Guest CHB Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 Here is the latest updates from DIAC The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, has announced a number of measures to ensure the 2008-09 skilled migration program is more responsive to the changing needs of the economy. These changes will become effective on 1 January 2009.The strategy involves the following: • employer-nominated visas continuing to be managed on a demand driven basis. Successful applicants go straight into a skilled job and make an immediate positive economic contribution to Australia • the skill profile of the intake under the points tested migration classes will be changed in favour of those with occupational skills identified as being a priority by State and Territory Governments and at the same time will lead to some reduction in the overall intake • a ministerial direction under the Migration Act to ensure that applicants with identified skills in high demand are given priority processing under the points tested migration classes. This combination of measures is a balanced response to the changes in global economic circumstances and the corresponding effects in Australia. These changes in strategy in no way diminish the significance of our immigration system as a tool for supporting Australia’s future economic and social development. Benefits These measures allow skilled migrants who: are sponsored by an employer for a specific job in Australia; are sponsored by a State or Territory government; or have skills in critical need, to be given priority for the remainder of 2008-09 program year. These changes will be facilitated through: • quicker processing of employer-sponsored permanent migration applications, where skilled migrants are sponsored to go into jobs that cannot be filled locally • providing state and territory governments with greater scope to meet critical skill shortages in their jurisdiction • giving a higher level of priority through a ministerial direction under section 499 of the Migration Act to applicants who have an occupation on a list of skills in critical shortage but do not have an employer or government sponsor. The Government will maintain the current planning target of 133 500 places as a ceiling on the 2008-09 program. Depending on the skill needs of employers the final number of grants may result in a program outcome below that limit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest CHB Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 CSL update Critical Skills ListThe following provides a list of occupations. This list will only apply to people who are seeking to migrate under the skilled migration program who are not sponsored by an employer or nominated by a state or territory government. ASCO Number OCCUPATION SHORTAGES - PROFESSIONAL 4114-15 Aircraft Maintenance Engineer - Avionics 4114-11 Aircraft Maintenance Engineer - Mechanical 2312-11 Anaesthetist 4414-11 Bricklayer 4922-11 Cabinetmaker 4411-13 Carpenter 4411-11 Carpenter and Joiner (various) 2381-11 Dentist 4311-11 Electrician (general) 4311-13 Electrician (special class) 4315-11 Electronic Equipment Trades 2312-15 Emergency Medicine Specialist 2129-17 Engineer - Chemical 2124-11 Engineer - Civil 2125-11 Engineer - Electrical 2125-13 Engineer - Electronics 2126-11 Engineer - Mechanical 2127-11 Engineer - Mining 2126-13 Engineer - Production or Plant Engineer 4412-11 Fibrous Plasterer 4431-13 Gasfitter 2311-11 General Medical Practitioner 2391-11 Medical Diagnostic Radiographer 4122-11 Metal Fabricator, Boilermaker 4112-11 Metal Fitter 4112-13 Metal Machinist 2312-17 Obstetrician & Gynaecologist 2383-11 Occupational Therapist 2382-11 Pharmacist (Hospital) 2382-15 Pharmacist (Retail) 2385-11 Physiotherapist 4431-11 Plumber (general) 2 2388-11 Podiatrist 2312-27 Psychiatrist 2122-11 Quantity Surveyor 4312-11 Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Mechanic 2325-11 Registered Mental Health Nurse 2324-11 Registered Midwife 2323-11 Registered Nurse 2413-11 Secondary School Teacher 4415-11 Solid Plasterer 2312-79 Specialist Medical Practitioners NEC 2312-25 Specialist Physician 2312-31 Surgeon 2123-13 Surveyor 4113-11 Toolmaker 2523-11 Urban & Regional Planner 4416-11 Wall and Floor Tiler 4122-15 Welder 4211-11 Motor Mechanic 2386-11 Speech Pathologist 2391-17 Sonographer 2312-19 Ophthalmologist 2312-21 Paediatrician 2312-23 Pathologist 2312-29 Radiologist 2211-11 Accountant -- where the applicant has achieved a score of at least IELTS 7 in each of the four competencies, and/or has completed The Professional Year Computing Professionals -- where the applicant's specialisation is listed on the Migration on Demand List (MODL). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Bianca Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 oh no!!!! does this take the place of the MODL list and the points gained if your occupation is on the modl? So will the MODL list not exist from 1st Jan??? We wanted to go as fitter (due to lodge end of Jan....), but Fitter is not on the list? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jhonnywalker Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 MODL will still exist and you will get extra points if your occupation is on the list. CSL is only for priority processing. In other words the occupations in the CSL, will take precedence over other occupations. Just to add more clarity ... here is the processing priorities. 1. Employer Sponsor Visa (457..) 2. State sponsor 3. Critical skills list. (175..) 4. NON-CSL, MODL's 5. SOL & others Hope that helps! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Lombard Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 The new CSL is only a mechanism for prioritising cases. Unlikely that they would only process these occupations and leave the rest on hold. Two views on the effect of the changes from major Australian newspapers are at Skilled migrant door left open | The Australian and Government tightens skilled migration | theage.com.au . The MIA has helpfully provided a full set of relevant links and initial comment as follows: The Minister has just announced changes to the Skilled Migration program. In this context, "skilled migration" refers to both employer sponsored visa applicants and General Skilled Migration applicants. These changes will be effective from 1 January 2009. Employer-sponsored permanent migration Employer-sponsored permanent migration applications will be fast-tracked. In his press release, the Minister said that "this could see employer sponsored visas occupying an increasing share of the skilled program, with 36,000 visas likely in the current year" General Skilled Migration For General Skilled Migration applications (both onshore and offshore), priority processing will be given to those who: •1. have State or Territory sponsorship; or •2. have a nominated occupation in the new "Critical Skills List (CSL)". This list focuses on medical and key IT professionals, engineers and construction trades. In a document entitled "2008-09 Migration Program Changes Frequently asked questions" it states in Question 8 that "Occupations that are not included in the CSL will not be given priority processing unless the applicants have a job offer or are sponsored or nominated by a state or territory government." It is not clear if this mention of a job offer is only for employer nominated applications or also for General Skilled Migration applications. Prospective applicants for State or Territory sponsorship should contact States or Territories to enquire about sponsorship for people who have a nominated occupation on their state skills shortage list. Please note that DIAC is allowing States and Territories to sponsor up to 500 people a year who do not have occupations on their state list. Check with states and territories about this. Accountants are on the Critical Skills List, but the list specifies that (for the purposes of the CSL) the applicant must have achieved a score of at least 7 in each band of the IELTS test and/or has completed the Professional Year in accounting who nominate "Accountant" These changes will not affect the eligibility of applicants who are currently eligible to apply for General Skilled Migration now to be eligible after 1 January 2009. However they will not be given processing priority. There are no changes to the points awarded for MODL. Do these changes apply to applications lodged before 1 January 2008? It would seem so. In "2008-09 Migration Program Changes Frequently asked questions" it states in Question 22: What will happen to those applications which are in the final stages of processing and where the department has requested applicants to provide health and character clearances? Those applications which are currently close to being finalised, will be finalised by the department, subject to health and character clearances." The MIA will meeting with DIAC at the end of this week and members will be advised of any further details or clarification on these changes. For further details: DIAC Fact Sheet: Changes to the Skilled Migration Program: http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/pdf/migration-program.pdf Critical Skills List: http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/pdf/critical-skills-list.pdf 2008-09 Migration Program Changes Frequently asked questions: http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/pdf/faq.pdf Is your occupation in demand: Is your occupation in demand? - Workers - Visas & Immigration Nomination by State/Territory Government: General Skilled Migration The Minister's media release can be found at: Multicultural experts to further Australia's strength in diversity - Immigration Media Release ce08122/2008 Cheers, George Lombard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Midlanders Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 We received the notification today of the new priority listing announced and its great news as my other halfs skills is listed- Carpenter Does anyone know who much this will speed up the process and we have just sent off vetesses to our agent in oz.? Sooner the better for us Judy & Darren:biggrin::biggrin: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Gollywobbler Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 HI Judy & Darren Welcome to Poms in Oz. I think it is too soon to say how much visa processing