The Government of South Australia has announced changes to its sponsorship of skilled visa applications under subclasses 190 and 489, as follows:

High points nomination

From 9am (Australian Central Standard Time) on the 19th of April, 2017 the requirement for high points nomination will increase from 80 to 85 points.

This change is in response to the overall quota being achieved under the existing 80 points requirement.

This change does not affect applications for sponsorship lodged prior to this time.

Applications for high points nomination received after this time will be refused if they do not meet the 85 points requirement.

High points and chain migration exclusions

Effective immediately the following occupations on SA’s Supplementary Skilled List are no longer available for high points or chain migration nomination:

• 221111 Accountant (General)
• 223111 Human Resource Adviser (not available for high points since 02/09/2016)
• 225113  Marketing Specialist
• 225412  Sales Representative (Medical and Pharmaceutical Products)
• 242111 University Lecturer
• 242112 University Tutor
• 251511  Hospital Pharmacist
• 251513  Retail Pharmacist

This change does not affect applications lodged prior to 1pm on the 5th of April, 2017.

Applications for these occupations lodged after this time will be refused if applying for high points or chain migration nomination.

The rates of surcharges when paying the Department of Immigration’s Visa Application Charges have been reduced.

With immediate effect the rates are:

• Visa and MasterCard – 0.98% (was 1.08%)
• American Express and JCB – 1.4% (1.99%)
• Diners Club International – 1.99% (2.91%)

The Skilled Occupations List (SOL) and Consolidated Skilled Occupations List (CSOL) for the 2016/17 program year starting on the 1st of July, 2016 have been published.

Accountants remain on the list!

Changes to the current list are:

Additions
Orthotists and Prosthetists [ANZSCO Code 251912]
Audiologists [252711]

Removed
Mining Engineers (excluding petroleum) [233611]
Petroleum Engineers [233612]
Metallurgists [234912]
Environmental Health Officers [251311]
Occupational Health & Safety Advisers [251312]
Dental Hygienists [411211]
Dental Prosthetists [411212]
Dental Technicians [411213]
Dental Therapists [411214]

The new SOL and CSOL are available here.

The Government of Western Australia has updated its list of skilled occupations it will sponsor for subclass 190 and 489 visas.

State and Territory sponsored visas often provide the visa pathway of choice for many with skilled occupations, not least because sponsorship of a skilled visa application provides additional points under the skilled visa points test. Securing sponsorship can be critical to obtaining an invitation to apply for a skilled visa – and in many cases the additional points granted following sponsorship are an absolute necessity to meet the minimum of 60 points.

The new list of skilled occupations that the WA Government will sponsor are available on the Migration WA website.

In WA occupations where a sponsorship will be considered are categorised as Schedule 1 or Schedule 2 occupations.

• Applicants seeking sponsorship of a subclass 489 visa with a Schedule 1 occupation must have a contract of employment for full-time employment for at least 12 months in regional Western Australia in the nominated (or closely related) occupation, or provide evidence of three current job opportunities in regional Western Australia in the nominated (or closely related) occupation.
• Applicants seeking sponsorship of a subclass 190 visa with a Schedule 2 occupation must have a contract of employment for full-time employment for at least 12 months in Western Australia in the nominated (or closely related) occupation.
• Applicants seeking sponsorship of a subclass 489 visa with a Schedule 2 occupation must have a contract of employment for full-time employment for at least 12 months in regional Western Australia in the nominated (or closely related) occupation.

Full details of the WA Government’s requirements for sponsorship are discussed in the pdf document here.

An overview of skilled visa subclasses with links to the more detailed requirements is here.

Cap and cease details have been announced on the Department of Immigration website, affecting undecided skilled visa applications under subclasses 175, 176, and 475.

The webpage advises how to request a repayment from the DIBP in respect of Visa Application Charges paid to the Department when the visa application was submitted.

Regrettably this offer to repay doesn’t include the other costs incurred by visa applicants: migration skills assessments, IELTS tests, or State Sponsorship applications – or migration agent fees.