Top Ten Changes - International Students Applying for Permanent Residence
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By Natalya Khodan
Monday, 01 December 2014 |
1. Skills Assessment
Skills Assessments are now valid for a maximum of 3 years, or less than this if specified in the skills assessment. Some skills assessments are valid for only 2 years - for example those issued by ACS (IT Professionals), ANMAC (Nurses) and AITSL (Teachers). Previously, even very old skills assessments could be used. So it's very important that you first check the issue date of your skills assessment. You may need to get a new one! Many skills assessing authorities have now started accepting applications online including ANMAC, ACS, VETASSESS, Engineers Australia and Chartered Accountants - this can make the process more efficient for applicants.2. SkillSelect
This time last year, places were limited for Engineers and IT professionals. This year, there is less pressure on these occupations - most likely due to the introduction of work experience requirements for recent IT graduates and a higher occupational ceiling for engineers. Even for high demand occupations (IT and accounting), it is still taking only 2-3 invitation rounds to get invited if you have 60 points (4-6 weeks). If you have 65 points or more, you can expect to be invited next invitation round. The only category which is very slow are the family sponsored 489 applicants - if you have only 60 points, it may take a few months to be invited due to low allocations for these applicants in each invitation round.3. Graduate Work and Post Study Work Visa
To qualify for the Post Study Work Visa (PSWV) Stream of the Graduate Temporary Subclass 485 visa, you must have applied for your first student visa on or after 5 November 2011. As some students are now completing their 2 years of study, we are starting to see students eligible for the PSWV stream for the first time. The PSWV stream is more favourable than the graduate work stream - in particular:- The visa is generally valid for 2 years or more versus 18 months for the Graduate Work Stream
- The Graduate Work Stream requires a formal skills assessment - this is not required for the PSWV stream
- The Graduate Work Stream requires that you nominate an occupation on the Skilled Occupations List (SOL) - this is not a requirement for the PSWV stream and you can qualify by studying in any discipline
4. State Nomination
State nomination is also highly beneficial, although much more difficult to obtain compared to last year. In particular, NSW nomination for the Skilled Nominated Subclass 190 visa has been very difficult. NSW announced that they would release places over 4 intakes of 1000 places per intake. Applicants found it very difficult to lodge their applications due to the very high levels of demand for the places. In the first round, all places were filled within 30 minutes. NSW has announced it will move to an "Expression of Interest" or "EOI" style system for the next round in February 2015. State nomination for the Skilled Regional Provisional Subclass 489 visa remains a very good option for many applicants. Outside of NSW, many states are requiring that you live, study or work in the nominated occupation in the state. If you reside in a different state, it may be very difficult for you to qualify and in some ways overseas applicants may find it easier to qualify. In the ACT and South Australia, places in some occupations filled within hours, leaving many applicants having to wait until the program reopens in July 2015.5. English Language Ability
TOEFL and Pearson tests are now accepted for Skilled Migration from 23 November 2014. Some skills assessing authorities are also starting to accept the alternate tests of English - particularly for Accountants and Social Workers. This gives applicants struggling to book in and pass the IELTS another opportunity to meet the English language requirement. We expect Immigration will also accept the Cambridge test by early 2015. Most applicants find it difficult to pass the writing section of the IELTS. We are beginning to see clients have success with one-to-one tutoring to increase their scores to required level.6. Work Experience Points
Not being able to substantiate claims for work experience points is the number one reason that applicants applying without a migration agent get refused. International students often seek to count work experience whilst they are studying, not realising that work experience must be:- Post-qualification: ie after you completed your entry level degree
- At least 20 hours per week: often an issue because students are limited to working 40 hours per fortnight
- In the nominated occupation: for instance accountants seeking to count work experience as a book keeper or accounts receivable will be refused because these occupations are not on the Skilled Occupations List
7. Study In Australia
Many students are finding it increasingly difficult to extend their student visas due to the new "Genuine Temporary Entrant" or GTE requirement. This is particularly the case where students have studied in a number of different disciplines or are seeking to move from university sector to vocational sector studies. Always think carefully before you change your course. It is always better to studying something you have a passion for rather than studying to obtain a particular migration outcome. Regional study can be quite beneficial - if you complete a qualification taking 2 years of study in a regional area, such as Adelaide or Darwin, this will give you 5 extra points. In addition, it will make it much easier for you to obtain state nomination through the state where you are studying. Most states now require you to either have studied or have a job offer and/or work experience in the state for nomination to be possible.8. Employer Sponsorship - 457 and RSMS Visas
In the last 12 months, we have seen many self-lodging applicants refused on the new "Genuine Position" requirement for 457 employer sponsored visas. This is particularly the case for the following situations:- Customer Service Managers: previously an occupation used by many applicants, but now one which has a very high rate of refusal
- Hospitality Occupations such as Restaurant Manager, Cooks and Chefs: Immigration seems to treat applications from hospitality employers as being higher risk, resulting in many more documents being requested than normal and a high refusal rate.
- Family Sponsorship: if you are being sponsored for a 457 by a family member, there is a higher risk of refusal
