AUSTRALIA IMMIGRATION NEWS AND INSIGHTS

Occupation Ceilings for 2017-18 Program year has been released, carrying a good news for Accountants, Software Engineer and Mechanical Engineers. For this fiscal year, significant higher ceilings are given for the abovementioned occupations.

Prior to the beginning of the 2017-18 fiscal year, the government announced that the Australia’s permanent migration programme for this program year will remain stable at a ceiling of 190,000 intakes despite the abolition of the 457 visa and removal of some occupations on the list.

Breaking News: 1^st of July 2017

An updated skilled occupation lists has just been released and takes effect today, being the start of Australia’s new Fiscal year 2017-18. This list was finalized after the authorities evaluated jobs in shorter supply and the long-term needs of the economy.

Below is a summary of these changes:

MLTSSL – Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (*highly sought after skills)
STSOL – Short-term Skilled Occupation List (*less sought after skills)

The 2016 Australia Census shows Australia is now becoming more Asian than European.

The statement was supported by data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) that despite England and New Zealand remained the most common birthplaces after Australia, the number of people born in China and India increased compared from 2011 census. The Philippines swapped positions with Italy, moving from the 8^th place to 6^th. Moreover, Malaysia is now appearing in the top 10, representing 0.6% of the Australian population.

Permanent Residency (PR) or Australian visa application is more than just filling out application forms and submitting documentations; it is a very demanding process that requires patience and the ability to cope up with the ever-changing regulations all at the same time.

Australia, just like about any other country across the globe, constrains immigration laws in order for the government to remain in control of the surface of the economy.

New Australian visa programmes only for Singaporeans have been announced on 2nd June 2017 by Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull during his visit in Singapore.

An exclusive visa will be effective by 1st January 2018, allowing Singaporeans to enter Australia for 3 months at a time within the period of six years. Alongside with this visa, a new Work and Holiday Maker programme will also begin on 1st August 2017, which allows eligible applicants from Australia and Singapore to undertake short-term work or study.

Truth be told, the best time to migrate to Australia was way back years ago, when the immigration policies was not as tough as it is today. Following the immigration changes implemented prior to the 2017-18 fiscal year on the 1^st July 2017, many would-be migrants have been affected, especially those occupations that were removed from the occupation lists.

However, despite the changes, Australia’s permanent migration programme for the fiscal year 2017-18 will remain stable at a ceiling of 190,000 intakes. The government has decided not to cut the number of migrant intake for the coming fiscal year in spite of the abolition of the 457 visa and the removal of the 200 occupations from the list.

The 2017-18 fiscal year has yet to begin, but a number of changes on the Australian visa application process will take its effectivity today, 19^th April 2017.

Sure, Australia welcomes thousands of skilled migrants yearly. However, in the effort to protect Australian citizens’ employment opportunities, revisions on the occupation lists and immigration process are being set.

Revised Occupation List

Effective 19^th April 2017, the previous Skilled Occupation List (SOL) is now replaced to Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) and Consolidated Sponsored Occupation List (CSOL) is now called Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL). Occupations which are listed in a legislative instrument containing two schedules are only the approved jobs for use under permanent and temporary skilled visa programmes.

In the past years, Australia is continuously attracting immigrants from across the globe. Aside from the fact that Australia, particularly Melbourne, being the most livable country in the world, the economic benefits have also its fair share in helping people to decide to migrate to Australia.

The Australian Medical Association (AMA) has confirmed that Australia has now enough supply of medical practitioners to meet its long-term needs. Alongside, AMA, in a Federal Government Review of the Skilled Occupation List (SOL), informed that all medical occupations should be taken out of the SOL.

SOL is a list of occupations used by potential migrants seeking to nominate skilled jobs in the basis of submitting Australian permanent residency application or temporary skilled migration. Further to the review, AMA saw a surge in the supply of medical graduates in the past decades that can fill in the available positions in the workforce.

Australia Visa application has been always strictly defined by many complexities and confusions when talking about legislation. Rules and regulations are being updated from time to time. What may be applicable now, may not be applicable for the following weeks or months. It would be helpful to conduct a thorough research about the immigration process.

It is not about what you just only know, but what you still need to know…