Access Migration

Tasmania Releases State Migration Plan

michael.fidler — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 09:29:47 +0000

Tasmania has released their state migration plan and there are plenty of occupations particularly in the area of tradespersons. Tasmania are placing a high degree of emphasis on candidate links to Tasmania and/or offers of employment or strong interest from potential employers.

Access Migration Services has years of experience in making highly competitive state sponsorship applications. If you would like advice or assistance in making a state/territory sponsorship application call us now on 0845 644 5607

WA State Migration Plan Released

michael.fidler — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 08:38:16 +0000

The WA State Government have now released their state migration plans. The WA skills lists offer the most comprehensive range of occupations for sponsorship of any of the states and territories. Unlike many of the other state lists they are not predominantly taken up with health and engineering professionals. There are a healthy allocation of associate professional and trade based occupations available for sponsorship.

Click here to read more about WA State Sponsorship.

If you would like assistance with making a state sponsorship application or a skilled migration application call us now on 0845 644 5607.

Queensland State Migration Plan Released

michael.fidler — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 08:30:20 +0000

QLD State Government has now released their state migration plans. Few surprises with either skills lists. The QLD subclass 176 sponsorship list is dominated by engineering and health professionals with only 2 trade based occupations appearing on the list for regional 2 stage sponsorship.

Click here to read more about QLD State Sponsorship.

If you would like assistance with making a state sponsorship application or a skilled migration application call us now on 0845 644 5607.

DIAC Announces Changes to Skilled Occupation List (SOL)

michael.fidler — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 08:45:50 +0000

Changes to the Skilled Occupation List (SOL)

With many migration consultancies “jumping the gun” in terms of interpreting information over the last few days, there has been much confusion and misinformation put into the public domain. To clarify the situation, Vetassess will continue to undertake skills assessments as in the past and their role has now been expanded to include more countries and more occupations. TRA will continue to process skills assessment applications as per the previous arrangements, with the exception of those occupations that have been passed over to Vetassess. See more information.

The following occupations have been added to schedule 4 of the skilled occupation list (SOL).

Chief Executive or Managing Director – 111111 [AIM 60 points]
Advertising and Public Relations Manager – 131111 [AIM 60 points]
Art Administrator or Manager – 139911 [VETASSESS – 50 points]
Conference and Event Organiser – 149311 [VETASSESS – 50 points]
Liaison Officer – 224912 [VETASSESS – 50 points]
Jewellery Designer – 232313 [VETASSESS – 50 points]
Web Designer – 232414 [VETASSESS – 50 points]
Food Technologist – 234212 [VETASSESS – 50 points]
Biotechnologist – 234514 [VETASSESS – 50 points]
Education Reviewer – 249112 [VETASSESS – 50 points]
Network Administrator – 263112 [ACS – 60 points]
ICT Systems Test Engineer – 263213 [ACS 60 points]
Fisheries Inspector – 311311 [VETASSESS – 50 points]
Primary Products Inspector nec – 311399 [VETASSESS – 50 points]
Fitter and Turner – 323212 [TRA – 60 points]
Snowsport Instructor – 452314 [VETASSESS – 50 points]

The following information relating to assessing authorities was also advised:

Building and Engineering Technicians nec – 312999 - Engineers Australia has been added to Vetassess as an Assessing Authority.

For up to date and accurate advice regarding undertaking skills assessment applications or for assistance with your skills visa application call us now on 0845 644 5607.

NT Announces State Migration Plan

michael.fidler — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 07:26:57 +0000

The Northern Territory Government has announced their migration plan for the current visa year. The new NT skilled occupation list is very comprehensive however they have raised the bar as far as the other requirements that need to be met. They have significantly increased the financial requirements that they require candidates to demonstrate who are not currently living in the Northern Territory. Financial requirements for NT sponsorship are now:

Individual applicant - $35000.00

Applicant & spouse - $50000.00

Applicant & spouse + 1 child - $60000.00

Applicant & spouse + 2 children - $65000.00

View the NT skilled occupation List

View NT 176 sponsorship requirements

View all NT Regional sponsorship requirements

While there are a wide range of occupations on the skills list, there is likely to be a high demand for places and like the other states and territories there will no doubt be reductions in the numbers of occupations that are available as the year progresses.

If you have any questions regarding state sponsorship or would like to get some advice on your best prospects for securing a state sponsorship, call us now on 0845 644 5607 or contact us.

DIAC Announces New Points Test for GSM Visas

michael.fidler — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 09:03:50 +0000

Minister Chris Bowen has today announced the new points test for general skilled migration to be introduced from 1 July 2011.The new test sees some radical changes from the existing points test requirements. There have been some significant changes made to specific areas of the test. See New Points Test Factsheet. See new points test FAQ’s.

The key thrust of the new test is to ensure that no one specific factor of the test will allow applicants to meet the overall requirements. This has been achieved by:

Adjusting the points allocated across each specific factor
Removing the points allocated for specific skilled occupations
Adjusting the age bias in favour of younger applicants
Incrementing the points awarded for longer periods of work experience in the nominated occupation.

