Migration agents are here to expedite your applications and make sure you don’t leave anything out.

A friend of mine recommended http://www.forefrontmigration.com/

*The information provided is for sharing purposes and not an official endorsement by The Down-Under Diaries

 http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/475/index.htm

This visa is a three (3) year provisional visa for skilled workers who are unable to meet the criteria for a Skilled – Independent visa. You will have the opportunity to apply for permanent residency after you have lived for two (2) years and worked at least 12 months in a Specified Regional Area of Australia.

This visa requires you to be either:

• nominated by a participating State or Territory government agency
  or
• sponsored by an eligible relative living in a designated area of Australia.

This visa uses a points test to select visa applicants with characteristics needed in the Australian labour market.

This visa is for you if you are:

• outside Australia
  or
• a New Zealand citizen who holds a Special Category visa (subclass 444)

You must:

• be under 45 years of age
• have good English language skills
• have the skills and qualifications that meet the Australian standard for an occupation on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL)

This visa:

• allows you to remain in Australia for up to three (3) years and requires you to live and work in a Specified Regional Area in Australia
• allows accompanying secondary applicants to work and study, but only in a Specified Regional Area of Australia
• provides a pathway to permanent residence.

Client summary

From 1 September 2007, the Migration Regulations 1994 (‘the Regulations’) are amended to respond to the recommendations of the Evaluation of General Skilled Migration (GSM) Categories and introduce other changes to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the GSM programme.

The key changes include:

• increasing the English language threshold requirement for all GSM visas;
• making the recent work experience requirement uniform across all offshore GSM visas;
• adjusting the points test to benefit applicants with:
  – strong English language skills;
  – Australian skilled work experience; and
  – advanced Australian tertiary qualifications;
• limiting Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL) points to applicants with work experience;
• allowing overseas students with 50 point occupations to apply for GSM in Australia;
• clarifying the 2 year study requirement;
• creating a temporary visa to enable former Overseas Students to:
  – gain skilled work experience;
  – improve their English language skills; or
  – undertake a Professional Year;
• simplifying the GSM visa structure; and
• allowing interdependent partners to be included as secondary applicants.

Technical Details

Amendments have been made to:

• Parts 1 and 2 of the Regulations;
• Schedule 1 to the Regulations;
• Schedule 2 to the Regulations;
• Schedule 8 to the Regulations; and
  a new Schedule 6B to the Regulations has been inserted.

Additional information: Nil

Transitional arrangements: The amendments relate to applications for a GSM visa made on or after 1 September 2007.

Forms: As part of these reforms, new application Form 1276 Application for General Skilled Migration to Australia and new sponsorship Form 1277 Application for sponsorship under General Skilled Migration have been created.

Instructions: PAM3 will reflect these legislative amendments from 1 September 2007.

Effect on delegations: Nil

Effect on systems: Integrated Client Service Environment (System) (ICSE) will be updated to reflect these amendments.

Source: http://www.immi.gov.au/legislation/amendments/lc01092007_1.htm

http://www.freespirit.com.au

http://www.migrationexpert.com/australia/visa/australian_immigration_news.asp

Changes to the General Skilled Migration programme (GSM) will be introduced on 1 September 2007.  People who have made an application for a skilled visa on or before 31 August 2007 will not be affected by the changes.Changes will include:

• increasing the English language threshold for GSM visa applicants
• rewarding GSM visa applicants who have very good English language proficiency
• greater emphasis on skilled work experience
• introduction of a new temporary work visa for graduates
• simplifying the GSM visa structure.

The threshold level of English language proficiency will 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.

Under the points test system, bonus points will be given to applicants who achieve English language scores above the threshold level and additional points will be allocated for skilled work experience in Australia.
Note: Migration Occupation in Demand List (MODL) points will only be awarded to applicants with at least 12 months experience in their nominated occupation or one that is closely related.

To ensure skilled migrants have the skills Australian employers need, there will be tighter requirements on links between study, work experience and nominated occupation.

International students who are unable to meet the new requirements for a permanent skilled visa will have an opportunity to apply for an 18 month Skilled-Graduate (subclass 485) to build on their skills and work experience. This visa will have unrestricted work rights.

The changes aim to ensure that overseas students who decide to stay on in Australia after completing their studies have a much better chance of competing for jobs in their chosen vocation.

There are currently 15 GSM visa subclasses available to people onshore and offshore, who are wishing to apply to migrate to Australia. Under the new visa structure, this will be reduced to nine visa subclasses – four offshore and five onshore. This new structure enables applicants to more easily identify the visa subclass best suited to their circumstances.

source: http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/changes/index.htm

I have set up a blog to document the daunting process of my move to Australia (hereafter referred to as OZ or aussie) after much thought.

Almost every aspect (both positive and negative) of the entire migration process will be posted here including matters and links pertaining to aussie visa’s, job repositories, places to live and costs involved.

The aim of this blog is primarily to serve as a guide to all who wish to take the leap of faith and also as a personal diary for me to document and remember how difficult it was to move in the first place.

Join me on my journey to what I hope might be greener pastures.

Cheers!