From 01.07.2018 the pool and pass mark for the following three visa subclasses have been increased to 65 points (previously 60 points):
In March 2018 the Australian Government announced the Global Talent Scheme (GTS) targeting talent and innovation in Australia.
GTS will run under the TSS visa program from 01.07.2018, initially for 12 months. It aims to benefit Australia and Australian workers by providing Australian businesses (established businesses and also StartUps) the opportunity to hire highly-skilled, experienced and globally mobile staff for positions in their business.
The Skilling Australians Fund came into effect on 22 May 2018. The Skilling Australian Fund levy (SAF Levy) replaces the training benchmarks scheme. There are now several visa classes affected by the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF Levy). It has been confirmed that for the financial year commencing 1 July 2017, the SAF Levy must not exceed:
Stay informed and find out what your business needs to know:
The Australian Migration Agent and Immigration Lawyer Association (AMAILA) host the prestigious Immigration Choice Awards each year. AMAILA is a membership organization of registered migration agents, licensed immigration advisers and immigration lawyers.
As noted by the board of the Migration Agent Association: “The visa regime in Australia is in a state of continual change. In a time of great confusion and ongoing changes to the migration regulations some migration agents ‘talk’, and some migration agents ‘do‘. The Immigration Choice Awards have been the benchmark for separating these, and for recognising those who continue to push the boundaries and shape the future of the migration industry.”.
Sydney Migration International and its migration agents are honoured to have been recognised as a winner of the 2017 Index: Best Migration Agency 2017
We could not have achieved this recognition without the support of all of our clients. Thank you for your continued support.
Sydney Migration International also congratulates all other finalists and winners who are nominated in the Index and wishes them all the best.
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The key changes to the 186 visa (ENS visa) and 187 visa (RSMS visa) are summarized briefly below. Please note that this list is not an exhaustive list of all changes but contains the major changes in bite size form which we consider would be of importance to our clients:
We have provided a comprehensive overview of the ENS visa and RSMS visa online:
As always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us:
We have previously provided various updates relating to the Skill Shortage Visa (subclass 482 visa) and the abolition of the Temporary Work (Skilled) (subclass 457) visa. As you may be aware, this scheme (amongst other schemes) is in a state of transition.
On 18 March 2018, the Migration Legislation Amendment (Temporary Skill Shortage Visa and Complementary Reforms) Regulations 2018 (sc 482 visa) came into effect and amended the current Migration Regulations 1994. The stated purposes of the sc 482 visa Regulations are to:
The sc 457 visa has now been repealed, and the sc 482 visa has been formally introduced into legislation and is now in effect.
We have provided a comprehensive overview of the new sc 482 visa online:
The key additional details relating to the sc 482 visa which have now been released from our perspective and which we consider to be of particular importance to the majority of our clients are summarised below. We anticipate issuing further information relating to each of the below in subsequent newsletters:
As always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us:
As you may be aware, the 482 visa (TSS visa) has replaced the subclass 457 visa effective 18 March 2018.
One of the new requirements for applicants who wish to apply for a 482 visa is that they must have “worked in the nominated occupation or a related field for at least 2 years”. This criteria must be satisfied at the time of decision, which means that it may be possible to apply for the 482 Visa before the applicant has acquired 2 years of experience.
The stated purpose of this criteria is to ensure that the applicant has the skills to do the job and contribute to Australia’s economy. We expect, based on comments made by Government in relation to the criteria, that relevant work experience will be considered by reference to the tasks and functions of the nominated occupation, and that experience in related roles and flexible working arrangements may be recognized as being relevant work experience.
Additional information about sponsoring employees and the 482 visa:
Contact us and stay informed: Migration Agent
We have previously provided various updates relating to the abolition of the subclass 457 visa and its replacement by the TSS visa (482 visa). As you may be aware, this scheme (amongst other schemes) is in a state of transition.
Yesterday evening, 15 March 2018, the Migration Legislation Amendment (Temporary Skill Shortage Visa and Complementary Reforms) Regulations 2018 (TSS Regulations) were registered.
Importantly for now, the TSS Regulations will commence on 18 March 2018. Therefore, if you wish to be processed under the 457 regime you will need to lodge both your nomination and visa applications (decision ready i.e. with all of your evidence) prior to 18 March 2018. Otherwise, your applications will be processed under the TSS regime (and additional charges may apply).
