Skilled Migration Update

Trends, Budget Measures and Reforms to the

Program

Labour Market Branch

Our National Identity is Evolving

Net Overseas Migration is Now Falling

325,000

Forecastsandprojections

Finalandpreliminary

275,000

Humanitarian Entry

Permanent

Othertemporary

Students

Others

Persons

225,000
175,000
Skilled Entry

125,000
75,000
Family Entry

25,000
25,000
200405 200506 200607 200708 200809 200910 201011 201112 201213 201314

The 457 Program Reflects the Business Cycle

The Take-up of Subclass 457 Visas Varies by

State/Territory

Labour Agreements are Increasingly in Vogue

Labour Agreements as at March 2011

The Balance of Permanent Migration has Shifted in

Favour of Skilled Migration
Humanitarian
Family
Special Eligibility

Over the last decade, the

focus of Australias migration
program has shifted from
family migration towards
skilled migration.
If Australias labour force
conditions prevail, this
pattern is likely to continue.

Skill

Program numbers by
stream

1996-97

1998-99

2001-02

2006-07

2007-08

2008-09

2009-10

Actual

2010-11

2011-12

Planned

Planned

Family

44 580

32 040

38 090

50 080

49 870

56 500

60 300

54 550

58 600

Skilled

27 550

35 000

53 520

97 920

108 500

115 000

108 100

113 850

125 850

1730

890

1480

200

220

300

300

300

550

11 900

11 356

12 349

13 017

13 000

13 500

13 750

13 750

14 750

Special Eligibility
Humanitarian

The Composition of the Skilled Program also

Continues to Change

Each Component of the Skilled Migration Program

Serves a Purpose
Very Highly Skilled

Highly
Skilled

Skilled

Semi Skilled

Highly
Skilled

Skilled

Semi Skilled

Balancing Immediate and Longer Term Needs

the strongest increases have occurred for Science Professionals and
Veterinarians (up by 123.6%), Health Diagnostic and Therapy Professionals
(59.6%) and Health and Welfare Support Workers (52.1%)
DEEWR Vacancy Report November 2010

programs need to be responsive to our economic needs whilst continuing to

serve Australias interests in the medium to long term
against the backdrop of an ageing population
2010 Intergenerational Report

it is important that migration programs complement domestic recruitment

and are not used to replace local workers
Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, 2009

2011-12 Migration Program

Migration Program Total: 185 000 places
Skill

+ 12 000 places

125 850
Skilled Independent/State
nominated/Australian sponsored

72 450

Employer Sponsored

46 000

Business Skills
Distinguished Talent
Family

Special Eligibility

200
58 600

Partner
+ 4 050 places

7200

45 400

Parent

8500

Child

3450

Preferential/Other Family

1250
550

and other reforms to Skilled Migration

Enterprise Migration Agreements and Regional Migration
Agreements
Regional Initiatives
Visa Program Reviews
Employer Nomination Scheme, Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme and Business Skills

State Migration Plans

Independent Skilled Migration and the Points Test
SkillSelect
a new way of selecting skilled migrants

Supporting the Resource Sector Through

Enterprise Migration Agreements (EMA)

Streamlined access to skilled

temporary workers for
resource projects

Controlled access to
semi-skilled temporary workers
where there is a genuine need

Key
Eligibility Attributes
Resource Projects
Mega in size
$2b capital costs
1500 peak workforce
Training Plan

Supporting Regional Australia Through

Regional Migration Agreements
Custom
designed
geographically
based

Temporary
measure to
address acute
skilled
shortages

Streamlined
access for
employers

New
program to
bring overseas
workers to
Australia on
a 457 visa

Encourage
innovative
training and
workforce
strategies

Further Support for Regional Australia

Priority processing for permanent

regional migration visas
Increasing the number of RSMS
places to 16 000
Streamlining permanent residence for
holders of certain temporary skilled visas
Developing and implementing a
Regional Engagement Strategy

The Employer Nomination Scheme and Regional

Sponsored Migration Scheme

The Business Skills Review

State Migration Plans

Plans allow
individual
jurisdictions to
target specific
skills needs

The number of
visa applications
on-hand has
substantially
reduced

Negotiations
should be
settled before
the end of June
to allow for a
smooth
transition to
2011-12

24 000 places
have been
allocated for
2011-12

The Points Test

What a new points test will provide
Optimal mix of high calibre skills and attributes attained in Australia and
overseas that provide best prospects for success in the Australian labour
market.
Will apply to applications made
after 1 July 2011

unless transitional arrangements apply

Expected pass mark of

65 points

will be the number of points required to

be eligible for skilled migration

Focused on selecting highly

skilled people

to deliver a more responsive &

targeted migration program

The Points Test - Age Points

Age
18 - 24

25 - 32

33 - 39

40 - 44

45 - 49

25

30

25

15

No Points

Points

The Points Test - English Language Points

Competent English (IELTS 6)

