The Australian government delivered its budget for the next fiscal year last week and one of the main announcements was the expansion of the next year's skilled migration program.

How is the Australian skilled migration program being expanded?

The 2012-13 will include a targeted increase of 5,000 places in order to allow Australia to address several skills shortages which have emerged due to the continuing boom in the mining and construction industries.

"The measured increase of 5,000 places, from 185,000 to 190,000, comes in the context of significant skills gaps in both the short and medium term in certain sectors of our patchwork economy," said Immigration Minister Chris Bowen.

While the rapidly expanding mining and constructions industries have created the need for skilled workers in those industries, Australian workers in other industries leaving their current jobs for highly paid opportunities in construction or mining have left other gaps in other industries. The demand for many professions is growing but nursing, ICT and accountancy professionals in particular are continuing to see strong demand for their skills.

Mr Bowen explained that as many as 16,000 places within the migration program will be specifically allocated to the regional sponsored migration scheme for skilled workers to ensure that gaps in specific areas, such as Western Australia, are addressed.

Overseas workers who are entering the country specifically to work in shortage industries will be eligible under the new program to have their Australia visa application fast tracked in a high processing priority group.

"Skilled migrants are increasingly moving to growth regions and places where there is demand, they are complementing rather than competing with our domestic labour force,” said Mr Bowen.

"Our skilled migration program is driven by Australia's genuine skills needs and not simply by those who wish to become Australia residents. We believe we have the balance right."

Other Australia immigration changes

The budget also included an amendment to the health criteria within the migration assessment: potential migrants whose health assessments reveal health conditions which will require further or ongoing treatment risk having their Australia visa application denied if the cost of the treatment exceeds a ‘Significant Cost Threshold’.

The current Significant Cost Threshold is set at AU$21,000 (£13,064) in treatment costs per year; as of 1, July, this threshold will be increased to AU$35,000 (£21,794).

What positives are coming from the changes?

We at the Visa Bureau are pleased at the intentions outlined in Australia’s budget; expanding the skilled migration program while raising the threshold reaffirm Australia’s commitment to welcoming more skilled workers to the country and encouraging them to settle in Australia.

With the expanding industries creating well paid positions combined with the resultant gaps left in other industries, the expansion of the program allows even more people the opoprtunity to help advance and benefit from Australia's continuing prosperity.

What negatives are coming from the changes? 

In an effort to ensure the General Skilled Migration Program (GSM) is cost-effective, the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) will also begin charging AU$70 (£43.57) for placing visa labels in passports as of 1, July.

While this is primarily a cost-saving measure, DIAC also hopes to encourage people to utilise the free online facility known as VEVO which allows users to check the credentials of a visa holder and therefore renders a physical passport label redundant.

We understand that DIAC wishes to make its processes as efficient as possible yet we appreciate that many of our clients feel more comfortable travelling through border security or conducting job interviews with physical evidence of their credentials. While this option is still available, we are disappointed that a cost will now be incurred.

- Leonie Cotton is the Casework Department Manager at the Australian Visa Bureau

©Visa Bureau 2003-2010

Visa Bureau takes no responsibility and cannot be held accountable for action taken as a result of any information or comment provided on this blog, and we recommend that you always seek a number of opinions before making a decision regarding your migration or visa application. Please refer to the Visa Bureau terms of use for more information.

Applications for skilled migration to Australia are currently categorised into one of five priority groups. Each group has an associated processing timeframe set as per a Directive drawn up by the minister for immigration and citizenship, Chris Bowen. The Australia visa application will then wait in that priority group until it is allocated to a case officer, who will then begin assessment of the information and documents provided.

The processing groups and their corresponding criteria are as follows:

Applicants within Priority Group 5 have been informed by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) for some time that their application will progress once all higher ranked applications have been assessed. However, the DIAC have just released a new update explaining that, as they have received less applications in other priority groups than planned, they intend to begin allocating some Priority Group 5 applicants to case officers for assessment and processing. 

