This is a summary of some very important changes that will effect all future offshore visa applicants and some lodged onshore visa applicants from 1 January 2010:

Onshore Applicants in the following subclasses will be required to provide a suitable skilled assessment at the time of application, not just proof that a skilled assessment has been applied for:

- Skilled Independent Visa (subclass 885)

- Skilled Sponsored Visa (subclass 886)

- Skilled Regional Sponsored Visa (subclass 487)

Further, some applicants will have to provide a skills assessment which has been completed on or after 1 January 2010 for specified gazetted occupations. (We do not know, as this stage, which occupations will appear on this list.)

Offshore Applicants in the following subclasses will be required to comply with new work experience requirements:

- Skilled Independent Visa (subclass 175)

- Skilled Sponsored Visa (subclass 176)

- Skilled Regional Sponsored Visa (subclass 475)

In particular, visa applicants with a listed occupation will be required to show recent work experience in their occupation NOT just any skilled occupation. Again, the list of occupations affected has not yet been made available.

Please contact us  via email, marking the subject matter as URGENT, if you believe that as a result of the above changes your application must be lodged prior to 1 January 2010. Although we are closed over the holiday period, in light of these changes we will be able to deal with urgent enquiries.

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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.