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An interesting article by Myriam Robin about 457s in WA:
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If you require further information regarding a 457 application or your Australian visa options you contact our offices on (08) 7225 5091 or +61 8 7225 5091 or
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The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) is the body authorised to do skills assessments for Australian migration purposes.
On 17 September 2013 ANMAC has sent the following information regarding the skills assessment process:
“New process of returning applications for migration skills assessments when incorrect documents are submitted”
“New protocol to be implemented
To continue to process applications in a timely manner, ANMAC is introducing a new protocol to manage incomplete and incorrect applications. Applications that are received incomplete or without correct supporting documentation will be returned. This will allow the applicant and their nominated agent to review the requirements for each document before resubmitting the application.
This new process will reduce the unnecessary administrative burden on the ANMAC assessors allowing for faster assessment times while ensuring that responsibility for the submission of correct documents appropriately resides with the applicant and their nominated agent.
We appreciate your support and assistance with the new assessment strategy.”
The release by ANMAC provides the following description in the rise in the number of applications for assessment and the documents that are usually required. “
“ Situation analysis
As you would be aware from the information provided on our website, the ANMAC assessment process can take more than 14 weeks during busy periods. ANMAC has been experiencing unprecedented numbers of skills assessment applications since the introduction of SkillSelect by DIAC in January 2013.
Traditionally ANMAC has assessed approximately 2000 applications per year. Since 1 January 2013 this has increased significantly to an average of over 100 applications per week, putting us on course to assess over 5000 applications this calendar year. The increase in application numbers has created extended assessment times for skills assessments although we are working to mitigate this.
The following steps have already been taken by ANMAC to improve assessment times:
New database to improve information storing and reporting
The increase in applications has created an additional administrative burden on ANMAC especially where the submission includes incorrect documents and incomplete applications.
Common errors include:
Source: Information released by ANMAC on 17 September 2013
Do You Need Help in Relation to a Skills Assessment as a Enrolled Nurse or Registered Nurse?
At Work Visa Lawyers we are experienced in assisting with skills assessment to enable applications for skillselect subclass 189, 190 and 489 visas and Employer Nomination Scheme applications.
We can help you with a skills assessment as an Enrolled Nurse or Registered Nurse.
For further information regarding skills assessments or your Australian visa options you contact our offices on (08) 7225 5091 or +61 8 7225 5091.
Or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
This information is accurate on the 20 September 2013.
On the 16 September 2013 Prime Minster Tony Abbot announced his Ministry.
He has appointed Scott Morrison as the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection. This title is a change from what had previously been the Minister of Immigration and Citizenship.
The press release from Tony Abbot provides the following:
“Mr Scott Morrison MP will be Minister for Immigration and Border Protection. Senator Michaelia Cash will be Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection. This is a strong team to stop the boats. Recognising its key role in border protection, Customs will be in this portfolio.”
Here is a link to some previous comments made by Scott Morrison when he was the Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, in relation to skilled migration:
Sources:
http://lpaweb-static.s3.amazonaws.com/TheMinistry.pdf
http://resources.news.com.au/files/2013/09/16/1226720/249667-aus-file-abbott-ministry-statement.pdf
Do You Need Help in Relation to Australian Visas?
If you require further information regarding Australian Visa application charges or your Australian visa options you contact our offices on (08) 7225 5091 or +61 8 7225 5091
This information is accurate on the 18 September 2013.
Following his win is the electorate of Cook, Scott Morrison has made statements to his local paper/online media the St George and Sutherland Shire Leader.
He has said he is ready to serve and in relation to the role, he commented:
“‘‘But that is a matter for the Prime Minister-elect to decide,’’ he said.
‘‘I’ve worked in the portfolio over the past four years. I’ve done the work and put the commitments there.”
Source:
http://www.theleader.com.au/story/1764131/im-ready-to-serve-says-morrison/?cs=12
For a previous Blog regarding Scott Morrison and skilled migrations views :
http://www.workvisalawyers.com.au/news/entry/the-coalitions-approach-to-skilled-migration-457-visas-and-english-testing-scott-morrison-in-his-own-words.html
Do You Need Help in Relation to Australian Visas?
If you require further information regarding Australian Visa application charges or your Australian visa options you contact our offices on (08) 7225 5091 or +61 8 7225 5091
This information is accurate on the 14 September 2013.
The following occupations have been shifted to ‘currently not available’ on the SA State Nominated Occupation List (SNOL).
