News for Australian state sponsored migration: South Australia releases an interim skilled occupations list for sponsorship, the State Migration Plans are still pending

While Australia’s states and territories are yet to release their new state migration plans, South Australia has released an interim list that will be in operation for sponsorship applications until that state’s migration plan is finalised. You can see the list by visiting the page below and following the link to “interim list”:

http://www.migration.sa.gov.au/sa/immigrate_from_overseas/visa_options/gen_skill3.jsp

There will be some people disappointed by the list’s heavy focus on certain occupations and lack of inclusion of certain other occupations. However, it is not the final list and you should watch closely for further developments in South Australia and the other states and territories.

State sponsorship can make it easier for you to pass the General Skilled Migration (GSM) points test and can reduce your processing time for a GSM visa application. Please contact us for advice if you have any questions about State Sponsorship or skilled worker migraion to Australia.

Michele (MARN 0957773) Diverse Immigration Australia diverseimmi@optusnet.com.au

Follow us on Facebook at Diverse Immigration Australia here:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Penrith-Australia/Diverse-Immigration-Australia/148833951797350

IT Graduate job opportunities with DIAC

There are a currently number of IT graduate job opportunities available with Australia’s Department of Immigration and Citizenship. For further information, please follow the link below:

http://www.gradconnection.com.au/department-of-immigration/graduate-jobs/information-technology.dot

For information and a free introductory consultation on Skilled Graduate visas, or any other type of Australian visa, please contact us at diverseimmi@optus.net.au 

Michele (MARN 0957773) Diverse Immigration Australia

Working visa news: Engineers and related job opportunities in Sydney Australia with Finisar Optical Technology. Live and work Downunder.

Australian Optical Technology company Finisar Australia are currently looking for 20-40 new staff, about half of them to be engineers in various disciplines. The company also has plans to add further staff by the end of 2010. This is an excellent opportunity to apply for migration to live and work in Sydney Australia

Contact us at Diverse Immigration Australia for Finisar’s contact details and for information on obtaining a visa to work and live in Australia.

diverseimmi@optusnet.com.au or michele.clayton@hotmail.com.au

Australian Migration latest: New DIAC priority processing announcements July 2010 for skilled worker visas

DIAC has announced new priority processing arrangements for various skilled migration visas. It is important to note that these priority processing arrangements apply to applications already lodged with the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC), even those that were previously in the final stages of processing, as well as to future applications. DIAC states that it will not refund costs to visa applicants caused by delays in processing.

The following visas are covered by the new priority processing arrangements:

• The following General Skilled Migration (GSM) visas

 Skilled – Independent subclass 175

                        Skilled – Independent subclass 176

                        Skilled – Regional Sponsored subclass 475

                        Skilled – Regional Sponsored subclass 487

                        Skilled – Independent Regional subclass 495

                        Skilled – Designated Area-sponsored (Provisional) subclass 496

                        Graduate – Skilled subclass 497

                        Skilled – Onshore Independent New Zealand Citizen subclass 861

                        Skilled – Onshore Australian-sponsored New Zealand Citizen subclass 862

                        Skilled – Onshore Designated Area-sponsored New Zealand Citizen subclass 863

                        Skilled – Independent Overseas Student subclass 880

                        Skilled – Australian-sponsored subclass 881

                        Skilled – Designated Area-sponsored Overseas Student subclass 882

                        Skilled – Independent subclass 885

                        Skilled – Sponsored subclass 886.

 • Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS)

• Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS)

The new Priority Processing priorities, which apply from 14 July 2010  are as follows:

1. Applications under the ENS and the RSMS.

2. Applications which are sponsored by a state or territory government agency with a nominated occupation that is specified on that state or territory’s state migration plan (SMP) (please note that at the time of writing, none of the States or territories have yet released their State Migration Plans). Applicants that have already been or are nominated by a state or territory government agency in an occupation that is later specified in that state or territory’s state migration plan will receive processing under priority group 2. This means that applicants to eg, the ACT, which is currently sponsoring for occupations on the new SOL, will later be able to benefit from priority processing if the occupation they nominate gets taken up on the new SMP.

3. Applications from people who have nominated an occupation on the new Skilled Occupation List (SOL) – Schedule 3, that came into effect on 1 July 2010

4. All other applications will be processed in the order in which they are received.

GSM visas which are exempt

The following visa subclasses are exempt from priority processing arrangements and will be processed in the order in which they are received:

                        Skilled – Recognised Graduate subclass 476

                        Skilled – Graduate subclass 485

                        Skilled – Designated Area – Sponsored (Residence) subclass 883

                        Skilled – Regional subclass 887.

As well, applications that have been remitted back to DIAC by the Migration Review Tribunal (MRT) are exempt from priority processing arrangements, as are applications for visas where DIAC can readily see that that the criteria for grant of a visa will not be satisfied and the visa will not be granted, and applications from subsequent entrants on an existing visa.  

