Ministerial Direction 123 starts on 31 October 2026. Learn how Australia’s character-test guidance changes and what visa holders should review now.
Ministerial Direction 123: What Australia’s New Character Test Guidance Means Read More »
Four migration updates confirmed on 22 September 2026: the Child visa address correction, condition 8549 designated areas, Direction 123 and the Department systems outage.
Four Australian Migration Updates: Direction 123, Child Visas and System Outage Read More »
The new Migration (Designated Areas) Instrument 2026 commenced on 22 September. See what it means for condition 8549, Subclass 489 and Subclass 887.
New Designated Areas Instrument 2026: What Actually Changed? Read More »
New skilled visa priorities took effect on 19 September 2026. See who is prioritised, how pending and family applications are treated, and why priority is not a promised decision date.
Skilled visa processing priorities: Directions 121 and 122 explained Read More »
A practical way to organise relationship evidence, build a clear timeline and explain gaps before an Australian partner visa assessment.
Partner visa evidence checklist: organise the story your documents tell Read More »
Compare the two main subclass 186 pathways, the employment history and skills evidence to check, and the questions to ask before planning permanent residence.
186 TRT vs Direct Entry: which pathway should you assess? Read More »
Preparing to sponsor a worker? Use this practical checklist to organise the business, role, salary and applicant evidence for a Skills in Demand subclass 482 application.
482 visa employer checklist: documents to prepare before you sponsor Read More »
Love doesn’t always fit into a legal checklist — but unfortunately, visa approval does. If you’re in a non-traditional relationship, applying offshore, or struggling with minimal evidence, you’re not alone. At Cornerstone HR & Migration, we specialize in partner visas that aren’t “cookie-cutter.” Here’s what you need to know if your case raises eyebrows —
Not the “Perfect Couple”? Here’s How to Get Your Partner Visa Approved Anyway Read More »
Not every workforce need fits a long-term visa. Sometimes you need to bring in staff for a project, training program, or event — fast. That’s where 407 and 408 visas come in. But be warned: these aren’t plug-and-play visas. They’re compliance-heavy and deadline-sensitive. At Cornerstone, we’ve built them for everything from CSIRO researchers to faith-based
Short-Term Visa, Big Impact: How 407 and 408 Visas Fill Critical Gaps in Australia Read More »
Not every role fits into Australia’s standard visa framework. If you’re trying to sponsor a skilled worker but getting blocked by the occupation list, age cap, or English threshold — you’re not alone. That’s where Labour Agreements (and DAMAs) come in. These aren’t off-the-shelf visas. They’re complex, strategic, and — when done right — game-changers