Proficient English (IELTS 7)

10

Superior English (IELTS 8)

20

The Points Test - Experience Points

Australian Experience

Overseas Experience

1 Year
(of the past 10)

3 Years
(of the past 10)

3 Years
(of the past 10)

10

5 Years
(of the past 10)

5 Years
(of the past 10)

15

8 Years
(of the past 10)

8 Years
(of the past 10)

20

Maximum points that

can be awarded for
skilled employment

The Points Test - Qualification Points

Doctorate (Australian or recognised overseas)

20

Bachelors Degree (Australian or recognised

overseas)

15

Includes Honours and Masters

Diploma (Australian or recognised overseas)

10

Australian and Overseas Trade Qualification

10

The Points Test - Bonus Points

State /
Territory
Nomination

Partner Skills
5

5
Credentialed
Community
Language

Designated
Area
Sponsorship

Australian
Study
Requirement

10

5
Regional
Study

Professional
Year

Which Points Test for Transitional Applicants?

1

Nominated occupation is on the SOL in effect 8

February 2010 and SOL in effect at time of application

The nominated
occupation is on SOL
in effect on 8
February 2010
The nominated
occupation is on SOL
in effect at the time
application is lodged

Application first
tested against
pre 1 July 2011
points test
If fails the
pass mark

The
application
is then
assessed
under the
points test
in place on
the date the
application
is made

Which Points Test for Transitional Applicants?

2

Nominated occupation is only on the SOL in effect at

time of application

The nominated
occupation is on SOL
in effect at the time
application is lodged

The application is
then assessed
under the points
test in place on
the date the
application is
made

Which Points Test for Transitional Applicants?

3

Nominated occupation is only on the SOL in effect

8 February 2010

The nominated
occupation is on SOL
in effect on 8
February 2010

Application
tested against
pre 1 July 2011
points test

Skilled Migrant Selection Register (SkillSelect)

On 10 May 2011, the Minister for Immigration and

Citizenship, Chris Bowen MP, announced the
Australian Governments
agreement to the implementation of a
Skilled Migrant Selection Register (SkillSelect)
SkillSelect concludes a series of reforms to ensure the
.
skilled migration program
is more focussed
and efficient, demand-driven and tailored
to employers needs.

SkillSelect will be implemented on 1 July 2012

The Government Wants.

Overview of SkillSelect

EOI

Register

Assessment of application
as per existing process

Rank

Invitation

Application

Stage One of EOI - Independent Skilled Migration

1. Review all EOIs in descending
order of points score. Eg:
All EOIs with the
highest points
score - e.g. 90
All EOIs with the
2nd highest points
score - e.g. 85
All EOIs with the 3rd
highest points
score - e.g. 80

2. Equally scoring EOIs ranked in

order of lodgment.

Stage Two of EOI Process

Selection and invitation to apply for migration

Ranked
EOI

Has nominated
occupation reached
ceiling?

NO
YES

Invited
Not invited

When is an EOI Required?

Visa Category
Independent/
Family
Sponsored

Temp Employer Permanent

Sponsored
Employer
(Subclass 457) sponsored
(including
RSMS)

State/Territory
sponsored
(including
Business Skills)

Yes

No

No

Yes

EOI optional

Must lodge an EOI

Must lodge an EOI EOI optional

Transitional Arrangements Under SkillSelect

8 Feb 2010

31 Dec 2012

Students who held or had

applied for a Temporary
Skilled Graduate visa
(subclass 485) can apply for a
permanent skilled migration
visa on the basis of the old
SOL.

Permanent migration
application assessed
according to the old
occupation list

Students who held a

qualifying Student visa on 8
February 2010 can apply for a
Temporary Skilled Graduate
visa (Subclass 485) on the
basis of the old Skilled
Occupation List.

Temporary skilled
graduate visa assessed
according to the old
occupation list 18 month
stay + options

Benefits of SkillSelect
Respond quickly
to changing
economic needs

Meet
Australias
skill needs

Allocate places to
the best and
brightest

Fair and equitable

Skilled Migration
program

Enable registered
employers to
search and
contact
prospective
skilled workers
Minimise
processing times
Assist States and
Territories to
identify and
nominate the best
skilled migrants

The General Skilled Migration (GSM)

Program:
processes and challenges for 2011-12

David Stewart
Program Director
General Skilled Migration

2011/12 Migration Program

On 10 May 2011 the Minister announced the Migration Program for 2011/12 of
185 000, an increase of 16 300 places.

