In an important update to Australian work force and businesses, Prime Minister Mr Malcolm Turnbull has scrapped controversial Temporary Work Visa 457 sub class.

Temporary Skills Shortage Visa will replace the 457 visa from March 2018 and there will be two categories.

Short Term Stream

• This stream will have visa validity of 2 years and capacity of one onshore visa renewal under the Short-Term stream.
• Visa fees for this visa stream would be $1150
• STSOL will apply to this visa stream which includes around 435 occupations. Regional Area employer will have some flexibility with additional occupations available to them.
• English requirements remains the same as current 457 visa which is Overall 5 bands with minimum of 4.5 in each.
• Genuine Temporary Entrant requirements will apply
• 2 Years of relevant work experience is required for this visa.

Medium Term Stream

• This stream will have visa validity of 4 years compare to other 2 years and visa fees would be $2400.
• This stream will have capacity for visa renewal onshore and a permanent residence pathway after three years under the Medium-Term stream.
• Less number of occupations available to nominate in this stream as this is going to be high skilled shortage occupations. This list will be called MLTSSL and it replaces current Skilled occupation list.
• English requirements has been increased to each 5 bands for this category.
• 2 Years of relevant work experience is required for this visa.

Common requirements for eligibility in both categories.

• Work Experience – at least 2 years of relevant work experience
• Labour Market Testing will be mandatory which means reports and all.
• Employers must pay market salary rate to this employees which meets minimum of Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold $53,900 for now.
• Australian Federal Police Clearance or Penal Clearance will be required
• A non-discriminatory work force test to ensure that Australian employers are not misusing the program and discrimination against Australian workers.
• Further changes in training benchmark requirements to tighten it up.

In the biggest shocker, the permanent residence eligibility period will be extended from two to three years.

This new visa is part of the Government’s significant reform package to strengthen the integrity and quality of Australia’s temporary and permanent employer sponsored skilled migration programmes.

Department of Home Affairs has also changed the Skilled Occupation List to Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) with immediate effect.

You must nominate an occupation on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) if you are applying for any of the below:

• Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)
• Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489) (unless nominated by a State or Territory Government)
• Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) – Graduate Work Stream.

Previously called Consolidated Sponsored Occupation List ( CSOL ) is now changed to Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL)

You must nominate an occupation on this Combined list of eligible skilled occupations if you are applying for any of the below:

• Employer Nominated Scheme (subclass 186) – Direct Entry Stream
• Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)
• Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489) – if nominated by a State or Territory Government
• Temporary Work (Skilled) visa (subclass 457)
• Training visa (subclass 407)

You can access the STSOL here – https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/Trav/Work/Work/Skills-assessment-and-assessing-authorities/skilled-occupations-lists/combined-stsol-mltssl

What this means to General Skilled Migration ?

• All occupations removed from STSOL will not be eligible for any General Skilled Migration Category or Employer Sponsored Visas.

Regional Employers

Concessions for regional Australia will continue to be available: Employers in regional Australia will continue to have access to occupations under the temporary and permanent visas, to reflect their skills needs.

Existing permanent visa concessions for regional Australia, such as waiving the nomination fee and providing age exemptions for certain occupations, will be retained. Consideration will be given to expanding the occupations in regional Australia that are exempt from the age requirement.

The implementation of these reforms will begin immediately and will be completed in March 2018.

Here is a list of removed occupations  – https://www.mia.org.au/documents/item/1112

The Western Australian ‘Department of Training and Workforce Development’ has put a freeze on accepting RSMS 187 Direct Entry Stream applications for the Perth region.

Although 8 other regions of the western state are still being accepted, the RSMS program has been suspended for applications for the popular Perth region while the newly elected McGowan government reviews the WASMOL (WA occupations list) and RSMS program in general.

A confirmation of the Perth freeze is confirmed on the WA RCB website.

