the skilled migration program version 1 (current 27 march 2008)

The Skilled Migration Program

Version 1 (Current 27 March 2008)

Changes to the skilled migration program

New measures were introduced on 1 January 2009. These measures focus on:

• Giving greater priority to migrants sponsored by employers

• Meeting State/Territory migration requirements• Tighter targeting of migrants not sponsored by

either of the above• Amending visa processing priorities to support the

above

The new measures signal a move to a more robust “demand driven” targeting strategy.

New measures• Establishment of a Critical Skills List (CSL)

drawn up in consultation with State and Territory Governments which is focused mainly on building trades, IT professionals, engineers and medical professionals.

• Changes to GSM English language requirement from 1 January 2010 for all onshore GSM applicants nominating trade occupations

• Introduction of a Job Ready Test from 1 January 2010 for all GSM applicants nominating trade occupations

Processing priorityApplications are currently being processed

in the following order:

1. Employer sponsorship2. State or Territory Sponsorship3. Occupation on the Critical Skills List4. Business Skills5. Occupation on the MODL6. All other applications

Employer Sponsored options

• Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 856)

• Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (subclass 857)

• Temporary (long stay) Business visa (subclass 457)


Onshore GSM Visa Structure

Onshore

Skilled (Residence)Class VB

Skilled (Provisional)Class VC

IndependentSubclass 885

SponsoredSubclass 886

Regional visaSubclass 887

GraduateSubclass 485

Regional – Sponsored

Subclass 487

120120 100 100

& pass marks


General Skilled Migration (GSM) Important requirements when applying for an Onshore visa

Basic requirements for every onshore GSM visa (except subclass 887):

1. Meet the age requirement (under 45)

2. Meet the two year study requirement

3. Meet the English language threshold requirement AT TIME OF APPLICATION (except subclass 487 where test can be booked)

4. Be the holder of an ‘eligible’ visa

5. Nominate a 50 or 60 point skilled occupation from the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) (form 1121i)

6. Health and police clearances

7. Pay the correct Visa Application Charge (VAC) of $2525 (except subclass 485 & 887 - $230)


Important to remember…

Lodge the GSM application before your current visa expires and within 6 months of completing your course

Skilled – Sponsored (Subclass 886) and Skilled – Regional Sponsored (subclass 487)

VisaParticipating State and Territory governments for these visas are:

• South Australia http://www.immigration.sa.gov.au/site/index.php

• Tasmaniahttp://www.development.tas.gov.au/migration/

• Victoriahttp://www.liveinvictoria.vic.gov.au/ViewPage.action

• Western Australiahttp://www.migration.wa.gov.au/

• New South Wales http://www.business.nsw.gov.au/migration/skilled_migration.asp

• Queensland http://www.migration.qld.gov.au

• Northern Territoryhttp://www.migration.nt.gov.au/

• Australian Capital Territoryhttp://www.business.act.gov.au


Skilled – Sponsored (Subclass 886) and Skilled – Regional Sponsored (subclass 487) Visa

OR you can be sponsored by a relative in Australia if they are eligible to be a sponsor

Check the website www.immi.gov.au for relative sponsor eligibility requirements

http://www.immi.gov.au/

Skilled – Regional Sponsored (Subclass 487)About this visa

• This visa allows an applicant to live and work or study in a Specified Regional Area in Australia for up to three (3) years.

• After an applicant has lived in a Specified Regional Area in Australia for at least two (2) years, and worked full time for periods totalling at least one (1) year, he/she can apply for permanent residence via the Employer Nomination Scheme (in limited circumstances) or the Skilled – Regional (Subclass 887) visa.

• Pathways to permanent residency exist via the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS), and applicants DO NOT need to meet the “two and one” requirement to apply.


Provisional visa

The Skilled – Graduate

(Subclass 485) visa

Skilled - Graduate (Subclass 485)About this visa

• New visa category for overseas students who are unable to immediately qualify for GSM on completing their studies

• Valid for 18 months from date of grant

• No work or study restrictions

• Not points tested

• Holders can reside anywhere in Australia

• No sponsorship or nomination is required from an eligible relative or potential employer

• Applicants can only hold this visa ONCE (as the primary visa holder)

• 485 visa holders can apply for a three year provisional or permanent GSM visa at any stage of the visa’s validity. Employer sponsorship is also possible in certain circumstances


Professional Year

• The Professional Year is a new concept to assist former international students obtain workplace skills in their chosen occupation.

• A person that completes a specified Professional Year will be awarded with 10 points under the General Skills Migration points test. Points can only be awarded for Professional Year courses that have been specified by the Minister.

