AMVL Migrations – Brisbane Migration Agency

 

 

In addition to changes to the Temporary 457 visa program, the Government has also implemented changes to the Permanent Employer Sponsored program. These affect the Employer Nomination (ENS) subclass 186 and Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) subclass 187 visas.

 

Changes have already occurred to the occupations lists with the abolition of the SOL and CSOL and the creation of the MLTSSL and STSOL.  

 

Unlike the changes to the 457 occupation lists which affected undecided applications, these changes will not affect any subclass 186 nominations and applications that were lodged prior to 19 April 2017 but still not decided.  New applications under the 186 ENS Direct Entry (DE) Stream however will need to have an occupation on the STSOL.

 

Applicants for the 187 RSMS DE stream are not affected by the recent change of occupation lists, as any occupation designated as skill levels 1, 2, and 3 in the ANZSCO can be nominated.

 

The 19 April 2017 changes will not affect permanent employer sponsored visas applied for through the temporary resident transition (TRT) stream, as there are no applicable occupation lists for this stream.  Applicants need to apply using the occupation they were nominated under for the 457 visa.

 

Upcoming changes affecting visa applicants

 

From 1 July 2017

  • All applicants (including under the TRT stream) will need Competent level English – IELTS 6 or equivalent  in each test component

  • The age limit for the DE stream will be reduced to 45 years (it will remain at 50 years for TRT stream).

 

From March 2018

  • The MLTSSL will apply for all 186 DE applications with additional occupations available for RSMS.

  • The period of time on a temporary work visa to transition to permanent residency (186 and 187 TRT visas) will be increased from two years to three years.  It is unclear if the transitional pathway will be available for current 457 visa holders who cannot apply before March 2018 under the current rules, but we assume there will be some grandfathering clause that will allow this.

  • Applicants must have a minimum of 3 years relevant work experience

  • The maximum age for all applications will be 45 years

  • There will be a one off payment to a training fund of $3000 for small businesses, while businesses with turnover of more than $10 million will be required to make a payment of $5000 for each permanent visa nomination.

 

How can AMVL help?

 

At AMVL we have employer-sponsored visa specialists who can help explain the upcoming changes and how they may affect your migration prospects. New and current applicants, employers and sponsors are welcome to contact our team for assistance and advice.  We also encourage you to follow us on Facebook and Twitter so you can keep up with announcements on the changes as they occur.

 

What else has changed?

 

The changes to the skilled list have also affected subclasses 189, 190, 489 and 485 Graduate Stream visas. 

 

The visas that previously required an occupation to be on the SOL (189, family sponsored 489 and 485 Graduate Stream) will now need to have an occupation on the MTSSL.  The visas that required an occupation to be on the CSOL (190 and state nominated 489) will now need to have an occupation on the STSOL.

 

If you have lodged an EOI already with one of the removed applications, then your EOI cannot proceed.  If you have received an invitation already with one of the removed occupations, then you can still proceed with an application for a visa.  Any lodged visa applications in these subclasses will not be affected.

 

Vetassess is offering a refund for any skill assessment applications where the occupation has been removed, as they are no longer the body assigned to assess the removed occupations.