IMPORTANT
CHANGES to the General Skilled Migration Program
Changes
to the skilled migration program are scheduled to come into effect
as from 1st September 2007. Final decisions on
the details of these changes are yet to be made.
Applicants who lodge their visa applications
with the Adelaide Skilled Processing Centre on or before 31st August,
2007 will be not affected by these changes
Please contact
us to discuss your eligibility under the current
rules and against the new rules. We will consider your situation
in respect of lodging an application in the timeframe before the
rules changes, if this appears critical to your eligibility.
April 2007
New Assessing
Body for Teaching Occupations
As of 1st
November 2006, Teaching
Australia are the responsible authority for assessing
the skills for the following occupations:
- Pre-primary
school teacher (ASCO Code 2411-11)
- Primary school teacher (2412-11)
- Secondary school teacher (2413-11)
The application fee is AUD$450.
Certification of Documents by Australian Registered Migration Agents
As of 1st October 2006, Registered Migration Agents who
are not suspended or subject to a caution are permitted to certify
documents as
being true copies of originals for submission to the Department of Immigration
and Multicultural Affairs (DIMA).
New
MODL effective 20 September 2006
A new Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL) has been published today
and takes immediate effect:
ADDITIONS:
Computing Professionals specializing in one of:
C++/C#/C
JAVA
J2EE
Oracle
People
SAP
SIEBEL
Child Care Co-ordinator
Electrical Engineer
Mechanical Engineer
Mining Engineer now includes Petroleum Engineer Surveyor
DELETIONS:
Flat Glass Tradesperson
Computing Professional specializing in E-Commerce Security
Radiation
Therapist
Nuclear Medicine Technologist
Applicants
who have a positive skills assessment in any of the 86 MODL occupations,
can claim 15 points towards meeting the pass mark of the points test, or
20 points if they also have an appropriate Australian job offer.
Please contact
us for more information.
1ST
JULY CHANGES
Here
are some of the changes effective 1st July, 2006:
-DIMA
Application Charges
On 1st July, most visa
application fees and charges increased
by 2.7%, and by 5.3% in relation to visa application charges subject
to
the Contributory
Parent visa classes. All new fees and charges are now to be found
on the DIMA website under each visa category (Form 990i is no longer
available).
-Assurance
of Support
The
new income threshold for those in need of an Assurance of Support
has been raised to AUD40,000.
-457 Business (Long Stay) Visa
Applicants can now include their interdependent (same
sex) partners
- MODL Win
Points for those with occupations on the Migration
Occupations in Demand List (MODL)
will now be allocated at the time of application or the time
of assessment, whichever
is the most favourable to the applicant!
Changes
to TRA Fee Structure
Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) will implement a standard
international application fee of AUD300. The AUD500 priority fee will
no longer apply.
This
is ensure ensure fees are compatible with service delivery standards
which are are
95% of MODL are finalised withn 10 working days,
and 95% of all other applications are finalised within 20 working
days. There are also changes to Domestic Stream fees.
Child Care Coordinators (ASCO
1295-11)
TRA has become the assessing body for Child Care Coordinators
for pre-migration purposes.
1st July 2006
Subclass 139 visa ceases on 1st
July 2006
Applications for the Skilled Designated Area Sponsored
visa (Subclass 139) will be invalid from 1st July 2006, with the
introduction of a replacement two staged Skilled-Designated Area
Sponsored visa, Subclass
496.
26 June 2006
Working Holiday Makers (WHM)
As of 1st July 2006, Working
Holiday Maker visa holders will be able to increase the length of time they
can work for one employer from three to six months. The study/training limitation
will be increased from 3 to 4 months. The definition of 'seasonal work' (for
second WHM visa eligibility) has been expanded to include some primary industries.
June 2006
MIGRATION
PROGRAMME - BUDGET 2006-07
Increase in the Family Stream
Australia’s
Migration Program will maintain its skilled migrant intake number
at 97,500 for 2006-07. An
additional 3000 family stream places have been provided in the 2005-06 programme
year and an additional 4,000 places a year from 2006-07 to benefit Australian
Citizens and permanent Residents who have Australian Partners. This increase
takes the family stream to 45,000 places in 2005-06 and 46,000 places from
2006-07.
9 May 2006
2006
Evaluation of General Skilled Migration Categories
The Minister of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs has confirmed the
outcome of a major independent evaluation of the general skilled
migratrion categories. To give skilled migrants the best chance to find
skilled jobs quickly, there are plans for increased emphasis on English
and work experience as follows:
- increase the base level of English language proficiency
-increase bonus points for those who achieve English langyuage scores
above the base level
-place greater emphasis on skilled work experience, which will affect
former overseas students who are currently exempt from work experience
requirements. When
the proposed measures are in place they will need to demonstrate they
have skilled work experience or have undertaken a professional year
8 May 2006
Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL) has been Revised
The MODL has
been extended to include 16 additional trade occupations. The MODL now
comprises 34 professional occupations, five ICT specialisations and 42 trade
occupations, making it easier for those with occupations on the List to reach
the pass mark of the points test as a Skilled Independent.
