new Skilled Occupation List (SOL) for General Skilled Migration (GSM)

DIAC has announced a new Skilled Occupation List (SOL) for General Skilled Migration (GSM). The new SOL does apply for non-GSM visas, such as ENS, RSMS or Subclass 457.

This is proposed to commence 1 July 2010.

The new list comprises 181 occupations. The old SOL had 408.

The new SOL is based on ANZSCO (Australian & New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations) and not ANSCO (Australian Standard Classification of Occupations).

Some of the occupations which are no longer on the SOL include: Cook, chef, Hairdresser, Pharmacist, Graphic Designer.

Some of the retained occupations include: Accountant, Architect, Engineers, medical professionals, Motor Mechanic, and many building trades.

The new SOL does not apply to GSM applicants who, on 8 February 2010:

• Held a Subclass 485 (skilled graduate) visa or had a pending subclass 485 visa application; and who
• Apply for a permanent or provisional onshore GSM visa by 31 December 2012; or at the date of the announcement had a pending GSM visa application.

Transitional arrangements will apply to international students who, on 8 February 2010:

• Held a subclass 572 (vocational education and training sector), subclass 573 (higher education sector); or
• Held a subclass 574 (postgraduate research sector) student visa.

These students can apply for a subclass 485 (skilled graduate) visa using the current SOL as long as they lodge their subclass 485 application by 31 December 2012.

As the new SOL is based on ANZSCO, the names of occupations and tasks associated with occupations need to be carefully checked.

Suspension of Offshore General Skilled Migration

The Minister has today announced a temporary suspension of certain general skilled migration visas. The move hopes to ensure that all offshore general skilled applications made after today are in accordance with the occupations included on the new Skilled Occupation List (SOL), to be released later this month. The Minister has not indicated when the suspension will be lifted, however it will be no earlier than the announcement of the new SOL.

The Minister has announced that his Department will not accept applications for the following visa subclasses from 8 May 2010 until further notice:

• Subclass 175 – Skilled Independent;
• Subclass 176 – Skilled Sponsored; and
• Subclass 475 – Skilled Regional Sponsored.

Therefore, any applications received by the Department after 8 May 2010 for one of the above visa subclasses will be returned and the visa application charge refunded.

Please note that this suspension does not affect onshore general skilled migration visas

New administrative arrangements to meet the health requirement when you make your onshore GSM application – 22 March 2010

Applicants for an onshore General Skilled Migration (GSM) visa must show evidence at the time they make their application, that they have made arrangements to undergo a medical examination.

From 22 March 2010, applicants for an onshore GSM visa need only obtain a reference number from Medibank Health Solutions to meet the time of application health requirement. Applicants should phone Medibank Health Solutions and state that they are applying for a GSM visa and request a reference number. This reference number must then be provided as evidence as part of their GSM application.
Note: Applicants must ensure that they retain a copy of this reference number.

Applicants will be requested to undertake a medical examination by their case officer at a later date.

Applicants who have already applied for GSM and have either made a booking for a medical examination or undertaken their medical examination, do not need to obtain a reference number.

Changes to the time of provision of evidence of English language ability

There are new arrangements for the provision of evidence for English language ability. Applicants for the following GSM subclasses have until the time of decision to provide evidence of their English language ability.

• Skilled – Independent (Residence) visa (subclass 885)
• Skilled – Sponsored (Residence) visa (subclass 886)
• Skilled – Independent (Migrant) visa (subclass 175)
• Skilled – Sponsored (Migrant) visa (subclass 176)
• Skilled – Provisional (Regional Sponsored) visa (subclass 475)
• Skilled – Provisional (Recognised Graduate) visa (subclass 476)
• Skilled – Provisional (Graduate) visa (subclass 485) (where the application was made on or after 27 October 2008).

Applicants should not delay in providing their evidence of English language ability. The department will not delay finalising applications where English language test results have not been provided at time of application. Applicants will have 28 days from the date of application to provide their English language results if they did not provide them at time of application. At this point in time, if evidence has not been provided the application will be refused.

There is no change in the requirements for Skilled – Provisional (Graduate) visa (subclass 485) where the application was made before 27 October 2008 or the Skilled Provisional (Regional Sponsored) visa (subclass 487). The applicant must either provide evidence of English language ability at time of application or provide evidence that they have made a booking to undertake an English language test