With the world of Australian immigration so tumultuous as of late, the opportunity to communicate directly with the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) is always one we're happy to take advantage of.

That's why we welcomed the invitation to the Migration Agents Forum held yesterday, the 30 March, 2010, at the Australian High Commission in London. It was an event held to give registered migration agents in the UK the chance to engage with senior members of DIAC.

As DIAC's Regional Director for Europe, David Wilden presided over the forum. He began by reiterating the reasons behind 2010's Australian immigration changes, citing the pressure placed on the Australian government to focus on border control and a need to "get the balance right" as the primary drives for change.

However, despite Mr Wilden's willingness to provide an open and honest insight into the inner workings of DIAC, the underlying theme of the forum was that there simply wasn't any vital new information to be divulged. This is due to the fact that the changes which have raised the most questions and remain unclarified are also the ones which remain out of DIAC's hands at this time, making it very difficult for Mr Wilden to provide any new insights.

For example, even though a draft version of the new Skilled Occupation List (SOL) was recently released, we still remain unsure of exactly which occupations will appear on it. As this new list of targeted occupations is still to be determined by the independent body 'Skills Australia' though, there was little Mr Wilden could do other than reiterate what we've already heard and that the announcement date of the new SOL remains 30 April, 2010.

Another important change that agents were keen to discuss was the introduction of the new State Migration Plans. When asked whether applicants who had previously been approved for nomination by an Australian State or Territory would be transferred to that State or Territory's new State Migration Plan, Mr Wilden responded "I don't believe [the applicants] will have to reapply".

Unfortunately though, as the State Migration Plans are still in the process of being developed by the individual Australian State and Territory governments, I find it hard to lend too much credence to Mr Wilden's response. Given the huge numbers of applications made for State/Territory nomination that were made when priority processing was first introduced, it seems unlikely that everyone granted nomination then will still be eligible under the new State Migration Plans.

I do appreciate Mr Wilden's open approach though, and he seemed open to criticism and guidance on where DIAC could improve. For example, he acknowledged that the review of panel doctors (which saw the number of eligible panel doctors in the UK slashed from 250 to just 8) received a mixed reaction from migration agents and visa applicants, and indicated that this situation may be addressed in the future.

So, despite an element of frustration in still not knowing exactly what to expect going forward, I still hope that these forums will become a regular event. The ability to discuss the most current migration issues with senior members of DIAC will always provide some useful insights into their working processes, even though they might not always have the answers for the questions that most deserve them.

- Lauren Mennie is Casework Department Manager for the Australian Visa Bureau.

©Visa Bureau 2003-2010

Visa Bureau takes no responsibility and cannot be held accountable for action taken as a result of any information or comment provided on this blog, and we recommend that you always seek a number of opinions before making a decision regarding your migration or visa application. Please refer to the Visa Bureau terms of use for more information.

When the most recent Australian immigration changes were announced in February, 2010, one of the most pressing issues was the lack of sufficient clarification regarding the announcement of a new SOL (Skilled Occupation List).

Very little indication was given towards which occupations would appear on the new SOL, aside from that it would be "a new list of targeted occupations determined by the independent body, 'Skills Australia'. As the new SOL will be a comprehensive, targeted list, the current Critical Skills List will be revoked."

As a result, this list of occupations is set to play a huge part in determining not only who is eligible to apply for a visa via the Australian General Skilled Migration (GSM) program, but also the processing priority they will receive upon lodging their application.

Therefore, it was very interesting to see Skills Australia release what seems to be a preliminary draft of the new SOL as part of their release titled 'Australian Workforce Futures: A National Workforce Development Strategy' (which you can see for yourself by clicking here).

If you refer to page 87 of the document, you'll find a section titled 'Specialised Occupations'. It's these occupations that the new SOL seems set to draw upon, although it's very important to take into account the following disclaimer: 

"The revised Skilled Occupation List to be used in the General Skilled Migration Program will be based on these specialised occupations but may well differ in the occupations included. The new Skilled Occupation List will be announced in April 2010."

Therefore, while many of the following occupations might well appear on the new SOL, THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT ANY OF THESE OCCUPATIONS WILL APPEAR ON THE NEW SKILLED OCCUPATION LIST WHEN IT IS FORMALLY ANNOUNCED IN APRIL 2010.

What does this draft list of specialised occupations mean for the new SOL?