The visas that will be affected under the new changes are:

Subclass 175, Skilled Independent
Subclass 176, Skilled Sponsored
Subclass 475, Skilled – Regional Sponsored
Subclass 487, Skilled Regional Sponsored
Subclass 885, Skilled Independent
Subclass 886, Skilled Sponsored

Minister for Immigration Senator Chris Bowen cited a number of reasons for making the changes to the points test. Read more.

Key features of the new points test are:

Increasing the upper age limit from 45 to 49
Removal of the skilled family sponsored migration permanent visa pathway
The minimum passmark will be 65 points
There will be no difference in passmark for skilled independent of skilled sponsored visas

Note: These changes will not come into effect until 1 July 2011. If you already have your skills assessed you have time to lodge your visa application before the changes come into effect. If you don’t have your skills assessed at this time, particularly if you are a tradesperson, you should contact us immediately to confirm your eligibility under the new points test regime. Call us on 0845 644 5607 or contact us.

ACT Release Their State Migration Plan

michael.fidler — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 08:23:15 +0000

The Australian Capital Territory has released their state migration plan for the current visa year. There have been many changes to the ACT policy relating to candidate suitability, you should read the ACT sponsorship guidelines before considering making an application. Read Guidelines.

The ACT skills list has a large range of occupations listed in the managerial, professional, associate professional and trades levels. There are numerous additional criteria attached to many of the occupations and you should study the skills list and identify any additional requirements before considering making an application for state sponsorship.

Read ACT skills list. The skills list is very wide ranging and it is interesting to note that despite past DIAC issues regarding the occupations of Cook and Hairdresser, both occupations appear on the list.

The ACT skills list contains a wide range of occupations that may not appear on many of the other state and territory lists. Given how competitive gaining state sponsorship will now become, you may wish to consider the ACT as a viable option for sponsorship. Given the ACT proximity to NSW and Victoria, for those that would like to settle in either and do not meet the sponsorship requirements for either state, Canberra presents a really good alternative considering how closely situated to Sydney and northern Victoria it is.

Access Migration Services can assist you in making the best possible application for sponsorship consideration by the ACT. Call us now on 0845 644 5607 or contact us and let us discuss with you the best possible plan for you to gain this all important sponsorship endorsement.

DIAC Update on State Migration Plans

michael.fidler — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 08:09:22 +0000

DIAC have now provided updated advice regarding the release of the remaining state migration plans. The information outlines the arrangement between DIAC and each state and territory regarding the approval and memorandum of understanding (MOU) regarding each state or territory plan. These plans will only be introduced once they have been agreed upon by DIAC.

The key question is when will the plans be released? DIAC advice seems to indicate that they will all have been approved and reached “in 2010”. This however remains to be seen. There is also advice that indicates that the plans will not all be released at the same time, rather it appears that it will be a rolling process in through the remainder of 2010.

Read DIAC Fact Sheet.

If you are considering state or territory sponsorship you should contact us as soon as possible to discuss the issues involved so that you don’t end up missing the boat. We have successfully assisted hundreds of state sponsorship candidates for all states and territories and we would be happy to assist you to gain a successful state sponsorship outcome. Call us on 0845 644 5607 or email us now.

Victorian State Migration Plan Released

michael.fidler — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 22:28:19 +0000

The Victorian State Government became the first to release their state migration plans today with applications commencing from 3 November 2010.

As forecast the DIAC approved list provides for a quota on the numbers of individual occupations that the state may sponsor and also an overall cap on the total number of migrants that can be sponsored in each visa year. The overall cap for the year 2010/2011 is 4,500 visa grants which includes primary and secondary applicants.

The skills lists will be updated as each occupation reaches it’s quota for that year and no further applications in that occupation will be considered. See the new skills list.

Note: With a cap of 4,500 visa grants in total and considering the average family size is 3-4 persons, it can be seen that it will take very little time to reach the overall cap for this visa year. It is also possible that applicants may be refused sponsorship based purely on the size of their family group. We would strongly reccommend that if you are considering seeking Victorian state sponsorship you contact us immediately to commence your application.

South Australia Releases Interim State Sponsorship List

michael.fidler — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 01:06:23 +0000

The government of South Australia has issued an “interim” state sponsorship list and have advised that prospective applicants who hold one of the nominated occupations may consider seeking sponsorship from SA.This list of occupations will remain in force until such time as their state migration plan (SMP) has been approved by DIAC. Interim Occupation List.

They are also advising that once they have reached their planning levels in each respective occupation they will no longer accept applications in that particular occupation, assumedly until such time as the demand is reassessed.

SA have also advised other key criteria that they will require applicants to demonstrate and these are detailed on their website, you should click here for more information:

Anyone now wishing to seek SA sponsorship should ensure that they commence their applications as soon as they are able as there will be a high demand for sponsorships from all the states and territories as applicants seek to take advantage of the level 2 visa application processing priority that is afforded to applications that have gained state sponsorship endorsement. The demand for state sponsorships will now become extremely competitive and this will almost certainly see the respective state and territory governments become far more selective than has been the case in the past. It will be essential that you submit a detailed and high quality application

Access Migration Services has assisted hundreds of candidates secure a successful state sponsorship outcome and is extremely proud of the 98% success rate that we currently hold.

If you would like assistance in seeking state sponsorship call us on 0845 644 5607 or contact us.