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New Skilled Occupation List Announced for 1st July 2011
(9th June 2011)
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Australia's Industry Seeks Skilled Migrants
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(15th April 2010)
NEW General Skilled Migration POINTS TEST TO RELEASED
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(11th November 2010)The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Bowen MP, today announced a new points test to assess independent skilled migrants as part of the Gillard Government’s ongoing commitment to reforming the skilled migration program to deliver the skills Australia needs.
Mr Bowen said the new points test will emphasise the importance of English, work experience and high level qualifications, and is designed to ensure no one factor guarantees migration.
"These changes to the points test are an important next step in the series of reforms to the skilled migration program announced by the Government in February this year,” Mr Bowen said.
"The reforms set the foundations for a skilled migration program that will be responsive to our economic needs and continue to serve Australia’s interests in the medium to long term.”
The new points test has been formulated following extensive public and stakeholder consultation, and research review. The review found the existing points test led to a skewing of applications towards a small number of occupations and a growing pipeline of applicants waiting for a skilled migration visa.
"The existing points test has not always led to outcomes consistent with the objectives of the skilled migration program,” Mr Bowen said.
"For example, the current test puts an overseas student with a short term vocational qualification and one year’s work experience in Australia ahead of a Harvard educated environmental engineer with three years’ relevant work experience.
"The new points test will ensure we select the best and brightest people from a large pool of potential migrants.”
The new test will also continue to recognise the additional value that Australian education offers.
The new points test will complement the new skilled occupation list, which came into effect on 1 July 2010, to deliver migrants with a mix of the skills and attributes needed to contribute productively in Australia.
It is important to note that the points test only applies to one component of the skilled migration program. Employer-sponsored visa categories are not affected by changes to the points test.
The new points test is proposed to take effect from 1 July 2011, subject to passage of supporting legislation through the Parliament. It will apply to anyone lodging an application from 1 July 2011.
To learn more about these proposed changes, please visit New Points Test FAQ's.
Thames Migration will also be holding FREE seminars over the coming months across the United Kingdom and Australia, commencing this Monday, 15th November in Manchester. Please contact our office on 0208 996 0120 to register.
NEW General Skilled Migration POINTS TEST TO BE RELEASED
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(10th November 2010)
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) is about to release the new Points Test for General Skilled Migration (GSM).
The proposed new Points Test will be available on our website shortly.
Some major changes include:
* The bundling of qualifications and work experience to achieve the majority of points;
* An increased of the GSM age limit to 50 years of age;
* The inclusion of two additional recognised English language tests;
* The degree of relationship between sponsor and applicant now determining points awarded for sponsorship;
* Sponsors now must be Australian citizens of at least five years and resident of at least the two years immediately prior toapplication; and
* Regional family sponsors now must be residents of a designated area for at least two years immediately prior to application.
Please contact us should you require any further information.
Thames Migration staff receive briefing from Australia's Department of Immigration & Citizenship (DIAC) and State/Territory Governments (13th September 2010)
Thames Migration staff today received a detailed briefing at the Australian High Commission in London to update them on current immigration policy and forthcoming developments. The briefing was designed exclusively for migration agencies with MARA Registered Migration Agents to help them better assist their visa applicant clients. Thames Migration is one of Australia's largest visa and immigration agencies with offices in London and Brisbane, Australia and has a large team of MARA agents to help applicants through the increasingly complex Australian immigration system.
Enlightening presentations were provided by the Regional Director of Europe DIAC (Australia's Department of Immigration and Citizenship). Thames Migration staff also met with other the many State and Territory government managers and representatives. After the briefing, Hannibal Khoury, Thames Migration registered migration agent, said "This was a great opportunity for our staff to receive up-to-the-minute details of the Australian immigration policy and an indication of what lies ahead for the State Migration Plans (SMP). It ensures that we are well-equipped to assist our clients and to react quickly to changes in Australian immigration policy – a vital component to success for visa applicants.
With the increasing complexity of Australia's immigration procedures (not to mention unprecedented amount of changes in the past 12 months) large cuts in the annual intake, more applicants now than ever before are using companies with MARA agents, such as Thames Migration and Thames Migration Services Australia".
The Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship indicated that such briefings are likely to be held more regularly in order to promote the positive working relationship between DIAC and MARA Registered Migration Agents.
State Migration Plan
Minister for Immigration Chris Bowen has already said that the way refugees are handled is his first priority. For Skilled Australian visa applicants, there may be questions how the growing backlog of applications in the system will be approached, as well as how the State Migration Plans are brought on stream. Some light relief! Tasmania, Queensland, Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and the Northern Territory have indicated they are accepting sponsorship applications from applicants on the current Skilled Occupation List Schedule 3. However, the sponsorship is conditional and subject to the State Migration Plan approval by the Minister Chris Bowen, at this stage a signal by the states is being possibly December 2010.
Some States and Territories also indicated a tightening of the previous criteria for sponsorship and quota limitations set according to specific state/ territory requirements and demand. For example, the Northern Territory’s Manager explained that a mere 990 positions are available for suitable sponsorship this year. She explained it is ‘very much a shrunken pool and states and territory governments will be prioritising'.
Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia clearly explained they remain waiting for individual State Migration Plan approvals before accepting state sponsorship applications. They also indicated quotas are set for occupations.
