..but more options if you can obtain a relevant, qualifying job offer.

The Australian Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, has announced the intended new Skilled Occupation List, which will come into force on 1st July 2010. The new list reinforces the Rudd Government’s commitment to a labour market demand-driven skilled migration program.

Graeme Fraser, spokesman for Visa Centre, emphasised “The new list outlines greater opportunities for those with specified occupations, and for those not on the new SOL list, we can offer alternatives including the Employer Nomination Scheme and Regional Sponsorship. Our Jobseeker Programme is ideally placed to assist our clients with these visa classes.”

“Anyone considering emigration to Australia should apply now that the Government has clarified the situation, and before any future changes”.

For more information on the new SOL list see below, or contact the Visa Centre now;-

For a FREE “Quick Check” of your eligibility for Australian emigration – click here.

Summary of the Changes

• The new list - SEE BELOW - is specific to the General Skilled Migration (GSM) program and does not apply to employer-sponsored permanent or temporary visas (eg. ENS, RSMS or Subclass 457).

• The new list reflects the Australian Government’s focus on employer sponsored migration as “the best method to ensure the labour market gets the skills it needs”. In addition, it highlights that “the number of places available to independent skilled migrants in the skilled migration program is expected to fall as the number of places available for employer-sponsored skilled migrants increases. It is therefore important that the smaller number of independent skilled migration places that are available are filled by migrants with (high value, nation-building) skills that are critical to Australia’s economic development in the medium to long term” and “where the cost to the economy & local communities of the skill being in short supply is great”.
Overall it is proposed that the quota for Skilled Migration increases by 6,000 – comprising approximately 9,500 additional employer-sponsored visa places, and a reduction of 3,500 GSM visa places.

• The number of occupations listed on the SOL list has reduced from 400, down to 181.
DIAC explains: “The new list is smaller as it is intended to deliver a GSM program that is more tightly focused on high value skills that would assist in addressing Australia’s future medium & long-term skills needs”

• It’s likely that the SOL list will be reviewed annually and there are no guarantees as to what occupations will feature on it in future.

• DIA has also announced limited transitional arrangements for some international students who are currently studying in Australia and who intend to apply for a permanent residence visa at the completion of their studies. These arrangements would allow them extra time to find employer sponsorship towards permanent residence.

DIAC has also advised several possible options for people who now find that they are not able to apply for general skilled migration (GSM) once the new SOL is implemented.
Amongst these are;-

1) To apply for a temporary or permanent visa under the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS). (The list of occupations that is available to employer sponsored applicants is broader than the SOL). Such applicants will be required to have an employer willing to sponsor you.

2) To apply for skilled migration under the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS). This scheme allows employers in regional or low population growth areas of Australia to sponsor employees who are foreign nationals for a permanent visa to work in regional Australia.

3) To apply for state/territory nomination. It is intended that individual state/territory migration plans will be agreed to by the Minister for implementation later in 2010. These plans may include occupations outside those specified on a new SOL. Implementation of state/territory migration plans will be subject to the approval of the Governor-General in Council of proposed amendments to the Migration Regulations 1994.

For more information on what the new SOL list changes mean for your eligibility for Australian emigration and for the new opportunities that now arise, please contact Visa Centre now.