Occupation Ceilings for 2016-17 Migration Program - Accountants OK, Registered Nurses Up and Builders and Engineers Drop

The Department has released the SkillSelect occupation ceilings for the programme year 2016-17.

An occupation ceiling is a limit on the number of invitations that can be issued through SkillSelect each year.

An occupation ceiling is applied to:

• Skilled independent visas (subclass 189)
• Skilled regional sponsored visas (subclass 489)

You won’t be invited to apply for one of these visas if your occupation has reached its ceiling. This information is generally placed in SkillSelect throughout the programme year.

Compared to 2015-2016, occupation ceilings in 2016-2017 have not changed much. However it is noted that a few occupations have registered an increase of more than 30% to its occupation ceiling.   

The table below shows the occupation ceilings for 2016-17. An occupation highlighted in yellow indicates a decrease compared to the previous year, green means an increase and white means the occupation ceiling is remaining the same as the previous year.

Some changes include:

• ANZSCO Group 2713 Solicitors’ occupation ceiling has changed from 3252 to 5154 places; ANZSCO Group 3421 Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics' ceiling has changed from 1038 to 1701 places
• Also ANZSCO Groups 1332 Engineering Managers and 2539 Medical Practitioners register an increase in places from 1014 to 1407 and 1000 to 1315 respectively.

The occupation ceiling for Accountants appears to be increased by more than 100%. However according to further clarification from the DIBP, the occupation ceiling of 4777 places for Accountants includes the number of Accountants that will be approved for BOTH the points tested visa (SkillSelect) AND employer sponsored visa subclasses. The occupation ceiling numbers for all other occupational categories are strictly for points tested visa subclasses only.

While we have not been provided with the detailed allocation of the numbers for Accountants between the points tested SkillSelect and employer sponsored visas as yet, it might be that the occupation ceiling for Accountants in the SkillSelect programme has decreased from the previous year.

Another interesting observation is that the occupation ceiling for Registered Nurses for 2015-2016 was 13872 but only 3133 places were filled in the programme year. For the 2016-2017 programme year DIBP has increased the occupation ceiling for Registered Nurses to 16346 places, even when the previous year's lower ceiling was not met. While Australia continues to need Registered Nurses to migrate to Australia, the high English requirements for registration may stop people from receiving an Invitation to Apply for this occupation. The high occupation ceiling though, means that nursing might be a good choice of study that leads to a skill that is in demand for the SkillSelect programme.

The majority of occupations did not meet their 2015-2016 occupation ceilings. The few occupations that met their planned ceilings include: Accountants, Auditors, Company Secretaries and Corporate Treasurers, Industrial, Mechanical and Production Engineers, Other Engineering Professionals, ICT Business and Systems Analysts, Software and Applications Programmers and Computer Network Professionals. This means that if your nominated occupation is either Accounting, Engineering or IT related, it is very competitive to get an invitation. You will need to obtain higher points in the SkillSelect points test, to have a better chance of being selected to receive an Invitation to Apply. The higher your points, the more likely you will be selected. Alternatively if your nominated occupation is something other than the above, it should not be too difficult to receive an Invitation to Apply.

UPDATE - 29 June 2016

DIBP has clarified the ceiling value for Accountants in the 2016-17 programme year. It is now reflected as 2500 places in the table.

This information is accurate on 28 June 2016

Do you need help with an Australian visa application?

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Immigration SA has announced that there will be changes for its State Nominated Occupation List (SNOL) effective from 4 July 2016. As part of the changes the online application system will be closed and unavailable during the following times:

30 June 2016 – 9 a.m. onwards until 4 July 2016 after 12 p.m.

All online applications that are saved but not submitted with payment will be deleted after 9 a.m. on 30 June 2016. You will need to prepare a new application thereafter.

From 4 July 2016 onwards the new SNOL may indicate some occupations to be suitable only for a subclass 489 nomination. Some occupations may also have new requirements in relation to English and work experience.

Increase in requirements for offshore ICT visa applicants seeking SA state nomination

Starting from 4 July 2016 all offshore applicants with an ICT occupation will be required to meet 70 points under the Skill Select points test (including State Nomination points – 5 points for subclass 190; 10 points for subclass 489). You will be required to meet all other state nomination criteria as well. Immigration SA may adjust this requirement according to the number of applications received after the change is implemented.

