Important visa changes

[dglamoore]

Major Overhaul to Australia's Skilled Migration Program is Announced

Author: Alan Collett
Date: Friday, April 06, 2007

Australia's new Immigration Minister has announced significant changes to the skilled migration program, which are scheduled to come into effect from the 1st of September, 2007.


Alan Collett has detailed them on his website at Go Matilda - http://www.gomatilda.com/news/article.cfm?articleid=408

Please click the link above to read the changes if you are thinking of applying for a visa as the changes could effect you.

Lisa

[Django]

Recent Work Experience
From the 1st of September, 2007 the same recent work experience requirement will apply to offshore skilled visa applicants, irrespective of the visa subclass and the number of points claimed: applicants will be required to demonstrate skilled work experience for at least 12 months in the 2 years immediately preceding the lodgement of the visa application.

The way I read this is ..... come the 1st Sept we will be able to apply for a 136 (or should I say the new 175 visa) as Tracey would have worked 12 months from 24 but not the old 12 months from 18. :D

Fantastic :D :D :D :D

[dglamoore]

Check with your agent but looks like it might be good news for you :D

Lisa

[andy&jill]

I just received this from my agent could be of interest to some
“From 1 September 2007 significant changes will be introduced to General Skilled Migration. Any applications made on or before 31 August 2007 will not be affected by these changes and your application will be processed as before.” – Dept.of Immigration and Citizenship

These complex changes are listed on our website here: http://wwwvisabureau.com/australia/visa-changes.aspx


While these changes are positive in the long run, for many of you they will have a negative impact on your eligibility depending on your exact circumstances.

UK Citizens NO longer automatically get 20 for English Language they only get 15
Occupations on the MODL must now have 12 months recent work experience in the last 4 years in order to claim 15 points
For some it will mean that after the 1st of September you may NOT QUALIFY for a skilled visa at all!

Obviously the safest way to avoid the impact of these changes is to get your application lodged prior to the 1st of September. Already many of our clients are being informed that they have no choice but to lodge their application by this date.

Andy :shock:

[Aussiebound]

We are now in the process of getting our visa form ready for lodging as soon as TRA comes back, we where previously going to wait a while but now just want to send it off asap, I think we'll be OK on the points anyway as we had 130 but sooner rather than later

[chillyanna]

well i better pull my finger out and get busy then:confused:
good luck everybody!

[Aussiebound]

Wouldn't worry too much - as long as you speak good English you'll get the extra points from the IELTS test.

Sure everything will be fine.

Our visa went a few weeks ago so the changes luckily don;t affect us.

Sarah

[Sandy Coates]

Hi Sarah is Neil looking for a job here.

Sandy

[Aussiebound]

Hi Sarah is Neil looking for a job here.

Sandy

Hi Sandy

Yes, Neils work is a priority when we arrive and he will be looking to start work asap, he has passed TRA as a Metal Fabricator / Boilermaker. Hope something is around when we arrive!!

I will also be looking for work but need to get the children sorted first. It should time right as most jobs I do start at the beginning of the school year so I should have a few months to apply for posts.

[soggy]

Hi Sandy

Yes, Neils work is a priority when we arrive and he will be looking to start work asap, he has passed TRA as a Metal Fabricator / Boilermaker. Hope something is around when we arrive!!

I will also be looking for work but need to get the children sorted first. It should time right as most jobs I do start at the beginning of the school year so I should have a few months to apply for posts.

Hi dont Know if this helps, I have e-mailed agencies about painting and decorating jobs and remembered this reply from may,

Hi Simon I don't do the building industry as they do their own
recruitment a
bit different you need to be here before they will offer you a job.

Sorry but if you know any boilermakers/welders or Truck Mechanics I
would
love to hear from them.