Occupations on the SOL – Schedule 3 in effect at 1 July 2010 – priority level 3

All applicants with a nominated occupation on the  new, post 1 July 2010  SOL (Schedule 3 ) are included in priority processing level 3 including independent applicants and applicants sponsored by an Australian family member or nominated by a state or territory government (but not on a state migration plan, see above re priority level 2).

All other applications – priority level 4

Applicants with a nominated occupation that is not on the SOL – Schedule 3 in effect at 1 July 2010 and who are not employer sponsored or nominated by a state or territory government under a state migration plan, will be processed under priority group 4. Unfortunately, DIAC is currently advising that these applicants will be waiting for very long periods for a decision on their visa applications.

DIAC is further advising that Applicants with a nominated occupation that is not on the new SOL – Schedule 3 … can only move into a higher priority group by lodging a new application with an employer sponsorship or a state or territory government nomination in an occupation specified under a state migration plan. Alternatively, applicants can only nominate a different occupation that is on the SOL – Schedule 3 by lodging a new application. It is not possible to change a nominated occupation or to change to an employer sponsored or state nominated visa category, unless a new application is lodged. A new application would require the payment of a new Visa Application Charge.

For advice about any aspect of the new priority processing arrangements, please feel free to contact us here at Diverse Immigration Australia (MARN 0957773) michele.clayton@hotmail.com

Michele

LATEST NEWS UPDATE: DIAC’s New Skilled Occupations List (SOL) of 181 “Highly Valued Occupations” announced for Australian GSM visas

Sydney Australia 8.00 AM 17 May 2010: The new DIAC Skilled Occupations List (SOL) for General Skilled Migration (GSM) to Australia has finally been announced and includes 181 “highly valued occupations”:  http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/pdf/new-list-of-occupations.pdf 

The list will come into effect on 1 July 2010 and the current suspension of offshore GSM visa applications is expected to end on the same date. We will keep you updated with commentary on this development as the related news unfolds.

Michele Clayton (MARN 0957773)

Diverse Immigration Australia

LATEST NEWS: Australian Visas new Skilled Occupations List: reports indicate new DIAC SOL will include 181 “highly valued” jobs for GSM application

5.30 AM 17 May Sydney Australia: Australia’s major press outlets are this morning reporting that a new occupations list comprised of 181 “Highly Valued” occupations is to be released following consideration by Australia’s Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) of Skills Australia’s recommendations.

This number of occupations is fewer than half the number on the current Skilled Occupations List (SOL) for Australian permanent residency General Skilled Migration visas but about twice as many as were included on a draft list released in March. So for some the new list will be very bad news, but for some who had read the draft list and thought their occupation was to be scrapped from the new list, there may be a pleasant surprise to come.

The list is yet to be formally announced but it appears likely to commence operation on 1 July 2010, at which time the current suspension of offshore GSM visa applications is also likely to be lifted. We will keep you updated as the news unfolds. NB the List has now been offically announced: please go to the front page of this site and read read our related post: Latest News Update: Diac’s New Skilled Occupations List (SOL) of 181 “Highly Valued Occupations” announced for Australian GSM visas.

Michele Clayton (MARN 0957773)

Diverse Immigration Australia

When the new Skilled Occupations List (SOL) is released for Australian migration, we can notify you

If you are one of the thousands of potential applicants for a permanent residency visa to live and work in Australia who is still waiting to find out which occupations are going to be included in the new Skilled Occupations List, you can email us here: michele.clayton@hotmail.com and mark your email “SOL notification”, and we will send you a copy of the new list on the same day that it is released by Australia’s Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC).

We can also answer any questions you may have about DIAC’s current suspension of offshore applications for 175, 176 and 475 visas.

Michele (MARN 0957773) Diverse Immigration Australia

What should you do now? Offshore visa applicants affected by Australia’s GSM applications suspension

If you have been planning to apply for migration to Australia on a subclass 175, 176 or 475 Permanent Residency visa, you may have heard by now that the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) has temporarily suspended accepting applications from “offshore” applicants (applicants who are not already in Australia on a temporary visa).

This development will have affected you particularly badly if you have been planning to put a visa application in on the basis of your occupation matching one on the existing DIAC Skilled Occupations List (SOL). The suspension is expected to stay in place until a new SOL is introduced mid-year, so it effectively prevents any further offshore applications from applicants whose occupation is on the existing list, unless that occupation is also included on the new list.

Complicating this, is the fact that the new list has not yet been announced, despite DIAC’s previous statements that it would be announced by 30 April 2010. DIAC’s current position on the new list is that it will now be announced “in May”, with no clear date identified. This leaves many people waiting nervously to see whether their skilled occupations are going to qualify them for Australian immigration under the new list.

So, what should you do now?

Well firstly, if you have have not already spoken to an Australian Registered Migration Agent (RMA), you probably should do so now. Agents’ specialised knowledge becomes really useful when things get tricky like this with DIAC’s rules and policies. We are Registered Agents (Diverse Immigration Australia MARN 0957773) and also members of the Migration Institute of Australia, the peak professional body for RMA’s. We are happy to give people free initial advice on their situations by email or Skype link. You can email us at michele.clayton@hotmail.com and we will respond to your query within 2 business days. Alternatively, there are also many other excellent Australian Registered Migration Agents you can contact.