The higher points requirement will not apply if you are:

• applying as an international graduate of South Australia
• currently working in South Australia in a skilled occupation

There are more requirements in relation to applications with an ICT occupation here. Please ensure you meet all requirements before submitting an application.

Sources:

1. http://www.migration.sa.gov.au/news-events/news-releases/revised-south-australian-state-nominated-occupation-list-from-4-july-2016
2. http://www.migration.sa.gov.au/upload/publications/Skilled-Migrants/Instructions-for-state-nomination-applications-for-ICT-occupations.pdf

Comments by Chris Johnston – Principal Lawyer and Registered Migration Agent at Work Visa Lawyers

It is helpful that Immigration SA has announced the incoming changes early. Applicants should take note that while the online system will be closed on 30 June 2016, the system may experience a heavy load of users from now until then. This may cause the online system to be slow or prone to loading errors. You are advised to complete the online applications and make payment as early as possible to avoid any potential interruptions and delays.

It may also be worth considering that changes by one Australian state or territory are often followed by others. As such ICT professionals may now find state/territory sponsorship opportunities limited. Please seek advice and plan ahead for your visa applications as we near the end of the financial year for 2015-16.

This information is accurate on 10 June 2016

Do you need help with an Australian visa application?

At Work Visa Lawyers we are experienced in assisting applicants in all matters relating to Australian visa applications. Our areas of expertise include Skilled Migration visas, Business Skills Migration visas, Employer Sponsored Work Visas, Partner and other Family Migration visas as well as the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) Review, Judicial Review and Ministerial Intervention.

If you require further information regarding your Australia visa options you can contact us through:

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The name for Australia’s immigration department changes every few years and the most recent change was from the “Department of Immigration and Citizenship” (DIAC) to the current “Department of Immigration and Border Protection” (DIBP).

The inclusion of “Border Protection” in the current name gives an impression of “control” and “erecting barriers to entry” to “protect Australian borders”. The impression was also felt by employees at DIBP as a recent internal survey indicated the following:

• there is a "command and control" culture in the Department
• the Department has a "military-style regime"
• there is a “preoccupation with secrecy” and a lack of transparency from the top management
• “a shift to enforcement and a move away from a people and humanitarian focus”

While there were some positives raised in the survey as well with reference to the professionalism, dedication and commitment among staff, the Department is now being perceived as a tough enforcement agency both internally and externally.

Comments by Chris Johnston – Principal Lawyer and Registered Migration Agent at Work Visa Lawyers

How does this affect ongoing visa applications?

It has been observed that in the pool of applications recently submitted to the Department, the assessing case officer has been diligently combing through the documents submitted. Any lack of information or clarity results in a request from the case officer to provide further evidence to support the claims made in the application.

High risk applications could include the following:

• Employer sponsored visa applications where the applicant does not have the qualifications required and is solely relying on references
• Partner visas where there is insufficient evidence to show a genuine relationship. Just submitting a marriage certificate and some supporting statements are insufficient to meet the Genuine Relationship requirements

While this is excellent in capturing and refusing fraudulent visa applications, there are a few issues that arise from this tough stance:

• overall visa processing times will become slower as Department assessment officers spend more time checking documents in detail, and more time on a given case if more information is requested
• some legitimate applications are being asked to provide more information or disprove certain claims when unnecessary. E.g.: an Italian restaurant was asked to prove that they were not a fast food restaurant, even when a Restaurant License was provided in the application

Echoed by some employees of the Department in the internal survey, it is worth noting that the Department is shifting from a people and humanitarian focus to one of enforcement and control. The old Department tagline, “People Our Business” seems to be no longer the focus of the Department in helping eligible visa applicants obtain Australian visas to visit, live or work in Australia.

If you are submitting a visa application to the Department, you should ensure that you have sufficient evidence to demonstrate your claims in meeting the visa application requirements. You will also need to provide quality scans or certified copies of your documents to the Department, to avoid any potential delays or doubts from the assessment officer. Do not attempt to fabricate documents or provide misleading information as you can be served with a Public Interest Criterion (PIC) 4020 violation which will become a big issue in your future visa applications.

While you might have made a genuine error on your application that does not mean you can avoid having the PIC 4020 violation recorded in your Australian visa/immigration history. As such it is extremely important that you do not provide any conflicting or misleading information in your application.

