Replacement of the Regional Headquarters Agreement with the Invest Australia Support Skills Program
1 November 2003 - Legislation change
Client summary
From 1 November 2003, immigration law has been amended to replace the Regional Headquarters (RHQ) Agreement program with the Invest Australia Supported Skills program.
The definition of 'RHQ agreement' will be amended on 1 November 2003 to restrict the definition to RHQ agreements made prior to the commencement of these amendments, that is, before 1 November 2003.
The changes will involve the:
- inclusion of a definition for the IASS agreement in the Regulations;
- amendment to the definition of an RHQ agreement;
- amendment of subclass 457 visa to provide for the temporary entry of key personnel under an IASS agreement; and
- amendment of subclasses 120 and 855 visas to provide for the permanent entry of key personnel under an IASS agreement.
Technical details
Additional information: the following visa subclasses are effected - 120, 855 and 457.
Transitional arrangements: not applicable.
Forms: forms 1192, 1066 and 1196, and Booklet 5 have been amended to reflect the changes.
Instructions: PAM3: Sch2Visa120; PAM3: Sch2Visa855; PAM GenGuideB (Section 14); Reg1.16A (RHQ agreements), Reg1.16B (IASS agreements); PAM3: Sch2Visa134 and PAM3: Div2.2/reg2.08C.
Effect on delegations: nil.
Effect on systems: ICSE and IRIS will be amended to reflect the legislative amendments with effect from 1 November 2003.