Changes in Australia Skilled Migration

Minister’s Announcement on Temporary suspension of certain General Skilled Migration (GSM) applications – 7 May 2010 The Australian Government has decided to temporarily suspend the acceptance of certain General Skilled Migration (GSM) visa applications. This temporary measure will begin on 8 May 2010 and is expected to remain in effect until the end of 30 June 2010. This Temporary suspension is only on the visa applications that are to be lodged outside Australia (Offshore applications).

• Subclass 175 – Skilled Independent (Migrant) visa
• Subclass 176 – Skilled Sponsored (Migrant) visa
• Subclass 475 – Skilled Regional Sponsored (Provisional) visa.

The suspension has resulted due to the Pending GSM visa applications for the current assessment year crossed the available supply. This will also facilitate the transition from the current SOL to the New Proposed SOL which was released on 17th May 2010 to meet the current needs of Australian Labour market. This suspension will not apply on the Dependant visas that are lodged for the Subclasses 175/176/475. Only Paper based applications will be accepted as the online system is deactivated due to the Temporary suspension of GSM offshore Visa applications. All the offshore applications lodged or received at our office on or after 8th May 2010 will be considered invalid and the fee along with the applications will be returned back to the applicant. Minister’s Announcement of New Skilled Occupations List – 17th May 2010. The New Skilled occupations list announced by the Minister will replace the current occupations list from 1st July 2010. The New SOL is of 180 skilled occupations including all Major IT professionals, Engineers, Medical Professionals & Teachers. The New SOL announced is applicable only for the GSM visas that are lodged under Skilled Independent migration program. The Employer Nominated visas still have a broad list of occupations of about 400 occupations. It is also decided that the SOL will be reviewed annually to meet the Australian Labour Market requirements to have a successful skilled Migration programme. As the Current changes in SOL will have a Major effect on the International Students in Australia there are few arrangements made to control the same. Overseas Students who held or hold student visas (572/573/574) before 8th May 2010 will still be eligible to file the Temporary Graduate Visa 485 for an occupation that is in the current and Old SOL anticipating to lodge a visa for permanent residency by end of 2012. Students who hold 485 visas and anticipating lodging for a permanent residency after 1st July 2010 will have to choose an occupation as per the new SOL and have a relevant education from Australia. Options if your occupation is not listed in the New SOL: Applicants who do not qualify as per the New SOL will have other options like Employer Nomination, Regional Employer Nomination or State /Territory Migration. 1) Employer Nomination scheme: You have an Employer who is ready to sponsor you for a Permanent residency or Long stay in Australia to work. The Occupations list is very wide and is about 400 occupations and has all of them that are listed in current and old SOL. 2) Regional sponsored Migration scheme: You have an Employer from regional Australia who is ready to sponsor you for a Permanent residency or long stay in Regional Areas to work. The Occupations list is very wide and is about 400 occupations and has all of them that are listed in current and old SOL. 3) State/Territory Migration: Applicants who do not have an employer to sponsor or do not have an occupation listed in the New SOL can also migrate to Australia through a State Migration Plan which is approved by the Minister. Every state in Australia will have their own Occupations Demand list as per the current Labour Market. If you have your occupation listed in their demand list, you are very much eligible to file your visa application under this category. Currently, none of the states have released their state migration plan and is expected on or after 1st July 2010.