Archive for category Australia
Spam Emails – not from the Department of Immigration
We have heard reports that individuals and colleagues are receiving emails purporting to be from the Department of Immigration DIAC.
These emails have been sent from the following address:
“diac.Contact.Centre.noreply@immi.gov.au”
We have been advised that these are NOT from the Department and should not be opened. The emails may contain malicious code and should be deleted.
If you have received this kind of email, please do let the DIAC know.
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Sort Out My Visa is a registered and licensed Australian and NZ visa specialist, providing visa and migration services to individuals and families wanting to travel to, conduct business, work or live in Australia or New Zealand. Visit Sort Out My Visa for more information.
Australia – It’s Still the Best Place on Earth
The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) has published the results of its annual survey of the best cities to live in on Earth.
And once again, Australia has outranked any other country, in having 3 of its main cities rank in the top ten of all cities: This year Melbourne has taken the top spot, along with Vienna. Out of a total of 140 cities, Adelaide comes in 5th, three places up from last year, and Perth comes in 9th.
Click here for more information:
http://www.citymayors.com/environment/eiu_bestcities.html
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Sort Out My Visa is a registered and licensed Australian and NZ visa specialist, providing visa and migration services to individuals and families wanting to travel to, conduct business, work or live in Australia or New Zealand. Visit Sort Out My Visa for more information.
Australia in the 21st Century – What the latest census reveals
Posted by admin in Australia, Australia - News on June 22nd, 2012
Did you know that:
The population of Australia is 21,507,717, and that almost exactly a half of the population is male, and female.
The median age in Australia is 37.
On average an Australian family has 1.9 children.
The median weekly household income is $1234.
The median monthly mortgage repayment is $1800 while the median weekly rent is $285.
And that the top five countries of birth are:
Australia
England
New Zealand
China
India
These are just some of the interesting statistics based on the latest census record in Australia.
More interesting Australian census details can be found here.
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Sort Out My Visa is a registered and licensed Australian and NZ visa specialist, providing visa and migration services to individuals and families wanting to travel to, conduct business, work or live in Australia or New Zealand. Visit Sort Out My Visa for more information.
Vetassess – Practical Assessments for Trades – Schedule for the UK
VETASSESS has announced that, subject to demand, it will be conducting the following practical assessment events on the 25 February 2012 and 28 April 2012 in College of North West London, London, UK.
Please note that these are the last dates which may be available before changes to the skilled migration programme on 1 July:
25 February 2012 – Assessments for the following trades:
Bricklayer
Carpenter and Joiner
Carpenter
Electrician (General)
Plumber (General)
Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic
Diesel Motor Mechanic (Heavy Vehicle Road Transport)
Motor Mechanic (Light Vehicle)
Sheetmetal Trades Worker
Welder (First Class)
28 April 2012 – Assessments for the following trades:
Bricklayer
Carpenter and Joiner
Carpenter
Electrician (General)
Plumber (General)
Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic
Diesel Motor Mechanic (Heavy Vehicle Road Transport)
Motor Mechanic (Light Vehicle)
Welder (First Class)
These practical assessments form the second part of a two stage skills assessment process for visa applicants in the above occupations.
If you are considering applying fro a visa before 1 July, and on the basis of skills in the above occupations, you should get your applications for a skills assessment in as soon as possible to avoid missing out an assessment on the above dates.
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Sort Out My Visa is a registered and licensed Australian and NZ visa specialist, providing visa and migration services to individuals and families wanting to travel to, conduct business, work or live in Australia or New Zealand. Visit Sort Out My Visa for more information.
Wanted Down Under
Posted by admin in Australia, Australian Skills Assessments on January 4th, 2012
We are very happy for our clients Mr and Mrs Stitt who will be featured on the Wanted Down Under series on the 9th of January (Episode 6). Mr & Mrs Still were guided in the visa process by Lauren and successfully obtained their visas in June last year.
We wish them the best of luck in Australia.
Click here for more information about the series:
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Sort Out My Visa is a registered and licensed Australian and NZ visa specialist, providing visa and migration services to individuals and families wanting to travel to, conduct business, work or live in Australia or New Zealand. Visit Sort Out My Visa for more information.