Available coursesThe following Professional Year courses have been specified by the Minister:

Computing Science• Australian Computer Society

Accounting• Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia • CPA Australia • National Institute of Accountants

Engineering• Engineers Australia

Other important information regarding the GSM program


Australian Study

Requirement


The Australian Study Requirement

To meet the Australian study requirement an applicant must have completed one or moredegrees, diplomas or trade qualifications for award by an Australian educationalInstitution as a result of a course or courses:

– that are registered on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) – see http://cricos.dest.gov.au/

– completed as a result of at least two academic years study

– completed in a total of no less than 16 calendar months

– that the applicant studied in Australia while holding a visa that allowed study

– for which all instruction was conducted in English

Applicants will need to demonstrate that they– met the two year study requirement in the last 6 months and– their studies were closely related to their nominated occupation

Students must have completed at least 92 weeks of CRICOS registered study


http://cricos.dest.gov.au/

Definition

of ‘closely related’


Definition of ‘closely related’Example

• A student may complete a Cert IV in Carpentry and a Diploma in Business

• applicants could find these qualifications genuinely useful in operating their own business as a carpenter


Definition of ‘closely related’Example

• Masters in IT and Certificate III in Carpentry would not be consistent with nominating Carpenter as your occupation as you have attained skills at a significantly higher level in a professional field and skills at that level will not have any practical application in working as a carpenter


English Language Threshold

15 points are awarded to applicants who meet the English language threshold:

• Competent English is a score of 6.0 in each IELTS component• Vocational English* is a score of 5.0 in each IELTS component

(available to trade occupations ONLY)• Concessional Competent English# is an overall band score of IELTS

5.5 (if you have paid for English tuition and are applying for a provisional visa (i.e. Skilled – Regional Sponsored (subclass 487 or 475)

• Onshore permanent visa applicants must provide evidence that you meet the English language threshold at the time of application.

• Applicants with strong English language skills who have proficient English [minimum 7.0 in each IELTS components or minimum B in each component of the Occupational English Test (OET) will be awarded 25 points as opposed to 15.

*Vocational English will be removed from 1 January 2010# From 1 January 2010 Concessional competent English is an overall band score of IELTS 6


English language threshold requirementsSpecified Passport Holders

Applicants who hold a passport from one of the countrieslisted below will not be required to sit the IELTS test todemonstrate that they meet the English languagethreshold:

• United Kingdom (UK) • Canada • New Zealand • United States of America (USA) • Republic of Ireland


Job Ready Test• The Government is introducing a JobReady Test (JRT)

from 1 January 2010 for all GSM applicants nominating trade occupations

• The JRT will ensure that GSM applicants who wish to migrate to Australia are able to successfully compete in the Australian labour market in the area of their nominated occupation

• Details of the JobReady Test are being developed by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations in consultation with the Department of Immigration and Citizenship and key industry stakeholders

Australian Employment Definition of ‘when is employment at the skilled level’

For employment to be considered skilled it must meet tworequirements:

• it was undertaken after the applicant met the entry level requirements for that occupation (ie already completed a sufficient level of study or on-the-job training); and

• the work involved duties at the depth and level of complexity expected in Australia


Australian EmploymentExample of NOT meeting the skilled level:

A person who worked in an architect’s firm for ten months during the course of their undergraduate architecture degree and continued in that role for two months after the degree was completed, has worked at a skilled level for only two months.

The applicant’s experience as an architect employed at a skilled level is limited to the two months after obtaining the entry level qualification.

Australian Employment

Example of meeting the Skilled level:

A person enrols in a Masters of Accounting course in Australia. While completing their studies they work in an Accounting firm using the skills they have gained in their overseas bachelor degree.

This would be considered ‘skilled’ work.

Health and Character

Requirements

Health and Character

Health

• Contact Health Services Australia:

www.hsagroup.com.au or 1300 361 046

Character

• Australian Federal Police check

• Go to website www.immi.gov.au for Overseas character certificates information (formerly known as Form 47P)

http://www.hsagroup.com.au/

Lodging your GSM visa application

Complete Form 1276

Attach documents proving:

AgeIELTS test

result

Skills assessment inyour nomination

Occupation(applied for or

received)

2 year study orRecent workExperiencerequirement

Health examination(booked/completed)

Police check(booked/completed)

Send application to the Adelaide Skilled Processing Centre

OR APPLY ONLINE

Please refer to the checklists on the Department’s website at www.immi.gov.au prior to lodging your application to ensure ALL time of

application criteria are met

▼


http://www.immi.gov.au/

Advantages of eLodgement

• Lodge over the internet at any time• Scan and attach documentation (up to

2GB)• Immediate grant of Bridging Visa (onshore

applicants) • Immediate receipt, TRN and outstanding

documentation generated• Document checklist generated • ‘Query status of application online


General Enquiries Phone:

1300 364 613Or go to our website

www.immi.gov.au

Additional Information


the skilled migration program version 1 (current 27 march 2008)

Documents

visa slide

current visa

skilled sponsored subclass

visa new visa category

eligible visa

skilled regional subclass

provisional visa

visa holders