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Current Newsletter - Changes to Australian Skilled Migration Program July 2011
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No overseas visits are currently being planned until after January 2011.
Ring our South African administrative assistant, Elize on 076 875 6634
or our Namibian administrative manager Hans de Jager on 081 288 4032
Newsletter - Changes to Skilled Immigration July 2011
Our newsletter this month:
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AUSTRALIA INCREASES MIGRATION NUMBERS FOR 2011 - 2012
Happy New (Financial) Year to all in Australia! The first day of the new financial year heralds the start of the Migration Program for 2011/12 which now totals 185,000 places, an increase of 16,300 places. This is the first time Australia has increased migration levels since 2008!
GENERAL SKILLED MIGRATION
The Skilled Component comprises 125,850 migration places, an increase of 10.5% or 12,000 places.
Most of the increased places (10,000) has been allocated to the GSM (independent migration based on points) component with 44,350 placed going to Skilled-Independent migration, 24 000 places for the Skilled – State/Territory Sponsored program and 4,100 places allocated to Family Sponsored – Skilled Migration.
It is expected that the GSM places will be allocated as follows to cases in the pipeline (filed before 30 June 2011 and currently awaiting processing):
3,500 Priority 2 cases (professionals)
22,000 Priority 3 cases (trades and technologists)
46,000 Priority 4 cases (professional and trades not on the current skills list any more)
A number of the priority 3 cases filed in 2009 have already been allocated to case managers and we are currently receiving requests from the Department to send our clients for medicals and to apply for police clearances to finalise their visa applications. These visas should be granted in the near futurer and hopefully we will receive similar requests soon for all of those still waiting for their visa applications to be allocated to a case manager for processing.
NEW GSM SKILLED OCCUPATION LIST
In line with the increase on Independent skilled migration numbers and in reaction to the job market needs of Australia a number of occupations have been added to the SOL list and only a few have been removed.
The following occupations have been added to the SOL:
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Medical Physicist [234914]
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Environmental Health Officer [251311]
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Occupational Health and Safety Adviser [251312]
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Hospital Pharmacists [251511]
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Retail Pharmacists [251513]
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Barrister [271111]
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Solicitor [271311]
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Fitter (General) [323211]
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Fitter and Turner [323212]
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Fitter-Welder [323213]
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Metal Machinist (First Class) [323214]
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Boat builder and Repairer [39911]
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Shipwright [399112] The following occupations have been removed from the SOL:
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Optometrist [251411]
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Orthoptist [251412]
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Panel Beater [324111]
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Vehicle Painter [324311]
To view the new SOL for Independent-Skilled migration click here.
NEW POINTS TEST
The new points test will came into effect on 1 July 2010. Migrants under the Skilled-Independent visa stream now needs 65 points to qualify for migration under the GSM visa stream. To view a sample of the new points test, click here.
EMPLOYER NOMINATED PERMANENT MIGRATION
The Global Economic Crises has also changed the face of Australian migration and the emphasis is currently on employment market needs as reflected in the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa stream and the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS). The places for these program total 46,000 (Almost 2,000 places more than GSM) with the emphasis on Regional migration.
To apply for the ENS or RSMS visa an applicant needs a job offer from an Australian business and the key is to be “employment ready” before potential migrant starts job hunting in Australia. This includes having a skills assessment done, having done the English language test and having a valid passport.
Most occupations such as management, HR and Marketing, Hotel and Motel Management, Cooks and Hairdressers are still on the ENS and RSMS occupations lists. To view the ENS occupation list click here. The RSMS occupation list includes all occupations.
FAMILY MIGRATION
The places allocated to Family Migration for the new financial year have increased with 7.4% and have been allocated as follows:
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Aged Parent and Parent visas: 2010
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Contributory Parent and Contributory Aged Parent: 7400
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Partner visas: 45,400
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Child visas:3,450
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Other family (Carer, Remaining Relative, Aged Dependent): 750
To view current queue waiting times for Remaining Relative and Aged Dependent visas, click here.
If you have received a queue date for a parent visa click here to see when you can expect to have your visa granted.
BUSINESS MIGRATION
The business skills migration stream is the only stream that has been allocated less places in total for the new year namely 7,200 which is 600 places less than last year. Perhaps this number reflects the influence of the GEC and the subsequent lesser demand under this visa stream! Australia is still seen as a relatively safe option for business migration and offers a stress free migration option under the business investor visa stream to business people who do not wish to engage in a new business in Australia.
BUSINESSES FOR SALE
Seafood restaurant on the Gold Coast, Queensland. Asking prize $300,000. Complies with all requirement for permanent business skills visa.
Small cafe in Ormiston, Gold Coast. Ideal as second income generator.
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