| How do the new student visa integrity measures | | | | 15 if 6 minimum |
| affect international students? What are the Changes? | | | | 4. Study in Australia: 5 for a course taking 2 years, up |
| The main changes are around showing sufficient funds | | | | to 25 if you have completed a PhD in Australia |
| to study in Australia. There are two separate | | | | 5. Work experience in Australia: 10 for working in your |
| measures in relation to this: | | | | occupation for a year or 10 for completing a |
| 1. Funds for living costs have increased from $1,000 | | | | professional year |
| per month to $1,500 per month. As a result, the amount | | | | 6. Skilled Spouse: 5 points |
| of funds you need to show for a student visa | | | | 7. Language other than English: 5 if you have passed |
| extension may be much higher than you needed to | | | | the NAATI test as a translator or interpreter, or have a |
| show for your initial student visa | | | | degree taught in the language |
| 2. Students must show that they can actually access | | | | 8. State Nomination: 10 points |
| the funds shown. For example, if relying on bank | | | | We have an online points test calculator on our |
| accounts held by a relative, the Department of | | | | website. |
| Immigration (DIAC) will often ask that you show that | | | | Note that the Department of Immigration is conducting |
| funds have actually been transferred to your account. | | | | a review of the points test. Recommendations are due |
| If relying on a loan, DIAC may require you to show that | | | | in June 2010, and the following changes have been |
| the funds have been released to a bank account over | | | | discussed: |
| which you have access. | | | | - Making all occupations worth the same number of |
| However, it's not all bad news. People undertaking | | | | points |
| research qualifications (ie masters by research and | | | | - Giving more points for higher levels of English |
| PhD) will now be at either Assessment Level 1 or 2 | | | | - Giving more points for longer periods of employment |
| (Assessment Level 1 being the best). This will mean | | | | - Increasing spouse skills points |
| that the amount of funds you need to show might not | | | | What are the specific procedures for general skilled |
| be as high as for other types of qualifications. | | | | migration application? |
| Can subject choice improve your chances of | | | | There are generally 3-4 main stages of the application: |
| immigration? | | | | 1. Skills Assessment: this is a process of having your |
| At the moment, if you have an occupation on the | | | | qualifications assessed, and in some cases you also |
| Critical Skills List (CSL), your application will be | | | | need to provide evidence of English and work |
| processed significantly faster than if you are not on | | | | experience. The exact procedure depends on your |
| the CSL. Examples of occupations on the CSL include | | | | occupation. Generally this takes 2-3 months to |
| secondary school teachers, nurses, engineers and | | | | complete and you must have a completed skills |
| accountants (provided you either have a minimum 7 in | | | | assessment to apply for a permanent general skilled |
| IELTS or have completed a professional year). | | | | migration visa |
| However, the rules for skilled migration are due to | | | | 2. Skilled Graduate Subclass 485 visa: because the |
| change significantly. The Department of Immigration is | | | | skills assessment can take some time, many students |
| concerned that students have been choosing courses | | | | will need to apply for a 485 visa to ensure that they |
| which are good for immigration, not in occupations | | | | have enough time to complete the necessary |
| which they intend to work in the future. There has | | | | processes to apply for their permanent skilled visas. A |
| been a significant growth in the vocational sector in | | | | 485 visa requires you to have completed a |
| particular - in courses such as hairdressing and | | | | qualification taking 2 years of study in Australia, 6 |
| cookery - which have until now been good for | | | | minimum for IELTS and to have lodged your application |
| migration. | | | | for skills assessment. |
| In addition, the Department of Immigration is giving | | | | 3. State Nomination: This is an optional process, but |
| higher and higher priority to employer sponsored | | | | may be necessary if you do not otherwise have |
| applications. | | | | sufficient points to qualify. It can also significantly speed |
| As a result, the best advice is to do a course which | | | | up processing of your application. Generally, the state |
| you are genuinely interested in and in which you have | | | | will require a skills assessment and evidence of English. |
| a good chance of obtaining employment in Australia. | | | | States have different criteria, and some also require |
| When is the new Skilled Occupations List coming out? | | | | evidence of funds to settle in Australia, work |
| When will it come into effect? | | | | experience in the state, and in some cases study or |
