English requirements for 457 visa

From the 14th April 2009, those applying for a “457″ visa, must now comply with new IELTS score of  an average 5 in all 4 categories of Reading, Writing, Oral (speaking) and Aural (listening).

This new ruling will apply to all new applicants Nominated for an occupation in the ASCO Major Groups 4000′s-7000′s.

Those applicants holding a UK, Republic of Ireland, USA, Canada or New Zealand Passport will not be required to sit the IELTS test in this case, as all 5 Passports are automatically given a “Competent” English rating, or 6 in each of the 4 categories, which is the 2nd highest score possible. DIAC consider these 5 Passports use English as their 1st language.

This ruling will also include Head Chefs (ASCO 3322-11) and Chefs (ASCO 3322-01)

The English result of average 5 in all 4, is required at the time of Decision, not at the time of Application.

Should you require further clarification of this posting or you wish to see if your skill will qualify, please complete our FREE VISA ASSESSMENT on our Front Page.

Qld changes 886 & 487 requirements

Queensland requirements for 886 or 487 visa nomination

Applicants who are currently on either a student visa, graduate visa or working holiday maker visa may be eligible to apply for Queensland 886 visa nomination or 487 visa nomination.

Applicants must:

• have completed their studies with a Queensland education provider (working holiday maker 417 visa holders are excluded from this requirement)
• have a skill on the relevant Eligible Skills List
• have a job or job offer in Queensland in their nominated occupation (including a signed statement from the employer, the name and address of the business, the ABN and a contact phone number)
• have an international English language test (IELTS) score of at least 6 (competent user) in all four components. This does not apply if you are from the United Kingdom, United States of America, Canada, Republic of Ireland or New Zealand.

Note: Queensland will not accept applications to this program on or after 17 April 2009 from applicants who do not meet all of the above criteria.

This has just appeared on the Government site and has been copied for accuracy purposes.

The 886 Skilled Sponsored visa is an “on-shore” 5 year Permanent visa, where the applicant (student) can have close family sponsor them or apply to a State or Territory for Nomination, providing, as mentioned in the article, the applicant has a skilled occupation which is on that relevant State’s or Territory’s website. The applicant MUST have their skill assessed by the recognized assessing authority. If the visa is granted, the applicant, if Sponsored by close family, is not compelled to live in the same State or Territory as the Sponsoring family. However if the visa is granted via Nomination from a State or Territory, the applicant MUST live and work in that State or Territory for the first 2 years.

The 487 Regional Sponsored visa is an “on-shore” 3 year Temporary visa, where the applicant, not necessarily a Student, can be Sponsored by a close relative, living in a Designated area of Australia, or be Nominated by a State or Territory, providing, as mentioned in the article, the applicant has a skilled occupation which is on that relevant State’s or Territory’s website. The applicant MUST have their skill assessed by the recognized assessing authority. However, the visa applicant, MUST live and work in the same Designated area as the Sponsoring family member or the State or Territory which has Nominated them for at least 2 years.

Applicants for both these visa subclasses must have Police Clearance and Health check as well as meet the required points (100).

For further clarification please complete our FREE visa assessment application.

Subclass 457 English Requirements Changed

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC), as from today, 14th April 2009, has amended their requirements for all applicants for the Class “UC”, subclass “457″ Business (Long Stay) 4 year Temporary visa, wishing to apply for an occupation which is in the ASCO 4000′s to 7000′s, as well as Chef (ASCO 3322-11) and Head Chef (3322-01).

They must obtain an average band score of 5 in the IELTS test unless they are exempt.

Please note, that a minimum score of 5 in each of the 4 categories or Reading, Writing, Oral (Speaking) and Aural (Listening) is not required, just an overall IELTS score of 5 is all that is required.

DIAC have also requested that applicants should understand the following:-

“Note that if the nominated occupation requires the applicant to hold a licence, registration or membership that is mandatory for the performance of the activity nominated, and if that licence, registration or membership requires an IELTS score of more than 5 (average), it is a time of decision criterion that the applicant must have that IELTS score.”.