Australian Border Force The Australian Immigration department and the Australian Customs merged to form a combined Department of Immigration and Border Protection with an enforceable
Australian Border Force
The Australian Immigration department and the Australian Customs merged to form a combined Department of Immigration and Border Protection with an enforceable arm called the Australian Border Force with effect from 1st July 2015. The new website is www.border.gov.au replaces www.immi.gov.au and www.customs.gov.au.
At the same time the Department’s email domain will change, from 1 July emails from DIBP staff will be sent from the @border.gov.au domain.
Updated Skills Occupation List
The occupations lists for the 2015-16 Program Year was released yesterday. Changes have been made to both the Skilled Occupations List (SOL) and the Consolidated Sponsored Occupations List (CSOL). Skilled Occupations List (SOL) Changes
The Skilled Occupations List (or SOL) is used for Skilled Independent Subclass 189 Visa, the Skilled Regional Provisional Subclass 489 Visa (Family Sponsored) and the Graduate Temporary Subclass 485 visa. The following occupations have been removed from the SOL:
- Urban and Regional Planner 232611
- Dental Specialist 252311
- Dentist 252312
The following occupations have been added to the SOL:
- Panelbeater 324111
- Cabinetmaker 394111
The Consolidated Sponsored Occupations List (or CSOL) is used for the Skilled Nominated Subclass 190 Visa, the Skilled Regional Provisional Subclass 489 Visa (State Sponsored) and employer sponsored 457 and Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visas. The only occupation removed from the CSOL is Primary School Teacher 241213.
ENS and RSMS Changes
- From 1 July 2015, the occupation of Minister of Religion (ANZSCO 272211) will be ineligible for both the Direct Entry Stream and the Temporary Residence Transition stream of the Subclass 186 Visa (Employer Nomination Scheme) and Subclass 187 Visa (Regional Sponsored), or the Temporary Work (Skilled) Subclass 457 Visa. Religious organisations must sign up to the available Minister of Religion Industry Labour Agreement before lodging an employer nomination for Subclass 186 Visa under the Agreement Stream.
- To attract and retain vital health services in rural areas, there is an exemption to the age requirement for eligible medical practitioners who are 50 years of age and over, work in regional Australia and who wish to apply for the Subclass 186 Visa and Subclass 187 Visa. From 1 July 2015, the age exemption available to medical practitioners in regional Australia will no longer require employment with the same employer while holding a Temporary Work (Skilled) Subclass 457 Visa or a Medical Practitioner (Temporary) Subclass 422 Visa. Instead, medical practitioners applying for a Subclass 186 or Subclass 187 Visa must demonstrate at least four years employment in the nominated occupation. These medical practitioners must demonstrate that at least two years of the required four years employment was located in regional Australia and the nominated position will also be located in regional Australia.
Visa Application Charge Increase
Visa application charge (VAC) will increase for almost all visa subclasses ranging from 2.3% increase to almost 50% increase on some visas. The new fee structure is applicable for visa applications lodged from 1st July 2015 onwards. Please see the link for further details http://migrationalliance.com.au/images/easyblog_images/5725/VAC-increases-fact-sheet-July-2015.pdf
English Requirements for Health Professionals
The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) has announced new English requirements for the registration standards of 10 common health professions, dental practitioners, medical practitioners, nursing and midwifery. Further details in relation to the new requirements by clicking through the applicable links: Common standard for 10 professions – Chinese medicine, chiropractic, medical radiation, occupational therapy, optometry, osteopathy, pharmacy, physiotherapy, podiatry and psychology.
Standard for dental practitioners
Standard for medical practitioners
Standard for nursing and midwifery
Applicants can now combine 2 IELTS scores or submit specific medical exams such as NZREX or PLAB to meet the registration standards.
Skills Assessment for Accountants
The Core Knowledge Areas will be consolidated from 12 to 9 areas of knowledge with effect from 1st July 2015. Applicants will need to meet at least seven (7) core areas to meet the skills assessment requirements, with the exception of External Auditors and Taxation Accountants who need to meet at least eight (8). This is in contrast to applicants required to meet 9 core knowledge areas out of 12 as per the old system. For more details, visit the skills assessment bodies below:
CPA Australia
Institute of Public Accountants
Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia
Merger of AAT with MRT, RRT and SSAT
The Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) merged with the Migration Review Tribunal (MRT), Refugee Review Tribunal (RRT) and Social Security Appeals Tribunal (SSAT). Decisions that could be reviewed in the former MRT-RRT are now reviewed in the AAT’s Migration & Refugee Division. A fact sheet has been created to assist you in understanding the key changes which is available on the AAT website.
There is a new Australia-wide phone number – 1800 228 333 – and new email addresses for the AAT’s Divisions: ·
Migration & Refugee Division: mrdivision@aat.gov.au ·
Social Services & Child Support Division: sscsdivision@aat.gov.au ·
All other types of cases (remaining six divisions): generalreviews@aat.gov.au
MRT and RRT Fee Increase
Fees for the review applications are now AUD $1,673.
If you have any questions in relation to the above changes or need migration advice, please do not hesitate to contact Migration Intelligence. https://migrationintelligence.com/Contact-us
