circumstances?
Temporary Visa category : Bridging
Early access to superannuation : Yes
Eligibility criteria : Unable to meet immediate living expenses $10,000 in
2019-20  
Temporary Visa category : Student
Early access to superannuation : Yes
Eligibility criteria : Held a student visa for 12 months or more and unable to
meeting immediate living expenses $10,000 in 2019-20  
Temporary Visa category : Temporary Protection
Early access to superannuation : Yes
Eligibility criteria : Unable to meet immediate living expenses $10,000 in
2019-20  
Temporary Visa category : Subclass 444
Early access to superannuation : Yes
Eligibility criteria : Unemployed, eligible to receive certain social security
payments or farm household allowance payments, those that have been made
redundant or had their hours reduced and sole traders suffering a significant
reduction in turnover $10,000 in 2019-20 and further $10,000 in 2020-21  
Temporary Visa category : Temporary Resident (Skilled Employment)
Early access to superannuation : Yes
Eligibility criteria : Remains employed and unable to meet immediate living
expenses $10,000 in 2019-20  
Temporary Visa category : Temporary Resident (Other Employment)
Early access to superannuation : Yes
Eligibility criteria : Unable to meet immediate living expenses $10,000 in
2019-20  
Temporary Visa category : Visitor
Early access to superannuation : Yes
Eligibility criteria : Unable to meet immediate living expenses $10,000 in
2019-20  
Temporary Visa category : Working Holiday Maker
Early access to superannuation : Yes
Eligibility criteria : Unable to meet immediate living expenses $10,000 in
2019-20  
Temporary Visa category : Investor Retirement/Retirement
Early access to superannuation : Yes
Eligibility criteria : Unemployed, eligible to receive certain social security
payments or farm household allowance payments, those that have been made
redundant or had their hours reduced and sole traders suffering a significant
reduction in turnover $10,000 in 2019-20 and further $10,000 in 2020-21  
Temporary Visa category : Other temporary
Early access to superannuation :
Eligibility criteria : Unable to meet immediate living expenses $10,000 in
2019-20
Frequently Asked Questions
Temporary visa measures supporting the agriculture sector
Employers
I am not an approved employer under the Seasonal Worker Programme or Pacific Labour Scheme. Can I employ seasonal workers or pacific labour scheme participants during this COVID-19 period?
Currently, only organisations approved by the Australian Government can
recruit seasonal workers under the Seasonal Worker Programme. Information
about the Seasonal Worker Programme is available on the Department of
Education, Skills and Employment
website.
Where Australian workers are unavailable, employers can seek seasonal labour
through the Working Holiday Maker program. Working Holiday Makers who are
working in critical sectors (i.e. agriculture, food processing, health care,
aged care, disability care or child care) will be exempt from the six month
work limitation with one employer and eligible for a Temporary Activity
(subclass 408) visa in the Australian Government Endorsed Event (AGEE) stream.
Frequently Asked Questions
Temporary Visa Holders
The Australian Government is committed to protecting the health of
Australians, supporting businesses and jobs and securing food supply while we
combat the COVID-19 virus. The livelihood of Australians who become unemployed
as the economic impacts deepen is paramount to the Government.
The Government is making a number of changes to temporary visa holder
arrangements during the coronavirus crisis in order to protect the health of
our community, safeguard job opportunities for Australians, support critical
industries, and assist with the rapid recovery post the virus.
The priority of Government during this period is public health. All temporary
visa holders should follow public health advice in respect to COVID-19.
It is important that temporary visa holders retain a lawful status wherever
possible. Whatever a person’s visa status, there is no barrier to engaging
with our health system if they are sick.
Temporary visa holders who are unable to support themselves are strongly
encouraged to return to their countries.
Where this is not possible, most temporary visa holders who have worked in
Australia will now be able to access some of their Australian superannuation:

In most cases, access to superannuation will be up to a maximum amount of $10,000 tax-free during 2019-20. 
Further information is available on the Australian Taxation Office website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Temporary visa measures supporting the agriculture sector
Working Holiday Maker visa holders
Due to COVID-19, I couldn’t complete the specified work I need to apply for my second or third WHM visa. Can I extend my visa to give me more time to look for work?
If you have not completed the three or six months of specified work required
to apply for a second or third WHM visa, you should apply for another visa to
remain lawfully in Australia until you are able to depart.
If you are working in the agricultural sector and are unable to return to your
home country, you can apply for the Temporary Activity (subclass 408)
Australian Government Endorsed Event (AGEE) stream visa. This also applies to
those working in other critical sectors such as food processing, health care,
aged care, disability care and child care.
This visa will allow you to remain lawfully in Australia, and continue
working, should you wish to do so, until you can return to your home country.
If you are applying for the visa to work or continue working in a critical
sector you must have evidence from your employer that you have ongoing work
that an Australian citizen or permanent resident cannot do.
Work undertaken on a subclass 408 visa does not count as specified work for
the purpose of applying for a second or third WHM visa.
Frequently Asked Questions
Temporary visa measures supporting the agriculture sector
Pacific Labour Scheme visa holders
My work contract has ended, my visa is about to expire and I am unable to return to my home country due to COVID-19 border restrictions. Can I extend my current visa to stay in Australia?
It is possible to apply for a new Temporary Work (International Relations)
(subclass 403) visa in the Pacific Labour stream in Australia, where you and
your employer are endorsed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to
participate in the scheme.
The application can be made online via the Department of Home Affairs online
lodgement portal, ImmiAccount.
You must apply for a new visa before your current visa expires. You may be
eligible to be granted a bridging visa that will keep you lawful until a
decision is made on your visa application.
Frequently Asked Questions
Bridging visa holders
I am a Bridging visa holder. Am I able to work?
You might be allowed to work in Australia depending on the conditions of your
Bridging visa. Your grant letter will tell you about these conditions. See if
you have work restrictions by using the Visa Entitlement Verification Online
Service (VEVO).
If your Bridging visa does not let you work, or has restrictions on working,
you can apply for another Bridging visa that lets you work. This is only
available in some circumstances and you will usually have to demonstrate that
you are in financial hardship.
Bridging visa holders who have been able to work while in Australia and cannot
meet their immediate living expenses can access up to $10,000 of their
Australian superannuation tax-free in the 2019-20 financial year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Temporary Visa Holders
Visitor Visa Holders
Under Australian migration law, it is not possible to extend a visitor visa or
ETA. You must apply for a new visa before your current visa expires.
If you have a ‘no further stay condition’ attached to your visa, you will need
to apply to have this waived before you make any visa application.
If you cannot depart Australia as planned, check your permitted stay period,
visa expiry date and visa conditions to make sure you remain lawful in
Australia.
You can check your visa details in
VEVO, the myVEVO
app,
in your visa grant letter or your
ImmiAccount. You can check your ETA
expiry and conditions through our Check an ETA
service.
When you apply for a new visa, you may be granted a bridging visa that will
keep you lawful in Australia until a decision is made on your visa
application.
If your visa has already expired, see My visa has
expired.
Frequently Asked Questions
COVID-19 Pandemic - Australian Government Endorsed Event (AGEE) stream of the Temporary Activity (subclass 408) visa
Frequently Asked Questions
What else do I have to do to be granted a COVID-19 Pandemic event visa?
You must maintain adequate health insurance during your stay in Australia.
This means you may need to arrange health insurance for your stay in Australia
if you haven’t already got it.
You are personally liable for all your healthcare costs while you are in
Australia. Medical insurance helps limit your financial liability.
You must have adequate health cover for the whole of your stay to be granted
this visa. Your cover should cover you for medically necessary treatment,
including transport.
See what we consider adequate health insurance for visa
holders.
See more about health insurance for overseas
visitors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Employer sponsored temporary work visas
I am a Temporary Skill Shortage visa holder - what should I do if I have be stood down or my hours are reduced?
Temporary Skill Shortage visa holders who have been stood down, but not laid
off, will maintain their visa validity and businesses will have the
opportunity to extend their visa as per normal arrangements.
Businesses will also be able to reduce the hours of the visa holder without
the person being in breach of their visa conditions or the business being in
breach of their employer obligations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Bridging visa holders
I am a Bridging visa holder but need some temporary support. Is there any available?
Status Resolution Support Services (SRSS) provides support for certain non-
citizens who are in the Australian community temporarily while their
immigration status is being determined. The SRSS program provides short-term,
tailored support to individuals who are unable to support themselves while
they engage with the Department of Home Affairs to resolve their immigration
status. It is not an ongoing welfare entitlement.
People who are actively engaged with the Department to resolve their
immigration status and need assistance to overcome barriers to that
resolution, may be eligible to be provided with short term support in order to
resolve that barrier.
Individuals on a bridging visa with work rights, and who have the capacity to
work, are expected to support themselves while their immigration status is
being resolved.
During the COVID-19 period, applications for support under SRSS will be
assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Temporary visa measures supporting the agriculture sector
Working Holiday Maker visa holders
I have applied for my second or third WHM visa. Can I keep working while I am waiting for a decision on my application?
While your new application is being processed, a bridging visa will come into
effect which generally carries the same conditions as your previous visa,
including in relation to work rights. You and your employer can check Visa
Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) at any time to confirm your work
rights.
Frequently Asked Questions
COVID-19 Pandemic - Australian Government Endorsed Event (AGEE) stream of the Temporary Activity (subclass 408) visa
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will it take to process my COVID-19 Pandemic event visa application?
The Department is prioritising the processing of applications for people
working in critical sectors. Other applications may take longer to finalise.
You should submit as much evidence to support your application as possible.
When you lodge a valid application for the COVID-19 Pandemic event visa, you
will be granted a bridging visa which generally carries the same conditions as
your previous visa, including any work rights. If your current visa expires,
the bridging visa will maintain your lawful status in Australia until your
COVID-19 Pandemic event visa application is finalised.
You can check Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) at any time to
confirm your visa status and conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
COVID-19 Pandemic - Australian Government Endorsed Event (AGEE) stream of the Temporary Activity (subclass 408) visa
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a letter of endorsement to apply for the COVID-19 Pandemic event visa?
If you are applying for the visa to work or continue working in a critical
sector (such as agriculture, food processing, health care, aged care,
disability care or childcare) you must provide evidence of your ongoing
employment, which:

