Skilled Migration Occupation List review commenced…major changes ahead?

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Skilled Migration Occupation List review commenced…major changes ahead?

Yesterday the Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business commenced a review of the skilled migration occupation lists, due to be completed in March 2020. This will be the fourth review by the department since the skilled occupations lists were deemed unresponsive on 18 April 2017, the day it was announced that Subclass 457 – Temporary Worked (Skilled) visa would be abolished. Will there be any substantial changes arising from this review?

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Occupation list shuffle: 36 more GSM occupations; GPs sent to the country, new caveats

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Occupation list shuffle: 36 more GSM occupations; GPs sent to the country, new caveats

Major changes to the occupations lists for GSM visas and temporary and permanent employer sponsored visas come into effect today. This includes 36 occupations now eligible to compete for an invitation for a Subclass 189 – Skilled—Independent visa or a Subclass 489 – Skilled—Regional (Provisional) visa sponsored by an eligible relative. New caveats have been added to the Subclass 482 – Temporary Skill Shortage visas, Subclass 186 – Employer Nomination Scheme visa, and Subclass 187 – Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme visa occupation lists, including that General Practitioners will require a certificate to be nominated, which will see many required to work in regional or rural areas.

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Business sponsor shame list to begin 13 December 2018; Powers to request tax file numbers; Clarity on review rights for refused sponsored visas

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Business sponsor shame list to begin 13 December 2018; Powers to request tax file numbers; Clarity on review rights for refused sponsored visas

New regulations will come into force on 13 December 2018 that will see the Minister of Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs publish a list of sanctioned business sponsors, what obligation they breached, and the sanction they received.

The Secretary of the Department of Home Affairs will be able to request from visa applicants, sponsors, and nominators, tax file numbers of visa holders and former visa holders for many temporary and permanent skilled visas. The ramifications of this may see more visas refused and cancelled.

Lastly, amendments have been made to give more certainty to sponsored or nominated workers whose visa applications are refused to seek review at the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

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South Australia Innovation visa begins…in the form of a 408 (Temporary Activity) visa

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South Australia Innovation visa begins…in the form of a 408 (Temporary Activity) visa

South Australia (and South Australia only) is open for yet another entrepreneurial visa, with the Federal Government fulfilling a promise made earlier this year. Entrepreneurs will be granted a Subclass 408 – (Temporary Activity) visa for 4 years if they meet the requirements. Business owners need not apply.

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