Australian visa changes July 2017
Call my office +61 (7) 3668 0658 if you’d like to discuss your visa options. More contact options here:
1. Lists of occupations have been amended. Despite MLTSSL and STSOL are used as a base for 189, 190, 489, 186 and 457 visas, there are so many variations and caveats, that it is safe to say there are separate lists of occupations for each of these visas. There are different legislative instruments issued for a different skills based visa.
2. Changes to 457 visa programme
a. penal clearance certificates are now mandatory for all visa applications lodged on or after 1 July 2017
b. The English Language Salary Exemption Threshold (ELSET) which exempted applicants (whose salary was over AUD$96,400) from the English language requirement has been removed for applications lodged on or after 1 July 2017. An English test must be taken unless:
i. position is sponsored by overseas business and they have a nominated base rate of pay of at least AUD$96,400. Or ii. applicant holds a passport from UK, Ireland, USA, New Zealand or Canada, or
iii. applicant has completed a minimum of five years of full-time study in a secondary and/or higher education institution where the instruction was delivered in English.
c. For some occupations skills assessment is now mandatory. Mostly for trades.
d. Training Benchmarks and Training Requirements have been amended. Training benchmark will be abolished 1st of March 2018 and replaced with a fixed fee.
3. Changes to ENS and RSMS visa programme
a. Applications for ENS and RSMS made under the Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream lodged on or after 1 July 2017 will require, at a minimum, an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) (or equivalent test) score of 6 in each component (Competent English)
b. From 1 July 2017, applicants for the ENS and RSMS DE stream must be younger than 45 years of age. This applies to visa applications lodged on or after 1 July 2017. Current age exemptions are still available.
c. The age requirement for the TRT stream will remain at less than 50 years of age until 1 March 2018 when the less than 45 year age limit will become effective.
4. Changes to points tested skilled visa. From 1st of July, the age limit has been decreased to 44 years.
5. New 189 visa New Zealand pathway has been introduced. New Zealand Special Category visa holders may apply for permanent residence if they have lived in Australia for last 5 years and earned at least $ 53 900 over last 4 financial years.
6. All the visa fees increased for about 2%
7. Online Visitor visa lodgement for Indian nationals. Indian passport holders can now lodge Visitor (subclass 600) visa applications online
8. The government has announced a new temporary sponsored visa for parents of migrant Australians. New visitor visa will be available from November 2017. A 3-year visa will cost $5,000 and a 5-year visa will cost $10,000.
9. Passengers departing from Australia no longer need to complete the outgoing passenger card from 1 July. Arriving passengers will still need to complete the orange incoming passenger card.
There are other changes coming in December this year and March next year. Should you wish to discuss your situation please do not hesitate to contact me.