Unfortunately this list raises more questions than it answers, so it's very hard to know.

While it's useful to finally have an indication of the occupations that will appear on the list (and reassuring that so many of the primary occupations appear, in contrast to what many feared), we must remember that this isn't the final list.

As a result, there's still no guarantee that all the occupations shown here will appear on the final list. Contrarily, there's every possibility that occupations which don't appear here could still appear on the new SOL when it's announced in April.

It's also interesting to see that the occupations are all from the ANZSCO (Australia and New Zealand Skilled Classification of Occupations) as opposed to the previously used ASCO (Australian Skilled Classification of Occupations).

While there have previously been hints and indications that the new SOL would switch to using the more current ANZSCO to classify occupations, it's still surprising that it hasn't been formally announced.

So, for now, I'd advise everyone to keep working and not make any rash decisions before the new SOL is formally introduced in April. In the meantime, I will continue monitoring the situation and provide updates as and when I receive them.

- Lauren Mennie is Casework Department Manager for the Australian Visa Bureau

©Visa Bureau 2003-2010

Visa Bureau takes no responsibility and cannot be held accountable for action taken as a result of any information or comment provided on this blog, and we recommend that you always seek a number of opinions before making a decision regarding your migration or visa application. Please refer to the Visa Bureau terms of use for more information.

After last week's changes to the Australia immigration General Skilled Migration (GSM) program, we've now seen the release of the promised points test discussion paper.

The paper raises a few questions which I thought were worth addressing.

What new information was provided in the discussion paper?

For the most part, the discussion paper doesn't provide any real answers as to what the future hold for the Australian skilled points test. It provides so many potential scenarios for the future of the points test that it's impossible to really understand what the current feelings of the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) are.

However, there were a couple of points raised that I thought were worth focussing on as examples of just how expansive the paper is and how many routes it opens up for the Department to take with the new points test.

See below for two sections of the discussion paper I've examined, with the parts I thought were most pertinent in bold:

"Should there be points for family sponsorship?

Allocating points for family sponsorship recognises the value of family settlement support. The current Points Test enables applicants with reduced employment prospects and lower levels of human capital to migrate. Birrell et al note that, "offshore migrants who are sponsored - especially those sponsored by family ... do least well in obtaining employment soon after arrival. Almost 30 per cent ... are not employed.

Furthermore, at least a quarter of those who are working are only employed part-time. While we cannot be completely certain of the reason for this lower rate of employment, it is likely that it is caused in part by the less stringent selection criteria that these two concessional categories requires."

The fact that DIAC is stating that migrants on a family sponsored visa 'do least well' upon emigrating comes as a surprise, because our experience has been almost the exact opposite; typically, anyone arriving in Australia with family members already there will benefit from their support and settle into their new life in Australia faster than migrants arriving independently or via state nomination.

Additionally, it's worth considering that before the introduction of priority processing, family-sponsored visa applications were often finalised the fastest out of all the GSM program pathways.

So, while the complete turnaround by DIAC is somewhat surprising, by potentially eliminating points test concessions based on family relations, they can take greater control of the type of individuals arriving in Australia through the GSM program and make the points test more focussed on skills and work experience as opposed to family relations.

"Points for Overseas qualifications

The current Points Test provides additional points to applicants with Australian qualifications, ranging from 5 points for meeting the Australian study requirement of 2 years study in Australia up to 25 points for a PhD completed in Australia. The points for Australian qualifications are in recognition of the general quality of Australian education, the fact that studies are conducted in English and that there is a significant period of acculturation and exposure to the Australian labour market and society.

Applicants with overseas qualifications do not accrue points for these qualifications even if the overseas education institution is recognised internationally as being of a very high standard. It could be argued that this may act as a disincentive for graduates from overseas institutions of a very high standard to apply for GSM.

Points for overseas qualifications could be considered commensurate with the current points for Australian qualifications or at a lower level, for example 5 points could be allocated for this factor per the points currently awarded for regional study.

It is recognised there may be challenges in extending the allocation of points to include certain overseas qualifications. Options to address these concerns could include:

• confining points for higher degree qualifications to a specific list of higher education institutions (for example those within the world’s top 200 or top 500 as ranked) and courses which are directly linked to the SOL occupation of the applicant;
• giving applicants with Australian qualifications additional points to reflect the labour market and social advantages of an Australian education;
• some combination of the above (e.g. all qualifications from the selected 200 or 500 universities are given the same points as an Australian educational institution, possibly while also giving Australian universities on the select list additional points); and/or
• requiring skills assessing authorities and/or professional bodies to attest to the standard of overseas qualifications (which may already be established through Accords or Agreements with international bodies).