Skills Shortages In Australia Mean That More Companies Will Be Looking to Recruit From Overseas
Posted by admin in Australia, Australia - News, Australian Employment, Education, employment on July 26th, 2011
According to the Australian Institute of Management there is an acute shortage of skilled Australian workers in the construction, engineering, marketing and sales sectors. This means that Australian employers will be likely to step up their recruitment of overseas skilled workers.
The shortages are due to the continuing growth of the Australian economy, the continued growth of the mining sector, but also due to the failure of the education system in ensuring that school leavers are properly trained via apprenticeship schemes.
Click here for the full article and here for more information from Reuters.
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Sort Out My Visa is a registered and licensed Australian and NZ visa specialist, providing visa and migration services to individuals and families wanting to travel to, conduct business, work or live in Australia or New Zealand. Visit Sort Out My Visa for more information.
Australian Skilled Occupation Lists to Change on 1 July
Posted by admin in 176, Australia, Australia - News, Australian Migration Legislation, Department of Immigration, SOL, Skilled Occupations List, australian points test on June 6th, 2011
The Australian Department of Immigration has announced that the following changes will be made to the skilled occupations list (SOL) on 1 July:
These occupations will be removed from the SOL schedule 3 as of July 1st 2011:
251411 Optometrist
251412 Orthoptist
324111 Panel Beater
324311 Vehicle Painter
These occupations will be added to the list on 1 July:
234914 Medical Physicist
251311 Environmental Health Officer
251312 Occupational Health and Safety Adviser
251511 Hospital Pharmacists
251513 Retail Pharmacists
271111 Barrister
271311 Solicitor
323211 Fitter (General)
323212 Fitter and Turner
323213 Fitter-Welder
323214 Metal Machinist (First Class)
399111 Boat Builder and Repairer
399112 Shipwright
So what does this mean?
If you were planning to apply for a skilled visa on the basis of the SOL Schedule 3 list only, and not on the basis of state or employer sponsorship, and your occupation will be removed off the list on 1 July, you may no longer be eligible to apply for a Skilled Independent visa and may have to rely on either a state sponsorship or sponsorship from an employer.
You must therefore apply for your skilled visa prior to 1 July (Australian time) to avoid being caught out by these changes.
If, on the other hand, your occupation will now be added to the SOL, then you may be eligible for a skilled independent visa rather than having to rely on state or employer sponsorship. We would therefore advise that you re-assess your options accordingly.
For further information about this legislative change please click here.
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Sort Out My Visa is a registered and licensed Australian and NZ visa specialist, providing visa and migration services to individuals and families wanting to travel to, conduct business, work or live in Australia or New Zealand. Visit Sort Out My Visa for more information.
New Australian Skilled Visa Points Test – coming on 1 July 2011
Posted by admin in Australia, Australian Skilled Visas, australian points test on November 11th, 2010
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION WILL BE UPDATED REGULARLY AS FURTHER INFORMATION COMES TO HAND.
PLEASE RE-LOAD YOUR PAGE TO ENSURE THAT YOU ARE ACCESSING THE MOST UP TO DATE INFORMATION:
The Australian Government has announced a significant overhaul of its skilled visa points system which will apply to all skilled visa applicants from 1 July 2011. From 1 July 2011 all skilled visa applications will be awarded points as follows:
Points for Age
25 points = applicants aged 18 to 24
30 points = applicants aged 25 to 32
25 points = applicants aged 33 to 39
15 points = applicants aged 40 to 44
0 points = applicants aged 45 to 49
Points for English Language Ability
10 points = applicants with Proficient English (7 in each of the 4 bands of the IELTS)
20 points = applicants with Superior English (8 in each of the 4 bands of IELTS).
Points for Overseas Work Experience
Points are available for overseas work experience, so long as the work experience is in the applicant’s nominated occupation, or closely related occupation.
