Immigration Lawyers and Migration Agents

Your Australian Visa Our Focus

Key terms: Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated visa – Subclass 489 Skilled Regional Sponsored visa – State Sponsorship – State Nomination – Occupation Lists

State sponsorship is a critical component of the Australian visa application for many. Having a state nominated visa application provides:

• an immediate Invitation to Apply (ITA) for the subclass 190 Skilled Nominated and subclass 489 Skilled Regional Sponsored visas, i.e. not subject to invitation round points requirements
• access to additional occupations on the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL) - each Australian State and Territory creates their own list from the STSOL)

Typically there are limited places for each occupation being sponsored by the different States and Territories. The best time to apply is in early July (NOW) as the planning numbers are reset for the new financial year.

State Sponsorship and RSMS for Western Australia no longer available!

The state of Western Australia (WA) recently concluded its state elections with Labor winning the election and bringing a change to state government. The new premier-elect Mark McGowan now leads the largest state of Australia and has listed the changes he wishes to implement for the state of WA.

In various news articles there has been mention of the following:

“McGowan has also promised to tear up WA’s skilled migration list that allows employers to bring in workers on 457 temporary visas. It’s a key part of Labor’s union-backed push to create more local jobs in a state with the nation’s highest unemployment rate.”

- The Australian, 13 March 2017 –

The state of Victoria has announced a few updates to their state nomination occupation list and business visa nomination requirements. Here is a summary of the updates.

ICT Occupations no longer available for state nomination

The following ICT occupations are no longer accepted for state nomination from Victoria:

• 135112   ICT Project Manager
• 261111   ICT Business Analyst
• 261112   Systems Analyst
• 261311   Analyst Programmer
• 261312   Developer Programmer
• 261313   Software Engineer
• 261314   Software Tester
• 261399   Software and Applications Programmers nec
• 262111   Database Administrator
• 262112   ICT Security Specialist
• 263111   Computer Network and Systems Engineer

The temporary suspension of sponsorship for the ICT occupations above will last until 6 March 2017.

Occupations removed from Victoria state nomination occupation list

The following occupations are no longer eligible for sponsorship from the state of Victoria:

• 234411 Geologist
• 234412 Geophysicist

Updates to the Business Innovation and Investment visas for Victoria

The Victorian Government has announced the following changes to the business innovation and investment visas nominated by the state government of Victoria.

• Approval from Victorian Government no longer required for change in complying investments
• A new application form for the subclass 888 Significant Investor Visa will be available in early 2017
• Significant investor visa holders nominated by Victoria are reminded to notify the state government when they arrive in Victoria
• The application form for the recently launched subclass 188 Entrepreneur Visa is now available on the LiveInVictoria website
• The factsheet about the Entrepreneur Visa for Victoria is available here
• A new application form for the subclass 888 Investor Visa stream will be available in early 2017

Additionally the Victoria Skilled and Business Migration Programme Department will be closed on the following dates:

• Boxing Day public holiday: Monday 26 December 2016
• Christmas Day public holiday: Tuesday 27 December 2016
• New Year’s Day public holiday: Monday 2 January 2017

Sources:

http://www.liveinvictoria.vic.gov.au/about-us/news#.WEX_m_l9670

Comments by Chris Johnston – Principal Lawyer and Registered Migration Agent at Work Visa Lawyers

As 2016 comes to a close State and Territory departments may start looking at planning numbers and introduce a temporary suspension of nomination for certain occupations, or announce higher requirements for occupations which have a high number of applications. Visa applicants are advised to obtain state nomination from the relevant State/Territory as soon as possible before changes are introduced.

This information is accurate on 6 December 2016

Do you need help with an Australian visa application?

At Work Visa Lawyers we are experienced in assisting applicants in all matters relating to Australian visa applications. Our areas of expertise include Skilled Migration visas, Business Skills Migration visas, Employer Sponsored Work Visas, Partner and other Family Migration visas as well as the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) Review, Judicial Review and Ministerial Intervention.

If you require further information regarding your Australia visa options you can contact us through:

(08) 8351 9956 or +61 8 8351 9956

or   This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.