- Chemical Engineer,
- ICT Business Analyst
- Software Engineer
This will effect those who were planning to apply for sa state sponsored subclass 190 or 489 visas for the above occupations.
Here is what the status of ‘Currently not available’ means:
“Currently Not Available for State Nomination
Occupations with this status are not currently available for South Australian state nomination, due to the occupation group being close to reaching the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) national ceiling. DIAC have a limited number of places available for State and Territory nomination for the rest of the 2013/14 program year. Independent General Skilled Migration or other States/Territories may still have places currently available for the occupation group.
In December 2013, DIAC will notify South Australia if there are any additional places available for this occupational group for state nomination and will allocate South Australia with a new quota.
Please monitor this website in December 2013 for any updated information.
Please view the DIAC website for announcements about occupation groups close to reaching the DIAC ceiling and how it affects prospective applicants for State Nominated or Independent General Skilled Migration http://www.immi.gov.au/skills/skillselect/.”
Sources: Immigration SA
https://www.migration.sa.gov.au/snol_data
https://www.migration.sa.gov.au/snol
Do You Need Help in Relation to Australian Visas?
If you require further information regarding Australian Visa application charges or your Australian visa options you contact our offices on (08) 7225 5091 or +61 8 7225 5091
This information is accurate on the 13 September 2013.
Scott Morrison is likely to be announced as the new Minister for Immigration. He was the Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship from 8 up until the Federal election on the 7th September 2013.
This is what Scott Morrison has previously said in relation to:
Skilled Migration:
At the Brisbane Resource Industry Migration Forum for AMMA on the 8 August 2013:
"The Coalition believes in a well run migration program that focuses on skills and creates jobs for Australians," Mr Morrison said.
Source:
http://www.amma.org.au/newsroom/media-releases/3394-coalition-s-skilled-migration-program-will-restore-business-confidence-scott-morrison
Paper by Scott Morrison to Address to the Affinity Intercultural Foundation, Sydney
Wednesday 17 July 2013. At page 4:
“During the Howard years skills based migration increased from less than 30% of the permanent
program under Paul Keating to almost 70% by the time they left office. The Howard Government
also introduced the temporary skilled visa, the 457.
Research by Monash University showed that during the Howard years the percentage of Australians
who were concerned about immigration levels being too high almost halved, from more than two
thirds to just over one third. Over the same period our permanent immigration intake doubled.”
http://www.affinity.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Morrison-Doing-far-more-to-build-our-nation-170713.pdf
On 457 Policy under Brendan O’Connor
Scott Morrison was highly critical of the statements made by Brendan O’Connor in relation to claimed 457 rorts.
In a radio interview on the 2 May 2013 Scott Morrison said:
“Well this report obtained by the Coalition under freedom of information demonstrates some fairly routine housekeeping changed to the 457 scheme.
It certainly doesn't anywhere justify the sort of inflammatory rhetoric and trash talking of skilled migration that the Prime Minster and Minister O'Connor have engaged in, nor does it in any way provide any evidentiary basis for the sort of claims they've made about 10,000 people rorting the system and so on.”
http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2013/s3750563.htm
At the Brisbane Resource Industry Migration Forum for AMMA on the 8 August 2013:
“Until this year the skilled migration program enjoyed bipartisan support. Labor’s attack on skilled
migration through the measuresintroduced to choke the 457 migration program with union red
tape was nothing more than economic vandalism,” he said.
http://www.amma.org.au/assets/media/2013MediaReleases/Aug/MEDIA%20RELEASE_Coalitions_killed_migration_program_will_restore_business_confidence_Scott_Morrison.pdf
Skilled Migration and English Language Requirements
On English Language Testing:
Paper by Scott Morrison to Address to the Affinity Intercultural Foundation, Sydney
Wednesday 17 July 2013. At pages 6 and 7:
“IELTS is a quality program – used by more than 6,000 organisations across 135 countries, including
immigration departments and authorities in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the UK. IELTS
conduct around 1.9 million tests per year.
But we must be wary of creating a closed shop on English language testing or having English
language testing used as a non-tariff barrier by trade unions trying to crash the skilled migration
programme as an industrial tactic.
We should be moving towards a more competitive framework.
Australia needs to have the capacity to have progressive levels of English language capability. We
also need greater flexibility; the notion of having an English language test that is fit for purpose,
instead of a one size fits all.
There can be no argument that English skills are important. They are critical not only for personal
safety but also for participation and social cohesion.