5 points = 3 of the last 5 years
10 points = 5 of the last 7 years
15 points = 8 of the last 10 years
Points Recognised Qualifications (Australian or Overseas)
5 points = for applicants who complete a qualification taking 2 years of study in Australia
5 points = for 2 years of study in a regional or low population growth area
10 points = for applicants with an Australian AQF III or higher, completed in Australia OR for applicants who have completed a recognised apprenticeship overseas.
15 points = for applicants with a recognised Bachelor degree in Australia or overseas.
20 points = for applicants with a PhD.
Points for Australian Work Experience
Points will be available for work experience in Australia, so long as the work experience is in the applicants’ nominated occupation, or closely related occupation.
5 points = 1 of the last 2 years
10 points = 3 of the last 5 years
15 points = 5 of the last 7 years
Points for Sponsorship by State/Territory Government
5 points = for sponsorship to live in a metropolitan area
10 points = for sponsorship to live in a regional area
Points for Sponsorship by Family
5 points = for sponsorship to live in a regional area
Points for Partner Skills
5 points = for partner skills
Points for Designated Language (Second Language)
5 points = for applicants who have completed a degree level qualification taught in a designated language; or who are NAATI-accredited translators or interpreters in a designated language
Points for Completing a Professional Year in Australia
5 points = for applicants who have completed a professional year in Australia. This is typically undertaken by international students after completion of their studies in Australia. Current occupations where this is possible include Information Technology, Accounting and Engineering.
The new POINTS THRESHOLD WILL BE SET AT 65 POINTS for all visa applicants.
For detailed information about the changes please visit the Department’s Website and read the Department’s fact sheet.
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Sort Out My Visa is a registered and licensed Australian and NZ visa specialist, providing visa and migration services to individuals and families wanting to travel to, conduct business, work or live in Australia or New Zealand. Visit Sort Out My Visa for more information.
State Sponsorship Lists – Update – South Australia
Posted by admin in 176, Australia, SMPs, South Australia State Sponsorship List, State and Territory Nominations on October 21st, 2010
Immigration South Australia have advised that the following occupations will be removed from the current Interim Occupations List and/or will not be included in the State Sponsored Migration List (SSML) when they are (finally) released:
- Civil Engineer
- Software Engineer
- Developer Programmer
- ICT Business Analyst
- Systems Analyst
- Production or Plant Engineer.
For more information, and to access the full interim South Australia list, please follow this link: South Australia Interim Sponsorship List
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Sort Out My Visa is a registered and licensed Australian and NZ visa specialist, providing visa and migration services to individuals and families wanting to travel to, conduct business, work or live in Australia or New Zealand. Visit Sort Out My Visa for more information.
Salaries of Tradesmen Sky Rocket in Canberra
Posted by admin in Australia, Moving to Australia, Working in Australia, employment on October 18th, 2010
Due to a severe shortage of skilled workers, tradesmen in Canberra (the Australian Capital Territory) are being paid up to AUD$160,000 a year. Which is more than double the salary in other Australian States.
But Canberra is not alone, although its unemployment rate of 3% is the lowest in the country, there are shortages of skileld tradesmen throughout Australia, and thousands of vacancies waiting to be filled.
This means that large projects, such as the proposed Australia wide broadband network, may have to be put on hold until enough skilled workers are recruited to udnertake the work that needs to completed.
Click here for more details.
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Sort Out My Visa is a registered and licensed Australian and NZ visa specialist, providing visa and migration services to individuals and families wanting to travel to, conduct business, work or live in Australia or New Zealand. Visit Sort Out My Visa for more information.
Australian Job Vacancies – Continued Growth
Posted by admin in Australia, Australian Employment, employment on October 6th, 2010
According to the Australian, August 2010 saw a rise of 9.8% in job vacancies throughout Australia.
Of this, over 163,000 jobs were advertised in the public sector and over 17,000 in the public sector.
What does this mean in terms of migration?
Hopefully it will mean that the Government will begin to realise that with the decrease in migration numbers in the 2009/2010 year employers across the board, and throughout Australia, will really struggle to fill job vacancies unless there is a change in the Government’s recent over-cautions attitude to migration.