Key Points:

• 187 RSMS for Perth now unavailable
• Perth now joins other cities such as Newcastle and Wollongong as unavailable for RSMS
• Perth RSMS freeze aimed to curve WA’s staggering unemployment rate

History:

Reported in The West Australian newspaper, WA’s new premier, Mr Mark McGowan, vowed to have Perth removed from the RSMS scheme, the motive being it would “make it easier for locals to find work”. 2 days after his successful election victory, on 13^th March 2017, new applications for Perth RSMS were and remain to be suspended.

Reason:

Perth now joins other major metropolitan regions such as Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Newcastle and Wollongong that do not have access to the RSMS program but do still have regional areas within their states. With around 160 occupations on this list, the McGowan government aims to lessen the states near-7% unemployment rate by removing the state’s capital as an option for direct permanent residency under employer sponsored visa subclass 187.

What does this mean for me?

While the Direct Entry Stream for 187 Visa has been put on hold, employer nominated visas in Perth still exist through the 457 stream, which although is not direct permanent residency, does not require local RCB approval.

Although the RSMS program is currently under review for Perth region, it seems the McGowan’s government is of strong view that it should be removed.

Although the Perth region is currently not an option for RSMS, the RCB FAQ section of the Western Australian governments website does let you know which other regions and suburbs (via postcode) within WA are still eligible for the program.

Aside from 457, what are my other options for visa applications in Perth?

Aside from 457 visa with minimum 4 year work requirement, applicants may wish to look into their options and evaluate their eligibility for the Points Test for options such as applying for Skilled Independent or State Nominated visas. We understand this puts great strain on anyone who was about to apply for 187 RSMS, therefore please don’t hesitate to contact us for further discussion.

For any specific query related to any type of immigration visa or any other concerns, you can also post it on our immigration expert forum where our experienced staff will provide you with the right advice wherever possible.

Nurses, with critical skills and competencies, have long been in high demand in Australia. The growing population of elderly residents in the country is putting the current healthcare services under great pressure to expand health provision in the areas of community care and maternity services.

As per the Australia’s Future Health Workforce (AFHW) – Nurses reports, the demand for nurses will exceed significantly, with proposed shortage of approximately 85,000 nurses by 2025 and 123,000 nurses by 2030.

This growing demand provides a great opportunity for overseas qualified nurses to get enhanced job prospects or move to Australia permanently as a skilled migrant.

If you are an internationally qualified nurse or midwife and considering to work in Australia, you first need to get registered with Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and assessed by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council (ANMAC) to meet the required accreditation standards.

Once you become a registered nurse, you can apply for either of the visas given below to explore temporary or permanent job opportunities in Australia.

• Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186):
  If you are under 50 years of age, have three years of relevant experience and meet the skills, qualifications & English language requirement unless you are exempt, you can be considered eligible for a permanent visa under this scheme.
  
  This visa is designed for the Australian employers who want to fill the skill gap of their business by sponsoring an overseas skilled worker.
  
  
• Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (Subclass 187):
  You may be eligible for this visa if you are under 50 years of age and have been nominated by an approved Australian employer to work in a regional Australia (i.e. excluding Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Newcastle, Wollongong or Melbourne),
  
  
• Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189):
  If you don’t have a sponsor or prefer not to be sponsored, you can apply for this visa. However, you are required to submit an expression of Interest and receive a letter of invitation from the Department of Home Affairs to apply for this visa.
  
  To get eligible for this visa, you need to pass a Point Test that is evaluated on different factors including your age, English language ability, relevant work experience and occupation.
  

Must Read: Your Guide To Get Into A Nursing Program In Australia

• Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417):
  If you want to holiday and work simultaneously in the land down under, this visa allows you to stay in Australia for 12 months. In this duration, you can work as a nurse with any employer for a maximum of 3 months.
  
  However, you must be at least 18 and younger than 31 years of age to get eligible for this visa. Besides, you must have a passport from an eligible country and don’t have dependent child accompanying you during your stay in Australia.
  
  
• Skill Matching Visa:
  This visa is designed to fill regional skill shortages in Australia by allowing skilled migrants to settle in the parts of country and contribute with their skills and abilities. To qualify for this visa, you are required to satisfy certain criteria for age, skills and English language proficiency.
  
