Skill Select Changes for 2012

Darren Chatt recently attended an information day at Australian House in London, with VETASSESS and Peter Spellwendie from the Australian Government.

Mr Spellwendie confirmed that Skill Select will be implemented on the 1st July 2012 by the Australian Government and the existing visa categories will change. There are currently 40 different skilled visa categories and this will be reduced to 10.

Mr Spellwendie confirmed that the Australian Government are looking for the 'best and brightest' applicants. He stated that 'Australia wants new migrants to come to Australia to a job and not to a job queue'. The preferred way for migrants to enter Australia in the future will be with a job.

http://www.immi.gov.au/skills/skillselect/index/faqs/

SKILLS SELECT

Under the new rules being introduced on the 1st July 2012, the Australian Government will invite applicants to apply for a visa electronically.

The invitation to apply for a skilled visa will come with a completed application and a request to attach the necessary documents to prove the applicants eligibility.

The applicant will have to apply within 60 days of receiving the invite and pay the application fee.

The application will go straight to a case officer which will reduce processing times.

Lodging an expression of interest will be free but you must have your skills assessment and IELTS English exam completed as it will be impossible to supply these within the 60 days once an invitation to apply has been received.

Applicants should be looking to lodge their application with as many points as possible, as the Australian Government will be pulling those with the highest points first, followed by those with State Sponsorship and then those with Employee Sponsorship. If you do not receive an invitation to apply for a visa within two years, your application will be withdrawn from the pool and you will have to apply again.

VETASSESS

Vetassess advised that, as from the 1st March 2012, all trade applicants will need to apply to Trades Recognition Australia following the completion of their skills assessment, for a Letter of Opinion. This will give them points towards qualifications and work experience. It will also create delays of up to 4-5 months, however we will be lodging applications prior the 1st July 2012 without these Letters of Opinion, as this is not legally a requirement at the present time. After the 1st July 2012, all applications being lodged for a skilled visa will require a Letter of Opinion from Trades Recognition Australia for the allocation of points for qualification and work experience.

The general feeling of the meeting was that the Australian Government want all future migrants to come to Australia with a confirmed job. The skilled visa category will remain but it will be increasingly difficult to obtain a visa under this category.

It is vitally important to get your application lodged before the 1st July 2012 or achieve as many points as possible as the Australian Government will only be giving invitations to those applicants with maximum points and State or Employee sponsorships.

 

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