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Sort Out My Visa is a registered and licensed Australian and NZ visa specialist, providing visa and migration services to individuals and families wanting to travel to, conduct business, work or live in Australia or New Zealand. Visit Sort Out My Visa for more information.
After 17 days Australia finally has a Government – Election Result
After 17 nail biting days of political wrangling Australia finally has a government, and keeps its first female Prime Minister!
A labour majority was won last night, after 17 days of wrangling, when the 3 deciding votes were finally cast by independent MPs. and went in Julia Guillard’s favour, by one. labour will now form a minority government, which means that accountability and scrutiny will be at an all time high.
We do not yet know what impact the new minority labour government will have on migration law, however, the formation of a government will at least mean that the Department can now shift from a “caretaker” mode into a normal working mode. Hopefully this also means that the eagerly awaited State Migration Plans (SMPs) will also be released shortly.
Click here for more information about the election result.
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Sort Out My Visa is a registered and licensed Australian and NZ visa specialist, providing visa and migration services to individuals and families wanting to travel to, conduct business, work or live in Australia or New Zealand. Visit Sort Out My Visa for more information.
Priority Processing for Australian Skilled Visas
Posted by admin in 1 July 2010, Australia, Australia - News, Australian Migration Legislation, CSL, Chris Evans Minister for Immigration, MODL, State and Territory Nominations on July 19th, 2010
The Australian Department of Immigration – DIAC – has made a number of important changes to the skilled visa system in the last 18 months. These changes (see previous posts) have had an impact on the way a visa application is treated with priority for the purposes of processing times.
In light of this, the Minister for Immigration has just released the latest update with respect to priority processing, which takes into account the latest 1 July changes to the Migration Regulations and law:
1. First to be processed will be Applications from people who are employer sponsored under the ENS and the RSMS.
2. Second to be processed will be Applications from people who are nominated by a state/territory under new state or territory’s state migration plans (these have yet to be released).
3. Applications from people who have nominated an occupation on the new Skilled Occupation List – SOL – Schedule 3.
4. All other applications are to be processed in the order in which they are received.
These visa subclasses are NOT effected by priority processing:
• Skilled – Recognised Graduate subclass 476 Visas
• Skilled – Graduate subclass 485 Visas
• Skilled – Designated Area – Sponsored (Residence) subclass 883 Visas
• Skilled – Regional subclass 887 Visas.
More information on the changes to the GSM program is available from the departmental website by following these links:
New Skilled Occupations List ist (SOL)
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Sort Out My Visa is a Australian and NZ visa specialist, providing visa and migration services to individuals and families wanting to travel to, conduct business, work or live in Australia or New Zealand. Visit Sort Out My Visa for more information.
Demand for Skilled Workers in Australia – On the Rise Again
Posted by admin in Australia, Australia - News, Australian Employment, Moving to Australia, employment on July 12th, 2010
According to the Bureau of Statistics, Australia, the demand for workers in Australia is still on the rise:
June saw Australia’s unemployment rate calling to 5.1 per cent, the lowest recorded rate since January 2009. This translates to a net rise of approximately 45,900 jobs. Well above the predicted job rate increase and the biggest net jobs gain since since January.
Of course the implications of the increasing demand for jobs should mean that politicians stop playing politics, and start looking at the real numbers and what such shortages bode for the Australian economy.
Click here for more information about job rates and here for more about the impact of rising job demands on migration and the economy.
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Sort Out My Visa is a Australian and NZ visa specialist, providing visa and migration services to individuals and families wanting to travel to, conduct business, work or live in Australia or New Zealand. Visit Sort Out My Visa for more information.
Australian Government Approves Paid Parental Leave
Posted by admin in Australia, Australia - News on June 17th, 2010
After much debate the Australian Parliament has finally approved a Paid Parental Leave scheme which will see mothers and fathers of new borns enjoying 18 weeks of paid parental leave at the national minimum wage level.
Employers will be liable to pay both the government’s pay under the new scheme as well as any additional entitlements under existing employment or labour contracts.
The scheme will come into force in January 2011.
