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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