  While the above visa options open great career pathways for experienced overseas in Australia, those who lack in specific theoretical knowledge and practical skills that are required to work as a registered nurse, can take the IRON program.

What is IRON Program?

The Initial Registration for Overseas Nurses (IRON) is a bridging program designed to provide overseas nurses with knowledge, skills and understanding to practice safely and proficiently in health care settings of Australia. Graduates with successful completion of IRON program can apply to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) for registration

If you need any assistance for Nursing program or consultation to apply for the appropriate visa, we have the right blend of skills and knowledge to best deliver your requirements.

Year 2016 saw some consequential Visa reforms in Australia. In the wake of new government policies, several amendments were made to various types of visas which are as under:

Student Visa

Some significant changes were brought into effect on July 1^st, 2016 to streamline student visa. With an objective to simplify student visa application process, Australia’s simplified student visa framework was introduced on the same date.

The Changes

• Irrespective of their chosen stream of study, international students will apply for a single student visa which falls under subclass 500
• Guardians of student visa applicants will require to apply for the new Student Guardian Visa falling under subclass 590
• Student visa and Guardian student visa applicants will require to apply for respective visas online by creating an account on https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/Trav/Visa/Immi

New Work Visas

4 new work visas were introduced by the Australian government on November 19^th, 2016. With an aim to curb red tape, the government has eliminated the sponsorship and nomination requirements for certain activities requiring stay for small periods.

The new sub classes are:

• Subclass 400 Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) visa
• Subclass 403 Temporary Work (International Relations) visa
• Subclass 407 Training visa
• Subclass 408 Temporary Activity visa.

Temporary Parent Visa Announced

New temporary parent visa was announced by the government in September 2016, which will take effect from July, 1^st, 2017. The government is working on the development of a legislation;in this regard for which they have initiated community consultations and have already invited parent visa submissions. Now that’s good news, right?

Optional Priority Service For Indian Visa Applicants

December, 5th, 2016 on-wards Indian citizens applying for a visitor visa falling under subclass 600 (both tourist and business), can opt for priority service to get the process expedited for an additional fee of $1000. This facility is available at selected Australian Visa Application centres in India inclusive of New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Pune, Mumbai (N), Mumbai (S), Bangalore, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Chandigarh and Jalandhar.

Students Pursuing STEM Will Get Extra Points

September 10^th, 2016 on-wards, students who have completed Masters or Doctoral by research level qualifications in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths or certain Information technology and communication related streams from Australian institutions will be eligible for 5 extra points on the skill test.

This will increase their chances for a permanent residency in Australia.

60 Days Stay On 457 Visa

Foreign workers on 457 visa will be able to stay in Australia only for 60 days instead of 90 days as earlier post their employment ends in Australia. The announcement was made in November 2016 and the government is also considering to slash the list of occupations that bring foreign workers to Australia on 457 visa.

Automatic Visa Nomination For Phd Graduates

Australian Government is in process of introducing a more streamlined, automatic and free nomination of skilled visa migration for Phd graduates from a Canberra University. Minimal documentation, elimination of $300 service fee and faster processing will be some of the benefits, applicants will derive.

New Entrepreneur Visa Introduced

With an aim to promote entrepreneurship and encourage upcoming zealous entrepreneurs, the Australian goverment has introduced a new entrepreneur visa in September last year. This visa provision will allow entrepreneurial brains with out of the box ideas and funding of $200,000 from a third party, to bring their dreams to life. Besides, it will also increase their chances to obtain permanent residency in the country.

If you need any assistance regarding visa processing or consultation for which visa will be the best for you, feel free to get in touch with us.

Every year, a large number of people from all corners of the world flock to Australia to study and build their careers. The country has always been popular for its dynamic cities, high employment rate and magnificent landscape beauty.

Australia’s economy has also been strong consistently, which leads to a great demand for skilled migrants. In fact, the country offers some great visa options that allows living and working on a temporary and permanent basis.

