General Skilled Migration

Regional and State/Territory Specific Schemes

Presentation Outline

 Australian Government and State Government Responsibilities  Northern Territory Government Sponsorship for General Skilled Migration (GSM) Visas  Occupation assessments for TRA and VETASSESS  GSM pathways for CDU International Graduates  Employer Sponsored Visa options  GSM future directions - SkillSelect

Australia’s Government – Migration Six States & Two Territories make up the Commonwealth of Australia.  The Commonwealth Government is responsible for making laws on some issues, while State/Territories Governments retain all other law-making rights.  The Commonwealth Government generally has responsibility for laws on matters affecting the whole of Australia. For example: money, postal & telephone services, international relations, immigration, quarantine, and defence.  State governments influence migration policy & facilitate migration by participating in state specific and regional migration programs.

The Northern Territory and Regional Migration

The whole of the Northern Territory, including its capital Darwin, is regional for migration purposes.

Regional and State/Territory Specific Schemes Skilled – Sponsored or Skilled Regional Sponsored The Northern Territory State Migration Plan enables the Northern Territory Government (Department of Business and Employment) to sponsor people whose skilled occupations are:

• Listed on the NT’s State Migration Plan or • An ‘off list’ nomination. To be eligible for an “off list” nomination an applicant’s occupation must be on the SOL Schedule 2. A CDU student applicant seeking an “off list” nomination by the NT must demonstrate their employability in the NT. Applicants for one of the General Skilled Migration (GSM) visas who have State Government sponsorship have 2nd highest priority for visa processing by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC).

Regional & State/Territory Specific Schemes The NT Government will nominate all eligible students who have completed two years study at the CDU (and have positive skills assessments for either: 

Skilled Sponsored; or



Skilled - Regional Sponsored (Provisional).

To be nominated by the NT Government applicants, including eligible CDU graduates, whose occupations are not on the DIAC endorsed NT State Migration Plan must show that they have positive employment prospects or are in employment (in their skilled occupation) in the Northern Territory. Applicants sponsored by the NT Government must give an undertaking to live and work in the NT for no less than two years from when their visa is granted.

Eligibility Criteria - Onshore General Skilled Migration To be eligible to apply for one of the onshore General Skilled Migration visas applicants must: • •

• • • •

Successfully graduate with Diploma, Degree or higher qualification following two years of full time study while in an Australian campus Have a positive skills assessment by the relevant assessment body for an eligible occupation Be under 50 years of age at the time they lodge their visa application Have an IELTS score of no less than 6 on each of the four IELTS testing bands Achieve no less than a score of 65 points on the General Skilled Migration Points Test If applying for a Skilled Sponsored or Skilled Regional Sponsored visa have sponsorship from a State or Territory Government.

General Skilled Migration – Points Test (1July 2011) Description

Points

Factor Age

English language * or equivalent standard in a specified test)

Australian or overseas skilled employment in nominated occupation or a closely related occupation undertaken in the past 10 years Note: Maximum points that can be awarded for any combination of Australian or overseas skilled employment is 20 points

18–24

25

25–32

30

33–39

25

40–44

15

45–49

0

Competent English - IELTS 6*

0

Proficient English - IELTS 7*

10

Superior English - IELTS 8*

20

One year in Australia

5

Three years in Australia

10

Five years in Australia

15

Eight years in Australia

20

Three years overseas

5

Five years overseas

10

Eight years overseas

15

General Skilled Migration – Points Test (1July 2011) Factor Qualifications (Australian or recognised overseas)

Description

Points

Australian Diploma or trade qualification or other qualification recognised by a relevant Assessing Authority

10

At least a Bachelor degree

15

Doctorate

20

Australian study requirement

Minimum two years full-time (Australian study requirement)

5

Study in a regional area

Must meet the Australian Study Requirement while studying in a regional area

5

Professional Year

Completion of a recognised Professional Year

5

Credentialed Community language

NAATI accreditation

5

Partner skills

Primary applicants partner meets threshold requirements for skilled migration visa

