huge processing backlog in Australia’s skilled migration program

This week’s National Interest program on ABC Radio National is looking at the huge processing backlog in Australia’s skilled migration program and the distress this is causing to many migrants who now face a wait of at least two years on their applications for permanent residency in Australia. Host Peter Mares will be speaking to Migration Institute of Australia (MIA) board member Mark Webster and to a graduate of La Trobe University who is affected by the changes.

The National Interest is broadcast live to air on Friday evening at 6.10pm in Victoria, NSW, the ACT, Tasmania , South Australia and in Darwin; 5pm in Queensland and the Northern Territory outside Darwin, and 3pm in WA. It can also be downloaded at any time after broadcast from the http://mpegmedia.abc.net.au/rn/podcast/2009/10/nit_20091030_1830.mp3

The MIA has raised this matter with DIAC on numerous occasions. A submission is now being sent to the Minister, drawing his attention in particular to the unfairness inherent in his priority processing decisions:

  • applications which were made as long ago as last year, and many of which were almost finalised, have suddenly been pushed back in the queue, often after new police and health checks had been paid for;
  • thousands of applicants will spend years on Bridging visas with no certainty that they will maintain eligibility for GSM, or be able to plan for their future, and will find it difficult to get work, despite having permission to work, as many employers insist that their employees be permanent residents;
  • thousands of applicants who in good faith paid visa applications charges with the quite reasonable expectation that their applications would be finalised within published service standard times find themselves in limbo
  • thousands of currently enrolled overseas students who are paying large fees to Australian education providers and who intend to use the perfectly legitimate and government designed pathway to permanent residence have had their plans derailed.

Vetassess skills assessment from 1 January 2010

From 1 January 2010, Vetassess will be changing its requirements for skills assessments for migration purposes.

The essential changes are that:

  • the qualification must be relevant to the nominated occupation
    AND
  • that at least one year’s relevant work experience will be required. This has to be work experience/on-the-job training completed in the five years before the date of application for a skills assessment.
  • In some cases, one or two additional years of relevant employment may be required IF the qualification does not have enough content which is relevant to the nominated occupation.

Vetassess advises that “the new assessment process will help to ensure that applicant’s [sic] who meet the requirements under the new process are job ready and have the relevant skills and qualifications for employment in Australia in their nominated occupation”.

NOTE: Subclass 485 (Skilled - Graduate Temporary) visa applicants

There will be a Stage 1 skills assessment for Subclass 485 (Skilled - Graduate Temporary) visa applicants, which will not require one year’s work experience. The full skills assessment (which will require work experience) must be done for an application for a permanent GSM visa.

Subclass 485 applications can only apply for a Vetassess skills assessment if they have a nominated occupation in Vetassess’s new occupation Groups A and B (see below).

Vetassess has placed particular occupations in particular groups:

Group A
[for example, Agricultural Scientist; Biochemist ; Chemist; Geologist ; Life Scientists [nec]; Teacher - Education Officer; Teacher - Vocational Educational Teacher (non trades); Urban and Regional Planner]

Requires:

  • a qualification at least at an Australian bachelor degree level , with a major “highly relevant” to the nominated occupation,
  • AND at least one year of relevant employment experience at “an appropriate level”.

Group B
[for example, Advertising Specialist; Construction Project Manager; Environmental Health Officer; Hotel or Motel Manager (Degree); Marketing Specialist; Production Manager (Manufacturing); Research and Development Manager]

Requires:

  • a qualification at least at an Australian bachelor degree level , with a major “highly relevant” to the nominated occupation,
  • AND at least one year of relevant employment experience at “an appropriate level”.
  • AND either two or three years of relevant employment experience will be required IF the qualification/s is identified as having a shortfall in content relevance.

Group C
[for example: Architectural Associate; Building Associate; Financial Investment Adviser; Hotel or Motel Manager (Diploma); Office Manager; Project or Program Administrator]

Requires:

  • a qualification at least at an Australian Diploma level, with a major “highly relevant” to the nominated occupation,
  • AND one year of relevant employment experience at an appropriate level.
  • OR (if the major is not “highly relevant”) two years of work experience AND another “highly relevant” major at least at Australian Certificate IV level.

Group D
[Building Associate Professionals (nec); Civil Engineering Technician; Metallurgical and Materials Technician]

Requires:

  • a qualification at least at the level of an Australian Certificate IV, with a major “highly relevant” to the nominated occupation,
  • AND at least one year of relevant employment experience at an appropriate level,
  • OR (if the major is not “highly relevant”) two years of work experience.


Tourist visa to come to Aust during X'mas and New Year

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship has suggested, whoever would like to apply for tourist visa to come here during Christmas or New Year, please do so before 6 November 2009. As, there will be so many applications for them to process and your visa can take slightly longer.

To avoid the disappointment, I suggest everyone to quickly lodge the application ASAP.
When the Christmas and New Year come, most of staff at the Department of Immigration will be away for holiday as well.

Remember...everyone.... lodge your tourist visa application before 6 Nov, if you, your friends and family would like to come and spend this year Christmas here in Australia... :)

Police Name Check

Recently one of the person I knew have done the "police name check" with Australian Federal Police (AFP) in Canberra. It was nice surprise to see how the AFP works. They work extremely fast, everything is done within a week. It was impressive, indeed.

There is a point to take note that, the form using for "police name check" is now only available at AFP's website. The old form from The Department of Immigration and Citizenship's website is no longer can be used. I personally knew someone use tried to use the form from DIAC's website before. That was wrong, only the form at AFP's website can be used now.

Anyone need a form, please feel free to email me. I can email that form to you (just in case you can't find it on the AFP's website)

John @J The Migration Team
0412-470969