This information is accurate on 6 June 2016

Source:

1. http://www.theage.com.au/national/public-service/command-and-control-immigration-staff-slam-militaristic-culture-20160511-goskdm.html

Do you need help with an Australian visa application?

At Work Visa Lawyers we are experienced in assisting applicants in all matters relating to Australian visa applications. Our areas of expertise include Skilled Migration visas, Business Skills Migration visas, Employer Sponsored Work Visas, Partner and other Family Migration visas as well as the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) Review, Judicial Review and Ministerial Intervention.

If you require further information regarding your Australia visa options you can contact us through:

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On 16^th May 2016 the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) announced a new Skilled Occupation List (SOL) and Consolidated Skilled Occupation List (CSOL) for the upcoming fiscal year 2016-17. You can recap the changes and our initial thoughts in our earlier article here.

Since the announcement of the new SOL and CSOL, there has been increasing queries from students and professionals asking if their field of study and profession is still “in demand” or suitable for the Australian migration programme.

Popular occupations remain in the consideration for Australian visa applications

Work Visa Lawyers has continued to receive enquiries such as those below:

“I am an Accountant and I am going to apply for skilled migration later this year. Am I still qualified?”

“I will be graduating in July 2016 with a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing. Are my studies still suitable for a visa application after I complete my studies?”

“My restaurant needs to hire and sponsor an overseas restaurant manager/cook. Can I still sponsor them when the new SOL and CSOL are in effect?”

Many will be pleased to know that the majority of the most common occupations for skilled and employer-sponsored visas are still on the SOL and CSOL. The most popular occupations include:

• Accountants
• Cooks
• Café or Restaurant Managers
• Marketing Specialists
• Sales and Marketing Managers
• Software Engineers
• ICT Business Analyst

The only occupations that were removed from the SOL and moved to the CSOL are in relation to the mining industry, which includes Mining Engineers, Petroleum Engineers, Occupational Health and Safety Advisors, etc.

Comments by Chris Johnston – Principal Lawyer and Registered Migration Agent at Work Visa Lawyers

In general there isn’t much of a significant change to the SOL or CSOL. Most visa applications with the most common occupations will still be able to proceed. However it is advised that visa applications should be lodged as early as possible to prevent being affected by new changes announced by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP).

You should also remember that the SOL or CSOL is only one of the many requirements of the visa application criteria. You need to make sure you meet all other requirements before submitting your visa application. Seek advice from a Registered Migration Agent if you need more information about your situation.

This information is accurate on 6 June 2016

Do you need help with an Australian visa application?

At Work Visa Lawyers we are experienced in assisting applicants in all matters relating to Australian visa applications. Our areas of expertise include Skilled Migration visas, Business Skills Migration visas, Employer Sponsored Work Visas, Partner and other Family Migration visas as well as the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) Review, Judicial Review and Ministerial Intervention.

If you require further information regarding your Australia visa options you can contact us through:

(08) 8351 9956 or +61 8 8351 9956

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The Law Society of South Australia hosted a luncheon on Thursday, 2 June 2016 which celebrated 21 years of sponsorship of the Society by BankSA. The event was attended by Principal of Work Visa Lawyers and Registered Migration Agent, Chris Johnston. The luncheon was also attended by Managing Partners of law firms in SA and Members of the Small Practice Committee. It was a relaxing luncheon for the legal practitioners who were present.

The Chief Executive of BankSA, Nick Reade, provided an insightful presentation, “South Australia open for business: challenges and opportunities” during the luncheon as well. Thanks Nick and BankSA for the continued support for the Law Society of South Australia.

On 16 May 2016 the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) announced a new Skilled Occupation List (SOL) and Consolidated Skilled Occupation List (CSOL) for the upcoming fiscal year 2016-17.

The SOL enables visa applicants to nominate occupations under the General Skilled Migration (GSM) visa categories, such as:

• Skilled - Independent (Subclass 189)
• Skilled - Regional Sponsored (Provisional) (Subclass 489) by a family member
• Temporary Graduate (Subclass 485)

On the other hand, the CSOL applies to the following visa applications:

• Skilled - Nominated (Subclass 190)
• Skilled - Regional Sponsored (Provisional) (Subclass 489) by a State/Territory
• Temporary Work (Skilled) (Subclass 457)
• Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186)

What occupations are being updated in the new SOL and CSOL?