The DIAC have indicated on their Allocation Dates for General Skilled Migration Applications page that state sponsored applications should be allocated a case officer by 31, May 2012.  As some applicants within Priority Group 5 have been waiting for considerable amounts of time to be allocated for assessment, we regard this as an extremely positive announcement. 

While this brings specific news for state sponsored applicants, the DIAC have indicated that they will release further information about the allocation of remaining Priority Group 5 applications at a later date.  David Stewart, the Program Director of the General Skilled Migration Program has informed the Migration Institute of Australia that he expects other visa types (within Priority Group 5) to be allocated to case officers throughout the 2012-2013 programme year which runs from 1, July, 2012 to 30, June, 2013. 

Priority Group 5 applicants who are state sponsored should expect to be contacted by a DIAC case officer sometime before 31, May, 2012.  Typically a request to complete police and medical checks is issued once an application is allocated to a case officer although, in a limited number of circumstances, a request for additional documents may be received.  We encourage non-state sponsored Priority Group 5 applicants to continue checking the Allocation Dates for General Skilled Migration Applications page of the DIAC website for updates on allocation dates and processing information. However, Visa Bureau clients will be updated as soon as important information which is relevant to their move to Australia is released.  

- Dominic Ladden-Powell is the Online Editor for the Australian Visa Bureau

©Visa Bureau 2003-2010

Visa Bureau takes no responsibility and cannot be held accountable for action taken as a result of any information or comment provided on this blog, and we recommend that you always seek a number of opinions before making a decision regarding your migration or visa application. Please refer to the Visa Bureau terms of use for more information.

The Australian government has announced more details about its new Australia visa application process: SkillSelect. Details about the process, which is intended to go live on 1, July of this year, have been introduced slowly as the government draws up new legislation.

We wrote about the last announcement in January when an outline of the scheme was released.

The Australian government today released further details of the scheme:

Changes affecting the 175 visa

The newly announced 189 subclass will effectively replace the existing 175 visa for independent skilled migration.

The 189 visa will apply to people wanting to move to Australia who are under the age of 50, possess competent English language skills and have skills or qualifications listed on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL).

Holders of a 189 visa will be permitted to live, work and study in Australia on a permanent basis, receive state subsidised benefits, apply for citizenship and sponsor people for permanent residency.

Changes affecting the 176 visa

The 176 visa subclass for Sponsored Skilled Migration will be replaced by the new 190 subclass of visa which will include all the same benefits and allowances as the 189 visa to the holder.

The 190 subclass will also require that the applicant (or applicant's partner) has an eligible relative already living in Australia who is willing to sponsor the applicant. Alternatively, an application can have a nomination from any State or Territory government agency to be eligible.

Changes affecting the 475 visa

The Regional Sponsored 475 subclass of temporary visa will be replaced by the 489 subclass.

The 475 visa originally allowed holders to live and work in Australia for three years; this period will be extended to four years under the 489 visa.

The 489 visa will be for applicants who do not qualify for the 189 visa yet still have skills listed on the SOL list. To apply for a 489 visa, applicants will need to be nominated by a state or territory or an eligible relative already living in Australia.

Changes affecting all three subclasses

Under all three original subclasses, applicants could be in Australia when their visa applications were lodged, but once granted they had to leave Australia and re-enter. This often meant unnecessary expense for many applicants who had to pay for an extra flight in order to leave the country.

However, under the new subclasses, visas can now be granted onshore.

If you are in Australia and hold an eligible substantive visa when you have lodged your application and your existing visa is about to expire, you will be allowed to apply for a Bridging visa which will allow you to avoid having to leave the country while you await your new visa.

Finally, while all the visa requirements have an age restriction, under the new SkillSelect scheme an applicant’s age will be determined from the date of invitation rather than lodgement, this will allow a greater deal of flexibility for applicants nearing the age threshold.

