 |
|
Skilled Migration: Significant Changes Announced by Australia's Immigration Minister
|
| Author: |
Alan Collett |
| Date: |
Monday, February 08, 2010 |
| |
Australia's Immigration Minister has today announced important changes to the general skilled migration program.
These include:
* Introducing a new Skilled Occupations List.
* Revoking the Critical Skills List, or CSL, which the Minister introduced in December, 2008.
* Introducing the concept of a "State Migration Plan", whereby State and Territory Governments can enter into a written agreement with the Federal Immigration Minister. In so doing skilled occupations that are in demand in a State or Territory can be identified and given greater emphasis.
* Amending processing priorities (again) so that applications from individuals who have been sponsored by a State or Territory Government under a State Migration Plan are second on the priority processing list, behind employer sponsored Employer Nomination Scheme and Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme visa applications.
* The removal of the Migration Occupations in Demand List (the MODL) for those who have yet to apply for a general skilled visa (save for those who hold a Skilled - Graduate visa, subclass 485, and are yet to apply for a permanent or a provisional skilled visa).
* Ceasing the processing of general skilled visa applications that were lodged before 1st September, 2007 under the old legislative regime, and refunding Visa Application Charges to applicants. It is understood that there are in the order of 20,000 such applicants.
* Reviewing the general skilled migration points test; it is understood that this review will take place in the first half of 2010.
* Introducing changes to the migration legislation later this year that will allow the Minister to limit the number of visas that are granted to any one occupation as needs arise.
Details of the changes, including Frequently Asked Questions, are available via the weblink below. The Immigration Minister's Press Release, which explains the Australian Government's reasoning is here, and the text of the Minister's speech at the Australian National University today is here.
Comment
While we understand the background to the changes that are being introduced, and the Australian Government's desire to ensure that the skilled program prioritises the nation's current and future skills needs, we find it surprising that the Minister has found it necessary to make yet more significant changes to the skilled migration program. For example, it should be remembered that it was this same Minister that introduced the Critical Skills List only 14 months ago.
Indeed, the Minister is fast gathering a record for amending skilled visa processing priorities every 3 to 6 months. In that regard we have a great deal of sympathy for Department of Immigration staff who are faced with the regular re-ordering of their workloads to give effect to their Minister's directives.
Furthermore, and as we have now come to expect, the changes beg detail that has not been made known at the present time - for example, is the present Skilled Occupations List to remain effective while we await the new version? In other words, will those who lodge a general skilled visa application following today's announcements be required to have an occupation that is on the new SOL?
Where are the State Migration Plans that the Minister discusses in his Press Release? When will they be available?
Is the Minister aware that State Sponsorship applications under present arrangements are taking months to process to a decision in certain States?
And ultimately, one has to question the ability of the Australian Government and associated agencies to manage the skilled migration program - their past performance does not fill us with confidence.
At times of change and uncertainty it makes sense to be in the hands of a migration consultancy that is able to progress matters quickly, and to give meaningful advice.
Go Matilda has years of experience and has helped thousands of families move to Australia. If you are an intending skilled migrant contact us for a free initial discussion.
|
| Weblink: |
http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/whats-new.htm#a |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
