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Skilled Occupation List changes Scl 186,187,189,190, 407, 482, 485 & 489

Five Legislative Instruments were registered yesterday Sunday 10 March 2019 and commence TODAY 11 March 2019.

Legislative Instrument – F2019L00276 – Migration (LIN 19/047: Specification of Occupations – Subclass 187 Visa) Instrument 2019

Applies to RSMS nominations made on or after 11 March 2019, this Instrument is not retrospective.

Includes the requirement for the Health Workforce Certificate for specified medical practitioner occupations.

Legislative Instrument – F2019L00274 – Migration (LIN 19/048: Specification of Occupations—Subclass 482 Visa) Instrument 2019

Applies to nominations made on or after 11 March 2019, this Instrument is not retrospective.

Includes the requirement for the Health Workforce Certificate for specified medical practitioner occupations.

Legislative Instrument – F2019L00275 – Migration (LIN 19/049: Specification of Occupations and Assessing Authorities—Subclass 186 Visa) Instrument 2019

Applies prospectively to ENS nominations and visas made on or after 11 March 2019, this Instrument is not retrospective.

Includes the requirement for the Health Workforce Certificate for specified medical practitioner occupations.

Legislative Instrument – F2019L00277 – Migration (LIN 19/050: Specification of Occupations—Subclass 407 Visa) Instrument 2019

All occupations on STSOL, MLTSSL and ROL are eligible.

Applies to nominations for OTV made on or after 11 March 2019, this Instrument is not retrospective.

Legislative Instrument – F2019L00278 – Migration (LIN 19/051: Specification of Occupations and Assessing Authorities) Instrument 2019

Specifies skilled occupations and assessing authorities for invitation for Subclasses 189,190, 489, 485visas and for partner points for Subclasses 189 and 190.

Adds 36 occupations to the MLTSSL, removes 27 occupations from the STSOL, adds 18 occupations to the ROL, changes occupational caveats and assessing authorities for a small number of occupations.

Does not affect invitations or applications made after 18 March 2018 and before 11 March 2019.

EXTRACT MIA

TSS Skills Assessment

The TSS Skills Assessment Program is an assessment pathway for applicants applying for a Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa, who:

  • work in a nominated occupation and hold a passport from a nominated country or Special Administrative Region (SAR) as indicated in the table below;
  • are required by the Department of Home Affairs (Home Affairs) to have a skills assessment for temporary migration.

A skills assessment determines if you have the skills and experience necessary to work in Australia at the trade level for your occupation.

Please Note: It is your responsibility to confirm with Home Affairs that your visa pathway requires a skills assessment, and that TRA is the relevant assessing authority for your nominated occupation, before submitting an application.