If it is accepted that Australia’s interests are best served through maximising human capital in our economy, then the Points Test should be structured to attract migrants of the highest skill, including those with qualifications from internationally respected overseas institutions."

By allocating points for overseas qualifications according to how prestigious the university is, this seems to be going against the typical migration flow; while we see many highly-trained and qualified people applying for an Australian visa, the number of Cambridge and Harvard graduates is typically fairly minimal!

However, should this idea be taken further and introduced with the new points test, it could well benefit applicants from English-speaking countries. According to QS Intelligence Unit's list of the top universities in the world, approximately two thirds of the world's top 100 universities are based in countries where English is the native language.

What can be expected from the changed points test?

While I've highlighted these two sections from the discussion paper, I didn't do so because I thought they were more likely to be introduced as part of the new points test. Instead, the intention was really to demonstrate just how many changes are currently under consideration and just how impossible it is to determine what the end results will be.

However, it's clear that DIAC are considering making some very serious changes to the points test. Should you want to provide your comment on the paper, please be aware that any submissions need to be made by 12 March.

- Lauren Mennie is Casework Department Manager for the Australian Visa Bureau.

©Visa Bureau 2003-2010

Visa Bureau takes no responsibility and cannot be held accountable for action taken as a result of any information or comment provided on this blog, and we recommend that you always seek a number of opinions before making a decision regarding your migration or visa application. Please refer to the Visa Bureau terms of use for more information.

State Migration Plans are set to be a key part of the Australian General Skilled Migration (GSM) program, but there remains little information as to exactly what they will be and how they will work.

When the Australian immigration changes were announced on 8 February, 2010, it was said that 'state migration plans are developed by State/Territory governments and include occupations that are in demand in each individual state and territory. Each state migration plan is approved by the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship.'

However, there wasn't any information on the State Migration Plans, beyond the indication that they would be launched in 'mid-2010'. To try and get a better understanding of what to expect, Matt Parker of the Australian Visa Bureau Casework Department approached each individual Australian State and Territory via email.

See below for the responses Matt received regarding the State Migration Plans from each Australian State and Territory:

WESTERN AUSTRALIA Response: "The State Migration Plan is being negotiated with DIAC. Please keep yourself up to date with information on our website which is http://www.migration.wa.gov.au/."

SOUTH AUSTRALIA Response: "State Migration Plans (SMPs) At this stage the State Government has only received preliminary communication from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (Australian Government) regarding the concept of SMPs.  Therefore, at this stage we can provide very little information of use to prospective migrants or to migration agents acting on their behalf. DIAC have made the decision that each State/Territory is to have a State Migration Plan which will be a formal signed agreement between the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship and each State and Territory Government.  It is expected that the SMPs will identify occupations in which migration is required to supplement supply available from the local labour market. The number of occupations to be included under the SMP is not yet known. It is expected that an SMP will be introduced around the middle of 2010, however no date has been set by or agreed to by South Australia and DIAC. None of the states or territories currently has a State Migration Plan. Please monitor the Immigration SA (http://www.migration.sa.gov.au/) website for any changes."

QUEENSLAND Response: "To the best of my knowledge, no jurisdiction has yet developed a State Migration Plan. Queensland has commenced discussions with DIAC to clarify plan requirements, timeframes and other matters."

NORTHERN TERRITORY There has been no response to our enquiry regarding State Migration Plans from the Northern Territory as of today, 17 February, 2010. However, any announcement made on State Migration Plans will most likely be made available on the Northern Territory skilled migration website here.

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY (ACT) Response (UPDATED 22 FEBRUARY): "At this stage I don’t have a time frame for the new State Migration Plan – soon we hope (as in the next fortnight). The ACT Government will honour any sponsorship applications that have already been approved.  The State Migration Plan will encompass the current sponsorship program."

As you can see from the responses Matt received, the message seems to be that the individual States and Territories are still unable to provide any further information on the State Migration Plans for now.