The following are noted changes in the new SOL and CSOL:

Occupations moved from SOL to CSOL

233611  Mining Engineers (excluding Petroleum)

233612  Petroleum Engineers

234912  Metallurgists

251311  Environmental Health Officers

251312  Occupational Health & Safety Advisers

411211  Dental Hygienists

411212  Dental Prosthetists

411213  Dental Technicians

411213  Dental Therapists

Occupations added to the SOL

251912  Orthotist or Prosthetist

252711  Audiologists

The new SOL and CSOL come in to effect for affected visa applications on 1^st July 2016.

Comments by Chris Johnston – Principal Lawyer and Registered Migration Agent at Work Visa Lawyers

The new changes to the SOL and CSOL provide the following insights:

• Accountant remains on the SOL. There has been much talk of whether there are already a lot of accounting graduates in Australia and if Accountants should be removed from the SOL. According to Job Outlook the prospects for Accountants up to November 2019 look very promising with excellent job openings and future growth. It is a great relief to international students who are graduating with an Accounting degree that Accountants remain on the SOL.
• Mining and Petroleum Engineers shifted to the CSOL is corresponding to the downturn of the mining sector in Australia
• Dental workers now require sponsorship to apply for a visa with the new CSOL

In general the SOL and CSOL do not indicate much of the DIBP’s direction towards occupations. The more telling information will be the planned occupation ceiling numbers for each profession, which determines how many applicants are allowed for an occupation in a single fiscal year. For example even if Accountants remain on the SOL it may be a non-factor if the occupation ceiling is set to be very low.

Occupational ceilings do not apply to State or Territory Nominated and Employer Sponsored visa applications.

Additionally you have to always remember that there are other eligibility criteria that need to be met before you can successfully apply for a visa. Please check all other requirements before submitting an application.

This information is accurate on 24 May 2016

Source:

1. https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2016L00800/Download
2. http://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Work/Skil#tab-content-3
3. http://joboutlook.gov.au/occupation.aspx?search=alpha&tab=prospects&cluster=&code=2211

Do you need help with an Australian visa application?

At Work Visa Lawyers we are experienced in assisting applicants in all matters relating to Australian visa applications. Our areas of expertise include Skilled Migration visas, Business Skills Migration visas, Employer Sponsored Work Visas, Partner and other Family Migration visas as well as the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) Review, Judicial Review and Ministerial Intervention.

If you require further information regarding your Australia visa options you can contact us through:

(08) 8351 9956 or +61 8 8351 9956

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2018 UPDATES:

Skills Assessments & Occupation Lists for Australian TSS 482 And Employer-Sponsored Permanent Resident VisasSkills Assessments & Occupation Lists for Australian TSS 482 And Employer-Sponsored Permanent Resident Visas

Tougher vetting imposed by Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton has led migration to plummet to its lowest since 2007. As reported by the Department of Home Affairs, actual intake fell from 183,608 in 2016-2017 to a staggering 162,417 for the 2017-2018 financial year. Read More. 

How long does a 457, ENS or RSMS visa take to process?

It has been noted that the processing times for the Temporary Work (Skilled) (subclass 457) visa, Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) (subclass 186) visa, and the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) (subclass 187) visa have been getting longer in recent times. While the current Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) service standards list 2 to 3 months processing time for 75% of applications received, the actual processing times for most cases are around 5 months (based on recently submitted applications and comments by business sponsors and visa applicants in forums).

Why is the processing getting slower?

While there is no official explanation for the delay, the slower processing times might be due to increased screening of applications submitted by sponsors and visa applicants. Since the Independent Review report of the integrity in the Subclass 457 Programme released in September 2014, the Department has been stepping up integrity checks and controls for the majority of applications, especially those with the following characteristics:

• high risk occupations such as Café and Restaurant Managers, Customer Service Managers, Project or Programme Administrators, Retail Manager, etc.
• the applicant is related to the business owner as a family member or relative
• an unusually high salary for a low position to claim English Language Exemption
• the business has a low profit or is making a loss, and yet seeks to employ more people

The Department is definitely concerned with the findings of the Independent Review about the integrity of employer sponsors and employee visa applicants for the employer-sponsored visas. In addition to the slower and more meticulous screening of applications submitted, the Department has also introduced related policy such as the “Payment for Visas Conduct”, which prohibits overseas worker to pay businesses in return for sponsorship, or businesses deducting salaries from the sponsored worker to recover sponsorship costs. You can read more about this in our previous article.

