Migration InformationInternational Student Graduates of CDU

Mary Martin

Richard Foo

Sue Little

Chamila Somaratne

PRESENTATION OUTLINE

• Australia’s immigration system

• General Skilled Migration (GSM) and Northern Territory Government Nomination

• Graduate Skilled Visa (Subclass 485) and the new Temporary Graduate Visa Streams

• Employer Sponsored work visas and migration options

Who is in charge of Immigration?

• The Commonwealth Government makes laws affecting the whole of Australia e.g. money, quarantine, defence and immigration.

• State governments influence migration policy & facilitate migration by participating in state specific and regional migration programs.

General Skilled Migration&

Northern Territory Nomination

General Skilled Migration & NT Nomination

Three GSM visa subclasses:

189 (Skilled Independent)

190 (Skilled Nominated) (mandatory State/Territory nomination) 489 (Skilled Regional Nominated Provisional) (mandatory

State/Territory nomination)

Applicants with a skills assessment for an occupation on the:

• Skilled Occupation List (Schedule 1) can apply for the Skilled Independent Subclass 189 visa

• Consolidated Skilled Occupation List (Schedules 1 & 2) can apply for Subclasses 190 and 489 visas.

General Skilled Migration

GSM visas application process

• must lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI) through the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) SkillSelect database

• For SC190 and SC489 visas must apply for NT nomination

• Receive an invitation to apply for a visa. You cannot lodge a visa application until you receive an invitation from DIBP.

DIBP gives state/territory government nominated applicants the 2nd highest priority for visa processing.

Applicants nominated by a state/territory government receive an invitation from DIBP to lodge their visa application as soon as they are nominated.

NT Government (Department of Business) nomination applicants must meet:• relevant DIBP criteria for the visa subclass and • Northern Territory’s criteria for nomination

The NT nominates applicants for occupations on its State Migration Plan

However applicants in occupations not on the plan may also apply if they meet certain criteria.

General Skilled Migration

Indicates how many applicants the NT can nominate and in which occupations

• DIBP allocates visa places/nominations to state and territory governments

• The NT has approximately 600 primary places for GSM visas in 2013-14

• Occupations on the Northern Territory SMP are:• reviewed with DIBP every six months • revised in line with the release of the Northern Territory Skilled

Occupation Priority Shortage List (next version March 2014)

Northern Territory State Migration Plan (SMP)

The NT can still nominate for SC190 and SC489 visas where the occupation is NOT on the SMP.

To be eligible for an “off-list” nomination an applicant’s occupation:

• must be on the CSOL

• must be in shortage or the applicant working in the occupation in the NT

Occupations not on the SMP

The NT nominates eligible students who have:

• successfully completed a qualification as the result of two years full-time study at a Northern Territory campus of CDU

• a positive skills assessment, meet any registration/licensing requirements for their occupation and meet the DIBP criteria for the visa which they are applying

CDU student applicants seeking “off-list” nominations are required to show they have good employment prospects in the NT.

All applicants sponsored by the Northern Territory must give an undertaking to live and work in the NT for no less than two years from when their visa is granted.

Especially for CDU Student Graduates

The occupations subject to number limitations in 2013-14 are :

233111 Chemical Engineer 261111 ICT Business Analyst

233112 Materials Engineer 261112 Systems Analyst

233411 Electronics Engineer 261311 Analyst Programmer

233911 Aeronautical Engineer 261312 Developer Programmer

233912 Agricultural Engineer 263311 Telecommunications Engineer

233913 Biomedical Engineer 263312 Telecommunications Network Engineer

233914 Engineering Technologist 261313 Software Engineer

233915 Environmental Engineer 261314 Software Tester

233999 Engineering Professionals nec 261399 Software and Applications Programmers nec

233916 Naval Architect (Aus) / Marine Designer (NZ)

SkillSelect Occupational Ceilings

Skilled Nominated (SC190) or Skilled Regional Nominated (Provisional) (SC489) visa applicants must:

• Have a positive skills assessment by the relevant assessment body for an eligible occupation.

• NOT hold a Bridging visa D, E or F; Criminal Justice visa; or an Enforcement visa.

• Have an IELTS score of no less than 6 on each of the four bands.• Achieve at least 60 points on the GSM Points Test.• Be nominated by a state/territory government and receive an

invitation from DIBP to lodge their visa application .• Be under 50 years of age at the time they are invited to lodge their

visa application.

Factor Description Points

Age 18–24 25

25–32 30

33–39 25

40–44 15

45–49 0

English language* or equivalent standard in a specified test)

Competent English - IELTS 6* / OET B 0

Proficient English - IELTS 7* / OET B 10

Superior English - IELTS 8* / OET A 20

Australian or overseas skilled work experience in a nominated skilled occupation or a closely related skilled occupation in the past 10 years.

