Australian migration news

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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