The temporary visa options include Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 457) Work Visa and Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417) while the permanent visa options include Regional Sponsored Migration Stream Visa (subclass 187) and Skilled Independent Visa (subclass 189), Skilled Nominated Visa (subclass 190), Skilled Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 489) under the General Skilled Migration Program.

Are you also a migrant moving to work in Australia under any of the above mentioned visas?

While you must be happy as a clam to work in the land down under, it is of utmost importance to be aware of the basic rights and entitlements before you reach there. Understanding the workplace rights will help you protect your opportunities and avoid denial of promotion or training for prejudicial reasons.

So, let’s get started with knowing the Workplace Rights for All Australian Visa Holders!

Under Australian law, all workers including migrants have rights and protections against exploitation or ill treatment at work. This includes: 

• Pay scale and workplace conditions will only be followed by the Australian law.

• The PACT (Pay and Conditions Tool) calculates the basic pay rates & shifts, leave arrangements, notice and dismissal entitlements. You can visit the website here.
• You are allowed to take help of the Translating and Interpreting Service in case you feel the need of a translator or interpreter.
• Any employer operating in Australia cannot hold the rights to cancel your visa, only the Department of Home Affairs can grant, refuse or cancel your visa. If you are under examination for visa cancellation, you can provide your justification to why your visa should not be refused.
• The Fair Work Ombudsman takes care of the workplace complaints and enforces compliance with national workplace laws. It is an independent statutory agency of the Government of Australia offering free support on the Australian national workplace relations system

While understanding basic rights is crucial, migrants working in Australia are also expected to meet the employment law to ensure a safe and healthy environment at work. 

In our next post, we’ll discuss about the migrants’ responsibilities and obligations at work and how to meet them.

Stay Tuned!

“Work to live, Don’t live to work”. One country that has always lived by this thought is Australia. It is one of the most popular destinations to study, work and live a quality life.

Every year, a large number of international students coming to study in Australia  face the pulls of working after completing graduation, as the country offers many job opportunities and best average salaries in the world.

One of the major reasons behind this is the shortage of skilled workers. Australia has a range of professions that falls under the skill shortage category, as companies fail to find the appropriate candidates within the local talent pool, thus creating more opportunities for skilled migrants.

To address this shortage, various researches have been performed with results being published with state, territory and national overview.

Hays, the world’s leading recruitment experts, recently released their quarterly report including the skills and jobs that will be in demand in Australia in 2017. The jobs include:

Professional practice accountants:  As per the recruiters of Hays, those employees with excellent organisation skills and vigilance to keep everything balanced will be preferred in the Australian accounting workforce.

IT Coordinators/Integrator: IT coordinators with technical expertise along with required skills in teaching and learning are currently in high demand by schools of Australia.

Site Manager:  Candidates with problem solving skills and great understanding of teamwork are in short supply in many areas across the country.

Data Analyst: The country require individuals who can manage and utilise data to gather insights in order to achieve targeted goals of the business.

Development & Operations Engineer: Adaptable managers who can ensure that equipment are properly designed, installed and function effectively are highly sought-after in many states and territories.

Sales Administrator: The country needs sales administrators with advanced technical skills and capability to manage large amount of data.

It’s quite evident that getting a degree is not enough to secure a job in 2017. One has to go beyond the job description and perform supplementary duties.

If you are also  an international student in Australia, chances are you may also be looking to gain relevant work experience and permanent residency in the country.  This could only be possible if you have industry related discipline, advanced skills and additional qualifications.

Wondering how to go about it?

Join Professional Year Program

Designed to kick-start the career of international graduates of Australia in the field of Accounting, IT and Engineering, professional year program is a 44 week program comprising of formal learning and an internship in a relevant host company. By joining this program, international graduates get loads of benefits including:

• Gain Valuable work experience in an Australian company through internship placement
• Enhance understanding of culture and practices within the Australian workplace
• Improve business communication skills
• Build strong relationships with industry professionals and ensure better career prospects
• Earn 5 additional migration points to support permanent residency application on successful completion of the program

Why Hire A Reliable Education Consultant For Professional Year Enrolment?