Note: Maximum points that can be awarded for any combination of Australian or overseas skilled employment is 20 points

At least one year in Australia (of past 10 years) 5

At least three years in Australia (of past 10 years) 10

At least five years in Australia (of past 10 years) 15

At least eight years in Australia (of past 10 years) 20

At least three years overseas (of past 10 years) 5

At least five years overseas (of past 10 years) 10

At least eight years overseas (of past 10 years) 15

Factor Description Points

Qualifications at the time of invitation (Australian or recognised overseas)

A qualification or award recognised by the relevant assessing authority for the applicant’s nominated skilled occupation as being suitable for the occupation

10

Diploma or trade qualification completed in Australia or a qualification or award of a recognised standard

10

At least a Bachelor degree, including a Bachelor with Honours or Masters, from Australia or other degree of a recognised standard

15

Doctorate from an Australian education institution or other Doctorate of a recognised standard

20

Australian study requirement One or more degrees, diplomas or trade qualifications awarded by an Australian institution and meet the Australian Study Requirement (Minimum two years full-time)

5

Study in a regional area Must meet the Australian Study Requirement while studying in a regional area

5

Factor Description Points

Professional Year Completion of a recognised Professional Year for a period of at least 12 months in the four year period immediately prior to the day on which the DIBP invitation was issued

5

Credentialed Community language Credentialed community language qualifications NAATI accreditation

5

Partner skills Primary applicants partner meets threshold requirements for skilled migration visa

5

Nomination by a state/territory government (Permanent residency visa)

Nomination by a state or territory government (Subclass 190)

5

Designated area sponsorship or nominated by state/territory government (provisional residency visa)

Nomination by a state or territory government or sponsorship by an eligible relative , for residing and working in a specified /designated area (Subclass 489)

10

Temporary Skilled Graduate (Subclass 485) Visa

Temporary Skilled Graduate (SC485) visa

One visa, two streams

1. Post-Study Work 2. Graduate Work

Both streams applicants must meet the Australian Study requirement.

Meet the requirement in the six (6) months immediately before they lodge their visa application.

Attain one or more qualifications with at least two (2) years of academic study and have undertaken the study in Australia in no less than 16 months.

Eligible courses must:

• be registered through CRICOS, and successfully completed

• have resulted in an eligible qualification

• have had all instruction in English

• have been completed while holding a visa allowing study in Australia

• be counted only once towards the Australian study requirement.

English proficiency courses and enabling programs cannot be used to meet the Australian study requirement.

Australian Study Requirement

Post-study Work Graduate Work

Applied within six (6) months of completing studies

Attained a single qualification or multiple qualifications with at least two (2) years of academic study

Bachelor or higher study NOT for trade or diploma qualifications

Study resulting in a diploma or trade qualification or higher

No requirement to nominate an occupation on the Skilled Occupation List or skills assessment

Qualification must be closely related to the student’s nominated skilled occupation

First student visa must have been granted on or after 5 November 2011

Provisional skills assessment required for an occupation on the Skilled Occupation List (Schedule 1)

2,3 or 4 years duration depending on the highest educational qualification obtained.

18 Month visa

Employer Nomination

Temporary & Permanent Visa Options

Employers can sponsor workers for periods up to four years.

To be eligible the position must be:• full time • on the Consolidated Occupation Shortage List (Schedules 1 & 2)• offer a market salary (for 38 hours) that is no less than the Temporary

Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) currently $53,900.

If the market rate for a position being nominated under SC457 is not equal to or greater than TSMIT then DIBP will not approve the position.

Employer Nominated

Temporary Skilled Work (SC457) Visa

Employers must be approved by DIBP to sponsor workers under the SC457.

Workers must be able to meet:• skills requirements

• skills testing is required for citizens of several countries for a number of trade occupations

• nominees for Specialist Managers nec and Project or Program Administrator positions are required to have formal skill assessments (VETASSESS).

• any relevant Australian occupation registration/licensing requirements• English language requirements: IELTS 5 on all four testing bands

Employer Nominated

Temporary Skilled Work (SC457) Visa (continued)

Employer Nominated Permanent Residence Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) (SC187)

Sponsorship by employers in areas designated regional for migration.

There are three RSMS streams:

• Temporary Residence Transition A process for someone who has worked for their employer for two years on a SC457 visa.

• Agreement Overseas workers who came on SC457 visa under a special agreement e.g. Labour Agreement.

• Direct Entry For skilled workers who do not qualify for other RSMS streams.

Employer NominatedRSMS Direct Entry Stream (SC187)

Regional employers can only sponsor for positions that:

• fall under the ANZSCO Skill Levels 1 to 3• offer full time employment for at least two years• offer a salary that is at market rate • they cannot fill the position from within the local labour market.

Visa applicants must:

• Have the qualifications and/or experience to do the job.

• Where Australian qualifications are held, meet the requirements for the occupation as listed in the ANZSCO i.e. if an applicant is being nominated to fill a position as a Cook they must have:

• an AQF Certificate III or Certificate IV AND at least two (2) years relevant on the job training or

• a Diploma level qualification closely related to the nominated occupation AND at least two (2) years relevant on the job training

• an IELTS 6 on all four bands - there are very limited exceptions

• be less than 50 years at the time they lodge their visa application - there are very limited exceptions.

Employer NominatedRSMS Direct Entry Stream (SC187) (continued)

• English• Don’t wait till the last minute

• English• Keep up to date on what the requirements are

• English

What can you do to maximise your chances

Questions

Thank You Mary Martin

Richard Foo

Sue Little

Chamila Somaratne