However, it's interesting that all States and Territories reiterate that any plans are subject to the approval of DIAC, giving the impression that the Department will be taking a far more 'hands-on' approach to state sponsorship and migration, rather than let the States and Territories work autonomously.

When can further information on the State Migration Plans be expected?

Until DIAC finish consulting with the individual State and Territories on the approach to take to the State Migration Plans, it seems unlikely that further information will be provided. Therefore, we're assuming that it will still be at least a couple of months until they are revealed to the public.

With the State Migration Plans set to be a vital part of the new GSM process, we will keep monitoring the situation and provide more information as and when it becomes available.

- Lauren Mennie is Casework Department Manager for the Australian Visa Bureau

©Visa Bureau 2003-2010

Visa Bureau takes no responsibility and cannot be held accountable for action taken as a result of any information or comment provided on this blog, and we recommend that you always seek a number of opinions before making a decision regarding your migration or visa application. Please refer to the Visa Bureau terms of use for more information.

Even though major Australian immigration changes have been in the pipeline since the announcement that the Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL) was undergoing a review, the announcement made by the Minister of Immigration, Senator Chris Evans, on 8 February, 2010 still came as a shock.

It was the immediacy of some of the announced updates that took many Australia visa applicants unaware, leaving many people on the pathway to Australian immigration confused and concerned whether they would will still be eligible.

While not every aspect of the Minister's announcement has been fully clarified, I've tried to provide an explanation below of exactly what changes were introduced, as well as interpret how they will affect visa applicants:

What Australian immigration changes were made on 8 February?

• The Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL) has been revoked, effective immediately.
  
  Before 8 February, 2010, Australian skilled migration applicants with an occupation on the MODL could gain a minimum of 15 extra points. With the list now revoked, all MODL points that were able to be claimed by having an occupation featured on this list are now no longer available (unless the applicant has already lodged).
  
  One way around this for applicants is for them to reconsider the visa subclass they are applying under. For example, by receiving sponsorship from an Australian State or Territory, it is possible to pass the points test with a score of 100 and apply for the Skilled - Sponsored visa subclass, as opposed to a score of 120 required for the Skilled - Independent visa subclass.
  
  Alternatively, there are alternative ways to gain additional points towards the points test. One way to do so would be to achieve a band score of 7.0 in all categories of an International English Language Testing Scheme (IELTS) test, which would help you score the maximum of 25 points for English language ability.
  
• The Skilled Occupation List (SOL) is to be replaced mid-2010, at which time the Critical Skills List (CSL) will also be revoked.
  
  At this time, the intention for the new SOL seems to be to have it act as a tool that determines both the occupations that Australia is in demand of and the order in which Australia visa applicants will be processed.
  
  This new list is going to be compiled by Skills Australia with a view to provisionally release it in April, 2010, but it is unlikely that the new SOL will be fully finalised until mid-2010. At this time, the Critical Skills List (CSL) will also be revoked.
  
• The Australian visa points test used to assess skilled migrants will be reviewed.
  
  A discussion paper on a review of the Australian GSM Points Test is currently being prepared, with a released date of 12 February, 2010.
  
• State Migration Plans are currently being agreed upon between the states and DIAC (Department of Immigration and Citizenship).
  
  As yet there has been no guidance into what methodology will be applied or exactly when these plans will be implemented.

Am I going to be affected by the changes?

If you have yet to lodge your visa application, you will be affected by the changes. However, many applicants will have alternative visa pathways available to them (i.e. through state sponsorship), so it's hopeful that the vast majority will not become ineligible for migration as a result of this announcement.

What still needs to be clarified?

There are a few details that remain uncertain, such as when the new SOL will come into action (as there is some contradictory information in the information released), when information on the state migration plans will be issued, and whether any state sponsorships will ‘transferred’ to the new State Migration Plans if all the (as yet unknown) criteria is met. For example, Western Australia have said it is 'unlikely' that their state migration plan will be released until 1 July, 2010.

Without this information, it is impossible to provide accurate advice on the best way forward. Once these key issues have been clarified, applicants caught by the changes can give some proper consideration towards alternative solutions. 

When will further information be provided by DIAC?

Hopefully, further news will come to light before the end of the week (i.e. 12 February). As a company, we will be systematically assessing all our clients and personally informing them of their options, but this will only happen once we feel we have the necessary information to advise with confidence.

What do affected visa applicants need to do now?

