Our Blog update for today discusses Australia’s latest skill immigration routes and how migrants can benefit from them.
Australia intends to tackle its post-pandemic economic recovery and skill shortages via its amended national immigration programme, where skilled migrants can avail new PR routes on Temporary Skill Shortage(TSS) visas.
With the onset of the new fiscal year on July 1, Australia’s immigration programme will reset its visa allocations, delivering new opportunities for immigrants. The decision was made as the Labour Party pledges to promote permanent migration temporary migration.
As per the planned levels for the Australia Migration Program (2022-23), 109,900 new immigrants will be accepted through the divisions of skilled independent visas, regional visas, skilled nominated visas, etc. Taking this into consideration, there has been significant growth in skilled visa categories, with more than 30,000 visa slots this year.
What Would The Main Focus Be?
In the forthcoming 2 years, TSS visa bearers who were employed in Australia for a minimum of one year between February 2020 to December 14 2021, will be eligible to apply for the latest PR pathway. It will be made feasible via the Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream of the subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme.
One of the most significant transformations proposed to the 482-visa programme was the decision that occupations on the short-term list will also be entitled to this stream.
The 457 visa bearers will no more have an age restriction when making an application for permanent residency via the TRT stream. However, holders of 457 visas must have held their visas since April 18, 2017, or later to be eligible for the transformation in the age exemption.
Which New Streams Are Introduced?
The Western Australia Migration’s Graduate Stream Skilled Occupation List has been extended to include more professions.
Furthermore, Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List will now comprise 22 new occupations and be given precedence over the rest.
Occupations in the following visa categories will be qualified for priority processing of nomination and visa applications.
TSS subclass 482;
- Visa under the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186);
- Regional (Provisional) Skilled Employer sponsored visa (subclass 494);
- Visa for the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (subclass 187)
What is The Extension Period?
It was provisionally announced that individuals holding a temporary graduate visa 485 would be given a 24-month stay.
Visa Relaxations
It will be easier for TSS subclass 482 visa bearers to petition for permanent residence.
Since July 1, 2022, the temporary graduate visa 485 no longer require. jobs to be on the medium- and long-term skilled list for the temporary. This allows applicants to reside and work in Australia without limitations for an additional temporary period.
However, this change is only valid up to June 30, 2023.
Since July 1, TSS 482 Short-Term Visas holders have been able to make applications for Temporary Residence Transition Visas.
Furthermore, the historical 457 visa bearers will also be immune from age restrictions.
Let’s have a quick look at what other changes were implemented.
Following July 1, 2022, trades graduates do not need a preliminary Skill evaluation for a 485 visa, i.e. nominating for a job at the time of the Temporary Graduate Visa 485 application is no longer required. However, a provisional skill evaluation is still needed prior to a full skill assessment for some vocations.
The 189 skilled independent visas have increased.
RDA Far South Coast at present is accepting offshore applications for subclass 491 of the skilled work regional visa.
The government is to provide skilled regional (provisional visa) bearers visa renewals (subclass 489, 491 and 494).
These policies aim to reward skilled immigrants who remained in Australia during the Covid-19 pandemic for their contribution and motivate worldwide migrants. Migrants pursuing skilled independent and regional visas now have further options to select from new rules in the forthcoming fiscal years.
This is the end of today’s blog update. We hope you found this blog useful. Please don’t forget to support us by subscribing to our newsletter and sharing this blog with your friends and family on Facebook, Whatsapp, and Twitter.