For more information visit The Age’s article.
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Sort Out My Visa is a Australian and NZ visa specialist, providing visa and migration services to individuals and families wanting to travel to, conduct business, work or live in Australia or New Zealand. Visit Sort Out My Visa for more information.
Australian Visa Fees – Increase
Posted by admin in Australia, DIAC, Visa Application Fees on June 15th, 2010
There will be a slight increase of between AUD$ to AUD$50 in all Australian visa application fees from 1 July 2010.
In addition, many visa application forms will be updated from 1 July 2010.
Please see the Australian Department of Immigration’s website for more information.
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Sort Out My Visa is a Australian and NZ visa specialist, providing visa and migration services to individuals and families wanting to travel to, conduct business, work or live in Australia or New Zealand. Visit Sort Out My Visa for more information.
New Australian Skilled Occupations List – SOL – is Released
Posted by admin in 1 July 2010, Australia, Australian Skills Assessments, SOL, Skilled Occupations List, Skills Assessments on May 17th, 2010
The long awaited new Skilled Occupations List has finally been announced by the Australian Minister of Immigration.
The full list can be downloaded by following this link:
http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/pdf/new-list-of-occupations.pdf
This list will apply from 1 July 2010.
The new list excludes a number of occupations, including some trades (cooks, hairdressers and fitters), general business occupations, science occupations, primary school teachers, some associate professional occupations.
HOWEVER, please be aware that even if your occupation is no longer included on the new list, it may well be included on the shortly to be released new State Sponsorship Lists. This means that even if you have not yet lodged your visa application, and your occupation is no longer listed on the new SOL, you may still be able to apply for the Skilled State Sponsored Permanent Visa.
Similarly, if your occupation is no longer on the new Skilled Occupations List, you will still be able to apply for:
- A Graduate Skilled Subclass 485 – providing you held a qualifying student visa on 8 February 2010.
- Employer Sponsored Visas (the Employer Nomination Scheme visas, RSMS and Business Long Stay Subclass 457 visas.
- State Sponsored Visas.
The new listed occupations are defined in accordance with the ANZSCO Code and not the ASCO Code and therefore carry new skilled occupation numbers. However, a transition period will apply whereby assessments containing the old definitions will continue to be valid for visa application purposes.
Last but not least, if you have already applied for your visa you are not affected by this change.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you require any more information about the above changes.
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Sort Out My Visa is a Australian and NZ visa specialist, providing visa and migration services to individuals and families wanting to travel to, conduct business, work or live in Australia or New Zealand. Visit Sort Out My Visa for more information.
The Australian Budget and its Impact on Migration
Posted by admin in Australia, Australian Budget, Australian Migration Legislation, Australian Skilled Visas, Chris Evans Minister for Immigration, DIAC, Department of Immigration on May 13th, 2010
The Australian Government’s Budget for 2010-11 spells mostly good news for people who want to migrate to Australia on a temporary or permanent basis.
In particular, the immigration program is set to remain at about the current size, with small changes to some of the visa schemes, in line with the Government’s aim to continue to focus on current demand driven migration. This means that the focus will continue to be on individuals who can help fill Australian’s skilled shortages, and individuals who have an employer on board ready to provide sponsorships.
With this in mind, the total number of migrant places will remain at the current level of 168,700 places. Of this number about 113,850 places will be reserved for skilled migrants (this is an increase of about 5000 places, with most being reserved for employer sponsored skilled migrants) and 54,550 places for family migrants (a decrease of about 5000 places).
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Sort Out My Visa is a Australian and NZ visa specialist, providing visa and migration services to individuals and families wanting to travel to, conduct business, work or live in Australia or New Zealand. Visit Sort Out My Visa for more information.
Australian Skilled Visas – Temporary Suspension of Some Skilled Visas Lodgments
Posted by admin in 1 July 2010, Australia, Australian Skilled Visas, DIAC, Department of Immigration, SOL, Skilled Occupations List on May 11th, 2010
The Australian Department of Immigration (DIAC) announced a number of changes over the weekend that have an impact on the preparation and lodgment of some skilled visa applications.