- Dominic Ladden-Powell is the Online Editor for the Australian Visa Bureau

©Visa Bureau 2003-2010

Visa Bureau takes no responsibility and cannot be held accountable for action taken as a result of any information or comment provided on this blog, and we recommend that you always seek a number of opinions before making a decision regarding your migration or visa application. Please refer to the Visa Bureau terms of use for more information.

The Australian federal government has announced changes to the 457 visa programme which will allow foreign workers who fill much needed labour gaps to gain permanent residency in the country much easier.

What is the 457 visa?

The 457 visa programme is a skilled temporary business visa which allows holders to live and work in Australia on a temporary basis, in order to qualify for the 457 visa, you need to be sponsored by an Australian employer.

An employer must secure permission to sponsor potential employees but a 457 visa does not expire when the sponsor's permission to endorse expires.

The majority of 457 holders can also typically apply for permanent residency while during the term of their visa.

What are the changes?

Speaking at the Law Council Australia’s 2012 CPD Immigration Conference, Immigration Minister Chris Bowen announced reforms to Australia visa policy which will feature a new 'fast-tracked' system for the employer-sponsored category of Australian visa. The changes, expected to be rolled out on 1, July of this year include increasing the minimum applicant age from 45 to 50 and the removal of language tests for some occupations.

Mr Bowen said the changes would allow willing workers to remain in much needed positions.

"We know these workers can do the job and are ready to make a commitment to Australia, so it makes sense to streamline their pathway to permanent residence," said Mr Bowen.

The booming mining industry has caused a growing shortage of skilled labourers working in Australia; expanding mining and engineering companies need more workers while Australian citizens leaving their current positions for jobs in the mining industry have left labour gaps in others, most notably the tourism and hospitality industries.

The announced reforms aim to tackle those widening gaps and come just days after the chief executive of one of Australia’s largest mining corporations, Rio Tinto, Sam Walsh, said skilled labour shortages was one of the biggest issues facing Australia's continued economic growth.

"An efficient and flexible skilled migration programme is one solution but more broadly we need to ensure we're an attractive proposition for job seekers."

Why are they needed? 

The proposed changes are likely to improve Australia's reputation as an employment destination as the restrictions on temporary workers remaining in the country indefinitely are significantly relaxed: holders of an Australian 457 visa will no longer have to complete a second skills test or an English test in order to become eligible to apply for residency.

Mr Bowen further explained that the six categories of employer-sponsored visa which make up the current system will be reduced to two simplified categories: the Employer Nomination Scheme and the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme. Both of these categories will then be integrated into the new SkillSelect programme which will also launch in July.

• Integrating the six permanent categories into two new categories: Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) and the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS)
• Including the ENS and RSMS into SkillSelect
• Adjusting language and skill requirements for certain occupations
• Increasing the age limit for applicants from 45 to 50

Reaction

The announcements have so far been met with a mixed reception, although response from industry representatives has largely been positive. Gary Brack, chief executive of the Australian federation of Employers and Industries said:

"One of the most important aspects of this is the speed with which you can actually make the transition. Employers get caught short in the market if they can't recruit somebody. A lot of them are desperate to get people at a particular time. So if it can expedited in the way that it's been discussed, then that will certainly be advantageous."

The Australian opposition, who have been vocally critical of the government's immigration policies in recent weeks, have claimed the proposed changes do not go far enough to allow skilled migrants to fill the labour gap.

"The government abolished the regional concessions for 457s when they came to government, which was a major and important programme, particularly for small and regional businesses," said opposition immigration spokesperson Scott Morrison.

"The government has not restored those concessions."

What this means for you

Leonie Cotton, casework department manager here at the Australian Visa Bureau, says the changes will be great for people considering making the move to Australia:

"Raising the age limit to 50 will give plenty of people who felt they'd missed their chance the opportunity to move to Australia and the speed we should be able to manage applications under the new system will make that dream easier to achieve.

Australia's mining industry is growing so fast and the Australian economy is expanding so quickly, that positions are being newly created and need to be filled at a great rate and it will be 457 holders that meet Australia's demand."

