From our latest Newsletter:
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Changes to General Skilled Migration and the New Skilled Occupations List (SOL)
Australia’s General Skilled Migration (GSM) program is in the process of undergoing a major transformation with the introduction of a new Skilled Occupations List (SOL), a revised GSM points test, and the implementation of new state and territory migration plans.
The first of these substantial changes, the introduction of a new Skilled Occupations List (SOL), was announced on 17 May 2010 and is scheduled to commence from 01 July 2010.
The new SOL cuts back the number of occupations from over 400 to 181 as the government seeks to deliver a skilled migration program that is better in tune with the skills Australia needs for its expanding economy.
While the new list is certain to be unpopular with international students studying in Australia, the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, has defended the changes stating that the previous list had been driven by various interests lobbying to be included.
The previous SOL worked in conjunction with a Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL) that delivered additional points for certain occupations, many of which had been listed for several years. This led to unprecedented numbers of international students coming to Australia to study low-value education courses such as Cookery and Hairdressing with the sole intention of accessing an easy pathway to permanent residence. Private colleges were hastily set up to cash in on the boom, but with poor facilities and education now driving migration outcomes something had to give. Cooks and Hairdressers are two of the occupations no longer on the SOL.
The new SOL primarily includes medical specialists and practitioners, registered nurses, other health professionals, a range of engineering occupations, computing professionals, and construction trades.
While most in the industry recognise that a change to the program was long overdue, the sporadic announcements have made for uncertainty and have left many potential skilled migrants in limbo. These migrants will need to await further announcements before they can determine whether the state/territory migration plans will offer them an opportunity under the GSM program.
It is not all bad news for international students who recently graduated or were studying in Australia when the changes were announced in February, as transitional arrangements will be available allowing eligible visa holders access to occupations on the previous list until 2012.
In sweeping in these changes, the Department has confirmed its commitment to a labour market demand-driven migration program with a clear switch of focus to employer sponsored migration. Applicants who obtain a skilled offer of employment from an employer willing and able to sponsor them will have access to a greater number of places in the migration program and receive priority processing under current arrangements.
With more changes imminent there has never been a better time to secure your future in Australia by pursuing a permanent employer sponsored (ENS) visa.
If you have any queries regarding the above, or would like to discuss your options for permanent migration to Australia, don’t hesitate to contact the Entity Migration team on +61 3 9600 0333 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting +61 3 9600 0333 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.
Introducing our newest team members
Our Entity Migration division has recently expanded their team, with two new Registered Migration Agents now working with us.
Mr Grant Frankcombe (MARN: 0107180) is a Registered Migration Agent with over 10 years experience in the migration industry. Grant has lived and worked overseas in various locations including the UK, New Zealand and the Netherlands and speaks fluent Dutch. Specialising in General Skilled, Employer Sponsored (ENS & 457) and Business Owner and Investor visa categories, Grant is our new Senior Migration Agent who can tackle the most complex of immigration matters.
Ms Danielle Masur (MARN: 0701260) is also a Registered Migration Agent with solid experience in Employer Sponsored visas, both temporary (457) and permanent, as well as Skilled and Family visas. Danielle has also lived overseas, spending several years in Japan and speaks both intermediate Japanese and basic Bahasa Indonesian.