In particular the Department has decided to temporarily suspend the acceptance of any new General Skilled Migration (GSM) visa applications until the much anticipated new Skilled Occupations List will become law on 1 July 2010.
(The final version of the new list was supposed to have been released by the end of April, but will not now be released until later this month.)
Although we do not know which occupations will be included in the final version of the new Skilled Occupations List, a draft list of the new skilled occupations that has been released contains the following occupations:
1331* Construction Managers
1332 Engineering Managers
1341 Child care centre managers
1342 Health and welfare services managers
2633 Telecommunications engineering professionals
1343 School principals
2711 Barristers(d)
1344 Other education managers
2712 Judicial and other legal professionals(d)
2211 Accountants(a)
2713 Solicitors(d)
2212 Auditors, company secretaries and corporate treasurers(b)
2723 Psychologists
2221 Financial brokers
2725 Social workers
2241 Actuaries, mathematicians and statisticians(c)
3122 Civil engineering draftspersons and technicians
2245 Land economists and valuers
3132 Telecommunications technical specialists
2311 Air transport professionals
3211 Automotive electricians
2312 Marine transport professionals
3212 Motor mechanics
2321 Architects and landscape architects
3221 Metal casting, forging and finishing trades workers
2322 Cartographers and surveyors
3222 Sheet metal trades workers
2326 Urban and regional planners
3231 Aircraft maintenance engineers
2331 Chemical and materials engineers
3233 Precision metal trades workers
2332 Civil engineering professionals
3241 Panel beaters
2333 Electrical engineers
3243 Vehicle painters
2334 Electronics engineers
3311 Bricklayers and stonemasons
2335 Industrial, mechanical and production engineers
3312 Carpenters and joiners
2336 Mining engineers
3321 Floor finishers
2339 Other engineering professionals
3322 Painting trades workers
2341 Agricultural and forestry scientists
3331 Glaziers
2346 Medical laboratory scientists
3332 Plasterers
2347 Veterinarians
3334 Wall and floor tilers
2393 Teachers of English to speakers of other languages
3341 Plumbers
2411 Early childhood (pre-primary school) teachers
3411 Electricians
2544 Registered Nurses
2611 ICT Business and Aystems analysts2613 Software and applications programmers
2412 Primary school teachers
3421 Air-conditioning and refrigeration mechanics
2413 Middle school teachers
3422 Electrical distribution trades workers
2414 Secondary school teachers
3423 Electronics trades workers
2415 Special education teachers
3942 Wood machinists and other wood trades workers
2421 University lecturers and tutors
3991 Boat builders and shipwrights
2511 Dieticians 3996 Sign writers
2512 Medical imaging professionals
4112 Dental hygienists, technicians and therapists
2514 Optometrists and orthoptists
4114 Enrolled and mothercraft nurses
2515 Pharmacists
4115 Indigenous health workers
2521 Chiropractors and osteopaths
4231 Aged and disabled carers
2523 Dental practitioners
4233 Nursing support and personal care workers
2524 Occupational therapists
4412 Fire and emergency workers
2525 Physiotherapists
4413 Police
2526 Podiatrists
2527 Speech professionals and audiologists
2531 Generalist medical practitioners
2532 Anaesthetists
2533 Internal medicine specialists
2534 Psychiatrists
2535 Surgeons
2539 Other medical practitioners
2542 Nurse educators and researchers
2543 Nurse managers
(* The ANZSCO unit group code number; (a) CPA or equivalent; (b) Auditors only; (c) Actuaries only; (d) Legal professionals admitted to practice only.)
Irrespective of the above list, Australian States have indicated that State Sponsorship Lists will be updated and expanded on 1 July 2010 and will contain occupations that may not appear on the new skilled occupations list. In other words, although an occupation may not be listed on the new Skilled Occupations List, this does not mean that a skilled individual will be unable to migrate to Australia under one of the skilled visa categories.
Other possible changes in July 2010 may be an increase in the age threshold; for most visas this is currently limited to individuals who are under 45 years of age.