- Dominic Ladden-Powell is the Online Editor for the Australian Visa Bureau

©Visa Bureau 2003-2010

Visa Bureau takes no responsibility and cannot be held accountable for action taken as a result of any information or comment provided on this blog, and we recommend that you always seek a number of opinions before making a decision regarding your migration or visa application. Please refer to the Visa Bureau terms of use for more information.

While the Australian government announced last year that changes to skilled migration programme would be made in 2012, they weren't forthcoming about too many specifics as to how the process would be affected; we wrote at the time about the changes which were proposed.

However, with so much in the news recently about Australia's immigration issues, whether it be gaps in the job market or lengthy application processes, the Australian government has responded by publishing their new site SkillSelect, intended for a 1 July, 2012 launch.  

But with so many changes promised and moving to Australia already being such a daunting process, how do you know if SkillSelect applies to you?

Here is a look at the new scheme, what it is and how to use it.  

What is SkillSelect?

SkillSelect is a new method for the Australian government to manage its skilled migration programme. Based solely online, SkillSelect will require everyone who is intending to migrate to Australia to submit their application through the new system.

Applications made through SkillSelect will be made available to employers looking to recruit staff, as well as local state or territory governments. Selected applicants will then be invited to apply for an Australian visa.

Why is it needed?

Australia has struggled in recent months to balance its immigration policy properly. While the Asian fuelled mining boom continues across the country, people looking to cash in on rising wages have flocked to the mines. This means that labour shortages have cropped up in a variety of industries with 35,000 vacancies in the hospitality industry alone.

The SkillSelect programme will mean that the Australian immigration authorities can specifically target which occupations they have a shortage of and manage those applicants who are capable of filling the vacancies.

Who can use it?

When SkillSelect opens for applications on 1 July, 2012, anyone wishing to move to Australia as part of any of the following visa programmes need to apply using the SkillSelect website:

• Independent Skilled Migration
• State or Territory Sponsored Skilled Migration
• Family Sponsored Skilled Migration
• Business Skills
• Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS)
• Temporary Business (Long Stay), subclass 457 programme

How it affects you

Existing clients

The Australian government has been quick to maintain that the SkillSelect website is still subject to change while particular details are finalised with further details of the SkillSelect process expected to be announced in April 2012. Therefore, if you are an existing client at the Australian Visa Bureau and are eager to continue your application as quickly as possible, you can move forward with your application without worry; the Australian Visa Bureau has significant experience under the current system and we are confident that the majority of our clients whose applications are properly assembled will be able to lodge before the 1 July deadline.

New clients

However, if you are yet to begin the application process or you are unlikely to lodge your application before 1 July, 2012, then you may have concerns about how the new system will be handled.

The Australian immigration process has undergone significant changes with the past and the Australian Visa Bureau has always successfully adjusted to the new process. SkillSelect will bring further changes but it will also bring benefits to the applicants as well as the Australian government; once the new steamlined process has been finalised and implemented, applicants will be able to get responses to each portion of their application much quicker.

- Dominic Ladden-Powell is Online Editor for the UK Visa Bureau

©Visa Bureau 2003-2010

Visa Bureau takes no responsibility and cannot be held accountable for action taken as a result of any information or comment provided on this blog, and we recommend that you always seek a number of opinions before making a decision regarding your migration or visa application. Please refer to the Visa Bureau terms of use for more information.

The Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) have released further information regarding the changes to the Australian general skilled migration system that are proposed to be implemented at the start of the next migration program year in July 2012.  

What is being proposed?

DIAC are considering making significant changes to the way a potential migrant submits an application for a skill-based Australia visa. From July 2012, it is proposed that the current system will be replaced with a two-stage application process under a selection register called 'SkillSelect' which is designed to ensure the Australian government selects the highest quality skilled migrants from a waiting pool.

This will affect all applications in the skilled stream, including visa subclasses 175 (independent); 176 (state/territory sponsored) and 475 (provisional) applications, as well as business skills visa applications.

