NEWS » Australian Skilled Visas

Changes to the Skilled Occupations List, SOL, Schedule 1, Coming on 1 July – Australian Skilled Occupations

admin — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 20:01:48 +0000

The Australian Department of Immigration has released the annual update of the Skilled Occupation List (SOL), Schedule 1, which will become effective from 1 July 2013.

The following occupations will be removed from the current SOL, Schedule 1, from 1 July:

• Hospital Pharmacist ANZSCO 251511?• Retail Pharmacist ANZSCO 251513?• Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Avionics) ANZSCO 323111?• Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Mechanical) ANZSCO 323112?• Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Structures) ANZSCO 323113

This means that from 1 July individuals with these occuaptions will not be able to apply for skilled independent visas and will have to rely on the skilled state sponsored visa stream, or an alternate visa stream.

Click here to access the full list, and for more information.

The Australian Department of Immigration has released the annual update of the Skilled Occupation List (SOL), Schedule 1, which will become effective from 1 July 2013.

The following occupations will be removed from the current SOL, Schedule 1, from 1 July:

Hospital Pharmacist ANZSCO 251511
Retail Pharmacist ANZSCO 251513
Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Avionics) ANZSCO 323111
Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Mechanical) ANZSCO 323112
Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Structures) ANZSCO 323113

Click HERE to access the full list, and for more information.

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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.

NSW State Sponsorships – Subclass 190 Nominations – Closed Until July 2013

admin — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 21:29:09 +0000

Applications for NSW nomination under the Skilled Nominated Subclass 190 visa for the 2012-13 financial year have reached full capacity and have closed for this year.

Applications for the Subclass 190 visa will open again in July 2013.NSW continues to accept applications for nominations for other visa classes, including the Significant Investor Visa.

Applications received for NSW nomination under the Skilled Nominated Subclass 190 visa up to close-of-business on 11 April 2013 will be processed as usual. Any application that has already been received and is currently being processed will continue to be processed. Details of the 2013-14 intake for the Subclass 190 visa will be available in July 2013.

We have been advised that applications for NSW nomination under the Skilled Nominated Subclass 190 visa for the 2012-13 financial year have reached full capacity and have closed for this year.

We have also been advised that the State will resume accepting applications for subclass 190 nominations in July 2013.

In the meantime the State will continue to process applications received up to close-of-business on 11 April 2013.

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Change to the Australian Skilled Visa Points Threshold

admin — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 10:18:08 +0000

The Australian Department of Immigration has announced a change to the points test threshold as it will apply from 1 July 2012.

Currently the points threshold for skilled visa applicants is set at 65 points.

From 1 July 2012, and until further notice, the threshold for new applicants will be
lowered to 60 points.

Although this is fantastic news, it is worth bearing in mind that meeting the 60 points threshold is not automatically a guarantee that an applicant will receive an invitation to apply for a visa; the new system will operate in a way where the selection of applicants will depend on their overall score as well as the quality of their qualifications and work experience.

This means that the higher the score, and general quality of an application (taking into account qualifications and work experience), the greater the likelihood that an application will be selected from the pool of eligible applicants and will be invited to apply for a visa.

For more information about the new points threshold please click here.

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New Skilled Occupations List (SOL) released for 1 July

admin — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 15:26:39 +0000

The Department of Immigration has now released its updates SOL, in anticipation of 1 July changes.

This new list will be effective from 1 July (Australian time).

The list contains the following new occupations:

133513 Production Manager (Mining)

234912 Metallurgist

251411 Optometrist

263111 Computer Network and Systems Engineer

133513 Production Manager (Mining)

234912 Metallurgist

251411 Optometrist

263111 Computer Network and Systems Engineer

The list no longer contains these occupations:

234211 Chemist

252711 Audiologist

331111 Bricklayer

333411 Wall and Floor Tiler

The occupations that have been removed can still be applied for after 1 July via the state sponsored skilled visa scheme, provided that they are being sponsored by a State.

For more information about the new list please click HERE.

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Australian State Sponsored Visas – Links to State Sponsorship Lists

admin — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 12:53:17 +0000

Victoria has overnight updated its list of occupations for the purposes of state sponsorship nominations.

Below is a link to the Victorian list of currently sponsored occupations, as well as the links to the occupations being sponsored by the remaining Australian States and Territories:

VICTORIA

ACT – Canberra

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

NEW SOUTH WALES

the list:

http://www.business.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/5788/STNI-Update-List-of-Occupations-22.09.11.pdf

regional:

http://www.business.nsw.gov.au/live-and-work-in-nsw/visa-and-migration/skilled-regional-migration

TASMANIA

QUEENSLAND

List

http://203.210.126.185/dsdweb/v4/apps/web/secure/docs/4498.pdf

NORTHERN TERRITORY

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ACT (Canberra) State Migration Plan (SMP) Update

admin — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 13:36:09 +0000

A new SMP Occupation List July 2011 for Canberra (Australian Capital Territory) will come into effect on Monday 11 July 2011.

There have being minor changes made to the July SMP List:

131112 Sales and Marketing managers: Limited
135111 Information and Technology Manager: Closed
139912 – 19 Other Specialist manager: Limited
261111-263113 Computing Professionals: Closed

The new list will be available here:

http://www.business.act.gov.au/skilled_and_business_migration/SMP_Occupation_List

In addition, the ACT Government is undertaking a survey of the occupations in demand in Canberra and will be updating the new list when the results of the survey have been processed. A further updated list may therefore be published in September, when there is expected to be significant changes to the list of occupations.

The RSMS Guidelines have also being updated to incorporate the minimum salary of $49,330. The minimum salary comes for RSMS visa applicants will come into effect Monday 11 July 2011.

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New Australian Skilled Visa Points Test – coming on 1 July 2011

admin — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 10:44:45 +0000

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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ACT (Canberra) State Migration Plan Update

admin — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 12:37:38 +0000

The Australian Capital territory (ACT) has now released it’s list of sponsored occupations under its new State Migration Plan (SMP).

The ACT State Migration Plan (SMP) Occupation List and the 176 / 886 Nomination guidelines that now apply can be found on the ACT Website.

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Victoria Releases New Sponsorship List

admin — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 13:29:50 +0000

We are very excited to be able to confirm that Victoria will be releasing it’s long awaited new list of sponsored occupations (via the SMP – State Migration Plan) tomorrow, 3rd November 2010.

Under the Plan the number of skilled migrants that the Victorian Government can sponsor against each occupation listed on the State Sponsorship Eligibility Lists is limited by a quota, and by an overall cap on the total number of applications that can be sponsored each year.

For 2010-11 Victoria’s cap is 4,500 visa grants, which includes primary and secondary applicants.

Advice will be placed against the relevant occupation/s on the State Sponsorship Eligibility Lists on teh Victoria website, stating that applications are not currently being accepted for that occupation and/or if the quota has been reached.

For a full list of occupations eligible for Victorian Government state sponsorship consideration, see the LiveinVictoria website:
Eligibility Lists

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The Australian Budget and its Impact on Migration

admin — Thu, 13 May 2010 11:28:39 +0000

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.