English language skills are important to ensure awareness of compliance with occupational health
and safety rules. They are also important in allowing a visa holder to communicate and connect with
their employer, their colleagues and their community.
Temporary migrants, whether they are students or workers, can be highly vulnerable to abuse. An
understanding of English helps them access services and understand the protections available to
them, whether they are trying to rent a flat, understand the terms and conditions of their
employment, open a bank account or take out a loan.
The United Kingdom accepts over 30 language assessment systems in addition to the IELTS.
One of those providers is the renowned Cambridge English Language Assessment – formerly the
ESOL – with 4 million candidates sitting the tests in 130 countries.
The rationale behind Cambridge is that “tests need to be fit for purpose, offering users a range of
solutions that meet diverse needs”.
The level of language skills required of someone applying to come to Australia should also take into
account how long they intend to stay.
We also need more than a one-off time freeze snapshot. If a person has been living, working and
actively engaging in Australia over a number of years, it is in their interests as well as that of the
community that as their active engagement grows, their level of proficiency does not stay static;
ideally it would develop and improve over this time.”
The 457 and English Language Testing:
In an address to the National Press Club Mr Morrison said:
"There is also a need to revise the English language test that now requires a score of at least five in all four categories of the IELTS test," he told the NPC.
"These tests can be used a little like a non tariff barrier to trade by unions seeking to crash the system as an industrial system."
Source: article by Malcolm Farr, National Political Editor, 30 March 2011, news.com.au
Comments by Chris Johnston Principal of Work Visa Lawyers:
The information above is statements made by Scott Morrison in the lead up to the 2013 elections . The extent to which promises made prior to an election will result in government policies is an unknown.
In relation to 457 visas, it is clear that Scott Morrison is a critic of the 457 policies when he was a shadow Minster.
The open question is whether the 457 labour market testing measures will come into effect. The relevant Legislation is the Migration Amendment (Temporary Sponsored Visas) Bill 2013. The legislation will come into effect within 6 months of the Act receiving royal assent and the last day for this to happen would be the 29 December 2013.
The Migration Amendment (Temporary Sponsored Visas) Bill allows for occupations to be exempted from LMT. The new Coalition Government could chose to make a large range or all occupations exempted from LTM, to avoid the LMT legislation having any practical effects.
Sources:
AMMA Media Release, 8 August 2013
http://www.amma.org.au/newsroom/media-releases/3394-coalition-s-skilled-migration-program-will-restore-business-confidence-scott-morrison
http://www.affinity.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Morrison-Doing-far-more-to-build-our-nation-170713.pdf
http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2013/s3750563.htm
Article by Malcolm Farr, National Political Editor, 30 March 2011, news.com.au
Do You Need Help in Relation to Australian Visas?
If you require further information regarding Australian Visa application charges or your Australian visa options you contact our offices on (08) 7225 5091 or +61 8 7225 5091
This information is accurate on the 09 September 2013.
Immigration SA has released the following information:
“New professions added to the State Nominated Occupation List
From 2 September 2013, the following occupations have been added to the State Nominated Occupation List (SNOL):
• Procurement Manager
• Registered Nurse (Paediatric)
ICT occupations
From 2 September 2013, the “Special Conditions Apply” status has been removed for all On-list ICT occupations and there will be a limited number of places available for South Australian State Nomination. The IELTS requirement for all ICT occupations is 6.5 in each band score.
Occupations close to reaching DIAC national ceiling
Six occupation groups are close to reaching the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) national ceiling and DIAC have allocated a limited number of places for State and Territory nomination for the rest of the 2013/14 program year. Once South Australia has reached the state quota in an occupation group listed below, Immigration SA will be unable to nominate any more applicants (including SA international graduates) for the remainder of the 2013/14 program year.
Please view the DIAC website for announcements about these six occupation groups and how it affects prospective applicants for state nominated or independent General Skilled Migrationhttp://www.immi.gov.au/skills/skillselect/.
The six occupation groups with a limited number of places available for SA state nomination are:
Due to the limited number of places, Immigration SA will prioritise applications who meet all Immigration SA eligibility requirements as follows:
1. Currently employed in a skilled occupation in SA
2. An international Graduate of SA
3. High calibre offshore or onshore applicants (Immigration SA will take into account: DIAC points, qualifications, work experience and English level when assessing an application for these occupation groups).
