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Australian Immigration Services |
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News Archives |
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New Skilled Occupation List (SOL) 1 July 2010
The new Skilled Occupation List has been introduced and the suspension of certain General Skilled Migration applications has ceased.
ANZSCO replaces ASCO 1 July 2010
The Immigration Department has introduced ANZSCO as the method of classifying occupations for migration purposes. Transitional arrangements have been introduced to facilitate processing of applications nomination the previously used ASCO codes.
NEW SOL Announced 17 May 2010
The Government has announced the much anticipated and delayed list of occupations included in the new Skilled Occupation List (SOL).
The introduction of a new list of occupations is part of a package of reforms that reflects the Government's approach to a labour market demand-driven Skilled Migration Program and is due for implementation on the 1 July 2010.
Australian Budget 2010/11 Increase to skilled Migration 11 May 2010
The Government has announced that the overall level of skilled migration will increase by 5750 program places for the 2010/2011 migration program year.
They intend to sharpen the focus of the skilled migration program on areas of skills shortage as part of the new budget.
The size of the total migration program will remain the same at 168 700 places, but more of these will be available for the skilled program, which will increase to 113 850.
This includes an additional 9150 program places for employer-sponsored skilled migration and a decrease of 3600 places for general skilled migration. An additional 200 visas in the business skills visa category will also be offered.
There will be a reduction in the level of family migration by 5750 program places. Family migration visas will continue to be granted and family members can gain access to temporary visas to travel to Australia to visit.
Suspension of certain General Skilled Migration applications 7 May 2010
The Australian Immigration Department has this afternoon (07 May 2010) announced that they will temporarily suspend the acceptance of certain General Skilled Migration (GSM) visa applications as of the 8th of May 2010 until the end of 30 June 2010.
The suspension applies to Subclass 175 – Skilled Independent, Subclass 176 – Skilled Sponsored and Subclass 475 – Skilled Regional Sponsored visas.
Release of the new SOL delayed May 2010
The much anticipated release of the new Skilled Occupation List, which was due on 30 April 2010, has been delayed. The Government has announcement that the publication of the new Skilled Occupation List for Migration purposes will be made in May for implementation in mid 2010.
Changes to the Business Visas effective from 19 April 2010 April 2010
There have been a number of changes introduced to the Business Skills Migration Program affecting some visa subclasses. The changes include:
- An increase in the minimum net business and personal assets requirement (visa subclasses 160, 161, 163, 164)
- An increased in the business ownership share requirement (visa subclasses 132, 160, 163, 890, 892, 845, 846)
- The removal of the senior manager option of the subclass 163 visa
Changes to the citizenship residence requirement will come into effect from on 1 July 2010
From the 1st of July 2010 there will only be one general residence requirement which everyone aged 16 and over will be required to meet when applying for Australian Citizenship.
The transitional arrangements which currently allow for two different criteria, depending on when an applicant became a Permanent Australian resident, will cease.
Changes to the skills assessment criterion for onshore GSM applicants nominating a trade occupation March 2010
Visa applicants applying for a subclass 487, 885 or 886 visa will again be able to lodge a valid visa application using an existing suitable skills assessment from the TRA.
This means that applicants nominating a trade occupation are no longer required to provide a skills assessment dated on or after 1 January 2010 (under the new Job Ready Program) if they had previously obtained a positive skills assessment in their nominated trade.
This change was introduced to alleviate the concerns of international students regarding the amendments introduced on 1 January 2010.
More changes to the General Skilled Migration (GSM) Program February 2010
On the 8th of February 2010, there have been further changes introduced to the General Skilled Migration Program. Some of the key changes include:
Removal of the Migration Occupation in Demand (MODL) list;
New Skilled Occupation List (SOL) to be introduced in mid 2010;
Setting a limit to the number of offshore GSM visas made before 1 September 2007 and refunding application fees for applications that will not be processed;
Critical Shortage List (CSL) to be revoked in mid 2010;
Further changes to Priority Processing;
Changes to skills assessment requirements for onshore applicants nominating trade occupations.