Click here for nominated occupations and Countries

​ TSS Occupations ​ TSS Nominated Countries and SARs
  Automotive Electrician [321111] Fiji, Hong Kong SAR, India, Macau SAR, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, Vietnam, Zimbabwe
  Baker [351111] China, Fiji, Hong Kong SAR, India, Macau SAR, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, Vietnam, Zimbabwe
  Cabinetmaker [394111] Brazil, Fiji, Hong Kong SAR, India, Macau SAR, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, Vietnam, Zimbabwe
  Carpenter [331212] Brazil, Fiji, Hong Kong SAR, India, Macau SAR, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, Vietnam, Zimbabwe
  Carpenter and Joiner [331211] ​Brazil, Fiji, Hong Kong SAR, India, Macau SAR, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, Vietnam, Zimbabwe
​  Chef [351311] ​Bangladesh*, Brazil, China, Fiji, Hong Kong SAR, India, Macau SAR, Nepal, Pakistan*, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, Vietnam, Zimbabwe
​  Cook [351411] ​Bangladesh*, Brazil, China, Fiji, Hong Kong SAR, India, Macau SAR, Nepal, Pakistan*, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, Vietnam, Zimbabwe
  Diesel Motor Mechanic​ [321212] ​Fiji, Hong Kong SAR, India, Macau SAR, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, Vietnam, Zimbabwe
​  Electrician (General) [341111] ​Fiji, Hong Kong SAR*, India, Macau SAR*, Philippines, South Africa, Vietnam*
  Electrician (Special Class) [341112]​ ​Fiji, Hong Kong SAR*, India, Macau SAR*, Philippines, South Africa, Vietnam*
​  Fitter (General) [323211] ​Brazil, China, Fiji, Hong Kong SAR, India, Macau SAR, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, Vietnam, Zimbabwe
  Fitter and Turner [323212]​ ​Brazil, China, Fiji, Hong Kong SAR, India, Macau SAR, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, Vietnam, Zimbabwe
​  Fitter-Welder [323213] ​Brazil, China, Fiji, Hong Kong SAR, India, Macau SAR, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, Vietnam, Zimbabwe
​  Joiner [331213] ​Brazil, Fiji, Hong Kong SAR, India, Macau SAR, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, Vietnam, Zimbabwe
​  Metal Fabricator [322311] ​Brazil, China, Fiji, Hong Kong SAR, India, Macau SAR, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, Vietnam, Zimbabwe
​  Metal Machinist (First Class) [323214] ​Brazil, China, Fiji, Hong Kong SAR, India, Macau SAR, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, Vietnam, Zimbabwe
​Metal Fitters and Machinists (not elsewhere classified) [323299] ​​Brazil, China, Fiji, Hong Kong SAR, India, Macau SAR, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, Vietnam, Zimbabwe
​Motor Mechanic (General) [321211] ​​Fiji, Hong Kong SAR, India, Macau SAR, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, Vietnam, Zimbabwe
​Panelbeater [324111] ​​China, Fiji, Hong Kong SAR, India, Macau SAR, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, Vietnam, Zimbabwe
Pastrycook [351112]​ ​Brazil, China, Fiji, Hong Kong SAR, India, Macau SAR, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, Vietnam, Zimbabwe
​Sheetmetal Trades Worker [322211] ​Brazil, China, Fiji, Hong Kong SAR, India, Macau SAR, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, Vietnam, Zimbabwe
​Toolmaker [323412] ​Brazil, China, Fiji, Hong Kong SAR, India, Macau SAR, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, Vietnam, Zimbabwe
​Welder (First Class) [322313] ​Brazil, China, Fiji, Hong Kong SAR, India, Macau SAR, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, Vietnam, Zimbabwe

*There are no assessment centres in these countries. Applicants are required to travel to a TRA-approved assessment centre in Australia or a TSS or OSAP nominated country for a skills assessment.

How to Apply

There are two skills assessment pathways available under the TSS Skills Assessment Program:

Pathway 1 is for applicants that do not hold an Australian qualification in their trade. Skills assessments are conducted against the requirements of the relevant training package qualification for the nominated occupation. The Pathway 1 assessment process consists of four steps that must be completed sequentially.

Pathway 2 is for applicants who hold a:

  • relevant Australian VET qualification; or
  • current identified Australian occupational licence*.

In addition to your qualification you must be able to demonstrate work experience of at least three years full-time employment in a directly related occupation. This must include 12 months full-time paid employment in your nominated occupation in the three years prior to lodging your application. For applicants applying with a current identified Australian occupational licence the 12 months full-time paid employment must be in Australia.

TSS SCL 482-Medium term stream ( Australian Work Visa)

Under the medium term stream:

  • The occupation must be on the Medium and Long Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL)
  • A higher English language requirement applies compared to the short term stream
  • The visa can be valid for 1, 2, 3 or 4 years
  • The visa can be renewed without limitation and applicants may be eligible for permanent employer sponsored options.