Rread more about the new TSS visa
Stay informed and read more on how to Sponsoring Employees
Contact us and stay informed: Migration Agent
Two occupations were removed from the lists, but are still available for Sc. 187:
Hair of beauty salon manager (ANZSCO 142114)
Building associate (ANZSCO 312112)
Three occupations were added to the STSOL:
Psychotherapist (ANZSCO 272314)
Property Manager (ANZSCO 612112)
Two occupations that were previously on the STSOL are now on the MLTSSL:
Real estate representative (ANZSCO 612115)
Horse breeder (ANZSCO 121316)
Management consultant (ANZSCO 224711)
Furthermore, caveats for some occupations have changed.
Contact us and stay informed: Migration Agent
It had issued a warning that a lot of visas of this category were lodged too early so that they were at risk to be refused.
The Department now clarified that this warning only concerned applications for the Investor and Significant Investor (SIV) streams of Subclass 888.
The relevant date to determine how long you must have held your provisional visa is 1 July 2015. If you applied for your provisional visa before this date, you need to hold it for 3 years and 11 months or more while you need to hold it for at least 4 years if you applied for it after this date.
Contact us and stay informed: Migration Agent
Are you a well-qualified individual and interested in working in Australia? Australia is well-known as the dream destination for many individuals to not only visit but work either in a short term or permanently in the country. Therefore, the Immigration Department has developed several skilled migration categories that can be applicable to different situations. Each skilled migration category has different requirements for entry to Australia. In most cases, applicants will need to satisfy the basic requirements and in many categories, they must pass the points test. Skilled Migration
Following are the basic requirement to achieve an Australia Skilled Visa:
To make sure you pass all these requirements and point test, contact us and stay informed: Migration Agent
Numerous of the occupations which are eligible for employer sponsored visas are now subject to inapplicability conditions or “caveats”. This means that, whilst the occupations are available for employer sponsored visas, there are conditions which apply to determine the availability of the relevant occupation that employers / employees need to be aware of.
For example, the “marketing specialist” occupation (ANZSCO 225113) is not available if any of the following apply:
Further guidance has been released on the interpretation of the inapplicability conditions / caveats which apply to the following occupations:
In the course of providing immigration services, Sydney Migration International and its Migration Agents are able to provide advice on a broader range of issues including:
How to become an approved sponsor?
Contact us and stay informed:
The Government announced that it would be introducing a new enhanced temporary sponsored parent visa in Australia as part of its election commitment. It is expected that the new parent visa will be introduced by the Government after the Migration Amendment (Family Violence and other Measures) Bill 2016 (Bill) (which will implement a new sponsorship framework for the sponsored family visa program) has passed through parliament.
Existing parent visa categories will remain. The key features of the proposed new temporary sponsored parent visa which have been announced are as follows:
Further details will likely become available later this year. Contact us and stay informed:
Skilled independent visas (subclass 189), skilled regional sponsored visas (subclass 489), and skilled or business state or territory sponsored visas (for example the subclass 190 visa) are each subject to “occupation ceilings” which means that the number of invitations that can be issued through SkillSelect each year for each occupation are limited or capped. If the limit for the relevant occupation has been reached, applicants will not be successful in their application.
The Department of Immigration and Border Protection publishes the occupation ceilings and the relevant ceilings for the 2017-18 programme as well as the number of invitations which have been made to date can be accessed via the following link: https://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Work/Skil#tab-content-3
We recommend that you apply sooner rather than later to ensure that your occupation is still available.
In the course of providing immigration services, Sydney Migration International and its Migration Agents are able to provide advice on a broader range of issues including:
Contact us and stay informed:
The Department of Immigration and Border Protection is planning to introduce tax file number collection from visa holders of permanent skilled migration visas such as the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) visa, the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (subclass 187) visa, the Skilled – Independent (subclass 189) visa, the Skilled – Nominated (subclass 190) visa, and the Skilled –Regional (Provisional) (subclass 489) visa.
The commencement of the collection of tax file numbers is scheduled to commence some time prior to 31 December 2017. The purpose of collection is to enable data to be examined against Australian Taxation Office records so as to ensure that permanent visa holders are actually being paid at least their nominated salary as notified to the Department of Immigration and Border Protection. This is one of the measures to be introduced which seeks to preserve the integrity of the permanent visa programme and is welcomed by Sydney Migration International.
