As of 1st July 2010, the offshore General Skilled Migration subclasses that closed in May 2010 have officially re-opened. Applications are now being accepted from 01 July 2010 in the following subclasses:

• Subclass 175 (Skilled – Independent),
• Subclass 176 (Skilled – Sponsored), and
• Subclass 475 (Skilled – Regional Sponsored)

To coincide with these developments, DIAC (Australia’s Dep’t of Immigration & Citizenship) has introduced new application forms and fees. (Ask your VISA CENTRE consultant for details).

Also on 1st July 2010, the federal government’s new Skilled Occupations List (SOL) (click to view) officially came into effect. All applicants applying for skilled migration must now nominate an occupation on the SOL in the new ANZSCO code.  Those applicants whose occupations were on the old SOL but are not on the new SOL can consider making an application under the State Migration Plans.

As yet, the General Skilled Migration Points Test remains unchanged with the re-opening of the off-shore GSM subclasses, so applicants are still awarded points for their occupations. (See New SOL list). The Points Test is currently under review and the results of the review may be published later this year. The Minister, Senator Chris Evans, explained “I have asked my Department to look at introducing a new system where applicants initially put forward their claim for skilled migration, and are then selected as candidates by employers, by State and Territory governments, or by the Commonwealth. That way we marry demand with supply, the best outcome for all concerned or in other words immigration is the job matching agency for the nation, connecting employers to the global labour market where skills cannot be sourced locally”.

If you are in a position to meet the current pass mark for your relevant visa subclass, you are strongly recommended to complete all the requirements and provide all the requested documentation as soon as possible. Changes later in the year may have an adverse affect to your position. Contact your VISA CENTRE consultant now.

Skills Assessments Authority Transitional Arrangements
All applications for skilled migration must be made in an eligible occupation according to the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO). If you possess a skills assessment from a relevant skills assessing authority issued prior to 01 July 2010 in an ASCO code, you should check the official DIAC correlation table to determine the correct occupational classification. Correlation table of occupations from ASCO to ANZSCO.

State Migration Plans

These plans are now under development with most states and territories anticipating that their Skills In Demand lists will be in place in the next couple of months. (ACT specifies 1st August, others don’t specify). Each State and Territory will be able to specify occupations outside the main SOL, under which applicants are encouraged to apply. Currently, most states and territories have temporarily suspended sponsorships until their new State Migration Plans are announced.

New South Wales introduced its Skills In Demand list (in the new ANZSCO codes) on 1st July 2010 and will be nominating applicants with high level skills and experience for both state-wide and regional skilled visas. Health professionals, Finance, ICT, Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology, Sustainable Environmental Technologies, Engineering, and Trade occupations are the main areas of sponsorship to NSW. New NSW List

Grant King, Director of VISA CENTRE commented, "NSW has opened up options for certain highly skilled occupations (i.e. Accountants and Architects etc) to move to Sydney with state sponsorship for the first time which is good news. The NSW Government have established essentially a new tier of regions in NSW, mostly those regions further away from Sydney and inland, and the NSW Government will now consider state sponsorship of applicants in selected occupations to these "third tier" regions".

If you can obtain an  offer of skilled employment in your nominated occupation, this is likely to greatly improve your position and may also allow you to consider an application under the Employer Nomination Scheme or Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme. These visas are processed with priority, which is generally 2-3 months, or even sooner in most cases where the application is decision ready.

Contact your VISA CENTRE consultant now.

For a free, no-obligation test (5-10 mins) of your eligibility to emigrate to Australia, please click here.