See below for a diagram that illustrates how the SkillSelect process will work:

How will the new Australian visa application process work?

Prospective applicants will start by submitting an ‘Expression of Interest' (EOI). This is not an Australian visa application, but instead an indication made to DIAC that an individual wishes to be considered for migration. Prior to submitting the EOI, a prospective applicant will need to have obtained an appropriate skills assessment and any English language scores needed to ensure they would be eligible to apply, if invited to do so.

DIAC will note the points test score of the prospective applicant and the time the EOI was lodged. This will help DIAC rank the EOI. Each month, DIAC will invite applicants who rank the highest to apply for a visa. The first of these invitations are expected to be made on 1st August 2012.

How can I ensure my Expression of Interest ranks as highly as possible?

The precise criteria by which DIAC plan to rank EOI’s has not yet been confirmed in full, however it is clear that the points attained prior to invitation will be a determining factor in the ranking of an EOI, with those who score the most in the best position to be invited to proceed. Ranking will be determined electronically, and preference will be given to those who express their interest earliest.

Although points scores will be accessible, rankings will not be made available to the prospective applicant, and can be amended by DIAC at any time. An EOI can also be updated at any point prior to receiving an invitation. Having issued invitations each month, DIAC will make available the lowest score of a successful EOI for each occupation, which will provide an indication of the minimum score needed to maximise the chance of receiving an invitation.

What happens if I am invited to apply for an Australian visa?

DIAC will contact the applicant or agent directly to invite the prospective applicant to apply in earnest. Having received an invitation, a deadline of 60 days will apply to lodge the visa application, which will be submitted electronically through DIAC's online system.

A maximum of two invitations will be given before the EOI is removed from the pool if no application has been made. DIAC have yet to confirm precisely how the application process will proceed once an invitation has been made, however it is likely that further documents will be required along with a completed application form and associated fee. The application is then likely to be assigned to a case officer who will assess the application manually and liaise with the applicant or agent as necessary.

How is Australian state/territory sponsorship affected?

SkillSelect will make the pool of prospective applicants available to state/territory representatives, who will be given the opportunity to issue invitations for sponsorship in accordance with their own State Migration Plan. If sponsorship is agreed, the sponsored applicant will then be invited to apply for a visa.

Will this affect Australian visa processing times?

While processing times have not yet been confirmed, DIAC have indicated that each occupation under which an application can be made will be subject to a 'ceiling'. The ceiling will act like a quota, allowing DIAC to invite prospective applications in any occupation until the ceiling as been reached.

DIAC is conscious that the migration program can occasionally be dominated by specific occupations or industries and are seeking to avoid this from reoccurring. If the ceiling has been reached for any occupation, no further invitations for that nominated occupation will be allocated and no invitations for state/territory sponsorship will be issued until at least the next migration program year. EOIs will remain active for two years before they will expire if no invitation has been made prior to that point. Prospective applicants may then submit a fresh EOI which will be subject to the same procedure.

See below for a diagram from DIAC that illustrates how the ceiling process will work:

What should I do now?

At this stage, there are still significant areas which DIAC have yet to clarify. For example, no information has been released regarding the points test or how points will be allocated. We don’t yet know whether the core occupations on DIAC’s skilled occupations list will be amended. Additionally, no information has been released about the occupation ceilings, and it is unclear what period of time prospective applicants may be waiting for an invitation or for an invitation to move to a finalised application.

Given this uncertainty, Visa Bureau recommends that anyone wishing to apply under the visa streams affected lodge their application prior to the end of June 2012, when the current migration year will end. Applications lodged before this time should be assessed under the legislation in place at the point of lodgement, and will not be affected by changes to the application process implemented after that point.

Also, Visa Bureau clients should approach their caseworker to discuss in greater detail if they are unsure about any of this. Clients will be informed promptly of any updates that may affect their application.

