Visa policy updates
The Australian government has made many changes to its immigration policies over the past few years to ensure fairness and reduce confusion and error. Recent changes include:
- Changes to the Skilled Migration Program – 17 December 2008, 16 March 2009 and 12 May 2009
- Changes to the Temporary Business (Long Stay) – Standard Business Sponsorship (Subclass 457)
- Police checks for online lodged GSM visa applications
- Closure of Capital Investment Scheme for pre-1 September, 2007, GSM visa applications – 27 November 2008
- Changes to Skilled – Graduate (Subclass 485) visa – 27 October 2008
- General Skilled Migration Visas form changes – 9 August 2008
- Closure of Capital Investment Scheme – Health and Character Requests – 7 July 2008
- Skilled – Graduate (Subclass 485) visa – 27 May 2008
1. Changes to the Skilled Migration Program
In an effort to ensure that Australia’s 2008-09 General Skilled Migration Program (GSM) is more responsive to the needs of the economy, changes were implemented on January 1 2009, including the establishment of a Critical Skills List (CSL), which is focused on information technology professionals, engineers and medical professionals.
State and territory jurisdictions were provided with an expanded baseline list of occupations that will be reviewed regularly and updated as necessary. As part of this change, state and territory governments were offered a quota of 500 places in 2008-09 to sponsor skilled migrants in occupations beyond their existing lists of eligible occupations.
On 16 March, 2009, additional amendments were made to the GSM Program which reduced the number of GSM visas granted from 133 000 to 115 000 per year, and removed the majority of trades from the CSL.
On 12 May, 2009, the GSM visa cap was reduced by a further 7000 places. The latest cut will take the GSM intake for the next financial year to 108,000.
2. Changes to the Temporary Business (Long Stay) – Standard Business Sponsorship (Subclass 457)
On 1 March, 2009, changes to the Subclass 457 visa were announced by Immigration and Citizenship Minister Chris Evans, detailing amendments to the minimum wage for new and existing 457 visa holders as well as an increase for tradespeople in the minimum English language requirements – from a .4.5 to a 5 IELTS.
Changes to the formal skills assessment will be gradually introduced for trade applicants from high-risk countries and the training benchmark requirements will be further clarified for employers.
3. Police checks for online lodged GSM visa applications
When applying for an online GSM visa when already in Australia, you now won’t need to provide the transaction ID for your Australian Federal Police (AFP) check. The transaction ID will need to be supplied once the check is complete. You submit the check request before you lodge your GSM visa application. Police checks are to be forwarded to the Immigration Department.
4. Closure of Capital Investment Scheme for pre-1 September, 2007, GSM visa applications
Prior to 1 September, 2007, GSM visa applications were eligible, under the Capital Investment Scheme, to earn bonus points for deposits of at least $100,000 to a designated security for a minimum of 12 months.
After 1 September 2007, to meet the requirements for five bonus points for a capital investment for a pre-1 September 2007 GSM visa, applicants must meet the definition in Regulation 2.26C.
As of 27 November, 2008, the Australian Department of Immigration stated that it is not aware of any investment products currently on offer by the four state and territory government authorities that meet all requirements listed in Regulation 2.26C.
The department is in the process of investigation a number of options, and will not finalise applications that require a capital investment until all available options have been fully explored.
5. Changes to Skilled – Graduate (Subclass 485) visa
As of 27 October, 2008, all applicants for the Skilled – Graduate (Subclass 485) visa must show English language competency at the time of application. Previously, applicants needed to show only that they had booked an English language test.
International English Language Test Scheme test results must be less than two years old at the time of application. All applications made prior to 27 October 2008 will remain unaffected by the change.
6. General Skilled Migration visa form changes
All online applications have been updated to comply with the 9 August, 2008, changes to General Skilled Migration visa forms. Applicants are now expected to answer additional questions on health and character.
Applicants may be expected to complete the new ‘Personal Particulars’ form, in which case the form and request to complete it will be automatically displayed immediately after payment.
7. Closure of Capital Investment Scheme – health and character requests
Some applicants who have been affected by the closure of the Capital Investment Scheme have received letters requesting further health and character checks.
For applicants already residing in Australia, currently holding a Bridging visa A, who have recently travelled overseas on a Bridging B visa, no further action is required at this stage. New health and character information may, however, be requested following a decision on the Capital Investment Scheme issue.
For applications residing in Australia, currently holding a Bridging visa A, who have not recently travelled overseas, receipt of a letter may indicate that your occupation is now listed on the Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL). If your occupation is now listed on the MODL, you will be required to provide new health and character information as your application may meet the requirements for the visa for which you have applied.
Lastly, for applicants residing offshore, receipt of the letter likely indicates that your nominated occupation is now listed on the MODL, which means you will be required to provide new health and character information as your application may meet the requirements for the visa for which you have applied.
8. Skilled – Graduate (Subclass 485) visa
According to the Adelaide Skilled Processing Centre (ASPC), a significant number of applications for the Skilled – Graduate (Subclass 485) visa actually meet the requirements for a permanent visa.
Applicants are encouraged to apply for a Skilled – Independent (Subclass 885) visa or a Skilled – Sponsored (Subclass 886) visa if they believe they meet the requirements for a permanent General Skilled Migration visa.
SOURCE: Department of Immigration and Citizenship
