Comments

Sir/Madam, I'd like to apply PALM How should I consult someone here in PNG

Thanks for the clarification 🙏

Thanks Stephen for a helpful response. Please do update us on the bank account balance especially.

Hi Paschalis, If you don't already have an immi account, please go the Home Affairs website and create one so you're ready to register for the ballot come 3 June. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/ The best place to seek advice and guidance through the ballot and visa process is the Pacific Engagement Visa Support Service which is a FREE service set up by the Australian Government. https://www.pev.gov.au/ Additional useful links are below: PEV ballot - https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/pacific-engagement/pacific-engagement-visa-subclass-192#Overview PEV visa - https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/pacific-engagement/pacific-engagement-visa-subclass-192#Overview PEV Support Service FB page - https://www.facebook.com/PacificEngagementVisa I encourage you to keep reading through those links and ensuring that you are following the PEV updates regularly after you register. DevPol will also provide PEV updates. All the best.

Hi McQueen, The ballot is designed to ensure that "there is equal access for people of any skill level, occupation and gender". The Australian Government has established the Pacific Engagement Visa Support Service to support applicants with advice from the ballot stage to visa stage that includes job placements. Follow their website and keep an eye out for when they host information sessions in PNG https://www.pev.gov.au/ If you are eligible, go ahead and register. I hope this response encourages many other young Papua New Guinean women and men. Consider the total costs to permanently migrate so you can start setting aside some money in anticipation for a successful ballot outcome. You don’t need K10,000 up front, but you need to access funds to pay for the associated cost if you’re invited to start the visa process. Remember, it's an annual ballot. If you're not successful in this round, it doesn't stop you from trying again in subsequent rounds and at least you'll also have more time to set aside more funds if you need it. All the best!

Dear Natasha, Can you clarify, will this opportunity continue or only for this year?

Hi Millie, I don't think your son can include you (Father) and brother on his ballot registration because you would both not be considered as his dependents for his family unit. For visa purposes, members of the family unit do not include the primary applicant's parents or partners parents, aunts, uncles, or cousins. Your son in Brisbane is eligible to register for the ballot. If his ballot registration is successful and he is able to satisfy all the visa requirements, I encourage you to support him first.

Hi Sandra, So long as the primary applicant meets the eligibility criteria below then she/he is eligbile to register for the ballot on their own. * 18-45 years of age * holder of PNG passport or other participating country * be born in, or have a parent that was born in the participating country or Australia and New Zealand * not be a citizen of New Zealand * not already be registered in the same PEV ballot * pay the ballot registration fee (AUD25). For more information please see the link below. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/pacific-engagement/ballot-registration/ballot-eligibility

Hi BG, Thank you for your question. I will respond to each one according to what is available on the ballot registration website. 1. If you are not legally married, but live together in a committed relationship, that is considered a de facto relation. You can include her on your registration. 2. Remember, the visa process is conditional upon a successful ballot registration outcome. So, at the time of first registering (i.e. paying $25), only the primary applicant is required to provide passport details and you can still include your family's details - without their passport details because it’s not required for the ballot registration process. Only yours. If your ballot registration is successful, then for the visa process all family members will need to provide passport details. Go ahead and register yourself first (including your family who have no passports) and work on getting their passports pending the outcome of your registration. 3. If you don't include them in the registration, they will not be part of your visa application if you have a successful ballot outcome. Q2 above should give you some relief in proceeding to register yourself and your non-passport family members. All the best.

Hi Loa, According to the Ballot registration website, under “Include family” it states that “Eligible family members (such as a spouse or child aged over 18) can also register in the ballot separately.” It is a ballot, so if you want to increase your chances of being selected and you and your spouse can register separately (provided you both meet the ballot eligibility requirement) then you should register on your own too. But this means, you will pay the registration fee twice for making two separate registrations. For more information on the ballot eligibility please see the link below. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/pacific-engagement/ballot-registration/ballot-eligibility

Hi Robin, Thank you for your question. According to the Ballot registration website, so long as the applicant has met the ballot eligibility criteria they can register. This includes Papua New Guineans already in Australia on student 500 subclass, PALM 403 subclass and Temporary Skill Shortage subclass 482 visas. Invitation to start the visa process for permanent residency is conditional upon a successful ballot outcome first. All visa requirements must be met to receive a PEV as the final step. I hope others who have similar questions, will appreciate your question. For more information on ballot eligibility please visit the link below. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/pacific-engagement/ballot-registration/ballot-eligibility

Hi Natasha, thank you very much for the valuable information. I have a question in regards to the Settlement Support. It is anticipated there are no waiting periods for Pacific Engagement Visa holders to access certain benefits such as access to Australia's universal health care system Medicare, as well as public schools, access to a range of benefits to assist with the cost of raising a family and to ease the financial burden of education and training. This includes access to Family Tax Benefit (FTB) A and B However , what does it meant that newly arrived residents may have to wait before they can access certain Australian Government payments and benefits when there are no waiting periods for PEV holders to access the support services?