Skilled Migration Update

Trends, Budget Measures and Reforms to the Program

Labour Market Branch

Our National Identity is Evolving

Family Entry

Skilled Entry

Humanitarian Entry

Net Overseas Migration is Now Falling

‐25,000

25,000

75,000

125,000

175,000

225,000

275,000

325,000

2004‐05 2005‐06 2006‐07 2007‐08 2008‐09 2009‐10 2010‐11 2011‐12 2012‐13 2013‐14

Person

s 

Permanent Other temporary

Students Others

Final and preliminary Forecasts and projections

The 457 Program Reflects the Business Cycle

The Take-up of Subclass 457 Visas Varies by State/Territory

Labour Agreements are Increasingly in Vogue

Labour Agreements as at March 2011

The Balance of Permanent Migration has Shifted in Favour of Skilled Migration

Over the last decade, the focus of Australia’s migration

program has shifted from family migration towards

skilled migration.

If Australia’s labour force conditions prevail, this

pattern is likely to continue.

Program numbers by stream

1996-97 1998-99 2001-02 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12Actual Planned Planned

Family 44 580 32 040 38 090 50 080 49 870 56 500 60 300 54 550 58 600Skilled 27 550 35 000 53 520 97 920 108 500 115 000 108 100 113 850 125 850Special Eligibility 1730 890 1480 200 220 300 300 300 550Humanitarian 11 900 11 356 12 349 13 017 13 000 13 500 13 750 13 750 14 750

Skill

Family

Humanitarian

Special Eligibility

The Composition of the Skilled Program also Continues to Change

Each Component of the Skilled Migration Program Serves a Purpose

Semi Skilled Semi Skilled

Skilled Skilled

Highly HighlySkilled Skilled

Very Highly Skilled

…the strongest increases have occurred for Science Professionals and

Veterinarians (up by 123.6%), Health Diagnostic and Therapy Professionals

(59.6%) and Health and Welfare Support Workers (52.1%)

DEEWR Vacancy Report November 2010

…it is important that migration programs complement domestic recruitment

and are not used to replace local workers

… programs need to be responsive to our economic needs whilst continuing to

serve Australia’s interests in the medium to long term

against the backdrop of an ageing population

Balancing Immediate and Longer Term Needs

2010 Intergenerational Report

Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, 2009

2011-12 Migration ProgramMigration Program Total: 185 000 places

Skill 125 850

Skilled Independent/State nominated/Australian sponsored

72 450

+ 12 000 places Employer Sponsored 46 000

Business Skills 7200

Distinguished Talent 200

Family 58 600

Partner 45 400

+ 4 050 places Parent 8500

Child 3450

Preferential/Other Family 1250

Special Eligibility 550

and other reforms to Skilled MigrationEnterprise Migration Agreements and Regional Migration

Agreements

Regional Initiatives

Visa Program ReviewsEmployer Nomination Scheme, Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme and Business Skills

State Migration Plans

Independent Skilled Migration and the Points Test

SkillSelecta new way of selecting skilled migrants

Supporting the Resource Sector Through Enterprise Migration Agreements (EMA)

Streamlined access to skilled temporary workers for

resource projects

KeyEligibility Attributes

Resource Projects

‘Mega’ in size $2b capital costs

1500 peak workforce

Training Plan

Controlled access to semi-skilled temporary workers where there is a genuine need

Supporting Regional Australia Through Regional Migration Agreements

Custom designed

geographically based Streamlined

access for employers

New program to

bring overseas workers to

Australia on a 457 visa

Temporary measure to

address acute skilled

shortages

Encourage innovative

training and workforce strategies

Further Support for Regional Australia

Priority processing for permanent regional migration visas

Increasing the number of RSMS places to 16 000

Streamlining permanent residence for holders of certain temporary skilled visas

Developing and implementing a Regional Engagement Strategy

The Employer Nomination Scheme and Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme

The Business Skills Review

State Migration Plans

Plans allow individual jurisdictions to target specific skills needs

24 000 places have been

allocated for 2011-12

The number of visa applications

on-hand has substantially

reduced

Negotiations should be settled before the end of June to allow for a smooth transition to 2011-12

What a new points test will provideOptimal mix of high calibre skills and attributes attained in Australia and

overseas that provide best prospects for success in the Australian labour market.