At this time, it's easy to feel despondent that DIAC have once again 'moved the goalposts' and made it harder for many visa applicants to reach the standards required to emigrate to Australia. However, my advice remains the same as always; to remain calm and research all alternative options before making a decision.

Further details need to be provided regarding some aspects of the changes (especially the state migration plans), but I will make sure to provide more information as and when I receive it.

- Lauren Mennie is Casework Department Manager for the Australian Visa Bureau

©Visa Bureau 2003-2010

Visa Bureau takes no responsibility and cannot be held accountable for action taken as a result of any information or comment provided on this blog, and we recommend that you always seek a number of opinions before making a decision regarding your migration or visa application. Please refer to the Visa Bureau terms of use for more information.

Even in the ever-changing world of Australian immigration, it's still generally accepted that upon being requested by your Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) case officer to submit health and character checks, you've entered the final stages of having your Australia visa application finalised and potentially just a month or two away from being ready to migrate.

However, a recent change that affects this final stage (and which many migrants may have missed out on) is the current review of UK panel doctors by DIAC. You can see the notification on the top of this page here, but you'll notice that there isn't an awful lot of information given.

Since hearing about this update though, we've spoken to a few GPs who have received notification from DIAC that they will be removed as eligible panel doctors (with some set to be removed as soon as the end of the week).

It's interesting seeing DIAC rationalise the decision, as you can see in the following paragraph of the notification letter sent to affected doctors:

"By reducing single panel clinics in areas of relatively low demand and concentrating services in centralised areas with clinics that can provide a one stop shop for clients, we are expecting to be able to provide our clients with a higher level of all round service. While we recognise that some clients may need to travel greater distances in order to visit a panel doctor we believe this will be balanced by the other factors."

It's certainly arguable that reducing the number of eligible panel doctors will provide Australia visa applicants with a 'higher level of all round service', especially if you're required to travel much further than previously to visit an eligible doctor as a result. Regardless though, the most pertinent piece of information to people currently at this stage of their application seems to be the following:

"All medicals conducted prior to your removal should now be completed and forwarded to the processing office by 25 January 2010. However, should you have any medical cases you conducted prior to your removal which are yet to be finalised due to outstanding requirements, please proceed to complete these."

Therefore, the situation seems to be that any checks conducted with a panel doctor who has since been removed will still be accepted by DIAC, provided they were initially conducted BEFORE the panel doctor was notified they would be removed.

This is good news for any visa applicants who are awaiting the results of their medical checks, but should also come as a warning to anyone preparing to enter this stage of the process. It is VITAL that you keep aware of the most current list of accepted panel doctors (which you can find here) before you arrange for any medical checks to be conducted.

It's also advisable that you confirm with your doctor on the day of the medical checks to ensure that they are still listed by DIAC, so you don't risk paying for medical checks which will not be accepted and could risk lengthening the finalisation of your application for Australian immigration.

- Lauren Mennie is Casework Department Manager for the Australian Visa Bureau.

©Visa Bureau 2003-2010

Visa Bureau takes no responsibility and cannot be held accountable for action taken as a result of any information or comment provided on this blog, and we recommend that you always seek a number of opinions before making a decision regarding your migration or visa application. Please refer to the Visa Bureau terms of use for more information.

While the scheduled MODL review has yet to be announced, 2010 has still already been an eventful year for migration updates made by various departments and bodies that are set to have a lasting impact on the Australian immigration process.

On Friday, I covered the recent updates made by VETASSESS and yesterday, I looked at the news from other assessing bodies. Today, I'll look at changes made to the application fees associated with some aspects of emigrating to Australia.

Australian High Commission in London increases exchange rate for paying DIAC fees

The Australian High Commission in London's exchange rate for paying the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) fees has increased as of 1 January, 2010, resulting in an increase of cost to the applicant despite the fee technically remaining the same.

For example, while the Australian skilled visa application fee is still AU$1,705.00, under the former exchange rate used by the Australian High Commission in London, the cost was £870.00. However, according to the new exchange rate used as of 1 January, 2010 though, it is now equal to £1,000.00.

This predominantly affects applications for the Australian partner visa, the Australian prospective marriage visa and the Australian child visa (as well as the second visa application charge for the Australian contributory parent visa, if you choose that it is favourable to pay it in the UK).