| Skills Australia has reported to the Department of | | | | residence in the state. |
| Immigration on their recommendations for the new list | | | | 4. Permanent Skilled Application: for this you'll need a |
| on 30 April 2010. However, the suggested list was not | | | | completed skills assessment, evidence of English, |
| released at this time. The Department of Immigration | | | | health and police checks and evidence of your studies |
| has announced that the list will be published in May | | | | in Australia. This stage is currently relatively fast if you |
| 2010. | | | | have a CSL occupation, but can take 2-3 years if you |
| The list is due to come into effect in "mid 2010". Many | | | | are not on the CSL. |
| have speculated that this means 1 July 2010, but there | | | | What is the minimum required mark in the dreaded |
| has been no confirmation of the exact date. It is | | | | IELTS test? |
| possible that the list will come into effect at the same | | | | This will depend on which visa type you are trying to |
| time as it is announced. | | | | apply for: |
| The current Skilled Occupations List has some 400 | | | | - Skilled Independent: to meet the pass mark, you'll |
| occupations on it. Our best guess is that the new list | | | | need a minimum of 7 in all 4 components unless you |
| will have around 200 occupations on it. Skills Australia | | | | have previous work experience (Proficient English) |
| produced a list called the specialised occupations list. It | | | | - Skilled Graduate: a minimum of 6 in all 4 components |
| is possible that this will form the basis of the new | | | | (Competent English) |
| skilled occupations list. The specialized occupations list | | | | - Skilled Regional Sponsored: average of 6 |
| included the following types of occupations: | | | | (Concessional Competent English) |
| - Building & Engineering | | | | - Employer Nomination Scheme: minimum of 5 in all 4 |
| - Medical - doctors, nurses | | | | components (Vocational English) |
| - School teachers & academics | | | | - Regional Skilled Migration Scheme: average of 4.5 |
| - Accountants and Auditors (CPA or equivalent) | | | | (Functional English) |
| - Legal Professionals | | | | Most types of application require you to show the level |
| There are only a few trade occupations on the list, | | | | of English at the date of application - so you need to |
| and the future of students completing vocational | | | | plan ahead and make sure you don't leave your |
| courses in Australia is far from clear. | | | | English test till the last minute. |
| What happens if I am not on the new Skilled | | | | Note also that some skills assessing authorities require |
| Occupations List? | | | | a higher level of English. For example, accountants will |
| If your occupation is not on the new SOL, it is still | | | | need to show that they have at least 7 in all 4 |
| possible to apply for: | | | | components of the Academic IELTS from 1 July 2010. |
| - A skilled graduate subclass 485 visa | | | | What are the compulsory requirements for student |
| - State nominated skilled visas | | | | visas and the Do's and Do-not's of a student visa? |
| - Employer sponsorship | | | | There are a number of very important student |
| Unless you had already applied for a graduate skilled | | | | conditions you need to comply with. Non-compliance |
| visa as of the 8th of February 2010, you will only be | | | | with these conditions can result in cancellation of you |
| able to apply for the following types of visa if you are | | | | student visa: |
| on the new list: | | | | - Work Restriction 8105: This allows you to work for |
| - Skilled independent | | | | 20 hours per week during semester and full time in |
| - Family sponsored skilled visas | | | | semester break. The work rights start once you |
| So you should still be able to apply for a graduate | | | | commence your course. After completion of your |
| skilled visa after your course is finished, providing you | | | | course, you can generally work full time if you have |
| meet the necessary requirements, even if you are not | | | | applied for an onshore skilled visa. |
| on the new SOL. Once on the graduate skilled visa, | | | | - Satisfactory Academic Progress 8202: This requires |
| you have full work rights for 18 months. Provided you | | | | you to maintain your enrollment, attend your classes |
| find either an employer or state government willing to | | | | and pass your assignments. In some circumstances |
| sponsor you during this time, you can still apply for | | | | (eg health reasons), it is possible to defer for a |
| permanent residence. | | | | semester, but in most cases, the Department of |
| How are the points calculated? | | | | Immigration will expect you to depart Australia during |
| The main elements of the current points test are: | | | | the deferral |
| 1. Occupation: either 40, 50 or 60 points | | | | - Notify Change of Address 8533: You need to tell |
| 2. Age: 30 if you are under 30, down to 15 if you are | | | | your education provider within 7 days if you change |
| between 40 and 44 | | | | address. |
| 3. English language ability: 25 for IELTS 7 minimum, or | | | | |