timelines will change. I think we will need to watch the actual patterns of visa grants for at least 3 months and maybe for six months. I have just been reading a thread on British Expats which might be of interest to you: Priority Processing (New Critical Skills List) : British Expat Discussion Forum I don't know enough about this stuff to be a reliable pundit on the subject but it looks to me like the State Nominated 176 visa will suddenly become very popular. It is not clear whether a State Nominated 176 application where the occupation is also on the CSL and the MODL is going to result in ultra fast processing. I think we'll have to wait to see what happens with the first wave of visa grants in the New Year and what the timelines with them have been. Best wishes Gill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest juliemtaylor Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 So does that mean there is no point trying to go for a relative sponsored visa as apart from the extra points it gives you no priority over others if you don't have MODL/CSL? AAAHHH, still waiting for the skills assessment to find out what to do next. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Gollywobbler Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 So does that mean there is no point trying to go for a relative sponsored visa as apart from the extra points it gives you no priority over others if you don't have MODL/CSL? AAAHHH, still waiting for the skills assessment to find out what to do next. Hi Julie On a Family Sponsored 176 you would still get a visa reasonably quickly by reason of the CSL. Where are you planning to move to, though? State Sponsorship might be possible and might make for faster processing if chippy is on the list for the state concerned. Remember that Family Sponsorship is not worth any points for the 176 visa anyway. It merely lowers the overall points pass mark to 100 instead of 120. Where are you planning to move to? Cheers Gill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mel.R Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 HI Judy & Darren Welcome to Poms in Oz. I think it is too soon to say how much visa processing timelines will change. I think we will need to watch the actual patterns of visa grants for at least 3 months and maybe for six months. I have just been reading a thread on British Expats which might be of interest to you: Priority Processing (New Critical Skills List) : British Expat Discussion Forum I don't know enough about this stuff to be a reliable pundit on the subject but it looks to me like the State Nominated 176 visa will suddenly become very popular. It is not clear whether a State Nominated 176 application where the occupation is also on the CSL and the MODL is going to result in ultra fast processing. I think we'll have to wait to see what happens with the first wave of visa grants in the New Year and what the timelines with them have been. Best wishes Gill Hi Gill Will this make any difference to us? we submitted our 175 Visa at the end of July, but have not heard anything yet. My o/h is a brickie. I just wondered if this meant that our application would go through any quicker. Thanks Mel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Gollywobbler Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 Hi Mel It should certainly speed things up because Bricklayer is on the CSL. The only thing is that Employer Sponsored and State Sponsored applications already in the pipeline will be finalised sooner than a 175 CSL and MODL application by the looks of things. Best wishes Gill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mel.R Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 Thanks for the quick reply. I'll keep my fingers crossed. Mx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest juliemtaylor Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 thanks Gill, OH is not a chippy but a NEC Computing professional but we are waiting to see if he gets MODL for his Java... That will determine what we can do next, his rellies are in Perth and his skills are on their state list too, but not very many jobs on seek at the mo here. Julie x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thewebweazel Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 Hi Julie On a Family Sponsored 176 you would still get a visa reasonably quickly by reason of the CSL. Where are you planning to move to, though? State Sponsorship might be possible and might make for faster processing if chippy is on the list for the state concerned. Remember that Family Sponsorship is not worth any points for the 176 visa anyway. It merely lowers the overall points pass mark to 100 instead of 120. Where are you planning to move to? Cheers Gill Your statement is a bit misleading. In essence Gill Family sponsorship is worth 20 points ,six of one half a dozen of the other? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Collett Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 It may be worth mentioning that there is (so far as I know) already a Ministerial Direction in place for MODL and State Sponsored visa applications. The Direction in question (dated 14/05/2004) says that: "The order of processing of applications for Business Sponsorship, Business Nomination, Approved Appointment and visas under the Skill Stream of the Migration Program should be: - applications relating to the entry of a person whose occupation is listed on the MODL; and - applications for State-specific and regional migration visa subclasses; then - all other fully completed applications in the order in which they are received." Close observers of visa processing times may have a view on whether the Skilled Processing Centre has been adhering to the existing Direction ... I would hazard a guess that the new Direction is intended to simply give renewed emphasis to the need for the Department to attend to certain skilled visa applications before others. Added to the political imperative to be seen to be doing something of course. By way of further background, this is the status of a Ministerial Direction: "Directions are not legislation. They are policy instructions, albeit at the highest possible level. Decision-makers have a clear duty to be familiar with and to consider all relevant policy in every case. Directions are at the top of the policy hierarchy because the Minister is required to table each direction before Parliament and because the Act imposes a duty on decision-makers to comply with directions. A direction is binding on officers with functions and powers under the Act if the direction is about the performance of those functions or the exercise of those powers. It must be complied with (that is followed), however, in the context of exercising a legislative discretion. Ultimately, the decision-maker retains the discretion to balance all relevant factors, after considering any relevant direction/s or other policy documents, to arrive at their own decision. Any departures from policy, including departures from s499 directions should be discussed with the relevant policy area prior to a decision being made. A direction comes into effect as soon as the Minister signs it, unless there is a specified commencement date. Policy owners are encouraged to take into account implementation issues associated with making or revoking a direction (eg whether overseas posts require immediate access to a direction, via LEGEND or other means; amendments are required to a related policy instruction; training is necessary, etc)." Best wishes to all for a Happy Xmas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jamie Smith Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 Alan is right, this does nothing more than bring the more critical occupations to Australia a little faster. Growth areas will include the often overlooked ENS, visa numbers 121/856. These are PR visas that require employer sponsorship. This visa class is often "unsold" by migration agents as it requires an offer of employment to facilitate the visa. That is one of the key visa classes for which Hire A Migrant was set up to support. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Gollywobbler Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 Hi Jamie Thanks for your comment. Oddly enough I was reading the Hire A Migrant website the other day and the impression I had from it was that you are looking for candidates who already have a GSM visa, have a firm travel or work-start date in mind and now want to find a job ready for when they arrive. Are you saying that Hire A Migrant specialises in finding employer-sponsors for would be migrants as well or instead? Many thanks Gill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Gollywobbler Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 Hi All At the risk of a certain amount of overlap with Alan Collett's reply above, he has published a couple of new articles on the Go Matilda website this morning. This one relates to the new CSL: Go Matilda - Your Gateway to Australia - News This one is of interest to any nurses who may wish to move to Regional Victoria with a promise of immediate PR: Go Matilda - Your Gateway to Australia - News The promised visas would be at the top of the Minister's new pecking order for visa processing priorities and therefore my guess is that Go Matilda would be able to complete the whole process very quickly for anyone who succeeds in securing one of the five nursing jobs being offered. Best wishes Gill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jamie Smith Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 Hi Jamie Thanks for your comment. Oddly enough I was reading the Hire A Migrant website the other day and the impression I had from it was that you are looking for candidates who already have a GSM visa, have a firm travel or work-start date in mind and now want to find a job ready for when they arrive. Are you saying that Hire A Migrant specialises in finding employer-sponsors for would be migrants as well or instead? Many thanks Gill Hi Gill We have three client groups: Those who hold a visa and have a target move by date, and want interviews/jobs arranged for close to their arrival time, saving money by avoiding delay in finding work. Our fee is equal to about one month's average wage, so if we can save someone a month of looking, there is a breakeven point. Those