Western Australia state sponsorship fee reduced

The Western Australia state sponsorship fee has been reduced as of 1 January, 2010, going from AU$220.00 to AU$200.00. All applicants looking to lodge a state sponsorship application with WA should be aware of this and ensure to pay the correct fee.

- Lauren Mennie is Casework Department Manager for the Australian Visa Bureau.

©Visa Bureau 2003-2010

Visa Bureau takes no responsibility and cannot be held accountable for action taken as a result of any information or comment provided on this blog, and we recommend that you always seek a number of opinions before making a decision regarding your migration or visa application. Please refer to the Visa Bureau terms of use for more information.

While the scheduled MODL review has yet to be announced, 2010 has still already been an eventful year for Australian immigration changes made by various departments and bodies that are set to have a lasting impact on the Australian immigration process.

On Friday, I covered the recent updates made by VETASSESS, and today, I'll look at changes made by some other major skills assessing bodies, including the Australian Computer Society (ACS), Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) and  Teaching Australia (TA).

Changes to Australian Computer Society (ACS) assessment policy from 1 February

We have received notification of an upcoming change to Australian Computer Society (ACS) assessment policy which will be implemented from 1 February, 2010. 

The criteria for the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process is set to change. At the moment, the requirement is that applicants write three mandatory 'core body of knowledge' essays,  with applicants also able to write on other areas of knowledge using their own discretion.

However, from 1 February, 2010, there will be a new set of criteria called 'Key Areas of Knowledge'. There will be very little overlap between this new set of criteria and the criteria currently in place.

Therefore, if you are in a position to lodge to the ACS or are close to this point, it is recommended that you do so immediately.

However, if you are not able to lodge with the ACS before 1 February, it is advisable to cease working on the RPL aspect of the application, as much of the work you will do will be obsolete (although it is still possible to work on the employment references required for the application, as they will still be necessary).

As yet there is no further guidance on the new criteria, but we expect that it will be released before the implementation of the new assessing policy. As soon as we have any further details you will be notified.

Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) release new application form

On 1 December, 2009, Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) released an updated version of the General Skilled Migration Skills Assessment application form (Version 1.8).

The new application form has new mandatory fields to collect the applicant's passport and visa information.  It's important that all applicants ensure to use this new application form as failure to provide the aforementioned information may result in delays in processing your application.

Teaching Australia (TA) change name to Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL)

The Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) came into being on 1 January, 2010, as the new name for Teaching Australia (TA).

While the change seems to be a predominantly superficial change (i.e. one with no updates to assessment criteria), there have already been changes scheduled for 22 March, 2010 relating to demonstrating English language ability and the amount of days of supervised teaching practice required. I'll write more on these changes closer to the time and will continue to monitor the AITSL to see whether any further updates are introduced.

- Lauren Mennie is Casework Department Manager for the Australian Visa Bureau.

©Visa Bureau 2003-2010

Visa Bureau takes no responsibility and cannot be held accountable for action taken as a result of any information or comment provided on this blog, and we recommend that you always seek a number of opinions before making a decision regarding your migration or visa application. Please refer to the Visa Bureau terms of use for more information.

While the scheduled MODL review has yet to be announced, 2010 has still already been an eventful year for migration updates made by various departments and bodies that are set to have a lasting impact on the Australian immigration process.

Today, I'll look at changes made by one of the major skills assessing bodies for tradespeople, Vocational Education and Training Assessment Services (VETASSESS).

New requirements for VETASSESS applicants introduced

As of 1 January 2010, the requirements for VETASSESS applicants have changed. We've covered these in a previous blog, but I'll summarise the changes again here, as well as the recent details VETASSESS provided. 

All applicants to VETASSESS will now be divided into one of 4 groups, with each of these groups using different methods of meeting the requirements. It's best understood by clicking here to visit the VETASSESS page which specifically explains how to identify which group you fall into.

Depending on which group they fall into, applicants will now need to have the following in order to receive a positive skills assessment through VETASSESS:

• A qualification that is in a 'highly relevant field of study' to your nominated occupation*; AND/OR
• Between 1 year and 3 years (depending on occupation) of 'relevant employment' to your nominated occupation.

*Depending on your nominated occupation and which group you are in, you may be able to substitute the qualification that is in a 'highly relevant field of study' for between 2 years and 3 years of relevant employment.

