Skilled Migration program

A senior Government immigration official has been placed in Ai Group to assist members who want to use Australia’s skilled migration program. 

Sairul Zen is based in our Sydney office, to help members with their immigration queries and individual cases, as well as providing information on how Australia’s skilled migration program can be used to source skilled labour. 

Members who need any assistance with skilled immigration issues, or are interested in finding out more about using Australia's skilled migration program, should contact Sairul (see below).

Sairul Zen 
Tel: 02 9466 5468
Mobile: 0403 395 154
sairul.zen@immi.gov.au
sairul.zen@aigroup.asn.au

DIAC contacts are listed here.

New demand-driven immigration rules to better target skill needs
An overhaul of the permanent skilled migration program has been announced which aims to better address Australia's medium and longer term skills needs.
The changes apply to the General Skilled Migration program which will account for 110,000 migrants in the coming year.
One of the major changes is the immediate abolition (8 Feb 2010) of the Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL). Prospective migrants in occupations on that list were given priority when applying for permanent residence in Australia.

Ai Group's Media Release:

• Industry will look to new immigration rules to better target skill needs

Factsheets:

• Changes to Priority Processing
• Skills Assessment Criterion as a Validity Requirement from 1 January 2010 for Onshore GSM Visas
• General Skilled Migration (GSM) Points Test Review
• Changes to the current Skilled Occupation List
• Revoking the Critical Skills List
• Changes to the General Skilled Migration Program
• Outcomes of the Migration Occupation in Demand List review - frequently asked questions
• Changes to offshore General Skilled Migration visa applications received before 1 September 2007
• Amendment to the skills assessment criterion for certain onshore GSM applicants nominating a trade occupation from 1 January 2010

457 visa program – further changes
Changes to the Temporary Subclass 457 Business (Long Stay) visa program that come into effect on 14 September 2009 include:

• Sponsorship obligations
• Market salary rates
• Private health insurance
• English language proficiency
• Transitional arrangements
• Other visas affected by the new sponsorship framework

Further information here.


457 visa program – Market Salary Rates
From 14 September 2009, all sponsors of Subclass 457 visa holders will be required to adhere to new Sponsorship Obligations. For details please refer to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship website via the following links:

• Subclass 457 – Market Salary Rates
• Subclass 457 – Market Rates Frequently Asked Questions

457 visa program - recent and future changes
Employers of 457 visa holders should be aware of recent modifications to the program and additional changes taking place in September.

More information here.


Employer Nominated Scheme - sponsoring highly skilled overseas workers for permanent residence
The Employer Nominated Scheme - which allows employers to sponsor highly skilled oveseas workers for permanent residence - may be an attractive option for some employers.

More details here.


457 visa program - changes to eligible occupations
Employers in regional areas will no longer be able to directly sponsor overseas workers in some tourism, clerical and agricultural occupations, under changes to the 457 visa program.

More details here.


457 visa program - changes to English language requirements
On 1 April 2009, the government announced an increase to the minimum English language requirement from IELTS 4.5 to IELTS 5 for all Subclass 457 visa applicants.

More information here.


Skilled Migration - further reductions
The Government has announced further cuts to the skilled migration intake in the 2009-10 Budget, but employer-sponsored visas will remain fast-tracked and uncapped.

More information here.


Subclass 457 Integrity Review Final Report by Ms Barbara Deegan
On 14 November 2008 the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship Senator Chris Evans, released the report of the Visa Subclass 457 Integrity Review conducted by industrial relations expert Barbara Deegan.

For more details, see the Final Report. 


Australian Skills Recognition Information
A new sub-site within the Immigration website has all the information applicants and their employers need to navigate the recognition of overseas qualifications and skills and deal with the issues of licensing and registration. This information is essential when permanent migration applications, including Employer sponsored ones, are being prepared. It is also of general use to employers in managing skills issues when preparing for recruitment. See the DIAC website for more details.  

Change of web address: Employers and applicants should also note that Trades Recognition Australia - who do all skills assessment of trades for migration purposes now have a new web address. The link above will take you to the new site.