5

Nomination by state/territory government (subclass 176 or 886 visa)

Nomination by a state or territory government under a state migration plan

5

Designated area sponsorship or nominated by state/territory government (subclass 475 or 487 visa)

Sponsorship by an eligible relative living in a designated area or nomination by a state or territory government under a state migration plan

10

Occupational Assessment for International Students Skills assessments for a large number of occupations changed from 1 July 2010. Trade Skills Trade Recognition Australia (TRA) now requires international graduates who are applying for permanent or provisional residency nominating a trade occupation to be ‘Job Ready’. The TRA Job Ready Program is a four step process Professions assessed by VETASSESS International student graduates seeking assessments from VETASSESS must meet new assessment criteria including having a relevant Australian level qualification and no less than one year’s experience in the skilled occupation for which they are to be assessed

Other Professions Some changes to assessments conducted by the professional bodies e.g. Accountants

Skills Testing for Trades Onshore Graduates Provisional Skills Assessment for Graduate Skilled (subclass 485) can only be used for this visa subclass application.

Must register online through the Job Ready Online Application.

Skills Testing for Trades Onshore Graduates Trade Recognition Australia’s Job Ready Program is a four step process: Step 1: Apply for a Provisional Skills Assessment. With this provisional skills assessment students can only apply for a Subclass 485 Skilled Graduate (18 month temporary visa) Step 2: Complete the Job Ready Employment. A subclass 485 visa will give applicants 18 months to complete the 12 months of full time employment required to gain skills & Australian work experience Step 3: Complete a Job Ready Workplace Assessment. Demonstrate the trade skills in the workplace to a TRA approved assessor. Step 4: Apply for a Job Ready Final Assessment. Submit all the evidence required during Steps 1 to 3 to apply for a final assessment required to apply for permanent migration under one of the GSM visas

General Professional Assessment by VETASSESS Recent International Student Graduates who intend to apply for a Skilled – Graduate (Temporary) visa (subclass 485) For a VETASSESS assessment applicants are now required to have not less than 12 months employment in the occupation they nominate. VETASSESS offers a ‘qualifications only assessment’ for applicants applying for the Subclass 485 Skilled Graduate visa. Step 1:Apply for a ‘qualifications only’ assessment. Applicants need a qualification which is comparable to the AQF Bachelor Degree in a field of study highly relevant to the occupation they nominate may only nominate managerial, administrative, or professional occupations on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) from Group A or B. Step 2: Apply for Subclass 485 visa to gain sufficient relevant employment experience to apply for a full Skills Assessment from VETASSESS

Step 3 Apply to migrate under the General Skilled Migration (GSM) or Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS).

General Professional Assessment by VETASSESS Recent Australian graduates can only apply for a Subclass 485 visa if they nominate an occupation on the Skilled Occupation List from Group A or B. Group A Occupations: • AQF Bachelor degree (in a highly relevant field to the nominated occupation) and at least one year in last five years skilled employment in closely related field. Group B Occupations: • AQF Bachelor degree (in a highly relevant field to the nominated occupation) and at least one year in last five years skilled employment in closely related field. Either two or three years of relevant employment if the qualification/s has a shortfall in content relevance.

Applicants who have occupations in Group C and D cannot apply for assessments for the Subclass 485 visa Group C Occupations: AQF Diploma, in a highly relevant field to the nominated occupation and at least one year in last five years skilled employment in closely related field. Two years of such employment is required if the qualification/s has a shortfall in content relevance. Group D Occupations: AQF Certificate IV, in a highly relevant field and at least one year in last five years skilled employment in closely related field. Two years of such employment is required if the qualification/s has a shortfall in content relevance.

