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.”.

Migration Program-cuts to GSM processing

Minister Evans has today announced cuts to the 2008-09 permanent skilled migration program by 14 per cent “to protect local jobs while ensuring employers can access skilled professionals in industries still experiencing skills shortages”.

The changes are a 14 per cent cut in the 2008-09 permanent skilled migration program intake [from 133 500 to 115 000], and changes to the Critical Skills List (CSL).
The Minister’s announcement said that occupations removed from the Critical Skills List include Bricklayers, Carpenters, Plumbers, Welders, and Metal Fitters, and that the list will now comprise mainly health and medical, engineering and IT professions.

The changes to this new CSL are that all trades occupations (ASCO Group 4) have been removed except:

• Aircraft Maintenance Engineer – Avionics
• Aircraft Maintenance Engineer – Mechanical
• Electronic Equipment Trades
• Gasfitter
• Wall and Floor Tiler

The Minister has stated that “The Critical Skills List will remain under constant review and the Government will remove occupations from the list if demand for those skills can be satisfied by local labour.”

We can therefore expect the Critical Skills List to be under continual review and changes can be expected at any time, depending on current economic circumstances.

Processing implications:

As of now, only General Skilled Migration applications which are State/Territory sponsored, or which have nominated occupations on the new Critical Skills List will be processed. There will be no visa grants to other applicants until further notice, which is not likely to be before 1 July 2009, and may be much longer.

Please note: The fact that DIAC is now only processing General Skills Migration applications which are State/Territory sponsored, or which have nominated occupations on the new Critical Skills List does not mean that other GSM applications cannot be lodged. This is simply a method of prioritising the processing so that the Government can better address the current skills shortages in the current economic climate. GSM applications which are not on the processing priority list can still be lodged.

GSM applications which are not on the priority processing lists may have a very long wait, not only because of the processing priority lists, but also because of the 14 per cent cut in the 2008-09 permanent skilled migration program intake from 133 500 to 115 000, and also because of imminent staff cuts across the Commonwealth Public Service, including DIAC. The length of the wait for non-priority applications is something that no-one, including DIAC, can estimate with any accuracy. I am sure this is not what you will want to hear, but it is the truth of the matter.

Australian Visa – MODL Revised

There was a report produced in the Melbourne Newspaper – “The Age”. This is a well read, well respected newspaper, produced in Melbourne, Victoria mainly for the local market, but sometimes articles written in The Age can have an effect Australia wide.

This is part of the article, written on 11th December, 2008.

There has been no confirmation/denial from within the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, nor from Senator Evans, who is the Minister for this Department.

However, it is expected that there will be a review of the Skilled Occupations List (Form 1121i), which in turn may lead to a review of those occupations listed on the Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL), thus, the suggestion by the author, that these two occupations may be targeted.

Hairdressing cut may leave colleges stranded

* Sushi Das
* December 11, 2008

HAIRDRESSING and cookery are expected to be removed from the list of occupational skills in short supply in Australia — a move that would affect migration rules and have widespread ramifications for the international education industry.

Thousands of international students who complete courses in hairdressing and cookery can gain extra migration points towards applications for permanent residency because the two trades are currently included on the Migration Occupations in Demand List.

It is widely acknowledged in the international education industry that hairdressing and cookery are popular courses among international students because the extra migration points allow a “fast track” to permanent residency in Australia.

But the impact on training colleges nationwide is expected to be far-reaching, with possible job losses and business failures.

The removal of cookery and hairdressing could result in a significant drop in students seeking to enrol in such courses, leaving TAFE and private training colleges struggling to fill classes.

886 Skilled Sponsored visa

“886” Skilled Sponsored – 5 year Permanent Visa

If you are a student who has graduated from at least a 2 year registered course, in Australia, in the last 6 months prior to applying for a visa, which is closely related to the chosen occupation, or you hold a “476” (Skilled – Recognised Graduate) visa or a “485” (Skilled Graduate) visa, or completed the apprenticeship for which a “471” Trade Skills Training visa was granted, and the apprenticeship is closely related to the applicant’s nominated skilled occupation, you could apply for the “886” Skilled Sponsored visa.