It is also possible that there will be some changes to the current skilled points test.
Further information about the above changes or any future changes will be posted on this website as and when they become available.
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Sort Out My Visa is a Australian and NZ visa specialist, providing visa and migration services to individuals and families wanting to travel to, conduct business, work or live in Australia or New Zealand. Visit Sort Out My Visa for more information.
Australian Skilled Occupations List – Postponed
Posted by admin in Australia, Australian Skilled Visas, CSL, DIAC, Department of Immigration, MODL, SOL, Skilled Occupations List on May 4th, 2010
The much anticipated release of the Department of Immigration’s (DIAC) new Skilled Occupations List (SOL) has been postponed.
The new list was to be released by the end of April, or in early May. The early release of the list would have allowed visa applicants who may be disadvantaged by the list to submit their visa applications prior to the new list coming into force in July 2010.
The delay in the release of the list may mean that those who may be affected by any changes in the list will not have enough notice to ensure that they submit their visa applications prior to July 2010.
Our advice is for all applicants who are able to submit their visa applications prior to 1 July 2010 to seriously consider doing so as soon as possible. Submission prior to July 2010 will mean that their visa applications should be considereed under the existing list rather than the new list.
This advice is particularly important for individuals in occupations that are expected to be removed from the skilled occupations list, such as hairdressers and cooks.
Please feel free to contact us if you require any further information or adivce about the proposed changes to the SOL and how such changes may affect you.
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Sort Out My Visa is a Australian and NZ visa specialist, providing visa and migration services to individuals and families wanting to travel to, conduct business, work or live in Australia or New Zealand. Visit Sort Out My Visa for more information.
Australian Skilled Visa Programme Changes – and Their Impact
Significant changes have been announced to the Australian Skilled Migration Programme, including:
1) The MODL (List of Migration Occupations in Demand) has been removed:
This does not affect individuals who have already applied for their visas, or who hold Skilled Graduate Visas.
Most applicants who have not yet applied for a skilled visa and who will be effected by the removal of the MODL may claim additional points by undertaking an IELTS test and obtaining 7 in each of the four sections of the test, and/or applying for a State Sponsored Visa.
The only applicants who will be able to claim MODL points now are:
a) Those who were granted or applied for 485 Skilled Graduate Visas before 8 February 2010 AND who apply for permanent skilled visas before 31 December 2012.
b) Those who applied for a Skilled Visa before 8 February 2010.
2) The current SOL (Skilled Occupations List) will be changed in the middle of 2010:
We understand this to mean that a new list will be introduced on 1 July 2010, but a firm date has not been announced. As the new list will reflect an update of current skills shortages throughout Australia, the Critical Skills List will no longer be needed and will be removed at the same time.
Anyone applying before mid 2010 will be able to apply under the current SOL and Critical Skills List.
3) Skilled Visa Applications lodged before 1 September 2007 will be capped:
Once the capped number is reached, the Department of Immigration will not process any remaining visa applications lodged before 1 September 2007. The Department will issue refunds of the visa application fees of those applicants whose visa applications will not be processed.
4) The points test that applies to the Skilled Visas will be reviewed in the first half of 2010:
The Department feels that the current points test does not lead to desirable outcomes in attracting “skilled” migrants. We anticipate that a new points test may be released as early as mid 2010 and that skilled trades people may no longer be awarded 60 points for their skills.
5) The current Priority Processing hierarchy has been updated, the first visas to be processed will be:
a) Applications from people who are sponsored by employers and applying for an ENS or RSMS visa.
b) Applications from people who are nominated by a state/territory government under a state migration plan agreed to by the minister. (We do not believe that any such agreements have yet been made by the states/territories).
c) Applications from people who are nominated by a state/territory government agency and whose nominated occupation is on the Critical Skills List (CSL).
d) Applications from people who are not state/territory nominated or sponsored, but whose nominated occupation is listed on the CSL.
e) Applications from people who are nominated by a state/territory government agency whose nominated occupation is not listed on the CSL.
f) Applications from people whose occupations are listed on the Migration Occupations in Demand List
(MODL) OR aplications from people who are sponsored by family and whose nominated occupation is not listed on the CSL.