VETASSESS PROFESSIONAL OCCUPATION GROUPS GROUP A OCCUPATIONS (Examples)

GROUP B OCCUPATIONS (Examples)

ANZSCO

Occupation

ANZSCO

Occupation

221213

Accountant Internal

225111

Agricultural

225113 224711

Advertising Specialist Marketing Specialist Management Consultant Information and Organisation Professionals nec Environmental Health Officer Graphic Designer Hotel or Motel Manager (Degree level)

Auditor 234111 Consultant

234112 411711 234313 Scientist 242211 Teacher 232611

Agricultural Scientist Community Worker Environmental Research

224999

Vocational

232411 141311

Urban and

Education Regional Planner

251311

VETASSESS PROFESSIONAL OCCUPATION GROUPS GROUP C OCCUPATIONS (Examples) ANZSCO Occupation 312111 Architectural Draftsperson 312112 Building Associate 312113 Building Inspector 411214 Dental Therapist 141311 Hotel or Motel Manager (Diploma level) 512111 Office Manager

GROUP D OCCUPATIONS (Examples) ANZSCO Occupation 312999

312212 312912

Building and Engineering Technicians nec Civil Engineering Technician Metallurgical and Materials Technician

Transitional Arrangements When the Commonwealth Minister for Immigration and Citizenship announced changes to the Skilled Occupation List and the GSM Points Test. These transitional arrangements in place for international students who: • •

Held a Graduate Skilled visa as at 8 February 2010 or Had applied for a Graduate Skilled visa before 8 February 2010

The transitional arrangements will only apply to applicants who lodge their visa applications before 1 January 2013.

The Northern Territory State Migration Plan •

State/Territory sponsored applicants under the GSM will be given priority by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) for visa processing – Group 2 processing priority

•

Overall the NT Government has approximately 1000 visa places available for nomination under NT SMP in 2011-12

•

The NT SMP is reviewed with DIAC every six months

•

Occupations on the NT SMP are revised each year in line with the release of the Northern Territory Occupation Shortage List – usually March/April

The Northern Territory Advantage Eligible CDU students will continue to be able to apply for nomination from the NT Government for: SKILLED SPONSORED. (Permanent Residence Visa) Occupations on the NT SMP or ‘off list’ occupations provided the applicant can demonstrate positive employment prospects in their skilled occupation. SKILLED REGIONAL SPONSORED. (Provisional Visa leading to Permanent Residence) Occupations not on the NT SMP or demonstrated connections to the NT EMPLOYMENT PROSPECTS. Many international students will need to show employment experience in their skilled occupation before they can gain a full occupation assessment. There are good employment prospects for skilled graduates in many occupations in the NT.

Employer Sponsored Visa Options



Permanent Residence: Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS): This Employer Nomination visa applies to employers in regional Australia including the whole of the NT. RSMS provides concessions to regional employers to sponsor employees to full time employment where they cannot employ from within the local labour market. The NT requires nominated applicants for RSMS to be paid market salary rates.



Temporary Residence subclass 457 visa: Employers can sponsor skilled overseas workers to meet skill shortages on temporary work visas for periods between one month and four years.

SkillSelect SkillSelect is scheduled for introduction by DIAC on 1 July 2012. Under the SkillSelect model people wishing to migrate under the General Skilled Migration Program will: • lodge relevant information into the system • apply to State/Territory Governments for nomination and then lodge their information into the DIAC system

Of all the potential migrants who lodge Expressions of Interest only those candidates who are invited by DIAC to lodge visa applications will be assessed for migration.

Seeking Assistance or Advice

Please make an appointment if you want to discuss your case with the one of the Business and Skilled Migration team. Please note: We cannot predict future changes to migration policy. Therefore we will be unable to advise you on your eligibility until you have almost completed your studies If you email, please include all the details relevant to your situation. To provide meaningful advice BSM officers need to have detailed personal and professional information. The NT Government provides a migration information service. Students who have questions about their skills assessment will need to make contact with the relevant skills assessment bodies.

Thank you www.migration.nt.gov.au