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Visas, Immigration and Refugees

Professionals and other Skilled Migrants

What's New? Recent Changes in General Skilled Migration

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Transitional arrangements for international students – 23 July 2010

Changes to the Skilled Occupation List include generous transitional arrangements which have been extended to current and former student visa holders.
See: Transitional Arrangements for International Students

Priority Processing Arrangements for General Skilled Migration Visas – 19 July 2010

The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, has set new priority processing arrangements for certain skilled migration visas.
See: Updated priority Processing Arrangements for Priority Processing Arrangements for General Skilled Migration Visas – 19 July 2010

New Skilled Occupation List (SOL) – 1 July 2010

New SOL came into effect on 1 July 2010.
See:
New List of Occupations – Skilled Occupation List (SOL) (101KB PDF file)
Frequently Asked Questions – How will I be affected by the introduction of a new Skilled Occupations List? ( 87KB PDF file)
Options for people who may not be eligible for independent migration ( 71KB PDF file)

Introduction the Australian and New  Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) – 1 July 2010

ANZSCO is a classification system that provides for the standardised collection, analysis, and dissemination of occupation data.  From 1 July 2010 ANZSCO will replace the Australian Standard Classification of Occupations (ASCO) currently used by the department. 
See: How will I be affected by the introduction of the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) ( 90KB PDF file)

The temporary suspension of accepting of certain GSM visa applications lifted – 1 July 2010

The temporary suspension of accepting of certain GSM visa applications lifted from 1 July 2010.
Applications for the following visa subclasses are now accepted as normal:

  • Subclass 175 – Skilled Independent (Migrant) visa
  • Subclass 176 – Skilled Sponsored (Migrant) visa
  • Subclass 475 – Skilled Regional Sponsored (Provisional) visa.

Capping and ceasing of specified offshore GSM applications lodged before 1 September 2007 – 1 July 2010

On 8 February 2010, the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, announced that applications for certain offshore skilled migration visas made before 1 September 2007 would be capped and ceased.  The Minister has now set the maximum number of visas that can be granted for the specified visa classes in the 2009-10 financial year.  As the cap has now been reached, applications subject to the capping decision have now ceased.  As part of this process the relevant Visa Application Charge(s) will be returned to the applicant.
See: Visa Application Charge Repayment ( 76KB PDF file)

Changes to state nominated and family sponsored GSM visas – 1 July 2010

From 1 July 2010, applicants for certain GSM applications will be required to demonstrate that they have been nominated by a state or territory government agency or sponsored by an eligible relative apply. These amendments relate to the following visa subclasses:

To lodge a valid application, applicants should lodge their visa application form first.  The nominating state or territory government agency or sponsoring eligible relative should then complete the associated nomination or sponsorship form using the TRN number provided to the visa applicant when lodging the visa application. The nominating state or territory government agency or sponsoring relative should lodge the form within 28 days to demonstrate that the applicant is nominated or sponsored.

Migration Amendment (Visa Capping) Bill 2010 – 26 May 2010

On 26 May 2010 the Migration Amendment (Visa Capping) Bill 2010 (the 'Bill') was introduced into the Parliament. The legislation seeks to fine tune existing laws to provide the Government with a tool for the targeted management of all aspects of the migration program.
See: Migration Amendment (Visa Capping) Bill 2010

Changes to the time of provision of evidence of English language ability

There are new arrangements for the provision of evidence for English language ability. Applicants for the following GSM subclasses have until the time of decision to provide evidence of their English language ability.

  • Skilled – Independent (Residence) visa (subclass 885)
  • Skilled – Sponsored (Residence) visa (subclass 886)
  • Skilled – Independent (Migrant) visa (subclass 175)
  • Skilled – Sponsored (Migrant) visa (subclass 176)
  • Skilled – Provisional (Regional Sponsored) visa (subclass 475)
  • Skilled – Provisional (Recognised Graduate) visa (subclass 476)
  • Skilled – Provisional (Graduate) visa (subclass 485) (where the application was made on or after 27 October 2008).

Applicants should not delay in providing their evidence of English language ability. The department will not delay finalising applications where English language test results have not been provided at time of application. Applicants will have 28 days from the date of application to provide their English language results if they did not provide them at time of application. At this point in time, if evidence has not been provided the application will be refused.

There is no change in the requirements for Skilled – Provisional (Graduate) visa (subclass 485) where the application was made before 27 October 2008 or the Skilled Provisional (Regional Sponsored) visa (subclass 487). The applicant must either provide evidence of English language ability at time of application or provide evidence that they have made a booking to undertake an English language test

New administrative arrangements to meet the health requirement when you make your onshore GSM application – 22 March 2010

Applicants for an onshore General Skilled Migration (GSM) visa must show evidence at the time they make their application, that they have made arrangements to undergo a medical examination.

From 22 March 2010, applicants for an onshore GSM visa need only obtain a reference number from Medibank Health Solutions to meet the time of application health requirement. Applicants should phone Medibank Health Solutions and state that they are applying for a GSM visa and request a reference number. This reference number must then be provided as evidence as part of their GSM application.
Note: Applicants must ensure that they retain a copy of this reference number.

Applicants will be requested to undertake a medical examination by their case officer at a later date.

Applicants who have already applied for GSM and have either made a booking for a medical examination or undertaken their medical examination, do not need to obtain a reference number.

Minister's announcement on GSM visas – 8 February 2010

On 8 February 2010, the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, announced the following changes to the General Skilled Migration program:

  • the outcomes of a review of the Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL)
  • the replacement of the current Skilled Occupation List (SOL) in the second half of 2010
  • offshore GSM visas made before 1 September 2007 would be capped and ceased
  • priority processing arrangements
  • skills assessment requirements for GSM applicants nominating a trade occupation.

More information is available on the department's website.
See:
Changes to the General Skilled Migration Program (362KB PDF file)
Outcomes of the Migration Occupation in Demand List Review – Frequently Asked Questions (373KB PDF file)
Onshore International Students (435KB PDF file)
Changes to Offshore General Skilled Migration Visa Applications Received Before 1 September 2007 ( 67KB PDF file)
Changes to the Current Skilled Occupation List (368KB PDF file)
Revoking the Critical Skills List (337KB PDF file)
Changes to Priority Processing Arrangements – Frequently Asked Questions (406KB PDF file)
General Skilled Migration (GSM) Points Test Review (377KB PDF file)
Changes to the Skills Assessment Requirements for GSM Applicants Nominating a Trade Occupation (323KB PDF file)

1 January 2010 legislative change – suitable skills assessment as a validity requirement for onshore GSM visas

Pre 1 January 2010, applicants applying for permanent migration based on one of the onshore General Skilled Migration (GSM) visa subclasses were required, at time of application, to provide evidence that they had applied for a skills assessment by the relevant assessing authority. At time of decision, a suitable skills assessment was required.

From 1 January 2010, applicants applying for one of the following onshore GSM visa subclasses are required to have obtained a suitable skills assessment prior to applying for migration in order for the application to be valid and assessed by the department for a decision:

More information is available online.
See: Skills Assessment Criterion as a Validity Requirement from 1 January 2010 for Onshore GSM Visas ( 49KB PDF file)