Visa Bureau will be keeping a close eye on all information released from DIAC regarding SkillSelect and any changes proposed or updated. Prospective applicants wishing to benefit from the care of our experienced team of dedicated case workers are invited to get in touch through our assessment webpage, after which a consultant will be in touch to discuss your potential application in greater detail.

- Matt Parker is a caseworker for the Australian Visa Bureau.

©Visa Bureau 2003-2010

Visa Bureau takes no responsibility and cannot be held accountable for action taken as a result of any information or comment provided on this blog, and we recommend that you always seek a number of opinions before making a decision regarding your migration or visa application. Please refer to the Visa Bureau terms of use for more information.

The Australian Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA) is the body that all onshore Australian migration agents are required to belong to, in order to provide Australia visa advice to potential applicants.

MARA is responsible for regulating migration agents and making sure that migration agents provide clients with the best possible service. Part of this is providing a Code of Conduct that agents must follow, which is updated on a semi-regular basis.

The latest updates to the Code of Conduct are scheduled to take effect on 1 January, 2012. You can download a copy of the new Code of Conduct here, but see below for a list of these changes, as well as a brief explanation for each of them:

Changes to the MARA Code of Conduct set to be made on 1 January, 2012

• A requirement that notices and information to clients be in writing;

Note: A fairly simple one - this just means that in addition to information being conveyed by phone to clients, it will also need to be sent via email / post.

• Removal of the statement in Clause 2.9 that “a Registered Migration Agent cannot be responsible for misinformation provided by a client”;

Note: Previously, if a client provided incorrect information as part of their visa application, it was possible for the blame to be placed solely on the client. However, this has now been removed, so an agent will now take responsibility for ensuring that all info provided by the client is accurate.

• Removal of the words “seek to” from the statement in Clause 2.9A that “a Registered Migration Agent must not seek to mislead or deceive the Authority [MARA] whether directly or by withholding relevant information”;

Note: This is just a change to the semantics, really - the message remains the same, but with the removal of 'seek to', the clause that says an agent must be completely honest with a client is just made firmer.

• Addition of “a review authority” to the Clause 2.19 requirement that “a Registered Migration Agent has a duty to provide sufficient relevant information to the Department to allow a full assessment of all the facts against the relevant criteria.” NB: This may be because of the number of review applications that are made without full submissions being provided;

Note: This addition has been made to accommodate for an independent review authority to be involved in the resolution of any disputed.

• A requirement that Registered Migration Agents notify the Office of the MARA of changes to their registration details in advance, or within 14 days of the changes if advance notice would be unreasonable in the circumstances;

Note: This change has been made to ensure that MARA is aware of any changes to an agent's registration in advance, or as soon as possible.

• A requirement that registered migration agents notify DIAC, Office of the MARA, any review authority and all current clients of any changes to the agent’s contact details in advance, or within 14 days of the changes if advance notice would be unreasonable in the circumstances;

Note: Again, this is a change that has been added to ensure that MARA is kept aware and up-to-date of an agent's details at all time and will be able to contact the agent when necessary.

• Contracts with clients, now referred to as an "Agreement for Services and Fees", to include the services to be performed, the fees for the services, and the disbursements the agent is likely to incur as part of the services;

Note: This is a change designed to make the process of a client securing an agent's services as transparent as possible, so there is no confusion as to what services the fees will be for. 

• Agents are not entitled to payment for immigration assistance unless the client has been given a statement that is consistent with the services, fees and disbursements in the Agreement for Services and Fees. The statement has to be an invoice or account which itemises each service performed and the fee for each service.

Note: This change is also designed to increase transparency and ensure that clients will only pay for work that has been performed by the agent.

What do these MARA changes mean? 

It's clear from these changes that MARA is doing its upmost to ensure that registered migration agents act in a responsible, transparent manner. It's also a reminder to any potential applicants for an Australia visa that the first thing they should do when choosing a migration agent is check whether they are registered with MARA.

At the Australian Visa Bureau, we currently have four registered migration agents on staff. You can find their details on our MARA page. 