Please note that for occupations subject to a DIAC occupation ceiling management process, Immigration SA reserves the right to process applicants by merit rather than by date submitted.“
Source: Immigration SA
https://www.migration.sa.gov.au/news%20and%20events
This information isaccurate on the 04 September 2013. Immigration SA will change requirements in an ongoing manner and all current requirements must be established prior to lodging an application.
Need Help?
At Work Visa Lawyers we are experience in assisting applicants with the Expression of Interest, State Sponsorship and Visa application process for state sponsored subclasses 190 and 489.
If you require further information regarding an application or your Australian visa options you contact our offices on (08) 7225 5091 or +61 8 7225 5091
The visa charges for many visas will be raised by approximately 15% from 1 September 2013.
Some examples of the charges are:
For an RSMS subclass 187 this means the base application charge will go up from $3060 to $3520.
Dependent spouse/partner $1530 to $1760.
Dependent child from $765 to $880
For a Contributory Parent (Migrant) per applicant the 2nd Instalment will go up from $42,220 to $48,550.
Here is a link for the Instrument listing all the changes:
http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/F2013L01534/Explanatory%20Statement/Text
Need Help?
If you require further information regarding Australian Visa application charges or your Australian visa options you contact our offices on (08) 7225 5091 or +61 8 7225 5091
This information isaccurate on the 27 August 2013. DIAC will change visa charges regularly and you will need to check the current charges prior to lodging an application.
Welfare Worker occupation status changed on SA State Nomination List (SNOL) – further changes could result in an end to SA state sponsorship for Welfare Workers for visas 190 and 489
Welfare Worker and SA State Sponsorship
There has recently been a change to the ‘Availability Status’ of the occupation of Welfare Worker for SA state sponsorship. The occupation availability has changed on the State Nominated Occupation List (SNOL). The status has been changed to ‘Medium Availability’.
This change may be a concern for those who are looking for SA state sponsorship as a Welfare Worker. The reason for concern is that it is very early in the program year which started from 1 July 2013 and runs to 30 June 2013. With the downgrade to medium availability, Welfare Worker may at a later time be moved to ‘Low Availability’ and then to ‘DIAC Occupation ceiling met’. If the DIAC SNOL status changes to ‘DIAC Occupation ceiling met’, then state sponsorship of the occupation for subclass 190 and 489 will stop.
Here are all the Occupations currently listed for Medium Availability on the SNOL:
272613 Welfare Worker Medium Availability IELTS 7.0 in each band plus 2 years work experience in field
139914 Quality Assurance Manager Medium Availability IELTS 7.0 in each band
224711 Management Consultant Medium Availability
225411 Sales Representative (Industrial Products) Medium Availability
249311 Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages Medium Availability IELTS 7.0 in each band
311213 Medical Laboratory Technician Medium Availability
312512 Mechanical Engineering Technician Medium Availability
Any of the occupation currently listed as Medium Availability may be at risk of reaching the occupational ceiling and sponsorship being closed, during this program year, which ends on 30 June 2014.
What happens when Occupation Ceiling is met?
This is the information that Immigration SA provides on the SNOL classification DIAC occupation ceiling met:
“DIAC National Occupation Ceilings
For the 2013-14 program year DIAC set ceilings for occupational groupings. If a ceiling is met no further invitations can be issued by DIAC for this occupation group until 1 July 2014. For clients with an Expression Of Interest in this occupation group, your Expression Of Interest will remain valid for two years from the date you submitted your Expression Of Interest.
….
Immigration SA will not be accepting applications for occupations that are listed as "DIAC occupation ceiling met."
Source: Immigration SA
https://www.migration.sa.gov.au/snol_data
https://www.migration.sa.gov.au/snol
This information isaccurate on the 24 August 2013. Immigration SA will change requirements in an ongoing manner and all current requirements must be established prior to lodging an application.
Need Help?
At Work Visa Lawyers we are experience in assisting applicants with the Expression of Interest, State Sponsorship and Visa application process for state sponsored subclasses 190 and 489.
If you require further information regarding an application or your Australian visa options you contact our offices on (08) 7225 5091 or +61 8 7225 5091
Working Holiday Visa arrangement for Greece
A Working holiday agreement is to be signed with Greece, with the necessary processes for the signing of a reciprocal agreement between Greece and Australia underway. There is no current date for the working holiday visa to come into operation.
Once in place, this should allow for a working holiday visa for Greek passport holders aged 18 to 30 years of age.
Source: http://www.greekcommunity.com.au/gocmv_public/index.php/en/immigration/84-working-holiday-visa-agreement-to-be-signed-between-greece-and-australia
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