Month: March 2024

Australia has recently introduced a few important changes to the Points Test for General Skilled Migration visas. The changes, that will come into effect on November 16, 2019, are relevant to existing Subclass 489, Skilled Independent – 189 and State Nominated Subclass – 190. The changes to the points test will also be relevant for the new Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Subclass 491 visa, which will also commence in 16 November 2019.

Points are awarded in Australia General Skilled Migration for eligibility factors that are linked with the applicant’s ability to make the greatest economic contribution to the Australian economy, as the Australian government’s key purpose of the skilled migration program is to maximize the economic benefits of migration to Australia.

However, in order to apply for the Skilled State (190) or Regional Nominated (190) visas, the applicants are still required to be nominated by a State or Territory. The applicant would also need to have a full skills assessment in an occupation that is on the State or Territory Skilled Occupation List.

By introducing these changes, the immigration authorities of Australia aim to ease the congestion in Australian cities and make more immigrants live and work in regional areas. The changes also indicate that Australian immigration gives preference to applicants who have a skilled partner competent in English or those who have no partner at all.

The major changes to the Points Test are:

• Applicants will receive 10 points for Specialist Educational qualifications. Currently, the applicants receive only 5 points for this criterion.
• Applicants with a skilled spouse or de facto partner will receive 10 points. However, the spouse must meet certain criteria. They must be below the age of 45 and be competent in English. They must undertake suitable skills assessment and their occupation must be on the same skilled occupation list. Currently, applicants with a skilled spouse get only 5 points.
• Applicants who do not have a spouse or de facto partner, or who have a spouse or de facto partner who is an Australian citizen or a Permanent resident will receive 10 points. This new criterion has been added as part of the newly announced changes
• Another new addition is 5 points for applicants with a spouse or de facto partner who has competent English
• Applicants nominated by a State or Territory government, or sponsored by an eligible family member will receive 15 points. These points are awarded to applicants for a Subclass 489 visa or the new Subclass 491 visa. At present, these candidates receive only 10 points.

If all points except the partner qualifications are equal, the invitations will be ranked as below:

First: Applicants with a skilled spouse or de facto partner.

Equal First: Applicants without a spouse or de facto partner.

Second: Applicants with a spouse or de facto partner who demonstrates Competent English but who does not have the skills to obtain skilled partner points.

Third: Applicants with a spouse or de facto partner who is ineligible for either competent English or Skilled partner points.

Though the changes will come into effect only on 16th November 2019, the early legislation will help the potential immigrants to make their plans by the end of the year. However, it is important to check whether you are better or worse off as an immigration applicant after the change.

Contact us to know your options to migrate to Australia!

Immigration remains to be an important subject of political discussion in Australia, and it mostly centers around the annual permanent intake of Australia. Another important issue related to immigration is concentration of new immigrants in Australian cities such as Sydney and Melbourne that has led to the overcrowding of these cities. The issue has all the more significance at a time when regions in rural Australia are demanding more immigrants.

Now here are the major changes that we can expect in 2019 as far as Australia immigration is concerned.

Permanent immigration intake to come down:

Australia’s maximum immigration intake level has been remaining at 190,000 since 2011. But last year, the actual immigration intake was just over 162,000 with the cut in the family and skilled visas bringing down the intake level. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison is also in favour of retaining the annual immigration level at 16000. But he also wants to give more power to states and territories in deciding the immigration intake levels to their respective regions. Government is likely to take a decision on bringing down the federal immigration intake level after the Federal elections to be held this year.

New framework for sponsored family visas

Under the new sponsorship framework for family visas, the application process involves two steps. The first step is assessment of the sponsors. The visa application can be lodged as the second step only if the assessment result is positive. This new framework aims to protect vulnerable family members, especially children and married partners from their violent sponsors. The two-stage process also means applicants will have to wait longer to obtain partner visas. It is not yet clear whether partner visa application can be submitted along with application for sponsorship. If it is not possible, the applicant will have to wait for their sponsorship application to be approved for at least 12 weeks, before they can submit an application for Partner Visa.

A new temporary sponsored parent visa:

Australia will launch a new temporary sponsored visa for parents of the migrants that will allow them to stay in Australia for up to five years. The introduction of this new visa was announced in June 2016 before the last federal election. But it has not been introduced yet because the law linked to the visa could be passed only in November 2018.

The new visa allows parents of migrants to choose between a three-year visa that costs $5,000 and a five-year visa that costs $10,000. A maximum of 15,000 visas will be allowed to have single renewal every year.

Those who want to sponsor their parents to come to Australia must also ensure that the visiting parents have a health insurance. The sponsoring children are the financial guarantors of parents and they are responsible for repaying any debt to taxpayers caused by medical emergency.

You must also remember that migrant couple can sponsor only one set of parents under this visa.

A new pathway for low-skilled laborers with limited English:

The Federal Government has signed two Designated Area Migration Agreements with the Northern Territory and the Great Southern Coast of Victoria. These special agreements, aimed to address the labour needs of these regions, offer a pathway for permanent residency in Australia for semi-skilled migrants with limited English skills.

Australian Immigration Minister David Coleman has said that such agreements could be signed with more regions so that immigration better matches the labour market demands of the specific regions in Australia.

The Designated Area Migration Agreements lower the skills, language and income requirements for immigrants. As a result, semi-skilled migrant workers can access a pathway for permanent residency in Australia. The new pathway is being introduced at a time when there is huge demand for a standalone agriculture visa to meet the increasing demand for farm workers.

A special business visa:

A special business visa was introduced in November last year with an aim to boost the economy of South Australia. The visa is likely to gain more significance this year with more number of applicants. Unlike most of the other business and innovation visas, this visa does not require any capital outlay.

The Subclass 408 (Temporary Activity) visa endorsed by the federal government allows the holder and their family to stay in Australia for three years.

Priority will be given to businesses in the fields of defence and space, cyber security, big data, digital and blockchain, food, wine and AgTech, health and medical technology, robotics, media and film industries. However, those with business plans related other fields can also apply. The special visa program will continue till November 2021.

Interested in Australia immigration? Contact us for a free assessment to explore your options.