confirms the dates of your employment
confirms which critical sector (such as agriculture, food processing, health care, aged care, disability care or childcare) you are working in and
provides evidence that an Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident cannot fill the position.

Evidence could include payslips, a contract and/or a letter from your
employer.
Doctors and Nurses with an offer of employment in the health care sector must
provide evidence of their medical qualifications, and a letter of offer of
employment from a hospital or clinic.
If you are a temporary visa holder with no other visa options and you are
unable to depart Australia, you must attach a statement that tells us why you
cannot apply for another type of visa, why you are not able to depart
Australia before your current visa expires, and what actions you are taking to
try to arrange your departure as soon as travel restrictions are lifted and/or
flight availability resumes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Bridging visa holders
I am a Bridging Visa holder and want to depart Australia. What should I do?
The Department’s Status Resolution Service can assist eligible individuals
wishing to depart from Australia (where this is currently possible). The
Department contracts the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and
Serco (Homeward) as service providers to facilitate its voluntary return and
reintegration programs.
Returns assistance may be available and may provide an eligible recipient with
one, or any combination of assistance, including:

independent returns counselling
plane ticket
assistance to obtain travel documents
reception assistance in country of return
travel assistance to final destination

To be considered eligible for returns assistance, you must:

be a non-citizen;
not hold a visa that permits re-entry to Australia;
elect to voluntarily return to a country-of-origin or a country where you have a right of entry and stay; and
demonstrate you are unable to self-fund their return.
Frequently Asked Questions
COVID-19 Pandemic - Australian Government Endorsed Event (AGEE) stream of the Temporary Activity (subclass 408) visa
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will my visa be valid for?
The validity period on the visa will vary depending on the individual
circumstances following these general principles:

Applicants who have been on the Seasonal Worker Program or Working Holiday Maker program and are working in critical sectors will be granted a visa for up to 12 months.
Applicants working in critical sectors will be granted a visa for up to 12 months.
All other applicants will be granted a visa for up to six months with the validity period dependant on the individual circumstances such as when they may be able to return home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Working holiday makers
I had to leave Australia and I couldn’t complete my specified work due to COVID-19. My visa is likely to cease before I can come back to Australia. Can the validity be extended?
It is not possible to extend the validity your WHM visa. If you wish to return
to Australia in the future, you will need to apply and meet the requirements
for an appropriate visa. Depending on your circumstances, you may not meet the
requirements for another WHM visa.
Frequently Asked Questions
COVID-19 Pandemic - Australian Government Endorsed Event (AGEE) stream of the Temporary Activity (subclass 408) visa
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my visa has been granted with work rights?
People who are working in critical sectors will be given permission to work on
their COVID-19 Pandemic event visa. All other people holding this visa will
not have permission to work.
Permission to work is managed through mandatory condition 8107. Workers in
critical sectors who indicate their work activities in their visa application
will be given permission to engage in those work activities when the COVID 19
Pandemic event visa is granted.
People applying for the COVID-19 Pandemic event visa as a last resort to
remain lawfully in Australia until their departure will not be granted
permission to work.
Under condition 8107 a person who is granted a subclass 408 visa for the
purpose of remaining lawfully in Australia until they are able to return home
and who then work, would be engaging in an activity that is inconsistent with
the purpose of the visa grant. Consequently, action could be taken to cancel
that visa.