28 March 2006
Recognition for Same Sex Partners
In a Press
Release dated 6 March, the Minister for Immigration has announced
that immigration law will change to allow same sex partners of skilled
and student visas to be recognised in the same way as de facto couples
in a heterosexual relationship. The commencement date is 1st July 2006
for applications under the 457 Business (Long Stay) visa, while no commencement
date has yet been announced for students and other skilled visa categories.
7 March 2006
Taxation News for Temporary
Resident Workers
On 16 February the Commonwealth Treasurer, the Hon. Peter Costello
MP, announced proposed
changes to the taxation arrangements for temporary residents. The proposals
are not yet law, but would allow Australian temporary
residents a tax exemption on
foreign
source income.
20 February 2006
90-day IELTS Re-take Rule
Abolished
The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) has lifted the
restriction on re-taking the IELTS within 90 days. From 1 May 2006, candidates
will be able to re-take the test at any time.
30 January 2006
New Nursing and Midwifery Standards
National Competency Standards for Registered Nurses and also for Midwifes have
been revised and are available from the Australian Nursing
and Midwifery Council (ANMC).
12 January 2006
New Architects
Accreditation and Recognition Procedure
The Australian Architecture Program Accreditation and Recognition
Procedure has been revised by the Architects
Accreditation Council of Australia (AACA) and changes are effective
1 January 2006.
6 January 2006
From 15 December
2005 a
new Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL) will
come into effect with 5 ICT specialisations added.
Computing Professional - specialising in SAP
Computing Professional - specialising in Siebel
Computing Professional - specialising in E-commerce Security (non-programming)
Computing Professional - specialising in Network Security and Certified Information
Systems
Computing Professional - specialising in Security Professional (CISSP)
The relevant
MODL web page is at:
http://www.immi.gov.au/migration/skilled/advice_doc/gn_modl.htm
UK
Study in Australia Seminar - 16 November
The next Study
in
Australia Seminar will be held at the Australia Centre in London on 16 November
at 4.00pm. People interested in studying in Australia, can register for this
free seminar by emailing: london@austrade.gov.au
People outside the UK can
visit
the official Australian Government
website for international students which provides detailed
information on studying in Australia. More
Details of 1 November 2005 Changes to General Skilled Migration:
New additions to the Migration
Occupations in Demand (MODL) List
The following four occupations have
been added to the MODL, which means that applicants with
a positive skills assessment in one of those occupations can now
claim an additional 15 points towards meeting the pass mark of the
points test, or 20
points if they also have a suitable job offer from an Australian
employer:
-Chemical Engineer - ASCO Code 2129-17
-Dental Specialist - ASCO Code 2381-13
-Petroleum Engineer - ASCO Code 2127-13
-Mining
Engineer - ASCO Code 2127-11
New Skilled
Occupations List (SOL)
Refer Form
1121i which
covers the Skilled Occupation List (SOL), Sydney and Selected
Areas
Skill Shortage List (SSASSL), and the Employer
Nomination Scheme
Occupation List (ENSOL).
Lecturer/Academic
Work Experience
Employment as a university
lecturer, tutor or in a training capacity is counted if the applicant
can
demonstrate that they
are lecturing, tutoring or training people in an occupation
that is on the Skilled Occupations List (SOL - see above),
and receiving
remuneration which according to Policy could include a tax
free scholarship
plus provision of accommdation. We would be happy to provide
an assessment of your eligibility to claim such employment.
Notices
of Legislative Change which are due to take effect on
1 November 2005:
GENERAL
SKILLED MIGRATION (GSM)
GSM
amendments include:
Aunts and Uncles can now be Sponsored
Uncles and Aunts as relatives are now eligible to be sponsored under the
Designated Area Sponsored and Australian Sponsored visas.
Working Holiday Maker and Occupational Trainee Visa Holders
Subclass 417 and Subclass 442 visa holders do not need to satisfy the recent
work experience requirement allowing them to be granted an SIR visa onshore
(subject to meeting all other SIR requirements.)
Other amendments
include:
Remaining Relatives
Applicants must now have no near relatives, other than those near relatives
who are usually resident in Australia and who are Australian citizens, Australian
permanent residents or eligible New Zealand Citizens.
Working Holiday Maker Visa
On 1 November 2005, the Working Holiday visa will be expanded to allow working
holiday makers who have done three months seasonal work in regional Australia
to apply for a second Working Holiday visa.
Trade Skills Visa
The new Trade Skills Training visa (subclass 471) will be a temporary residence
visa within the Sponsored Training (Temporary) (Class UV) visa class. It
will allow non-citizens to undertake approved apprenticeships in regional
areas of Australia where the position is unable to be filled locally due
to a shortage of trade skills.
Sponsored
Family Visitor (subclass 679)
In certain circumstances a sponsor who has previously sponsored a Subclass
679 visa holder and has been barred for 5 years may now be approved to sponsor
another Subclass 679 visa applicant.
