Modifications In Australian Skilled Migration Visa Program

17 Dec 2011

Applicants who aspire to migrate to Australia under Skilled Migration Program need to apply for the skills assessment as soon as possible because Australian Immigration Department will be commencing important changes to the Skilled Migration Program from 1 July 2012.  The applicants should be ready with the skills assessment and have to be passed the English Language test in order to apply under this visa. 

The new Australian Skilled Worker Program will be called as the Skilled Migrant Selection Register or Skill Select and will be similar to New Zealand Immigration System i.e. the applicant will have to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) then if invited the applicant will be allowed to submit Australian Visa Application based on their EOI.

Applications submitted before 1 July 2012 will be processed according to the current skilled migration program but application submitted on and after 1 July will be processed under the New Australian Skill Select Program. Australian visa applicants will be selected based on their points test score in a number of selection criteria. All prospective visa applicants will be required to meet the relevant English language requirements and obtain the necessary skills assessment prior to their EOI submission.

The New Skill Select system will have impact on the applicants for the following Australian skilled visas:

• Independent Skilled Migration (subclasses 175 and 885)
• State Sponsored Skilled Migration (subclasses 176 and 886)
• Business Skills (subclasses 132, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 890, 891, 892, 893)
• Employer Nomination Scheme (subclasses 121 and 856)
• Regional Sponsored Nomination Scheme (subclasses 119 and 857)
• Subclass 457 Temporary Business (Long Stay) visa (subclass 457)