Budget 2022-23 Australia forecast to increase net migration by 40,000

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Since Australia has started to re-open its borders on 1st November 2021 over one million people have already entered. Aside from Australians returning home, students, skilled visa holders and skilled workers have started to ease the skills shortage employers have been facing.

Building on this need for skilled migrants, with the new financial year starting 1st July 2022, Australia has forecast their fastest rebound in net migration in history. This will be driven by an increase of 40,000 places across the skilled migration programs from the 2021-22 financial year.

Consequently net overseas migration has been revised for 2021-22 from about minus 40,000 to plus 41,000 for the 2022-2023 financial year.

These net migration numbers are forecast to continue rising. To 80,000 in 2022-23 and 213,000 in 2023-24. It will ultimately return to pre-pandemic numbers of 235,000 in the years following this.

The main beneficiaries of this increase are likely be seen in employer sponsored applications, the skilled independent program and the State/Territory Nominated visas.

#Australia #immigration #Budget2022

South Australia open up to offshore engineers

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South Australia (SA) add 24 engineering occupations to their offshore nomination list 

Following SA opening up 70 occupations to offshore applicants in September, they are now opening up further.

Migrate to South Australia

From 10am, local time, Tuesday 2 November 2021 the following engineers can also apply to be nominated by SA.

  • 133211 – Engineering Manager
  • 233111 – Chemical Engineer
  • 233112 – Materials Engineer
  • 233212 – Civil Engineer
  • 233112 – Geotechnical Engineer
  • 233213 – Quantity Surveyor
  • 233214 – Structural Engineer
  • 233215 – Transport Engineer
  • 233311 – Electrical Engineer
  • 233411 – Electronics Engineer
  • 233511 – Industrial Engineer
  • 233512 – Mechanical Engineer
  • 233513 – Production or Plant Engineer
  • 233611 – Mining Engineer (excluding Petroleum)
  • 233912 – Agricultural Engineer
  • 233913 – Biomedical Engineer
  • 233915 – Environmental Engineer
  • 233999 – Engineering Professional nec
  • 312211 – Civil Engineering Draftsperson
  • 312312 – Civil Engineering Technician
  • 312311 – Electrical Engineering Draftsperson
  • 312312 -Electrical Engineering Technician
  • 312511 – Mechanical Engineering Draftsperson
  • 312512 – Mechanical Engineering Technician

If you have any questions about a visa application and/or a nomination then please Contact Us.

 

” Ban on Australians leaving the country will be dropped as early as November 2021″

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Update: Australian visa program changes – announcement due 6th October 2020

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Australian visa 2020/2021 

As mentioned previously in this blog, changes to the Australian visa program are due to be announced from 6th October, 2020. This date marks the day the delayed 2020 budget is to be released.

While the details haven’t been confirmed it is expected that the Australian visa program numbers will be greatly reduced, and focused on skills that assist Australia’s economic recovery.

It is expected that the states/territories will also announce their nomination programs shortly too.

If you want to discuss how you are effected, your current visa application or your visa options going forward please Contact Us. 

  • Office: +44 (0)800772 0570
  • Mobile: + 44 (0)7710 649194
  • Email: mark@cargilmigration.com

 

UPDATE: General Skilled Migration (GSM) program – July 2020 

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UPDATE: General Skilled Migration (GSM) program – July 2020 

In recent times there has been significant reduction in number of invitations issued to applicants to apply for a GSM visa. This has been based on a general reduction in visas invitations offered by the DHA and – understandably – the effects of COVID19. 

Whilst there appear to have been no formal announcements by the DHA, the GSM program has to a certain extent been put on hold as of 1st July, 2020. This date marks the new Australian financial year.

It is understood that the Australia government is considering how best to shape the migration program post COVID19.

A key part of the post COVID19 GSM program will be the state/territory nominated visas, namely the Skilled Nominated visa (Subclass 190) & the Skilled Work Regional visa (Subclass 491).

If you are an applicant who has submitted an Expression of Interest (EOI), or you hope to apply in the future, you can however be confident that the program will re-open soon and states/territories will be able to provide clarification about their programs. 

An overview of the states/territories nomination status as of now is below:

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY (ACT) 

The ACT have advised that the guidelines for for any nomination applications submitted for a Subclass 190 or Subclass 491 visa after 1 July, 2020  are “To be advised”. 

NEW SOUTH WALES (NSW)

NSW is currently closed for accepting any nominations under the General Skilled Migration (GSM) program for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491).

NORTHERN TERRITORY (NT)

At this stage, onshore GSM nomination applications will continue to be accepted and assessed, but no nominations can be issued until the Northern Territory has been allocated quotas for the 2020/21 financial year. 

QUEENSLAND 

The Queensland State Nomination Skilled Program is closed. This includes both the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (subclass 491) and Skilled Nominated (Permanent) (subclass 190) visas. Queensland has not yet received advice fromDHA in regards to their nomination allocation for financial year 2020/21 and when we they be able to re-open the skilled program.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA (SA)

SA is currently closed for accepting any nomination applications for the Skilled Migration program, for the Skilled Nominated (Permanent) Visa (Subclass 190) and the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491). It is scheduled to re-open from early August. This will be dependent on the Commonwealth Government’s allocation of state nomination places for program year 2020/21. 

TASMANIA

Tasmania is currently not issuing any nominations under the Skilled Migration program, for the Skilled Nominated (Permanent) Visa (Subclass 190) and the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491) as the nomination quotas are yet to be allocated to the States by the Commonwealth Government for the 2020/21 program year.