Concerns with Genuine Position for Nominated Occupation in 457, ENS and RSMS visa applications

Applications with the above scenarios are likely to be asked for further information by the Department to ensure that the vacant position is genuine and the applicant meets the requirements for the position with the business. Applications that are asked to provide more documents or information will be assessed more thoroughly by the Department and hence there will be a delay to the processing times with the back and forth of submitting information and douments.

The rise in requests to provide further information are also causing assessment officers to spend more time per application, hence affecting applications that are straightforward genuine and complete when submitted.

What does this mean for the business sponsor and visa applicant?

With the expected delays the business sponsor and visa applicant need to consider the extended processing times to avoid any ill effects to the business operations (urgent need for the sponsored worker) or the visa applicant (leaving current employment too early). Additionally the business sponsor and visa applicant need to cross check before submitting the application to ensure all requirements are met for sponsorship, nomination and visa application. A strong application should be prepared with good supporting documents before submitting to the Department for processing.

Comments by Chris Johnston – Principal Lawyer and Registered Migration Agent at Work Visa Lawyers

While the 457 visa programme has been in the limelight for the wrong reasons and being tightened in recent times, the employer sponsored programme is still an integral part to many businesses in Australia. Australian employers have a genuine need to employ skilled overseas workers to meet business needs to maintain or grow the Australian economy.

With the increased international mobility among skilled workers globally, it is important that the 457 visa programme remains responsive to Australian businesses’ needs and enable efficient operations.

The Department’s commitment to checking and ensuring that the 457 visa applications received are genuine makes sense to avoid abuse of the programme. However the downside of slower processing times may hurt Australian businesses that already show that they genuinely need an employee who has been identified with the right skills and experience to help meet business operational needs. The Department will need to strike a delicate balance between enforcement and delivering a visa application outcome in time for the Australian businesses.

If you have any questions about the 457 visa sponsorship, nomination and visa application, please contact Work Visa Lawyers to ensure your applications are prepared well before applying.

This information is accurate on 18 May 2016

Source:

1. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/opinion/john-durie/small-business-angry-over-section-457-visa-delays/news-story/f53d0b941627c2403cc3abb8d014ce35
2. https://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Work/Work/Subclass-457-Integrity-Review
3. https://www.border.gov.au/about/access-accountability/service-standards/temporary-work-visa-processing-times
4. https://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Work/Work-1

Do you need help with an Australian visa application?

At Work Visa Lawyers we are experienced in assisting applicants in all matters relating to Australian visa applications. Our areas of expertise include Skilled Migration visas, Business Skills Migration visas, Employer Sponsored Work Visas, Partner and other Family Migration visas as well as the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) Review, Judicial Review and Ministerial Intervention.

If you require further information regarding your Australia visa options you can contact us through:

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Temporary workers on the Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) and Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462) were originally expected to start paying a 32.5% tax on all wages starting on 1 July 2016 (referred as the Backpacker Tax). Assistant Treasurer Kelly O'Dwyer has announced today that the Backpacker Tax will be delayed until 1 January 2017, pending a review to the Working Holiday (subclass 417) and Work and Holiday visas (subclass 462).

With the delay of the implementation of the Backpacker Tax, temporary workers under the subclass 417 and subclass 462 visas will continue to pay tax on money earned above A$18,200.

Comments by Chris Johnston – Principal Lawyer and Registered Migration Agent at Work Visa Lawyers

This is good news for workers and current holders of the Working Holiday and Work and Holiday visas as the tax-free threshold is maintained. The programme will continue to be attractive for overseas youth to travel to Australia while being able to work to cover travel expenses. Regional agricultural business and farmers will be delighted with the news as it might mean that there is no need to increase payments to attract workers who are required during harvest.

Links to related articles:

• http://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-36309023
• http://www.farmweekly.com.au/news/agriculture/general/politics/backpacker-tax-reforms-set-to-be-shunned/2752421.aspx
• http://www.afr.com/news/policy/tax/time-to-go-sydney-too-expensive-with-a-backpacker-tax-20160517-gowxat
• http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-05-17/nt-farmers-call-backpacker-tax-delay-a-stunt/7421412

If you are interested to know more about the Work and Holiday visa programme, you can contact Work Visa Lawyers to find out more.