Being an international student in Australia, you are very well aware of the complexities included, be it finding the right course or institution or applying for the visa. The same applies to the Professional Year Course. Certain criteria is required to be met to get eligible for the course.

A qualified education consultant will not only help you meet all the requirements of the process, but also alleviate the stress of choosing the appropriate course and getting admission in the right institution.

An increasing number of people are migrating to Australia every year for better job opportunities, higher studies and quality of life. First aim of immigrants moving to Australia is to settle down before they get their spouses or partners to Australia on a partner Visa; however, it’s not at all plain sailing as it might appear.

Applying for Australian partner visa calls for rigorous paper work and inadequate information often leads to rejection leaving applicants at their wits’ end. Let’s read on to understand what Australia Spouse/ Partner Visa is and the documentation required to successfully apply for one.

What’s Australia Spouse Or Partner Visa?

Australia spouse or partner visa allows spouse or de-facto partner of an Australian citizen, permanent resident of Australia or an eligible New Zealand citizen to migrate to and live in Australia.

Australian partner visa requires you to be in a true and genuine relationship with your partner as well as a sponsorship from your partner for 2 years. If you are married you will need to provide evidence to ascertain that your marriage is valid according to the Australian law. Mostly furnishing your marriage certificate is enough though.

Whether you are applying as spouse or de-facto partner, you will be required to pass the health and character test as defined by the Australian migration law.

How to Prove De-Facto Relationship?

If you are applying as a de-facto partner, you need to be in a de-facto relationship for a period of at least 12 months. Proving a de-facto relationship is relatively difficult, but you can do so by the following means-

• By demonstrating knowledge of personal circumstances of each other.
• Joint ownership of major financial or real estate assets such as mortgages, property ownership or bank statements
• Joint Travel
• Providing evidence in the form of joint household accounts
• Providing evidence in the form of statutory declarations from your family or social circle such as parents or other family members, relatives, friends etc.

Related Read: How to Meet De Facto Relationship Requirements?

Understanding Partner Visa Subclass 820 and 801

Visa subclass 820 allows you to live in Australia on Partner Visa. As discussed earlier, you will be required to be sponsored by your partner for a period of 2 years.

After 2 years, if you wish to apply for permanent residency in Australia, you can go for permanent residency visa subclass 801. Visa subclass 820 is also known as Partner Temporary Visa Onshore while 801 is also called Partner Permanent Visa Onshore. Understandably, you can apply for temporary visa 820 while you are living in Australia. You must already hold a student visa, visitor visa or a working holiday visa.

What if you live outside Australia and looking for a partner visa?

Partner Provisional Visa Subclass 309 and Partner Migrant Visa Subclass 100

If you are in a marital or de-facto relationship with a permanent resident of Australia, an Australian citizen or an eligible New Zealand citizen and you live outside Australia, you can apply for Visa subclass 309. Visa 309 is the pathway to Permanent Partner Visa subclass 100 which is known as Partner Migrant Visa.

In other words, you do not need to lodge separate applications for visa 309 and visa 100, as both are part of the same process, but are processed in 2 different stages.

While applying for Provisional visa subclass 309, you must be living outside Australia. On the other hand, you could be in or outside Australia while applying for Partner Migrant Visa Subclass 100.

What if you are engaged to an Australian citizen, permanent resident of Australia or an eligible New Zealand citizen ? Are you still eligible for an Australian visa? Read on to know.

Australia Fiancé(é) / Prospective Marriage Visa Subclass 300

If you are engaged to an Australian citizen, permanent resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen and live outside Australia, you can apply for Visa subclass 300. You must be living outside Australia at the time of applying and when the visa is granted. You must be of the opposite sex of your fiancé(é)

Your fiancé(é) will need to sponsor you. Both of you must have met in person as adults and must be of marriageable age at the time of applying for the visa. You must be genuinely intended to live with your partner as spouse after marriage and your marriage must be recognized under the Australian law. Since this visa is valid for 9 months, you will be required to marry your partner within 9 months of visa grant.

Why hiring a certified migration/visa consultant makes your life easy?

