AlexJD

Hi Lauren, I'd be interested to hear how you are getting on with this. I'm currently trying to identify an agent that I could help me understand whether the 494 might work as a route to PR for me and my family. Raul, have you had much experience of the new regional visas?

Appreciate that this scenario is still almost 3 years away, but trying to get some clarity on it. As we now know, the TSS requires 2 years experience in the nominated occupation, but applicants only need a skills assessment for certain roles. Providing that the role you apply for (taxation accountant in this case) does not require a skills assessment on initial application for the TSS, would this then be required after 3 years when the applicant looked to gain PR via the TRT? Reason for asking is that my wife is a taxation accountant, although has alternative qualifications, that would not meet skills assessment requirements as she is CTA qualified as opposed to being qualified with the mainstream accountancy bodies.

Interested to read this http://www.border.gov.au/WorkinginAustralia/Documents/457-reforms-qanda.pdf?bcsi_scan_571fca99b36dc46b=BGx0AS9wQ9ne/zCLWLKT3ss7yKm1AAAAN9X2dw==&bcsi_scan_filename=457-reforms-qanda.pdf Gives some hope to those already on 457s and hoping for one to be granted by March 2018. This blog post ( http://blog.truebluemigration.com/457-visa-grandfathering-arrangement/ )seems to interpret that there's still a route to PR for those on the STSOL if they manage to get a 457 granted before the 457 is replaced by the TSS visa. Anyone got any views on this?

You wouldn't necessarily have to wait 3 years for transition to PR under the proposed visa changes. You could agree with your husband's employer to sponsor him for the direct entry stream of the 186 visa once you're on the ground. There'd obviously be a cost for this early in your stay, but would get you all on PR sooner I would have thought.

Great to hear!

Good luck with the move! Be great to hear how you settle in Brisbane with two young children, as I hope to be doing the same in the not too distant future.

Bit frustrating isn't it! Good luck with your move

Different occupation, but sounds like you're facing a similar challenge to me. In the process of talking to potential employers about the 186, with the plan being to head out on a 457 with the 186 application in the background. Still trying to get clarity on the impact of the March 2018 changes if I secure a 186 nomination for an STSOL occupation that hasn't been processed by that time.

Hi Raul Just coming back to this, do you have an insight as to what impact the March 2018 cut off would have on STSOL applications for ENS direct entry that had not been granted by that point?

Quick question - once the March 2018 cut off for occupations on the STSOL applying for direct entry kicks in, what will happen to those people who still have applications pending?

This is what was confirmed to me when I spoke to DIBP a few weeks ago, is anyone else taking this approach? I'm still a bit uneasy about it until that nomination and application for a 186 go in though.

From the conversations I’ve had with immi and potential employers, seems that in theory there is no problem with entering on a 457 with either 186 application running at the same time, or applying for one once you’ve arrived. Only thing I would say is that under the new rules, if your occupation is only on the short term list you need to have applied for the 186 by March 2018. Good luck!

Appreciate that timelines are getting longer for a number of reasons at the moment. Interested to know what the view of employers is on this for those applying offshore, I would have thought that waiting 12 months plus for a new employee to start would be quite an obstacle in the recruitment process. Are there any instances of particular employers managing to get nominations and visas processed quicker than seems to be the case on this thread?

Just had a chat with one of the guys at the London Immi office about this March 2018 cut off for people applying for Employer Nominated direct entry (186) on the STSOL element of the combined list. Q1. My first question was whether or not a nomination and visa application had to be submitted by March 2018 or granted by then. A1. The answer was that as things stand you would be fine as long as you had submitted both by then. However, the caveat was given that anything could happen between now and March 2018. Q2. Based on the above, was there anything to prevent you entering on a 457 visa to speed things up, and your employer then sponsoring you for direct entry on a 186 by March 2018? A2. Subject to the same caveat in A1, no there is nothing to prevent this approach. Q3. With regard to the March 2018 cut off, is the relevant date 1 March or 31 March? A3. Don’t know, so assume 1 March and therefore suggest working towards 28 February or sooner to avoid issues. So, nothing conclusive, but at least gives some indication of time lines in the absence of further changes. Just wanted to share as I start out on the process of trying to obtain an employer nomination for direct entry. One question from me to the forum, if an employer begins the process of a 457 visa, is there anything to stop a 186 application being submitted and running simultaneously, aside from the additional cost?

I concluded that it wouldn't work in my circumstances as I'm not already in Aus. However, seems the combined list remains relevant to the 186 until March 2018. So, if you can get your application in by then you might be OK. Not clear whether you'd need to have submitted your visa app or had it issued by that point though.

Thanks Verystormy. Can I just ask what you mean by "occupations on the TSS have very different positions"? Having looked into this a bit more, doesn't seem to be anything to prevent a direct entry stream application once you're on the ground, in fact the border website clearly states that "temporary residents who do not qualify for the Temporary Residence Transition stream" are able to apply via the Direct Entry Route. That just brings me back to the lists, as far as I can tell, as long as you're still on the MLTSSL or STSOL you are still eligible for the 186 visa, which was the case under both lists previous forms as the SOL and CSOL. The only difference being that 200 or so occupations have been cut. Anyone have a view on this?

Is anyone able to shed some more light on this? Will the combined list of eligible skilled occupations continue to be relevant for the ENS 186 visa? Will the new 2 years TSS include a no further stay clause preventing you from going down the 186 direct entry route? I know it doesn't include a pathway to the temp res transition, but will it specifically prevent you from remaining in Aus by different means? Sorry for all the questions.

I'm not sure I agree with you on that. Following excerpt from border.gov.au suggests otherwise: "There is no separate STSOL list on our website as visa programmes that utilise this list can also access some additional occupations on the MLTSSL. For ease of reference, we have combined both the STSOL and the eligible MLTSSL occupations together. See: Combined list of eligible skilled occupations. 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" Take your point on the temporary visa and family point - but that's a personal decision that would depend on an individual's appetite for risk.

Just to add, having looked at the lists and assessment criteria, think I'd be better off nominating marketing specialist rather than sales and marketing manager. Hadn't appreciated how onerous the skills assessment was with the AIM for sales and marketing manager, seems very few people are successful with that.

Hi I've been a long time lurker on the forum since before first moving to Sydney in 2010 - wife and I have since spent nearly two years living in Clovelly on a 457, moved back to the UK to start a family, had two children and were always planning to make a long term return to Australia. With the date for that planned move less than 12 months away, the 457 being abolished has presented us with a bump in the road, as the plan was to return on a 457 and then hopefully go down the transition route after 2 years. Hypothetical question for you, having read up on the changes over the last couple of weeks: If I secured an offer on the new TSS visa (role is sales and marketing manager so only eligible for the 2 year option) to get back over, once in Aus could I then make an application for a 186 on the direct entry route with an existing employer's support? Seems to me to be the logical solution, albeit not entirely in my control. Thanks Alex