This information is accurate on 17 May 2016

Source:

1. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-05-17/malcolm-turnbull-to-back-down-on-backpacker-tax/7420102

Do you need help with an Australian visa application?

At Work Visa Lawyers we are experienced in assisting applicants in all matters relating to Australian visa applications. Our areas of expertise include Skilled Migration visas, Business Skills Migration visas, Employer Sponsored Work Visas, Partner and other Family Migration visas as well as the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) Review, Judicial Review and Ministerial Intervention.

If you require further information regarding your Australia visa options you can contact us through:

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The Minister for Immigration and Border Protection Peter Dutton announced on Friday, 6 May 2016 that the Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) will be introducing two significant changes for visitor visa applications from Singapore nationals.

The two changes to be introduced are:

1. Making Singapore an eligible country for the Work and Holiday Visa Programme
2. Allow Singaporeans to apply for a longer validity visitor visa with multiple entry features 

The inclusion of Singapore as an eligible country for the Work and Holiday visa means that Singaporean youths aged 18 to 30 years of age will be able to travel and work in Australia for a period of up to 12 months. It is expected that 500 places will be made available to Singapore for the Work and Holiday visa on an annual basis.

The availability of a visitor visa with a longer validity and the ability to make multiple entries will enable visitors from Singapore to travel easier and more frequently to Australia. It is expected that this will boost tourism numbers and improve bilateral understanding of the culture and environment between both countries.

The announced changes will be implemented at a later date and we will bring you further updates once more information becomes available from the DIBP.

This information is accurate on 12 May 2016

Source:

1. http://www.minister.border.gov.au/peterdutton/2016/Pages/Australia-enhances-visa-programme-with-Singapore.aspx

Do you need help with an Australian visa application?

At Work Visa Lawyers we are experienced in assisting applicants in all matters relating to Australian visa applications. Our areas of expertise include Skilled Migration visas, Business Skills Migration visas, Employer Sponsored Work Visas, Partner and other Family Migration visas as well as the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) Review, Judicial Review and Ministerial Intervention.

If you require further information regarding your Australia visa options you can contact us through:

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*** Read our earlier article about the new Student Visa structure here. ***

The new student 500 and student guardian 590 will commence from 1 July 2016

Features to include:

Three features we can comment on:

1.       The applications will be all electronic.

2.       The financial capacity requirements will be slightly higher:

The financial capacity requirements will be slightly higher:

Student: $19,830

Student Guardian: $19,830

Spouse or de-facto partner of student: $6,940

Any dependent children: $2,970

Simplified Student Visa Framework (SSVF)

The new simplified student visa framework (SSVF) will be influential in terms of the criteria for the student visa:

The DIBP website provides the following information:

“Under the SSVF, the combined immigration risk outcomes of the student’s education provider and country of citizenship will be used to guide the level of documentation relating to financial capacity and English language proficiency that the student would need to provide with their student visa application.”

The following chart if available from a factsheet for education providers:

“In the table S refers to streamlined evidentiary requirements while R refers to regular evidentiary requirements. Where regular evidentiary requirements apply the student will generally be required to provide evidence of their financial and English language capacity with their visa application.”

Comments by Chris Johnston – Principal Lawyer and Registered Migration Agent at Work Visa Lawyers

The shift to all electronic lodgements will be a major benefit to many applicants.  It will also allow the DIBP/DFAT to save money on staff costs.

We will provide more information about the specific requirements once they are available. In the meantime it is best that you submit your visa applications as early as possible to avoid any delays in starting your enrolled courses.

The simplification in visa classes and risk assessment criteria will be great for all involved.  The current system is very confusing and not user friendly at all.

This information is accurate on 07 May 2016

Sources:

1.     DIBP, SSVF factsheet- General information for education providers, May 2016

2.     Migration Institute of Australia, Reports to Members

Do you need help with an Australian visa application?

At Work Visa Lawyers we are experienced in assisting applicants in all matters relating to Australian visa applications. Our areas of expertise include Skilled Migration visas, Business Skills Migration visas, Employer Sponsored Work Visas, Partner and other Family Migration visas as well as the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) Review, Judicial Review and Ministerial Intervention.

If you require further information regarding your Australia visa options you can contact us through:

(08) 8351 9956 or +61 8 8351 9956

or  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.