New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship Subclass 416 visas
Subclass 416 visa holders will now be able to apply for permanent residency
under the Labour Agreement, Employer Nomination Scheme or Regional Sponsored
Migration Scheme visa categories.
The Occupational Trainee visa
A number of amendments to the Subclass 422 visa.
Special Eligibility visas
The offshore and onshore former resident visas (Subclasses 832 and 151)
have been merged into a new visa class - Special Eligibility (Class CB)
(Subclass
151) visa.
New address for Courier delivery to the ASPC
DIMIA registered a specification of address under various provisions of Schedule
1 to the Migration Regulations 1994 on 21 October 2005, which means a change
to the Courier address, as follows:
By COURIER:
Adelaide Skilled Processing Centre
Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs
4th Floor, 55 Currie Street
ADELAIDE SA 5000
AUSTRALIA
By
MAIL:
Adelaide Skilled Processing Centre
Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs
GPO Box 1638
ADELAIDE SA 5001
AUSTRALIA
Dates
for LONDON - Skilled Expo London
27 to 29 September
For details and
to register
on-line - note, you will be notified of the venue once you have
been 'screened' as eligible to attend. If you are uncertain whether you will
get
through the
screening
process or you would like help to be prepared for the event, please use our
free Visa
Assessment or alternatively send us an email.
16 September 2005
Australian Citizenship - Proposed Changes
The Australian Government are proposing changes
to legislation to increase the residency requirement for people applying
for Australian Citizenship.
10 September 2005
LONDON
- Autumn Study in Australia Seminar
The next Study
in Australia Seminar will be held at the Australia Centre in London
in mid-October. No date as yet.
6 September 2005
LONDON
- Skilled Expo
The Australian High Commission is holding a skilled
migration expo in late September. Registration is necessary and applicants
will be screened beforehand. (Why not use our
FREE Visa Assessment to see if you can qualify to Register and have
a better understanding of the requirements before you contact the AHC).
20 August 2005
WA
Police Recruiting in the UK
Western Australia Police (WAPOL) are soon to launch a recruitment
drive in the United Kingdom and Eire, with the entrance evaluation
scheduled for October 2005. WAPOL are targetting serving officers with
3 years minimum policing experience and some unspecified specialist area
police officers.
10 August 2005
DIMIA
Outreach Officers
Thirteen
senior DIMIA officers from around Australia are now working with 16 hosts
to target 500,000 businesses represented by industries and associations
to help Australian employers to understand visa options and processes
for sponsorsing overseas workers.
8 August 2005
Skilled
Independent Regional (SIR) visa
Effective
today, the
SIR (3 year provisional) visa will attract an extra 10 points for State
or Territory Sponsorship, which will allow more applicants to meet the
pass mark (currently 110 points) and address skills shortages in regional
areas.
1 July 2005
Domestic Violence Provisions
Effective today, DIMIA may refer doubful claims by people applying
to remain in Australia on the basis of having experienced Domestic Violence
to an independent service provider.
1 July 2005
Close Ties Visa
Effective today, provisions which allow for a person who became
unlawful before turning 18 and now aged over 18 and no longer living with
the family they entered Australia with - have been removed.
1 July 2005
New
Investor Retirement Visa
On 1 July, 2005 the New Investor Retirement visa (Subclass 405) will come
into effect and details are now available on the DIMIA
website. This new visa requires a significant increase in the financial
criteria to be satisfied by intending retirees to Australia, and will
no doubt substantially reduce the number of applicants. The current Retirement
visa (Subclass 410) will cease from from 30th June 2005, although 410
Visa Holders will be able to renew their visas with a new 410 visa as
they expire.
25 June 2005
New
DIMIA Application Charges
New visa application charges as of 1 July 2005 are now available on the
DIMIA website (Form
990i).
23 June 2005
Update
- Skilled Independent Regional (SIR) Visa
As of 1 July 2005, SIR visa applicants will be able to claim an additional
10 points for State or Territory Sponsorship (simply by applying) to help
towards meeting the lower SIR pass mark of 110 points. Briefly, the SIR
(3 year temporary) visa was introduced in July 2004, for skilled applicants
unable to meet the pass mark of the points test as a Skilled Independent,
and who are willing to live and work in a regional or low population growth
area of Australia where their skills are needed. The SIR visa holder must
live there for at least two years, and they (or their partner) must work
there for at least one year, before they can apply for permanent residence
through existing visas with State or Territory or Employer Sponsorship.
DIMIA have modified or waived certain visa criteria at the permanent residency
stage to help facilitate visa grant for SIR visa holders. The first SIR
applications for the PR stage will be seen towards the end of 2006.
Refer the DIMIA
website for more information. If you would like to contact
us for an assessment of your eligibility for an SIR visa, we will
explain your eligibility and options for State or Territory Sponsorship.
23 June 2005
Australia's Migration (Non-Humanitarian) Program 2005-2006:
Overview of planned changes
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