Visa policy updates

The Australian government is constantly making changes to its immigration policies to ensure fairness and reduce confusion and error. Recent changes include: 

1. Skilled Migration Program 2011-12

Skilled Migration levels have been announced as follows:

  • The 2011-12 Migration Program planning level is set at 185,000. This is an increase of 16 300 places from 2010-11 planning levels.
  • The majority of the increase is allocated to the Skill Stream to help meet the expected increase in demand for skilled migrants in the face of labour shortages.
  • There are also additional places in the Family Stream to meet growing demand.
  • The 2011-12 Migration Program has specific places allocated to regional areas and initiatives that will assist regional employers to attract and retain skilled workers.

New regional initiatives include:

  • Streamlining permanent residence for certain temporary skilled visas  
  • Increasing Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme places to 16,000.
  • Priority processing for permanent regional migration visas.

2. New points test 1 July 2011

As from 1 July 2011, the Australian Government introduced a new points system for certain classes of Skilled Migration Visas. The new system does away with points for specific occupations for skilled migrants from certain categories (see below), and instead awards points for a broader range of skills and attributes. All applicants must still nominate an occupation on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) and have their skills assessed in their nominated occupation.

The new assessment criteria includes:

  • Better English levels.
  • More extensive skilled employment.
  • Higher level qualifications obtained in Australia and overseas.
  • Better targeted age ranges.

The new points test only applies to applicants for the following visas:

Applicants living outside Australia:

  • Subclass 475 Skilled Regional Sponsored
  • Subclass 175 Skilled Independent
  • Subclass 176 Skilled Sponsored

Applicants already living in Australia:

  • Subclass 487 Skilled Regional Sponsored
  • Subclass 885 Skilled Independent
  • Subclass 886 Skilled Sponsored

3. Updated SOL List 1 July 2011

Thirteen occupations were added to the list to meet the changing needs of the Australian labour market. Four occupations have were removed.

Occupations that have been added to the SOL are:

  • 234914 - Medical Physicist
  • 251311 -Environmental Health Officer
  • 251312 -Occupational Health and Safety Adviser
  • 251511 - Hospital Pharmacists
  • 251513 - Retail Pharmacists
  • 271111 - Barrister
  • 271311 - Solicitor
  • 323211 - Fitter (General)
  • 323212 - Fitter and Turner
  • 323213 - Fitter-Welder
  • 323214 - Metal Machinist (First Class)
  • 399111 -Boat Builder and Repairer
  • 399112 - Shipwright

Occupations that have been removed from the SOL are:

  • 251411 - Optometrist
  • 251412 - Orthoptist
  • 324111 - Panel Beater
  • 324311 - Vehicle Painter

4. New Enterprise Migration Agreements

Australia’s government has announced plans to work with employers under Emergency Migration Agreements (EMAs) to bring in temporary skilled workers from overseas to fill the gaps in the labour market created by the country’s mining boom.

EMAs will be for ‘mega’ projects only - those costing at least $2 billion to build and employing more than 1,500 workers. All overseas workers employed under EMAs will be on 457 visas (Temporary Business Long Stay) and must be paid at least as well as an Australian doing the same job.

5. Minimum salary threshold lifted 1 July 2011

Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) announced an increase in required minimum salary thresholds for the457 visa program, which came into effect on 1 July 2011.

Temporary Skilled Migration income threshold (TSMIT) is the minimum salary level at which an employee must be paid in order for a Subclass 457 (temporary skilled worker) nomination to be accepted by the DIAC in Australia. Under the new legislation, the TSMIT will rise by 3.9%, from $47,480 to $49,330 per year, for all nominations approved or applied for after the 1 July 2011.

Existing subclass 457 visa holders will not be affected unless they change employer and require a new nomination.

6. Regional classification for Perth 12 August 2011

The Australian government has reclassified Perth as a regional employment hardship area in an attempt to offset the acute skills shortage triggered by Western Australia’s burgeoning mining boom.

The reclassification makes it easier for the region’s employers to recruit skilled migrant workers on a 457 visa and gives temporary workers in Perth an easier transition to permanent residency.

Perth’s addition to the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme will give Western Australia's  employers the chance to compete for some of the 16,000 skilled migrant places offered each year under the Regional Migration Scheme.

7. Priority processing for skilled migrant visas 1 July 2011

The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Bowen, has set new priority processing arrangements for certain skilled migration visas.

The new priority processing arrangements apply to the following visas:

  • Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS)
  • Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS)
  • Certain General Skilled Migration (GSM).

8. New SkillSelect Model from 1 July 2012

Minister Chris Bowen MP announced the development of a new Skilled Migrant Selection Model (SkillSelect).

It is proposed that SkillSelect will be a two-stage process whereby potential applicants first register their claims for skilled migration through an online Expression of Interest (EOI), and may then be invited to make an application for a visa. This is a significant change to the current situation, as applicants for independent or state/territory sponsored migration will require an invitation to lodge a visa application. The new model is expected to come into effect on 1 July 2012.

SOURCE: Department of Immigration and Citizenship

Visa eligibility and approval depends on the applicant's individual circumstances. To find out if you're eligible for an Australian General Skilled Migration visa, take Working In's free online eligibility assessment.

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