Sandy
----- Original Message -----
From: "Simon" <simon1f@btinternet.com (http://uk.f860.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=simon1f@btinternet.com&YY=94429&y5beta=yes&order=&sort=&pos=0)>
To: <info@globaltradesearch.com.au (http://uk.f860.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=info@globaltradesearch.com.au&YY=94429&y5beta=yes&order=&sort=&pos=0)>
Sent: Wednesday, May 02, 2007 5:29 AM


good luck with the job hunting

Simon

[jason vango]

All please help me , i am desperate to get to oz with the family but i dont know the first thing to do??????

i am a Prison Officer and the wife is a hair dresser

please help or advise

[nikkiandlee]

HI Jason,

Hairdressing is on the MODL list (so in demand which gives you extra points) I would first go to a agents web site (we are looking to use ASA but there are loads) and do the free skills assessment this would give you an idea of how many points you have, I would suggest doing it on your wife's skills however she will need to prove 6-7 years experiance to gain her TRA! so that would include references or accounts details etc. Once you have gathered if you have enough points you can decide to use an agent or do the whole thing on your own. Once you have gained a successful TRA (training and skills assessment) you can apply for your Visa. However if you are unsure what visa to go on speak to an agent to get some advice. We are hoping to go on my Hairdressing skills we are just about to gather the information required for my TRA we have been advised to get a skilled Visa 136 pr (i think).

I would however first do the points test then speak to an agent! You don't have to use the agent if you don't want to, but its a good place to start!

I'm sure others will be able to give further advice as we are only just starting ourselves, but i have learnt alot from this forum!
Good luck
Nikki

[Aussiebound]

All please help me , i am desperate to get to oz with the family but i dont know the first thing to do??????

i am a Prison Officer and the wife is a hair dresser

please help or advise

Hi

We are using an agent called Go matilda, they - or any other agent - will give you loads of help and advice on the right visa etc to go over on.

We are going on a permanent 136 skilled visa. If you are under 45 you should qualify for this as your wife is a hairdresser which is on the MODL - jobs in demand list. I am not sure if prison officer is but an agent would advise you.

Hope you get on ok.

Sarah:D

[chillyanna]

hi jason
i know how it can be when you first start the process. it can seem a long and daunting road, thinking right whats next! i was asking all sorts of questions.
i too am using agents "go matilda" on recommendation from a good friend who went to adelaide with them last year. i have just sent my TRA off last week.
i can say they are very good, they are up front and keep you informed at every stage,
if i have any queries i can just give them a call or send them an email and get a quick reply back.
another good thing is you pay in 3 stages i think, so if you fail at stage 1 you only paid for stage one. sorry i should'nt say fail on here should i:err:
i dont know about other agencies because i never contacted any but i am more than happy with go matilda.
A good idea also is to buy the monthly magazine emigrating to australia or the australia&new zealand magazine. both packed with helpful info and other things.

hope you get sorted in the end.
paul:elvis:

[susanmary38]

Hi Jason.
probably the easiest way to go is down the road of using an agent, although they can be expensive, its the easiest way to go, you can ring various agencies they will give you a free telephone interview, use this to pick there brains.
We have decided to go it alone & save money, there are loads of helpful people on here who will point you in the right direction.
We visited the York exhibition last year & got loads of tips, the S.A gov web site has lots of links, & worth the visit.
We have just sent my stuff of to trade recognition Australia, this is suposed to be the hard bit, applying for your visa on line once you have your reference from TRA is supposed to be quite easy, we will see.
good look

[vonnie]

All please help me , i am desperate to get to oz with the family but i dont know the first thing to do??????

i am a Prison Officer and the wife is a hair dresser

please help or advise
hi, we are in a similar situation but friends told us to make an appointment with 'four corners' For a very small fee they told us all we a good look be needed to know. We are hoping to go to OZ in June now, to havefore we go any further. We can't decionniede WHERE to look first. good luck

Vonnie

[Sandy Coates]

Hi Vonnie why dont you email me your wifes cv and your cv and I will see if I can get you employer sponsored.

Sandy

[vonnie]

Hi, thanks for that but we are both hairdressers and own our own business and hope to do the same in OZ. We have already had our assessment and luckily for us because of our trade we qualify for a fantastic visa. just all subject to medicals etc now.