who have applied for visa and have to wait around a year for a result but want to get over quicker. We can assist by chasing employment under the 457 work permits that can be processed faster than the usual skilled migration visa, so they get over to Aus earlier and start working while the PR visa is being processed. Those who cannot get a residence visa directly and can only get over to Aus with a sponsored visa such as 457, ENS, or State sponsored with proof of employability etc. This path is also much cheaper than the adult student visas that halve the parents' working hours and also cost full foreign student fees for all kids going to local schools So yes, there is more to us than meets the eye :yes: It's on my list of things to do over the Xmas hols to review the H.A.M. website, so I'll add to the list to check what you have indicated and make sure our service range is clearer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest chidge10 Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 Hi. Just read the news and noticed that Carpenter & Joiner, (2381-11) are on the new CSL list. The only thing is ive applied as a Joiner, (4411-15) Is this included under the "Carpenter & Joiner" Catergory. Cheers. Chidge:emoticon-signxmas: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest chidge10 Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 I have just read the "Ministerial Statement" by Senator Chris Evans who is the minister for immigration and Citizenship. It states, an I quote: "In the three years to 2007-08 the former Govenment's skilled migration progams delivered 28,800 Accountants, 6,500 Cooks and 2,800 hairdressers" "Over the same three years the program delivered just 800 Bricklayers, 600 Plumbers and 300 Carpenters" Now, I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed,(nor the best at spelling in the world) but don't you think it makes sense to have tried to get some kind of a balance some time ago. I know we all need our books balancing, our food cooked and our hair cut, but these new migrants also need places to live, schools for their Kids and factorys for the production of goods etc. I was in SA in Sept this year and the amount of new housing projects both going on and planned really surprized me. Me thinks that if they hadn't realised that they where making a silly mistake regarding getting the balance right, Oz could end up like the UK. Absolutely:Randy-git:ed!!!!!!!! Hopefully the new changes to the skilled migration program will address this somewhat overlooked error. Yes you guessed it. I'm a Tradesman !!!!!!!! :emoticon-signxmas: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Midlanders Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 yes both carpenter and joiner on the critical list. you can check this out using http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/pdf/critical-skills-list.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest waynenicola Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 Hi all, does the new changes (CSL) make any difference to the points test ? I am a carpenter(Vetassess passed) about to lodge Visa app but have come up 5pts short for the 175. I have relatives in Sydney so would it be better to go for 176 ?or state sponsership and what does state sponsership require from me ? Any advice or experience greatly accepted Wayne:unsurexmas: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Collett Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 Wayne, As per the article from Go Matilda News: It should be noted that these changes do not affect the requirements to be met by applicants who are intending to obtain permanent residency visas. Rather, they are likely to affect the timeline applicants for visas under the general skilled program and permanent employer sponsored migration can expect for the processing of their visa applications. See: Go Matilda - Your Gateway to Australia - News Best regards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Lombard Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 Chidge, "In the three years to 2007-08 the former Govenment's skilled migration progams delivered 28,800 Accountants, 6,500 Cooks and 2,800 hairdressers" "Over the same three years the program delivered just 800 Bricklayers, 600 Plumbers and 300 Carpenters" Indeed, that's the problem that someone in the last government was asleep at the wheel while these thousands of "accountants", "cooks" and "hairdressers" were being produced. Interesting that the Minister hasn't chosen to criticise what the previous government allowed to happen. But I think the reference to 300 Carpenters is a little disingenuous, if that's true then I seem to have an enormous albeit thoroughly deserved market share. However I think if you take all the cabinet making, joiner and carpentry trades into account not to mention people assessed as supervisors then the position would be slightly different. Ditto plumbers if you also look at gasfitters. You would have to infer, however, that the choice of occupations for the CSL might give a warning of possible changes to the MODL next year. Cheers, George Lombard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.