Additionally, you can verify their registration status by going to the 'Find an Agent' section of MARA's website and search for them using their name, registration number or their place of work (i.e. Visa Bureau Ltd).

- Leonie Cotton is Casework Department Manager for the Australian Visa Bureau.

©Visa Bureau 2003-2010

Visa Bureau takes no responsibility and cannot be held accountable for action taken as a result of any information or comment provided on this blog, and we recommend that you always seek a number of opinions before making a decision regarding your migration or visa application. Please refer to the Visa Bureau terms of use for more information.

Applications for skilled migration to Australia are currently categorised into one of three priority groups, each with an associated processing timeframe set as per a Directive drawn up by the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship. The application will sit in that priority group until it is allocated to a case officer, who will begin assessment of the information and documents provided.

The three Australia visa priority groups sit behind two faster employer-sponsored streams, so the skilled migration groups are subsequently labelled groups 3, 4 and 5. According to the existing Priority Processing Directive drawn up in July 2011, the timeframes for processing of general skilled migration visas are currently as follows:

Applicants who find their applications allocated to category 5 have not been given a specific timeframe by which they can expect their application to be finalised, and are instead at the mercy of the categories above them. The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) has now released fresh information that may help to put the timeframe into some context for those waiting.

Although DIAC's site confirms that no category 5 applications are currently being allocated to case officers, fresh statistics have been announced indicating that there are currently 42,631 applications in category 5 which have yet to be assessed. Of these applications, 64% were lodged from within Australia, and DIAC have announced that they will be processing these first (starting with applications that have been in the queue the longest).

DIAC have confirmed that processing of category 5 is likely to occur within the current migration program year, which runs until 30 June 2012, starting with onshore applications made prior to September 2007 before moving to offshore applications made at the same time. This should give a degree of comfort to applicants who continue to wait in hope for news of progress in their allocated priority group.

DIAC has been careful to note that processing of applications in category 5 will continue to depend on the number of applications received in higher priority groups, and is subject to any changes made to the Processing Direction.

Consequently, although this is a positive sign that DIAC is aware of the ever-growing period of time applicants in this category have had to wait and are indicating that things may start to move in the coming months, offshore applicants who with applications lodged after September 2007 may continue to face a significant wait before case officers are allocated.

Applicants who submitted their application prior to 1 July 2010 may have an option to apply for state sponsorship and subsequently move into priority group 3. Visa Bureau clients should approach their caseworkers with any concerns or to discuss this in greater detail.

- Matt Parker is a Caseworker for the Australian Visa Bureau. 

©Visa Bureau 2003-2010

Visa Bureau takes no responsibility and cannot be held accountable for action taken as a result of any information or comment provided on this blog, and we recommend that you always seek a number of opinions before making a decision regarding your migration or visa application. Please refer to the Visa Bureau terms of use for more information.

In 2010-11 the Department of Immigration and Citizenship issued 3,543,883 temporary visitor visas, including a 3% increase in total offshore visitor Australia visa grants.

Visa compliance by holders of Working Holiday and ETA visas is up to 99 per cent, up from 95.3 per cent in 2009-10. The report said this increase is largely due to its own actions. The report states the following:

"In 2010-11 the department used a range of tools to minimise the potential for non-genuine visitors to enter or remain in Australia or to contravene their visa conditions."

"These tools include the no further stay condition, security bonds, sponsor sanctions and Safeguards profiles".

In fairness, as well as these positive outcomes that are in line with the Government's underlying temporary immigration goals, there were also a number of setbacks in 2010-11, particularly with regard to its lucrative international student market.

Demand for a student Australia visa has fallen sharply, with the department awarding 126,186 student visa grants over the year, down from 158,240 in 2009-10, representing a 20.3 per cent decrease. Similarly, student visa finalisations fell 26.6 per cent to 143,127.

The department attributes the decline to a number of factors beyond its control, such as "the strength of the Australian dollar over this period, increased marketing activity by competitor countries, college closures creating uncertainty about the stability of Australian education providers, and the decoupling of education and general skilled migration".