Required English scores as follows:

Listening Reading Writing Speaking
IELTS 5 5 5 5
TOEFL iBT 4 4 14 14
PTE Academic 36 36 36 36
OET B B B B
Cambridge (CAE) 154 154 154 154

New Pacific Labour Stream – Seasonal workers program

New Pacific Labour Stream – Seasonal workers program

01. Introduce a new Pacific Labour Scheme (PLS) stream which will provide a temporary visa pathway for participants to work in Australia for up to three years;
02. Allow participants in the Seasonal Worker Program (SWP) to be granted, subject to conditions, a multi-year, multi-entry visa;
03. Amend the ‘visa in effect’ settings to benefit Subclass 403 visa holders by providing them more time to prepare for their entry and stay in Australia, while not impacting on the visa holder’s granted period of stay;

04. Strengthen integrity measures in the Pacific Labour and the Seasonal Workers streams by introducing a new condition that provides the visa holder must only work for the sponsor in relation to which the visa was granted, although changes of sponsor will be permitted in limited circumstances.

Legislative Instrument – F2018L00829 – Migration Amendment (Pacific Labour Scheme) Regulations 2018 specifies changes to the Subclass 403 Temporary Work (International Relations) visa, to implement initiatives to promote Australia’s international policy in relation to employment opportunities and pathways for Pacific Island Countries.

Pool and Pass Marks for GSM

Legislative Instrument-IMMI18/067-Pool and Pass Marks for General Skilled Migration Visas Instrument 2018.

Part 2 of this instrument increases the pool and pass mark to 65 for the following three subclasses where an application is made on or after 1 July 2018 in response to an invitation given on or after 1 July 2018:

  • Skilled-Independent (Permanent) (Class SI) Subclass 189
  • Skilled-Nominated (Permanent) (Class SN) Subclass 190
  • Skilled-Regional Sponsored (Provisional) (Class SP) Subclass 489

 

Visas for innovation – Global Talent Scheme (GTS)

What is the Global Talent Scheme (GTS)?

The GTS is a niche pilot scheme under the TSS visa program. The 12 month pilot will run from 1 July 2018.

Introducing the GTS as a pilot allows the Government to make refinements in consultation with industry to ensure it achieves its purpose.

The GTS is only for employers to fill highly-skilled positions that cannot be filled:

  • by Australian workers
  • through other visa programs, in particular the short-term and medium-term streams of the TSS visa.

Access to the GTS is not guaranteed. You must be able to demonstrate your need to access the scheme. If you can do this, you will be invited to enter into an agreement with the Government under the agreement stream of the TSS visa. Only then will you be able to sponsor workers for a TSS visa under the GTS.

The following information is to help employers decide whether to approach us to access the GTS.

Entrepreneur stream – Business Innovation and Investment ( Provisional)

Business Migration to Australia

  • Entrepreneur stream: for people who have a funding agreement from a third party for at least AUD200 000 to undertake a complying entrepreneur activity that is proposed to lead to either the commercialisation of a product or service in Australia or the development of a business in Australia. Applicants must be nominated by a state or territory government.

To be eligible for the Entrepreneur visa, you must:

  • be under 55-years-old
  • have a competent level of English
  • have an agreement in place for at least $200,000 to grow your entrepreneurial venture in Australia
  • hold at least 30 percent interest in that entrepreneurial venture
  • be nominated by a state or territory government.

TSS (STSOL) “One onshore renewal” update

Understanding the transition from subclass 457 to TSS

Note:

  • The ‘one onshore renewal’ rule included in the Government’s April 2017 announcement, applies to TSS visas in the short-term (ST) stream only – it does not apply to existing subclass 457 visa holders who are seeking their first TSS visa. That is, this new rule will only impact them if:
    • they have previously been granted two or more TSS (ST) visas
    • their previous TSS (ST) visa was applied for onshore and
    • they apply for another TSS (ST) visa.

English language validity – Skilled Visa

Competent English language test validity for primary applicants is 3 years immediately prior to application for sponsored skilled visas or an invitation to apply for a points-tested visa (Reg 1.15C (1)).

Functional English language test validity for secondary applicants who were 18 or over at the time of application is 12 months immediately prior to application (IMMI 15/004).