As we noted before, this does set the bar higher for VETASSESS applicants, demanding that they be far more specific in demonstrating their experience and study as it directly correlates to their nominated occupation.

February VETASSESS practical assessment cancelled for the UK

Without warning, VETASSESS have cancelled the scheduled practical assessment for the UK that was set to take place in February. VETASSESS have said this is due to “programming difficulties”, which may well have centred around securing dates and placements at venues in the UK.

The next UK practical assessments are scheduled between the 2nd and 30th of June, and as always, dates are available on a 'first come, first served' basis. However, with February's cancellations, please bear in mind that June is set to be even busier than usual.

Alternatively, should you have an urgent need to have your practical before June (perhaps due to an impending critical birthday), it is vital that you research alternative options.

Such options include travelling to another country to take the VETASSESS practical there (provided the timing permits, as the earliest that international practicals are scheduled for is April), or choosing an alternative visa application such as the sponsored subclass 457 visa route or under the Employer Nominated Scheme (ENS).

Please note though, the ENS is a pathway that is only suitable for workers in certain occupations due to specific licensing requirements. Therefore, you should consider seeking consultation from a registered migration agent or Australian immigration lawyer before pursuing one of these pathways. 

As a caveat, we have seen that VETASSESS may be willing to offer a full refund to applicants who confirm that they wish to withdraw from the assessment process as a result of the practical being cancelled. Please contact them directly to discuss whether you are eligible for this option.

- Lauren Mennie is Casework Department Manager for the Australian Visa Bureau.

©Visa Bureau 2003-2010

Visa Bureau takes no responsibility and cannot be held accountable for action taken as a result of any information or comment provided on this blog, and we recommend that you always seek a number of opinions before making a decision regarding your migration or visa application. Please refer to the Visa Bureau terms of use for more information.

In an unexpected, and unannounced, Christmas present from the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) new legislation has been made regarding Australian skilled migration that will be implemented from 1 January 2010.

At the date of publishing this blog this information had not been released on the DIAC website, and it is likely that this information would not be announced publically by the department until the date in which it comes into effect.  

While the majority of the new legislation deals with onshore applications for the graduate stream of migration, there are  also serious changes that affect the work experience requirements for 175 Skilled Independent, 176 Skilled Sponsored, and 475 Skilled Regional Sponsored applications. The changes will affect applicants whose nominated occupations appear on a not-yet-released DIAC occupations list.

In order to apply for a visa you must first have your skills assessed by a relevant assessing body. The occupation in which you obtain a skills assessment for is known throughout the entire migration process as your nominated occupation. Following the skills assessment is the visa application to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC).

Under current legislation it is not necessary for an applicant to have recent experience in their nominated occupation; it is acceptable to be working in any occupation falling on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) for the mandatory period of 12 months in the 24 months preceding the application.

What do the changes mean?

The just-published changes will mean it will no longer be acceptable for applicants with occupations on the new list to have recent work experience in an occupation other than the nominated occupation. 

It is most likely that these changes will mostly affect trade occupations (although other occupations may be included) as the legislation has been put together after consultation with Trades Recognition Australia.

All applicants in a position to lodge with DIAC, or close to this point, are advised to do so immediately or to contact their migration agent to work towards this before that date.

Applicants who have an occupation on the new list, and who have two different occupations for the skills assessment and the visa application will not be able to lodge a successful application after 1 January.

While there is potential for certain applicants with work experience in similar occupations, for example solid plasterer and fibrous plasterer, to make a successful application after that date by showing they are working for at least 20 hours per week in their nominated occupation it is by no means guaranteed for all applicants. For those with experience in two entirely different occupations it will require a close analysis of the tasks and responsibilities for each role, and it could potentially also involve additional costs (if an RTO was required and/or another skills application was required). Also, depending on the visa subclass and an applicant’s circumstances, it may have other repercussions on the visa pathway available.

Our priority in the next few weeks will be to help those who can lodge their applications with DIAC in the immediate future. If this is not you, we appreciate your patience and we will be assessing all our clients’ circumstances to see if we can formulate another strategy by which you will remain eligible under the new legislation and we will be in touch shortly. 

You can read the new legislation in full here, and the explanatory statement here.

UPDATE: The new list of occupations has now been released (and includes only trades occupations in ASCO series 4). It can be found here.

- Lauren Mennie is Casework Department Manager for the Australian Visa Bureau.

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