Contact us and stay informed:
Recently, the Department of Immigration and Border Protection announced that from 1 July 2017, applications for ENS and RSMS visas made under the Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream will require, at a minimum, competent English language scores via the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) (or equivalent test). Competent English language means a test score of at least 6 in each component.
At the time of application, applicants need to provide the following evidence:
The previous English language skills exemption for earners of more than $180,001 has been removed for these two visa subclasses.
This change does not impact applications lodged before 1 July 2017 that have not yet been decided by the Department.
Contact us and stay informed:
The Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) provides a permanent visa pathway for skilled people looking to work or seek migration in a regional or low population growth area of Australia. This visa lets employers in these areas to sponsor migrants to fill skilled vacancies in their business which cannot be met locally.
The RSMS offers various benefits for skilled migrants looking for migration move to regional Victoria. It allows the visa holder and their dependent family members included in the visa application to live as permanent residents in Australia.
Permanent residents are able to:
In the course of providing immigration services, Sydney Migration International and its Migration Agents are able to provide advice on a broader range of issues including:
Not only skillked migrants, employers looking to fill skill needs that cannot be met locally will also benefit from the RSMS visa. The only requirement for employers in sponsoring a skilled migrant is to offer a full time job to employee for at least two years.
Seek assistance for your migration path, contact us and stay informed:
According to the Immigration Department, if you are applying for Skilled Migration, you will need to prove your English language ability (via IETLS, OET, TOEFL iBT or PTE Academic Test). The required level of English is subject to the visa subclass you are applying for and there are 4 different levels of English which may be relevant: Superior – Proficient – Competent – Vocational – Functional.
For all 457 visa applicants, it is compulsory to meet the English language requirements, the English requirements won’t apply for applicants from native English-speaking countries for example the UK, Ireland, New Zealand, Canada and the USA. However, a “proficient” or “superior English” test score might increase points test result.
There is also an exemption to the 457 visa English requirement for ‘intra-company transferees’ where the 457 applicant is an employee of your business overseas and will migrate to Australia to fill a position with a salary over $96,400.This is a welcome exemption as the government did not specify that salary related exemptions would be retained in any form. Other exemptions are provided for diplomats and individuals who have finished a minimum of five years full-time study in English.
Business owners and HR professionals will also need to factor in the time it takes applicants to book and sit the English test, as this may impact the times to secure an applicant for a role.
In the course of providing immigration services, Sydney Migration International and its Migration Agents are able to provide advice on a broader range of issues including:
Further advice for subclass 457 visas will be available. Contact us and stay informed:
Lately, The Immigration Department has announced the new amendments on accredited sponsorship. These amendments are designed to ensure that a larger number of lower risk sponsors have access to accreditation and the priority allocation and streamlined processing arrangements that this entails. Previously, accredited sponsorship was generally only accessible to high volume users of the 457 program.
The DIBP believes that this will lessen subclass 457 processing times, whereas at the same time continuing to focus on Australian workers getting priority where skills shortages exist.
Below are the new accreditation characteristics that are divided into four different categories.
To qualify for accredited status, it is essential for a sponsor to meet all the requirements for SBS and prove that they meet the additional characteristics in one of the above four categories.
In the course of providing immigration services, Sydney Migration International and its Migration Agents are able to provide advice on a broader range of issues including:
How to become an approved sponsor?
Contact us and stay informed:Migration Agent
Recently, the Immigration Department has added a new amendment to subclass 790 regulations.
The Subclass 790 Safe Haven Enterprise Visa allows holders who have studied or worked in regional areas for 42 months without accessing social security welfares, to apply for prescribed substantive visas leading to migration for permanent residency.
States and Territories have to opt-in to the Subclass 790 provisions for the Minister to specify specific areas as ‘regional’ for the purposes of this visa. This amendment recognises that additional areas may be identified as regional in the future:
This amendment lets visa holders to retrospectively count study or work undertaken in an area before it was declared regional to be counted towards the 42-month requirements. This amendment relates to visa applications made on or after 1 July 2017, whether the relevant employment or study occurred before, on or after 1 July 2017.
Need assistance for your permanent residency, contact us and stay informed:
08. February 2025
22. February 2025
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