The Skilled Component comprises 125 850 migration places, an increase of

10.5% or 12 000 places.

The GSM component of this is 72 450 places.

Skilled Independent
Skilled State/Territory Sponsored
Skilled Australian Sponsored

44 350
24 000
4100

Based on the current pipeline, anticipated application rates, and no changes to

the current priority arrangements, GSM expects to process:
All State Migration Plan (Priority two) applications
All current SOL (Priority three) applications
Some old SOL (Priority four) applications.

Purpose of the Fraud Public Interest Criteria (PIC)

Provides the ability to refuse a visa application where false or misleading

information or bogus documentation is provided as part of an application

All migrating applicants included in the application would be

refused, and subject to a three year bar on grant of a further visa
subject to the PIC

In certain circumstances, a waiver can be applied to facilitate

grant of a further visa

Which Visa Subclasses are Affected by the PIC 4020?

9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9

Skilled - Independent (Subclasses 885 and 175)

Skilled - Sponsored (Subclasses 886 and 176)
Skilled - Regional Sponsored (Subclasses 487and 475)
Skilled - Graduate (Subclass 485)
Skilled - Recognised Graduate (Subclass 476)
Skilled Regional (Subclass 887)
Employer Sponsored (Subclasses 121, 856, 119 and 857)
Business (Long Stay) (Subclass 457)
Overseas Student (pre 1 Sept 2007) (Subclasses 880, 881 and 882)
Skilled Independent Regional (pre 1 Sept 2007) (Subclass 495)
Skilled - Designated Area-Sponsored (pre 1 Sept 2007) (Subclass 496
and 883).

Further information is available from the departments website.

See: www.immi.gov.au/skilled/_pdf/fraud-pic.pdf

GSM On-hand Pipeline as at May 2011

The GSM pipeline currently consists of:
3500 Priority Two cases
22 000 Priority Three cases
46 000 Priority Four cases

Current Processing Timeframes

Priority Group two (PG2):

All State and Territory State Migration Plans (SMP) are now in effect.
Applications are allocated within two weeks of the receipt of the approved
nomination
Applicants are encouraged to make their application ready for decision at
or shortly after application.

Priority Group three (PG3):

Applications lodged in Australia before January 2011 have been allocated.
Applications lodged outside of Australia by the of end June 2011 we expect
to have allocated all applications lodged before January 2011.

Priority Group four (PG4):

Allocation of some PG4 cases is expected in 2011-12.

Subclass 485 Processing Arrangements

Current processing arrangements give priority to:

applicants who completed a Professional Year before 30 June 2011 and who lodged
a subclass 485 before 17 March 2011
applicants who lodged from 9 February to 30 June 2010 where the nominated
occupation was on the SOL Schedule 3 in effect from 1 July 2010.

All other applications will generally be processed based on the date they were
received.

These applicants have been identified as needing to be processed prior to the

introduction of the new points test on 1 July 2011.

These processing arrangements will end 30 June 2011 and date of lodgement
order processing will resume.

Over the course of 2011/12, processing is expected to be brought back into

service standards through significant increases in resourcing.

GSM Communication Channels: How to Obtain Information

For allocation dates, send a blank email

Email: gsm.processing@immi.gov.au

General GSM pre-lodgement enquiries

See: www.immi.gov.au/contacts/forms/gsm/pre.htm
Telephone: 1300 364 613

Queries by agents on unallocated case (with the exception of status enquiries)

Email: gsm.agents@immi.gov.au

Queries on allocated cases should be sent to the case officer through the team mailbox listed on
correspondence.

GSM contact details

See: www.immi.gov.au/contacts/australia/processing-centres/adelaide-skilled.htm

More information on GSM visa options

See: www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration

Recent changes to the program

See: www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/whats-new.htm

Escalation Channels

Efforts are made to keep responses to enquiries within service standards, two work days.

Where responses are not received to multiple enquiries on the same matter, or emails
need to be escalated to a senior GSM managers attention, they should be made to the
following staff:

critical validity or payment queries

missed allocations
case decisions
nil replies to enquiries on allocated cases
GSM program or processing arrangements
detail provided through the migration agent peak bodies.

We request that eVisa applicants and agents attach documents to the web-browser where
possible. Anything that can not be attached should be sent in one email.
Email: the team mailbox as advised by case officer (for allocated cases)
Email: gsm.documents@immi.gov.au (for unallocated cases).