GSM Changes and The Australian Immigration Program

The Australian visa could soon be a museum piece!

So what changes can we expect of the Australian immigration program once the new Skilled Occupations List is implemented mid-2010? For that we need to look at the changes the DIAC has already made.

The DIAC’s preference for highly skilled migrants is no secret, all the changes made so far have been at the expense of general skilled applicants wanting to emigrate to Australia. The suspension of GSM visas until the end of June confirms this; targeting those who apply for sponsorship or who apply as an independent based on the points score.

It looks likely that State Migration Plans will tie in closely with the new SOL – as they are due to be released at the same time as the SOL – giving greater preference to occupations that are considered to be highly skilled. For an idea of what these occupations will be we need look no further than the CSL. Medical professionals, engineers and specialist computing professionals seem to rule here. As the CSL will gradually morph into the SOL there is no reason to think that this will change hugely.

Priority processing will probably still apply for those with occupations on the SOL and whilst the DIAC say that the suspension of GSM visas will lead to quicker processing times, there is no real indication that processing times will improve much.

English skills evidence have been getting tighter, applicants for whom English is not their first language face having to get higher marks in order to successfully pass. The same applies for students who want to study in Australia. Criteria for English skills evidence may well change again.

Work experience for applicants nominating a trade occupation looks set to be important. A new skills assessment called the Job Ready Test was a requirement for those nominating trade occupations. Further information on this was meant to be available early this year on the Australian Department of Education and Employment but this has been delayed, leading to thoughts that this may be part of overall changes announced by DIAC mid-2010.

Now for State Migration Plans; according to some migration agents, the Australian state immigration departments did not know of the suspension plans in advance. This has thrown them into a bit of a tizz, however their responses may bode well for GSM applicants in the future. If, once the SOL is revealed, the states put in every other occupation on the State Migration Plan and send that for approval, the tables will be very much turned on the Minister for Immigration. Whether they would take such action remains to be seen but the SMP remains a critical part of the government’s immigration program.

Now for more bad news, the DIAC have said that the suspension is only “expected” to be lifted at the end of June. The lifting of the suspension may well depend on whether the final details of the SOL have been approved as well as details of the new Points Test and whether or not the necessary legislation needed to approve the changes has been passed by Cabinet. Delays in this process mean delays in the lifting of the suspension.

So what should new applicants do now? Well there is very little to do but to wait and hope. The new SOL is not likely to be revealed until the Federal Budget is announced tomorrow night, once it is, it will likely be subjected to much scrutiny. However just to end on a positive note, it may not all be bad news. The State Migration Program may yet throw up some surprises, but they will always offer a way in for skilled migrants whilst the new Points Test along with the SOL may make the whole process quicker and smoother for others. There is no doubt that the Australian immigration program is fast becoming one of the strictest in the world – even the UK are watching with awe – but skilled migration is crucial to Australia’s development and economy. There is always hope on the horizon.

If you have been affected by the changes and need some support or just a chat then head on over to our online forum for all the latest news, developments and opinions.

Other related articles:

• Confusion Continues Over Australian Immigration Program - Chefs dropped from the SOL and states suspend GSM applications...
• DIAC Re-Organise Australian Immigration Program - DIAC re-organisation within GSM ahead of the revealing of Skilled...
• Australian Visa Program Changes Delayed - Planned changes to the Australian visa program are put on...
• Australian Immigration Dept Suspends GSM Visas - The DIAC suspends certain GSM visas until the end of...

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