Will apply to applications made after 1 July 2011

Expected pass mark of 65 points

Focused on selecting highly skilled people

unless transitional arrangements apply

will be the number of points required to be eligible for skilled migration

to deliver a more responsive & targeted migration program

The Points Test

18 - 24

30 25

25 - 32

25

33 - 39

15

40 - 44

No Points

45 - 49

Age

Points

The Points Test - Age Points

Competent English (IELTS 6) 0

Proficient English (IELTS 7)

Superior English (IELTS 8)

10

20

The Points Test - English Language Points

The Points Test - Experience Points

1 Year (of the past 10)

3 Years(of the past 10)

5 Years(of the past 10)

5

10

15

Australian Experience Overseas Experience

8 Years (of the past 10) 20

3 Years (of the past 10)

5 Years(of the past 10)

8 Years(of the past 10)

Maximum points that can be awarded for skilled employment

Doctorate (Australian or recognised overseas)

Bachelors Degree (Australian or recognised overseas)

Diploma (Australian or recognised overseas)

20

15

10

Includes Honours and Masters

Australian and Overseas Trade Qualification 10

The Points Test - Qualification Points

The Points Test - Bonus Points

Australian Study

Requirement

5

Credentialed Community Language

5Regional

Study

5

Partner Skills

5

State / Territory

Nomination

5

Designated Area

Sponsorship

10

Professional Year

5

Which Points Test for Transitional Applicants?

1 Nominated occupation is on the SOL in effect 8 February 2010 and SOL in effect at time of application

The nominated occupation is on SOL

in effect on 8 February 2010

The nominated occupation is on SOL

in effect at the time application is lodged

Application first tested against pre 1 July 2011

points test

If fails the pass mark

The application

is then assessed under the points test in place on the date the application

is made

2 Nominated occupation is only on the SOL in effect at time of application

The application is then assessed

under the points test in place on

the date the application is

made

The nominated occupation is on SOL

in effect at the time application is lodged

Which Points Test for Transitional Applicants?

3 Nominated occupation is only on the SOL in effect 8 February 2010

The nominated occupation is on SOL

in effect on 8 February 2010

Application tested against pre 1 July 2011

points test

Which Points Test for Transitional Applicants?

Skilled Migrant Selection Register (SkillSelect)

.

. SkillSelect will be implemented on 1 July 2012

On 10 May 2011, the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Bowen MP, announced the

Australian Government’s agreement to the implementation of a

Skilled Migrant Selection Register (SkillSelect)

SkillSelect concludes a series of reforms to ensure the skilled migration program is more focussed

and efficient, demand-driven and tailored to employers’ needs.

The Government Wants….

Overview of SkillSelect

EOI Register Rank Invitation

ApplicationAssessment of application as per existing process

Stage One of EOI - Independent Skilled Migration

1. Review all EOIs in descending order of points score. Eg:

2. Equally scoring EOIs ranked in order of lodgment.

All EOIs with the highest points score - e.g. 90

All EOIs with the 2nd highest points score - e.g. 85

All EOIs with the 3rd highest points score - e.g. 80

Selection and invitation to apply for migration

Ranked EOI

Has nominated occupation reached ceiling?

NO

YES

Invited

Not invited

Stage Two of EOI Process

When is an EOI Required?

Visa CategoryIndependent/Family Sponsored

Temp Employer Sponsored (Subclass 457)

Permanent Employer sponsored (including RSMS)

State/Territory sponsored (including Business Skills)

YesMust lodge an EOI

NoEOI optional

NoEOI optional

YesMust lodge an EOI

Transitional Arrangements Under SkillSelect

8 Feb 2010

31 Dec 2012

Students who held or had applied for a Temporary

Skilled Graduate visa (subclass 485) can apply for a permanent skilled migration visa on the basis of the old

SOL.

Permanent migration application assessed according to the old

occupation list

Students who held a qualifying Student visa on 8

February 2010 can apply for a Temporary Skilled Graduate visa (Subclass 485) on the

basis of the old Skilled Occupation List.

Temporary skilled graduate visa assessed

according to the old occupation list – 18 month

stay + options

Benefits of SkillSelect

Meet Australia’s skill needs

Minimise processing times

Respond quickly to changing economic needs

Allocate places to the best and brightest

Enable registered employers to

search and contact

prospective skilled workers

Assist States and Territories to identify and

nominate the best skilled migrants

Fair and equitable Skilled Migration

program

The General Skilled Migration (GSM) Program:

processes and challenges for 2011-12

David StewartProgram DirectorGeneral Skilled Migration

• On 10 May 2011 the Minister announced the Migration Program for 2011/12 of 185 000, an increase of 16 300 places.

