by Paul Cutler | Aug 7, 2017 | Uncategorized
Good news for NZ Citizens who were usually resident in Australia prior to 19 February 2017. There is now a special “New Zealand stream” in the skilled visa category. Full details are in the Minister’s press release. However, at the time of lodging the application, they must have resided in Australia for at least five years.
They will also need to meet certain criteria, including contributing to Australia, demonstrated through income tax returns which show taxable income at least equivalent to the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) for the qualifying period and meeting mandatory health, character and security checks.
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by Paul Cutler | Jun 26, 2017 | Uncategorized
On 21 June 2017, the Migration Amendment (Regulation of Migration Agents) Bill 2017 was introduced into the House of Representatives. One of the purposes of the bill is to remove the requirement that lawyers who provide migration advice have to be registered as migration agents. In fact the effect of the legislation (if passed) will be that lawyers will not be permitted to be separately registered.
There are some other changes relating to the registration of agents as well. The text of the bill and the explanatory statement can be found on the parliamentary website.
This change will affect me, but not the services I provide. I currently have a practising certificate from the NSW Bar Association and am also registered as a migration agent (0101077).
by Paul Cutler | May 30, 2017 | Uncategorized
One of the changes made to the ENS (and temporary working visa) is the replacement of the training benchmark with a “flat fee”. Over the years collating documents to show compliance with the training benchmark has been a difficult task for many clients. I can only assume it’s been difficult on the DIBP compliance side as well. While this is an extra cost, I think it will work better.
From March 2018, businesses with turnover of less than $10 million per year will be required to make:
- an upfront payment of $1,200 per visa per year for each employee on a Temporary Skill Shortage visa
- a one-off payment of $3,000 for each employee being sponsored for a permanent Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) visa or a permanent Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (subclass 187) visa.
Businesses with turnover of $10 million or more per year will be required to make:
- an upfront payment of $1,800 per visa year for each employee on a Temporary Skill Shortage visa
- a one-off payment of $5,000 for each employee being sponsored for a permanent Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) visa or a permanent Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (subclass 187) visa.
I acknowledge the assistance of the MIA in helpfully providing a summary of this information to its members.
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by Paul Cutler | Apr 21, 2017 | Uncategorized
The following summary came to me as a notice circulated by the Migration Institute of Australia:
- Any 457 sponsorship, nomination or visa applications that are NOT listed in the relevant Instrument IMMI 17/040 (check any notes against your occupation) and NOT decided by 18th April 2017 will no longer be able to be approved. Refund of DIBP application fees may be available.
- Any new 457 applications lodged from 19 April 2017 onwards will have to have their occupation on the STSOL or MLTSSL occupation lists.
- If you are granted a 457 visa after 18 April 2017 off the STSOL list, it can only be granted for 2 years. There will be one (only) further extension allowed after that for another 2 years. You will not be allowed to apply for a permanent 186/187 visa under that occupation if it is on the STSOL.
- If you are granted a 457 visa after 18 April 2017 off the MLTSSL list, it can be granted for 4 years. You will be able to be apply for a permanent 186/187 visa after 3 years on a 457 visa if that company decides to nominate you.
- From March 2018 the new TSS visa will have replaced the 457 visa. You will need to have 2 years work experience before applying and your occupation will have to be on the STSOL or MLTSSL lists. If you are on the STSOL list you will also have to show you only want to stay in Australia temporarily.
- From March 2018 you need to have your occupation on the MLTSSL occupation list to apply for company/employer sponsored permanent residence. You will also need to commit to working for the company for 3 years, have an IELTS of 6+ and be under 45 years of age.
Some consequences of this:
- Occupations such as cook and restaurant manager are on the STSOL list. While you can still be sponsored for 2 years by a restaurant on the 457 visa and gain another 2 year extension, you can no longer apply for a permanent visa unless it is added to the MLTSSL list for you being in a designated regional area.
- Retail manager is still available in regional areas for the 187 visa at the moment. But from March 2018 this will not be the case, as this occupation is not on the MLTSSL list.
- Most student graduates will not be eligible for temporary or permanent company sponsorship after March 2018 as you require at least 2 years FULL-TIME WORK EXPERIENCE first.
The Prime Minister and Minister for Immigration confirmed that existing 457 visa holders (as of 18 April 2017) will still be able to apply for a Permanent visa and will not be affected by these changes. (See News.com.au article)
Timeline of future 457 changes are:
from 19 April 2017 – 216 occupations removed and 59 others restricted, 24 occupations restricted to regional Australia, Occupational lists renamed, validity period for occupations on STSOL 2 years.
from 01 July 2017 – English salary exemption $96,400 to be removed, training benchmarks to be changed, mandatory penal clearance certificates.
before 31 December 2017 – collection of TFN for 457 visa holders for ATO data matching, publication of sanctioned sponsors.
from March 2018 – 457 visa abolished and replaced with TSS visa which will comprise the Short-Term(2 years) and Medium-Term stream(4 years).
Timeline of future 186/187 changes are:
from 19 April 2017 – CSOL condensed, 216 occupations removed, 24 occupations restricted to regional Australia, Occupational lists renamed as STSOL and MLTSSL.
from 01 July 2017 – review of STSOL and MLTSSL, IELTS 6 required in each component, changes in age (DE stream 45 years old, no change to TRT).
before 31 December 2017 – collection of TFN for 457 visa holders for ATO data matching, publication of sanctioned sponsors.
from March 2018 – the MLTSSL will apply to ENS/RSMS with additional regional occupations, Market salary rate will apply and meet TSMIT, eligibility period for PR extended from 2 to 3 years, at least 3 years’ work experience required, under 45 years of age, contribution towards training fund.
by Paul Cutler | Sep 12, 2016 | Uncategorized
Migration Amendment (Entrepreneur Visas and Other Measures) Regulation 2016, creates these new streams within the Business Innovation and Investment visa class, to provide a pathway to permanent residence for:
- high calibre entrepreneurs with financial backing from third parties in Australia,
- who are nominated by a State or Territory government, and
- who meet residence requirements, and
- complete successful entrepreneurial activities in Australia
A link to the new regulations is at: Migration Regulation – F2016L01391
by Paul Cutler | Mar 20, 2016 | Uncategorized
The Australian Senate’s Education and Employment References Committee has released its 355 page report on the impact of Australia’s temporary work visa holders on the Australian labour market and on temporary work visa holders. The report, entitled A National Disgrace: The Exploitation of Temporary Work Visa Holders, details unscrupulous and exploitative practices and makes 33 recommendations.
The recommendations cover a wide range of areas including the need for:
- TSMIT to be indexed to average full-time weekly earnings and indexed annually
- the replacement of local workers by 457 workers to be prohibited
- the removal of labour market testing exemptions
- labour market testing to be required for labour agreements and DAMAs
- one-for-one 457 (professional)/Australian tertiary graduate employment
- 457 (trade) sponsor must have 25% (or at least 4) trade workforce apprentices
- training benchmarks to be replaced with training levy of $4000 per 457 worker paid into existing government programs that specifically support sectors experiencing labour shortages as well as apprenticeships and training programs.
You can read the report at the above link. I acknowledge the information contained in MIA Notice 24 which as circulated as a service to members and which contained a very useful summary which I have used as the basis for this post.
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