If you want to lodge an application for permanent residence in Australia, you are recommended to consult a MARA Registered Migration Agent who is licensed by the Australian Government Office of Migration Agents Registration Authority www.mara.gov.au
For more information please visit the Thames Migration website and to receive a free initial eligibility assessment, please visit www.thamesmigration.com
NEW Immigration Minister Chris Bowen Announced (12th September 2010)
Chris Bowen Chris Bowen
Chris Bowen is Australia's NEW Immigration Minister.
Immigration was a hot issue in the federal election, with the Coalition promising to cut net migration to 170,000 each year, a figure Labor said would be achieved anyway through a natural decline from the high numbers recorded before the GFC.
To find out how the changes to the Australian government will affect your chances of a new life downunder, complete our online assessment at www.thamesmigration.com or call us today on 0208 996 0120
New priority processing list published (19th July 2010)
The department of immigration has published the new priority processing list and there are now 3 categories with processing priority.
1: Applications sponsored by an employer under the ENS or RSMS schemes.
2: Applications sponsored by a state under a state migration plan.
3: Applications from applicants who have occupations listed under schedule 3 of the new skilled occupations list.
4: All other applications will be processed in date received order.
As yet no state migration plans have been approved but there is every chance that these will be agreed and published in the next few months.
State Migration plans - List of occupations eligible for sponsorship (1st July 2010)
The department of immigration has now published the list of occupations that states may sponsor under their state migration plans. However we will still have to wait and see which states are willing to sponsor which occupations! Hopefully we will have that information soon.
The list can be found here: Skilled Occupations List Schedule 4
Offshore Skills visas - Processing restarted. (1st July 2010)
As of the 1st of July the department of Immigration will accept applications for the following visa classes:
175 - Skilled Independent
176 - State or relative sponsored
475 - State or relative regional sponsored
This removes the suspension placed on these applications before the introduction of the new skilled occupations list which is now in force.
Australian Visas Public Comment Now Available - Have your say! (15th June 2010)
http://www.psnews.com.au/PPage_6.pdf
Skilled Migration Program - New Skilled Occupations list published
(17th May 2010)
The new Skilled Occupations list has at last been published and as widely predicted the number of occupations on the list has been drastically reduced from 457 eligible occupations to 181. This list will be introduced on the 1st of July this year. This new list may be viewed here:http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/pdf/new-list-of-occupations.pdf
There are still 2 issues to be resolved before it becomes clear as to exactly how the revised skilled migration program will work. The first is the issue of the new State migration programs none of which have yet been published. It is widely anticipated that the states will be roughly keeping to their current sponsorship lists and will therefore provide a pathway for migration for some of the occupations that have been removed from the Skilled Occupations list. It has already been made clear that states will be able to include occupations not included on the new list in their sponsorship programs. Secondly we do not yet know what the new points system will look like but it is highly probable that there will be substantial changes there as well.
Skilled Migration program - Offshore applications suspended until July
(7th May 2010)
The Department of Immigration announced today that from the 8th of May it is suspending all offshore applications for skills visas. This means that they will no longer accept applications for the following visa classes:
175 - Skilled Independent
176 - State or relative sponsored
475 - State or relative regional sponsored
This suspension will remain in effect until the 30th June and is timed to coincide with the introduction of a new Skilled Occupations List on the 1st of July. In addition a number of states will be publishing their new state migration plans and it is widely anticipated that changes to the points system will also be announced on this date. This move has, in all probability, been triggered by the rising numbers of applications coming in to the department as people seek to apply before the rules are changed.
DIAC announcement on changes to General Skilled Migration
(8 February 2010)
On 8th February 2010, the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, announced the following changes to the General Skilled Migration program:- the outcomes of a review of the Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL). The list has been abolished and therefore the 15 points which were available for applicants with occupations on that list are no longer available
- the replacement of the current Skilled Occupation List (SOL) in the second half of 2010
- offshore GSM visas made before 1 September 2007 would be capped and ceased
- priority processing arrangements
- skills assessment requirements for GSM applicants nominating a trade occupation
- A review of the points system is currently being undertaken.
Migration reforms to deliver Australia's skills needs
http://www.minister.immi.gov.au/media/media-releases/2010/ce10006.htm
Changes to Australia's skilled migration program
http://www.minister.immi.gov.au/media/speeches/2010/ce100208.htm
We strongly recommend you read the 2 ministerial releases and the Review of the General Skilled Migration Points Test Discussion Paper (15th February 2010) if you are thinking of migrating as they outline what is likely to happen in the future!
General Skilled Migration Points Test Discussion Paper (15th February 2010)
http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/whats-new.htm
General Skilled Migration Changes
http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/pdf/faq-gsmchanges.pdf
Outcomes of the Migration Occupation in Demand List Review – Frequently Asked Questions
http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/pdf/faq-modl.pdf
Changes to Offshore General Skilled Migration Visa Applications Received Before 1 September 2007
http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/pdf/faq-offshore-preseptember.pdf
Changes to the Current Skilled Occupation List
http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/pdf/faq-sol.pdf
Revoking the Critical Skills List
http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/pdf/csl-gsm.pdf
Changes to Priority Processing Arrangements – Frequently Asked Questions
http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/pdf/priority-processing.pdf
General Skilled Migration (GSM) Points Test Review
http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/pdf/faq-points-test.pdf
Changes to the Skills Assessment Requirements for GSM Applicants Nominating a Trade Occupation
http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/pdf/changes-skills-assessment.pdf
Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) announces important changes to take place 01/01/2010.
www.immi.gov.au/legislation/amendments/2010/lc01012010-07.htm
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