A new data-sharing program between the Department of Home Affairs and the ATO marks a sharp escalation in compliance enforcement for employer-sponsored visas. Payroll data is now being actively cross-checked against visa conditions to detect breaches - including underpayment, incorrect sponsorship arrangements and unauthorised work. At the same time 482 visa applicants are facing greater scrutiny around occupation suitability and the Genuine Position requirement with refusals becoming more common. Unpack the legal and practical consequences of these developments and the critical steps employers — and their advisers — must take to remain compliant. Drawing on the Employer Guide to SID visas and the Genuine Position test, the session provides clear, up-to-date guidance on navigating obligations, risk areas, and emerging skilled migration pathways.
Friday, 22 August 2025
Description
Attend and earn 1.5 CPD points in Substantive Law for Legal Professionals
Attend and earn 1 CPD point in Category B Seminar (SM) for Migration Agents
This program is applicable to practitioners from all States & Territories
MARA APPROVAL NUMBERS
SESSION 1: SM815
Chair:
Kathryn Viegas, Director and Principal Solicitor, Nomos Pty Ltd; Accredited Specialist in Immigration Law; Best Lawyers 2024, Immigration Law; Leading Immigration Lawyer, Doyle’s Guide 2024
1.00pm to 2.30pm Skills In Demand Visa Applications in Focus
- Employer obligations and the compliance framework
- Sponsor, nomination and visa application checklists that must be done and when
- Choosing the right occupation: issues of suitability and classification
- New and emerging visa pathways: what’s changing, and how to prepare
Presented by Tina Masrour, Principal Lawyer, One Planet Migration Law
Presenters
Kathryn Viegas, Director and Principal Solicitor, Nomos Pty Ltd
Kathryn Viegas is a Director and Principal Solicitor of Nomos Legal, a boutique immigration law firm in Sydney. Kathryn holds degrees in Psychology and Law from the University of New South Wales and a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the Australian National University. In 2006, she was awarded a Master of Laws degree from the University of Sydney. She has practised immigration law since 2003 and is an Accredited Specialist in Immigration Law. Since 2018, she has been included annually on the ‘Best Lawyers’ list for Australia as published in the Australian Financial Review. Kathryn commenced her career at the HIV/AIDS Legal Centre and established her own practice in 2005, which she ran for eight years. In 2016, she co-founded Nomos. Since 2007, she has presented continuing education programmes for lawyers and other professionals through the College of Law, the Law Society of NSW and other professional associations. She currently teaches the Graduate Diploma in Migration Law program at Victoria University. Kathryn is the current President of the Management Committee of the Immigration Advice and Rights Centre, a specialist community legal centre that provides free legal advice and assistance to vulnerable migrants and refugees. She is also the co-founder of The TLR Foundation and a Director of the Centre for Women’s Economic Safety. She sits on the Specialist Accreditation Immigration Law Advisory Committee in NSW and is a member of the UNSW Law & Justice Advisory Council.
Tina Masrour, Principal Lawyer, One Planet Migration Law
Tina Masrour is the Principal Lawyer at One Planet Migration Law and a highly respected voice in Australian immigration law, with over 15 years of experience advising businesses and individuals on complex migration matters. She has a strong track record of assisting employers—from SMEs to multinational corporations—navigate sponsorship obligations, compliance frameworks, and the strategic selection of visa pathways to secure global talent. Tina’s deep personal connection to migration is central to her practice. Born in Australia to refugee parents, she brings lived insight into the migrant experience, which informs her empathetic and solutions-focused approach. Over her career, she has helped thousands of clients—from skilled workers to humanitarian applicants—achieve their migration goals, including those facing refusals, cancellations, or complicated regulatory barriers. Admitted as a solicitor in the Supreme Court of New South Wales, Tina combines technical legal expertise with a passion for social justice. She is a dedicated pro bono advocate and has contributed to the work of Aboriginal Legal Services and Anti-Slavery Australia. In recognition of her contributions, she was named a finalist in the Lawyers Weekly Women in Law Awards for her pro bono achievements. Tina regularly shares her expertise through legal training and thought leadership, with a focus on emerging visa pathways, employer compliance, and regulatory reform. Now based in Melbourne, she continues to champion inclusive migration policies that help shape a more diverse and dynamic Australia.
This seminar is part of a series
The Immigration Hour: Latest Updates, Timely Insights and Practical Strategies
More than 140 businesses have already been sanctioned by the Australian Border Force this year for breaches of sponsorship obligations. Penalties include fines of up to $79,200, visa cancellations, and bans on future sponsorships. Sponsoring a worker is not a “set and forget” responsibility - it requires ongoing compliance. Ensuring all obligations are met and required notifications to the Department are made is critical to avoiding serious legal and financial consequences. At the same time, the intersection between criminal and immigration law has become increasingly complex. More clients are facing migration consequences from old or minor matters resurfacing during police checks. Adding to the pressure, ongoing processing delays are causing significant anxiety, making it more important than ever for practitioners to have effective, up-to-date strategies in place. To support you in navigating these challenges, we’ve launched a 5-part series:
Casual Fridays for Busy Immigration Practitioners – Latest Updates, Timely Insights, Practical Strategies & Real Conversations.
This series delivers timely, practical content tailored to the realities of immigration practice, including Ministerial interventions, presented by Dr Jason Donnelly, one of Australia’s leading experts in immigration and public law, and the ethical use of AI in migration cases, with experienced barrister Sergio Zanotti Stagliorio. Equip yourself with the insights and strategies needed to navigate the most pressing challenges in today’s immigration landscape
Description
Attend all sessions to receive a significant discount. Migration agents can earn all their Category B CPD points, including ethics, while legal practitioners will receive 7.5 CPD points, including 1 point in ethics. Gain practical insights from Australia’s leading immigration experts to maintain a compliant and confident practice amid ongoing change.
This program is applicable to practitioners from all States & Territories
If you register for the full series as a live online product after the date of an individual session, you will be sent the recording for the sessions that have passed. Alternatively, you can register for individual sessions by following the links below.
View series listing