VICTORIA 

The Victorian Government’s state nomination program will remain temporarily closed while they await the Commonwealth Government’s allocation of state nomination places for 2020/21.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Western Australia have made no specific comments with regards to their nomination program. 

If you want to discuss how you are effected, your current visa application or your visa options going forward please Contact Us.

Australian Travel Restrictions as of 20th March 2020

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COVID-19 and Australian travel restrictions

Due to the worldwide COVID-19 Pandemic we are all living in unprecedented times.

As a response the Australian Department of Home Affairs (DHA) have been constantly changing their policies to reflect how the pandemic is evolving and who can travel to Australia.

Current Travel Restrictions

Initially restrictions were limited to applicants who were travelling from, or had recently travelled to China, South Korea, Iran & Italy.

As of 9pm, 20th March 2020, the restrictions were expanded to the below:

Australian Permanent Residents & Australian Citizens can continue to enter Australia. They must self isolate for 14 days upon arrival.

  • New Zealand Citizens who are usually reside in Australia are not restricted from entering. They will need to show proof of residency such as a drivers licence or other documents showing an Australian address. They must self isolate for 14 days upon arrival.
  • Immediate Family members of citizens or permanent residents can enter as long as they hold or obtain a valid visa for entry. In addition, visa holders will also need to seek exemption form the DHA to travel. They must self isolate for 14 days upon arrival.
    • Without visa – You can’t come to Australia until you have a visa. Apply for a visa and include proof (such as your marriage certificate, your birth certificate or birth certificate for your children). If the DHA allow you to travel, you will need to self isolate for 14 days, at home or in a hotel.
    • With a temporary visa (except for Partner and Child visa holders) – Attach proof (such as your marriage certificate, evidence of your de-facto relationship such as shared finances or property, your birth certificate or birth certificate for your children) and request an exemption. Do not travel until the DHA advise that you can. You will need to self isolate for 14 days, at home or in a hotel.
  • Partner (subclasses 100, 309, 801, 820) & Child (subclasses 101, 102, 445) visa holders can come to Australia. You do not need to request an exemption. You will need to self-isolate for 14 days, at home or in a hotel.
  • Temporary Residents and Temporary Visa Holders who are currently outside of Australia and are not a family member of a citizen or permanent resident, will not be able to re-enter Australia. Their visas will not be cancelled unless they attempt to enter.
  • Prospective Marriage (subclass 300) visa holders can’t travel to Australia at present.

If you want to discuss how this may effect your Australian travel plans or current visa status please Contact Us.

Queensland Skilled Occupation Lists (QSOL) closed until 1st July, 2019

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Business and Skilled Migration Queensland have announced the following:

“Skilled visa nominations are now closed

BSMQ is now closed to receive EOI’s for the General Skilled Migration Program (GSM). The program will open again in the new financial year in July 2019. We will provide new QSOL lists and eligibility criteria prior to the program being re-opened in July will published on the BSMQ website.”

If you have any queries about what your visa options are please Contact Us.

QLD Business migration update – 2nd January 2019

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Business & Skilled Migration Queensland (BSMQ) temporarily suspends new invitations for business migration – will open again at a date to be advised https://t.co/nLPMWTsS2n— Australian visas (@CargilMigration) January 2, 2019

Brisbane

If you want to discuss how this will effect you, or plan for an application once the program opens again please Contact Us

Changes 1st July, 2018 – higher points required for GSM visas

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Higher points required – GSM points test to increase by 5 points 

As usual at this time of the year, there have been some changes announced to the GSM visa programme by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA). 

From 1 July 2018, applicants will need to score 65 points to eligible to be considered for a GSM visa. This is an increase of 5 points. The effected GSM visa subclasses are:

  • Skilled-Independent (Permanent) Subclass 189;
  • Skilled-Nominated (Permanent) (Subclass 190; and
  • Skilled-Regional Sponsored (Provisional) Subclass 489

The increase is in response to the high demand for GSM visas. It also reflects the high scores that current applicants in the Skill Select Expression of Interest (EOI) pool are claiming. 

For applicants who are invited to apply for a GSM visa prior to 1st July 2018, they won’t be effected by the increase in points. These invited individuals can continue to prepare and submit their application. As is stands currently, any invited applicants will need to ensure that they lodge their applications within the required 60 days. 

If you could like to discuss how this will effect you please Contact Us.

Potential removal of occupations – 1st July, 2018 

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Numerous occupations have been flagged for removal and addition

Every Australian financial year – 1st July to 30th June – the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) takes advice and makes amendments to its numerous skilled occupation lists.

Whilst no final decisions have been made for the upcoming new financial year, there have been a number of possible changes flagged. 

Details of these possible changes are detailed here.

The most significant changes are usually those made to the MLTSSL (Medium & Long Term Skilled Shortage List). Any changes made to the MLTSSL would effect applicants for a Subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa OR a Subclass 489 visa (if they are sponsored by an eligible relative). 

Occupations on the MLTSSL that have been flagged for possible change include: 

Flagged for Removal

  • Management Accountant (221112)
  • Agricultural Consultant (234111)
  • Civil Engineering Technician (312212)

Flagged for Addition 

  • Footballers (452411)

If you want  to discuss the potential changes and how they may effect you please get in touch. We will provide any updates on this BLOG.