The demand can also be attributed to a substantial decline in the number of Indian students, with enrolments down 36.5 per cent. The official response to the diminishing Indian demand contained in the annual report is that it is "the result of a high concentration of students with the vocational education and training (VET) sector which was most affected by measures to de-couple study in Australia from permanent residence".

But while factors may have played a part, the drop in Indian demand is also undeniably related to a negative perception of Australia that has persisted in Indian politics and its media over the past year following a spate of violent and possibly racially-motivated attacks against Indian students in 2010.

Tourism Australia has launched a campaign in conjunction with the Australian immigration department to try and repair the Australian national image in India. This is likely to remain a key challenge and area of priority for DIAC in the coming year.

- Aleks Vickovich is Online Editor for the Australian Visa Bureau. 

©Visa Bureau 2003-2010

Visa Bureau takes no responsibility and cannot be held accountable for action taken as a result of any information or comment provided on this blog, and we recommend that you always seek a number of opinions before making a decision regarding your migration or visa application. Please refer to the Visa Bureau terms of use for more information.

Of the total Australian immigration intake in 2010-11, 113,725 places were allocated to the Skill Stream, indicating a 5.6 per cent increase from 2009-10 and making up 67.5 per cent of total Migration program grants.

The rise in skilled migrant visa grants suggests a return to business as usual after a deliberate drop in numbers in 2009-10 due to the global recession, as was commented on by Australian Visa Bureau Managing Director Guy Bradley:

"The percentage increase revealed in the Annual Report 2010-11 suggests that the decrease in visa grants in 2009-10 was a temporary aberration based on global economic circumstances rather than a change in long-term immigration policy direction.

"It seems the Australian Government’s commitment to skilled migration remains strong".

The report explains that skilled migration is a key priority for the Australian Government as Australia visa holders of this kind are more likely to "contribute to the Australian economy through their skills, qualifications, entrepreneurialism and future employment potential". 

However, the number of granted visas actually fell just short of the 113,850 departmental planning level 2010-11, meaning that 125 prospective skilled migrants missed out on a visa despite the stipulated quota and high demand.

The report also found that the department has achieved its objective in boosting the state-specific and regional migration (SSRM) programs, which attempt to alleviate skills shortages in the regions by offering location-specific visas to skilled foreign workers.

"The SSRM programs continue to be a priority for the government and these programs accounted for 32.9 per cent of the Skill Stream of the 2010-11 Migration Program," the report states.

"A total of 37,410 visas were granted under the SSRM programs in 2010-11, representing an increase of more than 2.3 per cent over the previous year".

Most Australian states and territories saw a significant increase in the receipt of SSRM visa grants in 2010-11, including the Australian Capital Territory (up 48.5%), Tasmania (up 22.8%) and New South Wales (up 14.3%). Only South Australia saw a decline in regional skilled migration, down 21.8% to 7460.

These figures show firstly that the Government is interested in extracting maximum economic benefit from its skilled migration program, tailoring the system to patch up any skills shortage tears in the immigration quilt.

Secondly, this move towards regional targeted migration is the product of the Government's more general commitment to regional Australia and its current political siuation. The current Labor Government does not hold a majority in the Parliament and is reliant on the votes of 1 Green MP and 4 Independents, 3 of which are from rural and regional seats, which has meant regional issues like skills shortages have attracted much more attention over the last year.

Whatever the reasons, it is likely the move towards location-targeted migration will continue, as will many opportunities for skilled workers to emigrate to Australia.

Read Part Two of our Australian Immigration Report 2011 blog series on Student, Tourist and Working Holiday Visas.

- Aleks Vickovich is Online Editor for the Australian Visa Bureau.

©Visa Bureau 2003-2010

Visa Bureau takes no responsibility and cannot be held accountable for action taken as a result of any information or comment provided on this blog, and we recommend that you always seek a number of opinions before making a decision regarding your migration or visa application. Please refer to the Visa Bureau terms of use for more information.