Secondly, part of the answer to what you should do will depend on the content of the new Skilled Occupations List, so you may have to wait until its details are announced before making any decisions. If you want to be notified when the announcement occurs, just email us at the above link and mark your email “SOL notification”. When the list is announced, we will immediately notify you.

Thirdly, if you find that your occupation is not on the new skills list, there still may be other possibilities for migration. Your occupation may be included on one of the State or Territory sponsorship occupations lists. These operate independently from DIAC’s list. Or, your occupation may remain on the Employer Nomination Skilled Occupations List (ENSOL). If so, you may be able to obtain a job offer and an Australian employer to sponsor you to Australia for permanent residency. Again, you should talk to us or another RMA about these possibilities.

Fourthly: We will shortly be hosting a series of free Skype forums to discuss issues relating to the changes to Australian General Skilled Migration. You will be able to talk with other people affected by DIAC’s changes and an RMA will be online to moderate the conversation and answer questions. To register your interest in participating in one of these forums, please email us at the above link and mark your email “Skype forum”. We will respond to your email to discuss what date and time suits you best.

Michele (MARN0957773) Diverse Immigration Australia

NEWSFLASH: Australia suspends Offshore General Skilled Migration Visa Program applications

Effective 8 May 2010: Earlier this week we told you that Australia’s Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) had postponed their announcement of the new Skilled Occupations List SOL) from the previously promised date of 30 April 2010 to “sometime in May”. Many people who had been waiting nervously to see if their own occupation had made the cut and been included on the new list had to resign themselv to waiting that bit longer. However, for many, that disappointment is now insignificant compared with the new problem they face as of today.

This is because DIAC have anounced just a few hours ago that applications for the Offshore GSM program have been suspended until at least July 2010 and possibly open-ended.

The DIAC website offers the following statement:

“From 8 May 2010, the Migration Regulations 1994 (the Regulations) are amended to prevent applicants seeking to satisfy the primary criteria for a Subclass 175 (Skilled – Independent), Subclass 176 (Skilled – Sponsored) or Subclass 475 (Skilled – Regional Sponsored) visa from being able to make a valid visa application during the period commencing on 8 May 2010 and ending on a date specified by the Minister in an instrument in writing.”

The practical effect of this suspension is not just that offshore applicants will be waiting afew months longer to make their visa applications. Rather, the biggest problem for many people affected is that the suspension ensures that no further offshore GSM applicants will be eligible for General Skilled Migration on the basis of occupations that are not included on the new Skilled Occupations List (SOL) which is to come into operation in July. Onshore applicants are not affected by the suspension.

Offshore applicants affected A great many potential offshore applicants, who have been rushing over the past few months to get skills applications, IELTS tests, etc. completed so as to be able to lodge visa applications before the mid-year changes to the SOL, will now be unable to make those applications. This is, for practical purposes, contrary to DIAC’s previous advice that the changes would not be in effect until “mid-year”. Whilst DIAC has stuck to the letter of that previous advice by leaving the old list in place until July, they have gone against the spirit of it by preventing offshore applicants from accessing applying on the old list’s basis.

Migration agents affected A great many Australian Migration Agents, who, like ourselves, have in good faith and relying on DIAC’s statements, been advising clients that they will be able to apply for occupations on the existing skills list until “mid-year” (IE DIAC’s own previous advice) are now left with the unhappy task of having to tell offshore clients whose occupations don’t make it onto the new list that the door has shut early and they will not be eligible to apply after all.

Other possibilities There may still be different skilled migration opportunities for some clients either via the Employer Nomination Scheme or via State or Territory sponsored migration under one of the “off list” schemes, and clients who believe they have been affected by the GSM suspension should contact us or their existing migration agents for information about those other possible options. Still, though, all round it has been a very disappointing day for agents and the clients they care about.

Michele (0957773) Diverse Immigration Australia michele.clayton@hotmail.com

DIAC keeps us waiting: Australia’s new Skilled Occupations List delayed until some time in May

A great many people who have been spending sleepless nights waiting to see if their qualifications and work experience will still qualify them for skilled worker migration to Australia when the new Skilled Occupations List (SOL) comes into operation in mid 2010 will be waiting  a bit longer.

Australia’s Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) had previously advised that the new list would be announced by today, 3oth April 2010. However, the Minister for Immigration is still considering the recommendations of Skills Australia regarding which occupations should be included.

DIAC has stated today that the list will be announced in May, but has not set a particular date, so unfortunately the waiting to see if you can still qualify for a permanent residency visa will continue. We will be posting further information as soon as it becomes available.

If you believe your plans to move to Australia may be affected by the SOL change, and you are feeling worried, please keep in mind that there may still be immigration options open to you, even if your occupation is not included in the new list. Employer Nomination Scheme migration or State or Territory sponsored migration may be possibilities.

Please contact us at michele.clayton@hotmail.com or                    (612) 4721-0873 if you want further information on any issues raised by this post or any other Australian visa and migration matter.

Michele (MARN 0957773)