| Legislation has been released on Comlaw on the 15th | | | | Note that the above changes do not affect subclass |
| of December to affect both onshore and offshore | | | | 485 Graduate Skilled visas as this is the 18-month |
| applicants for General Skilled Migration. These changes | | | | temporary residence visa available to students |
| have not yet been published on the DIAC website or | | | | studying in Australia for at least 2 years. It will still be |
| discussed with the Migration Institute of Australia. | | | | possible to apply for this the graduate skilled visa prior |
| Onshore Applicants | | | | to completion of the skills assessment, and there is no |
| From 1 January 2010, changes have been made to the | | | | provision for the Department of Immigration requesting |
| skills assessment requirement for onshore applicants | | | | a recent skills assessment either. |
| for the following subclasses: | | | | As a result, most international students will most likely |
| - 885: Skilled Independent (Permanent) | | | | need to apply for a Graduate Skilled visa to allow |
| - 886: Skilled Sponsored (Permanent) | | | | them to remain in Australia whilst their skills |
| - 487: Skilled Regional Sponsored (3-year provisional) | | | | assessment is being finalized so that they can then |
| These are the main visa subclasses accessed by | | | | apply for a longer stay skilled visa. |
| international students applying for further stay in | | | | International students with skills assessments |
| Australia after completion of their studies. | | | | completed prior to 1 January 2010 may need to get |
| All applicants for the above visas must provide a | | | | their skills re-assessed ahead of applying for their long |
| suitable skills assessment at the date of lodgement to | | | | stay skilled visa. |
| make a valid application from 1 January 2010. Currently, | | | | Offshore Applicants |
| it is sufficient to lodge the visa application with | | | | Work experience requirements have been changed |
| evidence that the skills assessment has been applied | | | | for the following offshore applications: |
| for, provided the skills assessment is positive by the | | | | - 175: Skilled Independent (Migrant) |
| time the visa application is assessed by the | | | | - 176: Skilled Sponsored (Migrant) |
| Department of Immigration. | | | | - 475: Skilled Regional Sponsored (3-year provisional) |
| In addition, provision has been made in the new | | | | For gazetted occupations, all applicants must show |
| legislation to require applicants to provide a skills | | | | recent work experience in the occupation. Currently, it |
| assessment which has been completed on or after 1 | | | | is possible to qualify by showing at least 12 of the last |
| January 2010 for certain gazetted occupations. As yet, | | | | 24 months of work experience in any skilled |
| the list of occupations is not yet available but we will | | | | occupation, and a waiver of the work experience |
| provide details as soon as possible. However, it seems | | | | requirement is available for international students |
| likely that the changes are likely to affect trade | | | | completing studies of 2 years or more in Australia. |
| occupations and possibly those assessed by | | | | Again, the list of affected occupations has not yet |
| VETASSESS. | | | | been gazetted by the Department of Immigration. |