AUSTRALIAN IMMIGRATION NEWS

Major reforms for Australia's GSM Programme

Friday, 1 June 2007

The Minister of Immigration and Citizenship, Kevin Andrews and the Minister of Education, Science and Training, Julie Bishop, have announced a number of dramatic changes to the current General Skilled Migration (GSM) programme.

The reforms are intended to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the GSM programme and will be introduced on 1 September, 2007. The announcement, which came in response to the recent evaluation of the GSM Visa categories, will include a wide variety of changes and adjustments to the current system.

The key adjustment is the decision to decrease and simplify the GSM Visa structure from 15 Subclasses down to 9. This will include 4 offshore (outside Australia) and 5 onshore (within Australia) Visa types.

The threshold level of English language proficiency will also be raised from an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of 5 (vocational) to 6 (competent) on all four components. However, applicants applying for trade occupations will be required to meet the current threshold of an IELTS score of 5.

Further exceptions will be made for Skilled – Regional Sponsored (provisional) Visa applicants who have paid a fee to attend English language tuition in participating Australian States and Territories. These applicants will meet the English language threshold with concessional competent English (average band IELTS 5.5).

Further changes to the system will include:

• Making recent work experience a requirement for all GSM Visas
• Allowing overseas students with 50 point occupations to apply for GSM onshore (within Australia)
• Adjusting the points test to benefit applications with - Strong English Language skills, Australian skilled work experience and Advanced Australian tertiary qualifications; and
• Adjust points test to limit the availability of MODL points to applicants with relevant work experience

In addition to the GSM changes, a number of new temporary Visas for students will be introduced aimed at addressing the skills shortage in the labour market.

The Subclass 476 Recognised – Graduate Visa is designed for recent graduates from designated overseas educational institutions who have completed a degree in a specified discipline in the last 24 months. Holders of this Visa may be eligible to apply for permanent or provisional GSM or an employer sponsored Visa.

The Subclass 485 Skilled – Graduate Visa will enable overseas students who have completed 2 years study in Australia to gain skilled work experience, improve their English language skills or to undertake a professional year in Australia.

The aim of the Subclass 485 Visa is to ensure that overseas students who decide to stay on in Australia after completing their studies have much better career opportunities within their chosen profession.

The Minister has also agreed to support several other changes to the GSM programme, including:

• Allowing GSM applicants to include their interdependent (same sex) partner in their application
• Removing points for Capital Investment
• Awarding points for sponsorship by a relative in a designated area;
• Pass and pool marks for the new GSM Visas; and
• Clarify the two year study rule

Skilled Visa Applications made on or before 31 August 2007 will not be affected by the changes. Because of this, a sharp increase for migration applications pre implementation is expected.

If you wish to obtain a comprehensive assessment of your eligibility under the GSM programme, you should complete both the Migration Expert Australian Visa Eligibility Assessment and Australian Migration Interview.