69619 (2024). Ricardo Menéndez March to the Minister of Immigration

69619 (2024). Ricardo Menéndez March to the Minister of Immigration: What, if any, is the criteria to determine if an Accredited Employer Work Visa holder is on a pathway to residence?

Hon Erica Stanford: From 2 December, open work rights will be available to partners of Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) holders working in higher-skilled roles who earn at least 80 percent of the median wage. The same rights will also be available for partners of AEWV holders working in lower-skilled roles who are on a pathway to residence. For the purpose of these instructions, a person is on a pathway to residence if: • their occupation is on the Green List, they meet the requirements specified for that role on the Green List and are paid at least the median wage ($31.61), because they will be able to qualify for either the Green List Work to Residence or Straight to Residence • their occupation is part of (or was part of) the Care or Transport Sector Agreement, their role meets the requirements for residence specified for that occupation as part of the sector agreement (including pay requirements), because they will be able to qualify for the Work to Residence category for the Care or Transport Sector Agreement • they earn at least $47.41 (1.5x the median wage), because they will be able to qualify for residence under the Skilled Migrant Category In all three of these cases, provided their pay continues to keep pace with the relevant pay thresholds, a visa holder will be able to qualify for residence after working in their role for the required period of time (generally 24 months) and are therefore considered to be on a pathway to residence.