Flagged Occupation Comparison 2016-17 vs 2017-18

Doing a quick review of the flagged occupations list (those that are flagged for removal from MLTSSL).

Production Manager (Mining), Anaesthetist were both on the list in 2016, and were moved from MLTSSL to STSOL for the 2017-2018 year.

Psychotherapist, Ship’s Engineer, Ship’s Master, and Ship’s Officer were on the list in 2016, and were removed altogether in 2017-2018.

Surveyor and Chef were on the list in 2016, but are no longer on the list, so in theory both are safe this year….in theory!

Newly added to the list of flagged occupations this year are all Medical Professions:

Medical Administrator, Specialist Physician (General Medicine), Clinical Haematologist, Medical Oncologist, Neurologist, Renal Medicine Specialist, Rhuematologist, Thoracic Medicine Specialist, Specialist Physicians NEC, Emergency Medicine Specialist.

All the rest on the list are occupations that were also flagged last year, including many of the Engineering Professions, Accounting, Legal, and some other Medical Professions.

Flagged Occupations 2017 – 2018

As the DIBP have been making some arbitrary changes to the occupation lists this year it remains to be seen how useful the list of flagged occupations are for this year, but still, it’s an advance warning of potential changes to the occupation lists.

As always, if you qualify and your occupation is on the flagged list, you should get on with the process before your pathway disappears.

You should be able to check the Flagged Occupations on the government site but last time we checked that had taken the info down, so her it is as follows, and for your convenience they are searchable:

Queensland Updates their Business Talent and QSOL

For those multimillionaire entrepreneurs out there, Queensland have announced some changes to their Business, Innovation and Investment Programme:

SUBCLASS 132 BUSINESS TALENT (SIGNIFICANT BUSINESS HISTORY STREAM)

Net Business and Personal Assets of AUD$1.5 million to be transferred to Queensland within 2 years after visa is granted including:

• minimum AUD$1million investment in a business
• minimum AUD$500,000 settlement costs
• must reside in Queensland.

SUBCLASS 188 BUSINESS INNOVATION AND INVESTMENT

1. Innovation Stream: Net Business and Personal Assets of AUD$800,000 to be transferred to Queensland within 2 years after visa is granted including:
   • minimum AUD$200,000 investment in a business
   • must reside in Queensland
2. Investor stream:
   • Existing criteria remains the same
   • must reside in Queensland
3. Significant Investor Stream (SIV):
   • current Austrade Complying Investment Framework
   • commitment to Queensland.

For the rest of us lesser mortals wanting to get state sponsorship for skilled migration, the new list will come into effect on Monday the 25th of  July 2016, and Queensland still have the three main streams:

• For those working in Queensland
• For those who have studied in Queensland
• For everyone else

Skilled migration to Queensland

Changes to the SOL & CSOL from July 1st 2016

As usual there will be changes to the occupations on the lists coming in to effect on July 1st 2016.

There was much speculation about Accountants, but they appear to have escaped being removed from SOL. We will have to wait and see if they have reduced the number of places allocated to them for next year.

For anyone who is in one of the negatively effected occupations, you either need to get invited before July 1st, or consider either looking at state sponsorship, or changing your strategy from skilled migration to employer sponsorship.

Occupations moved from SOL to CSOL

• 233611  Mining Engineers (excluding Petroleum)
• 233612  Petroleum Engineers
• 234912  Metallurgists
• 251311  Environmental Health Officers
• 251312  Occupational Health & Safety Advisers
• 411211  Dental Hygienists
• 411212  Dental Prosthetists
• 411213  Dental Technicians
• 411213  Dental Therapists

Occupations added to the SOL

• 251912  Orthotist or Prosthetist
• 25 2711  Audiologists

ACT closes their door for this financial year.

The ACT have announced their skilled migration is closed for overseas applicants for the year.

This action does not affect Canberra-based applicants. If you are living in Canberra and working in a skilled occupation, the program is open. You are still able to apply for ACT nomination of the Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) visa if you meet the current nomination criteria for Canberra residents.

“Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) visa – closure of ACT nomination program to overseas applicants for 2015/16

The Australian Capital Territory is pleased to announce that program targets for ACT nomination of a Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) visa have been met for the 2015/16 financial year.

Effective 18 March 2016 at 4:00pm AEST, applications for ACT nomination from overseas residents will not be accepted. If you are living overseas you are not able to apply for ACT nomination of a Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) visa until the program reopens in July 2016.

Applications for ACT nomination already submitted before 4:00pm 18 March 2016 will be processed in queue order.”

To find out more go to the ACT website.

Australia & Hungary sign a Work & Holiday Agreement

On 24 February 2016, Australia and Hungary signed a Work and Holiday Memorandum of Understanding, establishing a reciprocal Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462) arrangement between the two countries.

This arrangement will allow up to 200 young adults from Hungary and up to 200 young adults from Australia to enjoy a holiday in each other’s country, during which they can undertake short term work and study.

When a commencement date has been announced, eligible young adults from Hungary and Australia will be able to apply for this visa.

In the coming months, Australia and Hungary will work closely together to implement the necessary legal and administrative processes to bring this visa into effect. The work and holiday arrangement will not commence until a start date has been agreed by both countries.

More information on the Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462) is available.

Being asked to pay your employer to get sponsored is illegal

The DIBP has made it illegal to pay to be sponsored, so now it’s not only immoral, unethical, and exploitative, it’s also illegal.

“On 14 December 2015, new criminal and civil penalties and visa cancellation provisions were introduced as part of a ‘paying for visa sponsorship ‘ framework that allows for sanctions to be imposed on a person who asks for, receives, offers or provides a benefit in return for visa sponsorship or employment (that requires visa sponsorship).

‘Paying for visa sponsorship’ conduct is considered unacceptable by the Australian Government as it undermines the integrity of the skilled work programmes, which are designed to address genuine skill shortages in the Australian labour market by making employees available from outside Australia.

It is not acceptable for sponsors, nominators, employers or other third parties to make a personal gain from their position in a ‘paying for visa sponsorship’ arrangement, nor is it acceptable for current or prospective visa holders to obtain permanent residence in Australia, or have the opportunity to work in Australia by providing a benefit to an employer for a job.

To further strengthen this framework, sponsors, nominators and visa applicants will be required to, as part of the application process, state whether or not they have actively participated in conduct that contravenes the new ‘paying for visa sponsorship’ laws.”

https://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Work/Work-1