Important information for Australian General Skilled Migration applicants

Scheduled changes in the Australia’s Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) General Skilled Migration programme are due to take place on 1st September 2007.

Many applicants should be unaffected by these changes; however, some applicants will find that their current situations will change. These people should preferably lodge their applications with DIAC no later than 31st August 2007, as this will ensure that their applications are processed according to the current programme requirements.

Please note that applicants whose applications for migration have already been lodged with DIAC will not be affected by these changes.

The scheduled changes that are most likely to affect applicants are the following:

• Increasing the English language requirements for applicants in this programme
• Rewarding those applicants with a higher level of English language ability
• Tightening restrictions regarding the allocation of bonus points for nominating an occupation on the Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL)
• Standardising requirements for recent work experience for offshore skilled visa applicants

English Language Ability

Under the new programme structure, an applicant with a passport from a recognised English speaking country (such as the United Kingdom) will automatically receive 15 points from DIAC for their English language ability as opposed to the 20 points that are currently awarded. This means that the points score for applicants from English speaking countries will drop by 5 points. However, if an applicant were confident of his or her English language ability, he or she would be able to sit an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) examination and could potentially be awarded 25 points, provided that a score of at least 7.0 was reached in each category of the examination.

Applicants are from countries that aren’t recognised as being English speaking (i.e. all countries excluding the UK, New Zealand, Canada, the USA and the Republic of Ireland) will have to meet higher requirements from 1st September 2007. They will now have to achieve the level of Competent or higher (a minimum score of 6.0 in each of the four components of an IELTS exam), as opposed to Vocational (a minimum score of 5.0 in each of the four components of the IELTS exam). Exceptions will apply for applicants who have nominated a trade occupation, or who are applying for a Skilled – Regional Provisional visa.

Skilled Work Experience

Applicants who are claiming points for having a nominated occupation on MODL will now also be required to have worked in that occupation or one that is closely related for at least 12 months in the last 4 years immediately preceding the lodgement of the application. If the applicant does not meet this requirement they will not be awarded the 15 points for having an occupation on MODL.

DIAC will also be changing their requirements for recent work experience for applicants. Currently it is possible for applicants in some offshore skilled visa categories to lodge applications while only having 6 months skilled work experience in the last 12 months. From 1st September 2007 it will be a requirement that applicants in all offshore skilled visa categories demonstrate that they have been in a skilled occupation for a total of at least 12 out of the 24 months immediately preceding the lodgement of their application. The only exception to this requirement will be for applicants who have finished two years of study in Australia within the 6 months prior to the lodgement of their applications.

Who Will Be Affected By These Changes?

The people who will be most crucially, and possibly detrimentally, affected by the upcoming changes are those in the following categories:

• People whose applications rely on bonus points for an occupation on MODL
• People concerned that their English language ability may not meet the higher levels demanded by DIAC and tested by IELTS
• People whose applications currently have a point score of just on 120 points
• People who are only able to provide less than 12 months work experience in a skilled occupation

Who Will Not Be Affected By These Changes?

As mentioned previously, there will be many people whose applications remain unaffected by the scheduled changes:

• People whose applications are lodged on or by 31st August 2007
• People whose nominated occupations are not on MODL
• People able to show work experience in a skilled occupation for at least 12 of the 24 months immediately preceding lodgement
• People with a high level of English language ability
• People whose applications need only meet the pool mark rather than a set pass mark

We are currently going through all of our client files in order to assess whose applications will be affected by these changes so that we can ensure any necessary action will be taken and the applications in question will be lodged before these changes come into effect. We will be in touch with the clients concerned very shortly.

It is vital that all applicants affected by the new programme assist us in any way they can in order to lodge their applications with DIAC before the deadline of 31st August 2007.

If you have any concerns regarding the information outlined above please feel free to contact us at our offices on 0131 625 6900, and we will assist you with any enquiries you may have.