Changes to the General Skilled Migration (GSM) Program January 2010
On the 1st of January 2010, there have been extensive changes to the General Skilled Migration Program. Some of the key changes include:
- On-shore General Skilled Migration Visas (subclasses 885, 886 and 487), applicants will be required to have suitable skills assessment at time of lodgment of their visa application;
- Off-shore General Skilled Migration Visas (subclasses 175, 176) which are nominating a trade occupation will no longer be able to apply by meeting the Australian study requirement;
- Onshore General Skilled Migration Visas (subclasses 885, 886 and 487), applicants nominating a trade occupation must now meet the “Job Ready Program” requirement;
- General Skilled Migration Visa applicants nominating a trade occupation will now need to evidence competent English language skills;
Changes to Trade Recognition Australia (TRA) Skills Assessment Program January 2010
On the 1st of January 2010, TRA introduced a new skills assessment program. The Job Ready Program is a 4 steps process and all 4 steps must be completed in order to satisfy the Job Ready Program. The process include:
- Step 1. Provisional Skills Assessment - a successful outcome will enable applicants to apply for a subclass 485 visa
- Step 2. Job Ready Employment - while on a subclass 485 visa, applicant will need to complete 12 months of employment experience
- Step 3. Job Ready Workplace Assessment - applicant will be assess by an approved TRA assessor
- Step 4. Job Ready Final Assessment - evidence of successful completion of the above steps will enable applicant to apply for this step. Successful outcome will enable applicants to apply for permanent residency.
The guidelines for the TRA Uniform Assessment Criteria (UAC) have also recently been amended.
Changes to Vetassess Skills Assessment Program January 2010
On the 1st of January 2010, Vetassess introduced a new skills assessment program. The new assessment criteria requires qualifications to be in a highly relevant field to the nominated occupation. In addition applicants must also evidence at least one year of employment at an appropriate skill level, in a field closely related to the nominated occupation, completed in the five years before the date of application for a Skills Assessment.
Changes to the Citizenship Test October 2009
On 19 October 2009, the Australian Government introduced changes to the citizenship test which assesses prospective new citizens on their understanding of Australian civics and the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship. Some of the key changes are:
- the test will be conducted in English only - it does not contain any mandatory questions - the pass mark has increased from 60 per cent to 75 per cent - the test is based on the Australian Citizenship Pledge that new Australians make when becoming citizens.
Download a copy of the new Australian Citizenship resource book here.
A practice test can be found here: Practice Test
A citizenship course is also under development to help a small group of disadvantaged people, who for a range of reasons, such as limited literacy and schooling, are likely to struggle when preparing for and sitting a formal computer-based test.
Changes to the Priority Processing for Skilled Migration September 2009
On 23 September 2009, Senator Chris Evans, the Minister for the Department of Immigration & Citizenship, announced changes to the priority processing arrangements for General Skilled Migration visa applications, both on and off-shore.
The new processing arrangements again change the order of processing and gives further priority to applications which have nominated an occupations on the current Critical Shortage List (CSL).
Further Changes to the Subclass 457 Program September 2009
On 14 September 2009, the Department of Immigration & Citizenship announced extensive changes to the 457 Program. Some of the changes include:
- All new 457 visa applicants will be required to maintain adequate health insurance for the length of their visa. Visa holders who are enrolled with Medicare under reciprocal health care arrangements will be considered as having met this requirement;
- Introduction of Market Salary Rates: For 457 sponsors the obligation to ensure equivalent terms and conditions of employment will mean that they pay market salary rates to their overseas workers;
- Employers in regional Australia will no longer be eligible for concessions in meeting the minimum salary and skill level requirements for their nominated positions under the Subclass 457 visa program;
- All current 457 sponsors and visa holders have until 1 January 2010 to implement the new Market Salary Rates changes, as the minimum salary rate (MSL) will no longer apply;
- For holders of valid 457 visas it will be easier to change employers within Australia.
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