Visa Newsletters

April 2005

On 14 April 2005, the Department of Immigration (DIMIA) announced the following:

2005-06 Migration (Non-Humanitarian) Program
The overall Migration (non-Humanitarian) Program will increase from 130,000 (2005) to 140,000 (2006), and the Skill Stream alone will account for around 97,000 (from 78,000). This represents an increase of 20,000 additional Skilled migrants and 69.6% of the entire 2006 Migration (non-humanitarian) Program. The increase in the Skill Steam will target employer sponsored migration, state/region sponsored migration or migrants who have an occupation on the Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL).

Expanding the Working Holiday Maker (WHM) Visa Program
WHMs who do three months of seasonal harvest work in regional Australia will be able to apply for a second Working Holiday visa. Currently WHM visa is a one-off visa valid for 12 months from day of entry, available to young people from countries with which Australia has a WHM agreement. No firm implementation date nor details has been given yet by DIMIA.

Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL)
More trades and engineering related occupations will be added to the MODL, which provides priority processing and additional points for the general skilled migration points test. The MODL will be reviewed very six months to reflect better emerging labour shortages. A new interim MODL list has been issued, but no firm date has been given by DIMIA for gazettal.
(Tip: The expansion of the WHM program and an increase in the Skill Stream migration will provide a large pool of available skilled resources in the market place. Employers and labour hire firms should strategically position themselves to capitalise on these valuable resources. Abacus Visa will work with the employers and labour hire firms closely to provide guidance to your potential candidates to appropriately plan their immigration status in Australia.)

Skilled Independent Regional (SIR) Visa
i) Access for Working Holiday makers and Occupational Trainee
From 1 November 2005, Working Holiday Makers and Occupational Trainee will be allowed to apply for and obtain a SIR visa without leaving Australia.
ii) More points awarded to SIR visa applicants
From 1 July 2005, people who apply for the SIR visa will be granted 10 additional points. The current passmark is 110 points.

Skilled Designated Area Sponsored Visa (Subclass 139) - to become a 2-stage visa
From mid 2006, Skilled migrants sponsored by families living in designated areas will enter on a three year temporary visa (currently a permanent visa). They will be eligible to apply for a permanent visa after living in the same designated area as their family sponsor for a minimum of two years and working in the designated area for at least one year.
(Tip: People who are eligible for a subclass 139 visa should act as soon as possible to avoid the two-stage process.)

Trade Skills Training Visa
The Government is going to introduce a pilot program to allow overseas students to undertake traditional trade apprenticeships in regional Australia on a full fee paying basis, and on completion of these, to apply for migration under one of the regional migration visas. Details and time frame have not yet been announced.

Family Stream Migration - Integrity Measures
The Government will adopt a number of initiatives to enhance the integrity of the Family Stream to address areas of emerging concern, as follows:

Partner Visa
From 1 April 2006, partner visa applicants will only become eligible for a permanent visa until two years after their provisional visa has been granted and that they have co-habited for at least one year after the provisional visa is granted. (Currently, partner applicants are eligible for a permanent visa two years after they first lodge an application for a provisional visa.)

Domestic Violence Claims
From 1 July 2005, new arrangements will enable DIMIA to refer Domestic Violence claims to an independent service provider with expertise in assessing such claims.

Remaining Relative Category
From 1 November 2005, only the LAST remaining relative will be able to apply for this visa. (Existing provisions allow for an applicant to have up to three near relatives in countries other than Australia, as long as there is no significant contact with these other relatives.)

Close Ties Visa
From 1 July 2005, provisions for 'innocent illegals' and 'people arrived pre-1975' will be abolished.