These applications may take up to 2 years to finalise.
g) All other applications (these will be processed in the order in which they are received).
These applications may take up to 3 years to finalise.
If you are worried about the effect of any of the above changes on your visa application please fee free to contact us for more information.
Australia – New MODL (migration occupations in demand list) and other changes to be announced on 8 Feb 2010
Posted by admin in Australia, Australian Migration Legislation, DIAC, MODL on February 5th, 2010
According to the Australian newspaper The Age a new MODL list will be released on Monday, and some other changes will be announced by the Minister of Imigration of Australia.
If you are a hairdresser or a cook, and you need to claim MODL points, and you have a chance to submit your application before midnight Sunday (Australia time) – in other words, you already have your skills assessment – you should aim to get your application in as a matter of urgency.
This advice (above) is based not just on the article but also on rumours which have been around for about a year, or more, that hairdressers and cooks would come off the list.
Of course there is no telling what other occupations may come off, again, it is possible that other trades could come off the list, but the precise information will not be available until Monday the 8th of February (Australia time).
To read the whole article please follow this link:
[URL="http://www.theage.com.au/national/skilled-migration-shakeup-20100205-nip5.html"]http://www.theage.com.au/national/skilled-migration-shakeup-20100205-nip5.html
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Obtaining Medical Checks in the UK and Ireland – Update
Having to obtain medical checks is a part fo many Australian visa applications. Until very recently, medical checks could be undertaken via Australian Government approved “panel doctors” based in the UK and Ireland.
However, the Department of Immigration (DIAC) will be rolling out a new system shortly whereby medical checks, and x-rays, will be undertaken in a number of specified medical centres. Information about the location of these centres has not yet been released, but should be available within a week or so.
Visa applicants who are currently organising your medical checks in the UK and Ireland should ensure that their “panel doctor” of choice is still able to provide the necesary service and that the results of their medical checks will be valid.
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Sort Out My Visa is a Australian and NZ visa specialist, providing visa and migration services to individuals and families wanting to travel to, conduct business, work or live in Australia or New Zealand. Visit Sort Out My Visa for more information.
Australian Skills Assessment – 2010 Changes
Posted by admin in Australia, Australian Skills Assessments on January 11th, 2010
Teaching Australia and the Australian Computer Society will be updating their requirements shortly:
Teachers
New skills assessment criteria will come into force on 22 March 2010. Details of the available changes are availble here:
Computing Professionals
There are also new skills assessment criteria being introduced by the Australian Computer Society. These are particularly relevant to individuals with insufficient qualifications who will be applying for RPL stream assessment.
Details of the changes are available here:
http://www.acs.org.au/assessment/docs/UpcomingChanges20100201.pdf
These changes will apply from 1 February 2010.
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Sort Out My Visa is a Australian and NZ visa specialist, providing visa and migration services to individuals and families wanting to travel to, conduct business, work or live in Australia or New Zealand. Visit Sort Out My Visa for more information.
Australia – Skilled Occupations for Skilled Assessment List Released
In line with the Australian Government’s “job readiness” policy and subsequent changes to Australian Migration rules that came into effect on 1 January 2010 (see our previous news update), the Minister for Immigration has now released a list of occupations that are affected by the new changes.
The full list of occupations can be found here: List of Skilled Occupations for Skilled Assessment: Skilled Occupations List for Assessments
All applicants with occupations on this list who are applying for an offshore Skilled visa will now have to meet the work experience (at least 12 months of recent work experience at a skilled level) requirement in that occupation.
Similarly, onshore applicants with occupations on this list will be required to meet the job ready requirement as part of their skills assessment which now includes a 12 month recent work experience requirement.
If you applied for your visa before 1 January 2010, and you lodged a valid application at the time, you are not affected by these changes.
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Sort Out My Visa is a Australian and NZ visa specialist, providing visa and migration services to individuals and families wanting to travel to, conduct business, work or live in Australia or New Zealand. Visit Sort Out My Visa for more information.
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