• The Skilled Component comprises 125 850 migration places, an increase of 10.5% or 12 000 places.

• The GSM component of this is 72 450 places.– Skilled Independent 44 350– Skilled – State/Territory Sponsored 24 000– Skilled – Australian Sponsored 4100

• Based on the current pipeline, anticipated application rates, and no changes to the current priority arrangements, GSM expects to process:

– All State Migration Plan (Priority two) applications– All current SOL (Priority three) applications– Some ‘old SOL’ (Priority four) applications.

2011/12 Migration Program

Provides the ability to refuse a visa application where false or misleading information or bogus documentation is provided as part of an application

All migrating applicants included in the application would be refused, and subject to a three year bar on grant of a further visa subject to the PIC

In certain circumstances, a waiver can be applied to facilitate grant of a further visa

Purpose of the Fraud Public Interest Criteria (PIC)

Which Visa Subclasses are Affected by the PIC 4020?

Skilled - Independent (Subclasses 885 and 175)Skilled - Sponsored (Subclasses 886 and 176)Skilled - Regional Sponsored (Subclasses 487and 475)Skilled - Graduate (Subclass 485)Skilled - Recognised Graduate (Subclass 476)Skilled – Regional (Subclass 887)Employer Sponsored (Subclasses 121, 856, 119 and 857)Business (Long Stay) (Subclass 457)Overseas Student (pre 1 Sept 2007) (Subclasses 880, 881 and 882)Skilled – Independent Regional (pre 1 Sept 2007) (Subclass 495)Skilled - Designated Area-Sponsored (pre 1 Sept 2007) (Subclass 496and 883).

Further information is available from the department’s website. See: www.immi.gov.au/skilled/_pdf/fraud-pic.pdf

• The GSM pipeline currently consists of:– 3500 Priority Two cases – 22 000 Priority Three cases– 46 000 Priority Four cases

GSM On-hand Pipeline as at May 2011

• Priority Group two (PG2): – All State and Territory State Migration Plans (SMP) are now in effect.– Applications are allocated within two weeks of the receipt of the approved

nomination– Applicants are encouraged to make their application ready for decision at

or shortly after application.

• Priority Group three (PG3):– Applications lodged in Australia before January 2011 have been allocated. – Applications lodged outside of Australia by the of end June 2011 we expect

to have allocated all applications lodged before January 2011.

• Priority Group four (PG4): – Allocation of some PG4 cases is expected in 2011-12.

Current Processing Timeframes

• Current processing arrangements give priority to:– applicants who completed a Professional Year before 30 June 2011 and who lodged

a subclass 485 before 17 March 2011– applicants who lodged from 9 February to 30 June 2010 where the nominated

occupation was on the SOL Schedule 3 in effect from 1 July 2010.

• All other applications will generally be processed based on the date they were received.

• These applicants have been identified as needing to be processed prior to the introduction of the new points test on 1 July 2011.

• These processing arrangements will end 30 June 2011 and date of lodgement order processing will resume.

• Over the course of 2011/12, processing is expected to be brought back into service standards through significant increases in resourcing.

Subclass 485 Processing Arrangements

• For allocation dates, send a blank emailEmail: gsm.processing@immi.gov.au

• General GSM pre-lodgement enquiriesSee: www.immi.gov.au/contacts/forms/gsm/pre.htmTelephone: 1300 364 613

• Queries by agents on unallocated case (with the exception of status enquiries)Email: gsm.agents@immi.gov.au

• Queries on allocated cases should be sent to the case officer through the team mailbox listed on correspondence.

• GSM contact detailsSee: www.immi.gov.au/contacts/australia/processing-centres/adelaide-skilled.htm

• More information on GSM visa optionsSee: www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration

• Recent changes to the programSee: www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/whats-new.htm

GSM Communication Channels: How to Obtain Information

• Efforts are made to keep responses to enquiries within service standards, two work days.

• Where responses are not received to multiple enquiries on the same matter, or emails need to be escalated to a senior GSM manager’s attention, they should be made to the following staff:

– critical validity or payment queries– missed allocations– case decisions– nil replies to enquiries on allocated cases– GSM program or processing arrangements– detail provided through the migration agent peak bodies.

• We request that eVisa applicants and agents attach documents to the web-browser where possible. Anything that can not be attached should be sent in one email.

Email: the team mailbox as advised by case officer (for allocated cases)Email: gsm.documents@immi.gov.au (for unallocated cases).

Escalation Channels