The applicant’s nominated skill must be in the Major Group IV in the Australian Standard Classification of Occupations (ASCO), and has Vocational English, or the applicant has Competent English, and the applicant has applied for Australian Federal Police and Medical checks.

The applicant must have the qualifying score or 100 points (currently), and been nominated by a State or Territory Government Agency, or has been sponsored by a close family relative who is an Australian Citizen, a, Australian Permanent Resident or a New Zealand Eligible Citizen who is usually resident in Australia and the applicant’s chosen skill must be assessed by the correct assessing authority.

Currently, Western Australia is having unprecedented applications for this and other skilled visas.

On the 1st December 2008, Western Australia are changing the requirements for the “886 visa.

· The sponsorship offered by the Western Australian Government will be valid for 3 months from the date   of issue, and

· The applicant must make the application in person at the State Migration Centre in Perth, Western Australia

In Western Australia, if the application is not made in person, the application will not be approved. Priority will be given to applicants who have:-

· Relevant work experience in their field of study

· A job offer, or

· Have completed their studies in Western Australia.

If you have a qualification and relevant work experience, you may choose to apply for a Skilled Visa in Western Australia.

Even though Emigrate Australia is based in Queensland, we have a reputation for Efficient, Swift, Professional Service, and our ability to obtain visas for our clients from anywhere in Australia or overseas. Try us, you will not be sorry.

Australia visa additions and amendments

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) has added two new visas and have made some amendments which will take effect as from 27th October 2008.

Subclass “651″ eVisitor visa has been introduced for those with an eligible passport from European Union countries, to allow those with a genuine interest in visiting Australia as either a Tourist or on Business. This visa is a Temporary visa for multiple entries to Australia for up to 12 months, with each visit duration of no more than 3 months.

Subclass “488″ Superyacht Crew visa is a Temporary visa which has been introduced by Senator Evans to back up his commitment to this growing industry around our shores. It has been designed to cope with the specific requirements of the Superyacht crews. Some of the conditions of this visa are:-

• must be a member of the crew of a Superyacht
• must be Sponsored by either the Captain or the Owner of the Superyacht on which they are working
• can stay and work for up to 12 months
• can apply for a further “488″ visa on-shore.
• those already on a “456″ Business (short stay) visa do not have to apply immediately for this new visa, but must apply anytime before the expiry of their current “456″ visa.

Subclass “485″ – prior to 27th October 2008, it was permissible for the applicant of the 485 visa to just provide evidence they had only made arrangements to sit an English examination (IELTS). As from 27th October 2008 it is MANDATORY that the applicant has successfully taken the IELTS test.

Subclass “417″ Working Holiday and “462″ Work and Holiday visas – eligible applicants with DEpendent children may be eligible to apply for either of the above visas, providing the Dependent children do not accompany them during their stay in Australia.

As mentioned in a previous article, DIAC has increased their fees for on-shore application for the “TR” “676″ Tourist visa from $215.00 to $240.00.

Furthermore, as mentioned in a previous article, all Contributory Parent visas have had a 3.7% increase in fees also.

Australia visa – Visitor visa

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC), has made an announcement with regard to eVisitor Visas.

As from 27th October 2008, applicants with a current Passport from the Countries listed below, which are all EU countries, plus Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland and the Vatican City, will be able to apply for eVisitor Visas for either tourist or business purposes.

The Eu countries are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the UK.

DIAC have also announced that those applying on-line may do so free of DIAC fees.

Once the application has been approved, this visa will allow the holder to enter and stay in Australia as often as they like, for periods of up to 3 months at a time, with a maximum period of 12 months.

The applicant is not permitted to work.

Changes on 27th October 2008 to Skilled Graduate, Contributory Parent and Tourist visas

On the 27th October 2008, the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) will be announcing changes to the “485″ Skilled Graduate visa, the 2nd instalment of the application fee for Contributory Parent visas and the Tourist visa application lodged in Australia.

The 485 is a relatively new temporary visa, which can only be applied for once, and was created for overseas students who are unable to qualify for a General Skilled Migration (GSM) visa immediately after completing their course of study. It is for a maximum length of time of 18 months, it is not points tested, there are no work restrictions and the Skilled Graduate can apply for a Permanent, Provisional or Employers Sponsored visa at any time throughout the 18 months, once granted.

