Major Overhaul to Australian Skilled Migration Visa programme

Details were released today in Australia of major changes to the Australian skilled migration visa programme by the Rudd government.  These changes will affect the ability of thousands of people wanting to emigrate to Australia.  For some it will improve their chances but for many the opposite will be true.

20,000 people who lodged skilled visa applications before September 2007 are expected to have their applications denied and their visa application fees refunded.  This will apparently cost the Australian taxpayer AUD14 million.

For anyone overseas  thinking of applying to emigrate to Australia, the changes which could affect their chances of applying include:-

1 Revocation of the Migration Occupations in Demand List – As of today 8 February, the MODL no longer exists so gone are the 15 bonus points.

2 Abolition of the Critical Skills List – The CSL is still alive and kicking but will be revoked in mid 2010.  If an applicant currently has an occupation on the CSL it will be subject to priority processing.

3 The introduction of a new Skilled Occupations List in mid 2010 – Perhaps the most significant overhaul of them all, a new SOL is going to be introduced in mid 2010 along with a new CSL.  The new list will favour highly skilled migrants including nurses, medical professionals, professional engineers and teachers instead of hairdressers and cooks.

Australian employers are said to be supportive of the changes seeing them as affecting a better connection between Australian residency and satisfying Australian skills shortage which is critical.

5 Changes to priority processing – A second level of priority processing has been introduced which enables applicants who have been nominated under a state migration plan agreed to by the Minister.  the plan will allows states to broaden their ability to migrant head hunt to address their state’s particulars skilled labour needs.

6 A review of the points test – February and March 2010 will see the points test go under review.  At the moment, the Rudd government views the current points test table as out of date and out of touch with Australia’s need to highly skilled migrants.  One example was given of how a hairdresser, under 30, with 1 year’s work experience was eligible to apply for a Skilled Independent visa while a Harvard degree holding Environment scientist of the same age with 3 years of experience would not be eligible for the same skilled visa category to Australia.

The changes also mark the new prerogative of the Federal government to work closely with the state and territory governments identify that certain candidates for the skilled migration programme must be prioritised.  It is the opinion of Senator Evans the current Minister for Immigration that certain elements of the skilled migration scheme as it existed were “rusty”.

While the SOL, points test and CSL remain unchanged until mid 2010 anyone eligible under the current skilled visa requirements should get cracking with their visa applications.

Any potential applicants were relying on the bonus 15 points from having an occupation on the MODL need to stop and review their eligibility to apply.  If the 15 points helped you reach the pass mark for the skilled visa this you need to check that you still have the passmark before proceeding further.

For the overview of changes by the Department of Immigration, click here.