There is no one size fits all, when it comes to Partner/Spouse/Prospective Spouse Visa and a lot depends on your case or circumstances.

It’s recommended to consult a professional and certified migration and visa consultant, because the process involves loads of paperwork and intricate processes that follow. We have applied for thousands of visa applications on behalf of our clients and got them processed in record time.

If you have any questions about partner or spouse visa or looking to apply for one yourself, feel free to get in touch with us.

You can post the query on the Visit Aussizz Group Forum and get professional advice.

The transition of Australia’s student visa system from Streamlined Visa Processing to Simplified Student Visa Framework that took place on the 1^st July 2016 has upped the ante for all good reasons. The student visa programme has unshackled itself from impositions of assessment levels and exclusion of education providers that were not a part of SVP. Certain education providers were out of bounds for high risk countries, given that the criteria of assessment were tough. Though the assessment has been hardly made lenient, at least the mention of such providers does not set a doubt in the very beginning!

The distinguishing factors are:

• Merger of Subclasses:
  All different subclasses that existed under SVP have been merged into one single subclass 500, except Student Guardian Visa. Applications for different education sectors such as vocational education, higher education, sponsored education or school sector education now fall under the same subclass.
  
  
• Education Provider, and Country of Citizenship- Key factors in assessing immigration risk:
  Under SVP, students applying to eligible education providers were not assigned assessment levels and were subject to lower evidentiary requirements, regardless of their nationality.
  
  Under SSVF, immigration risk outcomes of education providers is a vital factor in deciding about evidentiary requirements. Enrollment with an education provider that has the lowest immigration outcomes will call for lower evidentiary requirement. Similarly, the evidentiary requirements will be reduced if the applicant is from a country with the lowest immigration risk, regardless of the immigration risk outcomes of the education provider. Not to forget, immigration risk of education provider and applicant’s country of citizenship will be a decisive factor for English language and financial documentary evidence.
  
  
• All Education Providers Equally Accessible:
  With SVP gone, the education providers which were not considered a safe option to get enrolled at are now given an equal opportunity in a less complex visa framework. They are now a part of the network of all Australian education providers that could be accessed by anyone willing to come to Australia for higher education, with the provision of same level assessment structure.
  
  
• No Impact on Other Related Visas:
  The change in student visa system does not result into any impact on Graduate Work Visa eligibility criteria, not does it affect existing student visa holders. The changes are applied to student visa applications alone made after the 1^st July 2016.
  
  The change has imminently resulted in confusion amongst those holding student visas other than SC 500. The Aussizz education team at Adelaide is there to let you in on the impact of these changes and could guide you in complex matters of course change or changing your education provider. Talk to a consultant at Aussizz Adelaide office before planning any change or to explore future options!

“Growth is never by mere chance, it is the result of forces working together”, exactly what Aussizz Group believes in!

The company that started with the ideas of a single person has now become a force of more than 100 people supporting the business growth. And when you have this force, nobody can stop you to reach greater heights.

For a welcoming city like Brisbane that offers world-ranked education providers, perfect weather, beautiful natural wonders and affordability, it’s not surprising to see a large number of students migrating here to pursue higher education and build careers.

Hence, we decided to have a presence in the city to assist those thousands of skilled individuals in planning for migration to Brisbane through quality services and support.

With separate divisions including overseas education, permanent residency for skilled professionals and business migrations, the Brisbane office also has a team of qualified immigration specialists that aim to make the immigration process smooth and hassle-free.

Spreading out in more than 2000 square feet, the office is also equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and is conveniently located on Adelaide Street, a main street of Brisbane that runs between and parallel to Queen Street and Ann Street. If you need any assistance with immigration queries, including temporary and permanent visa, get in touch with our experts today at brisbane@aussizz.com or call: +61-4-3147-6111

Location:

Aussizz Group Brisbane

Suite 1, Level 13, 116 Adelaide Street, 
Brisbane, QLD – 4000, Australia

Phone: +61-4-3147-6111

Email: brisbane@aussizz.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aussizz