At time of application, the main applicant must:-

• be under 45 years of age
• have met the 2 years study requirements in the last 6 months
• have applied for a suitable assessment from the required assessing authority in either a 50 or 60 point occupation
• have evidence they have met the required English language threshold, or have booked to sit the English language test
• hold, or have held, an eligible student visa in the last 6 months
• have booked a medical, and
• have applied for an AFP check (16 years or older).

On 27th October 2008, DIAC will be announcing that it will be a requirement that all applicants must be able to show evidence of having met the English language threshold before lodging the application for the 485 Skilled Graduate visa.

Contributory Parent visas secondary instalment of the DIAC application fee will increase from $31,555 to $32,725. Application fees are reviewed every 6 months by DIAC.

Tourist visaapplications lodged in Australia after 27th October will attract a fee of $240.00 instaed of $215.00. Application fees are reviewed every 6 months by DIAC.

Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) Changes Assessment Process

In September 2007, Trades Recognition Australia (TRA), removed “Pathway D”, which enabled those without formal training in their chosen occupation, to be assessed and certified. The applicant could then apply for a Skilled visa, without actually having a formal apprenticeship or Tertiary Training.

Since this date, it has been very difficult for any skilled worker, without the required formal education to apply for an Australian Skilled visa.

On the 1st September 2008, TRA is intending to reduce the number of Pathways for assessment to two. This will be called the Migration Assessment Policy (MAP). They will be known as –  Skill Stream “A” and Skill Stream “B”.

An announcement was made by TRA on the 25th August, saying that they have delayed the release of the MAP indefinitely. No further advice has been given, but it is assumed that after consultation with interested parties within the industry, fine tuning is still required.

Once an announcement is made this website will be up-dated immediately, but until this occurs, an outline of what TRA was intending to release on 1st September for Streams A & B is as follows:-

SKILL STREAM “A” is within Australia and requires the applicant to have:-

Formal Vocational Training (FVT) must be in accordance with the Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF), by an Australian Registered Training Organisation (RTO), awarding an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Certificate III or above. For those outside Australia, FVT will be done in accordance with AQFT and must result in an AQF Certificate III or above in the chosen occupation by a Training Organisation or Institute which will be recognised by TRA. For example, in the United Kingdom, this would equate to the NVQ III.

or

Formal Skills Recognition (FSR) which is obtained through completion of an AQFT workplace assessment in the chosen occupation, resulting in an AQF Certificate III or above. Similarly to the FVT, those outside Australia, their FSR will be done in accordance with AQFT and must result in an AQF Certificate III or above in their chosen occupation. For example, in the United Kingdom, this would equate to the NVQ III.

As from 1st January 2009, any training commenced must be delivered by an Australian RTO listed on the AusLIST Directory.

Employment.

Both FVT and FSR must show certain amounts of employment.

FVT must show no less than 900 hours of employment, showing a skill level transition and will not show any Institutional based workplace training.

FSR must show no less than 3 years employment

This employment can be before, during or after obtaining the AQF Certificate III or above.

Metal and Electrical Trades. The Australian Recognised Trade Certificate (ARTC) which is issued under the “Tradesmen’s Rights Regulations Act 1946 (TRR Act), will meet the requirements for Pathway “A”.

SKILL STREAM “B” is for International applicants and requires the applicant to have either FVT or FSR:-

FVT must consist of Structured Institutional Base Tuition, resulting in the awarding of a formally recoginised qualification in the chosen occupation. There is no restriction on the length of the study.

FSR must be as a result from a workplace assessment by an organisation accredited by an authorised Government Body, whose standards can be independently verified by TRA, which result in the award of a Formally Recognised Qualification applicable to the chosen occupation.

or

be confirmed through a recognised industrial or occupational licence. A Government Recognised Licence from the country of the applicant will surfice, providing evidence of this recognition can be shown.

Employment

Applicants must also demonstrate no less than 4 years employment in the chosen occupation. However, if the applicant can provide evidence that they have completed Formal Vocational Training, showing Skill Level Transition, they are able to claim a maximum of 12 months credit towards their 4 years employment.

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