Just got this immigration news....

[HEAPS GOOD !!!]

The Australian Government has delivered the Budget for 2009-10 and we wanted to ensure that you are fully informed of what changes will be introduced to the immigration program. If you are a current client of LIVE IN australia.com, then you are well positioned to receive expert advice from our Migration Services Team of how the changes may affect your case.

Here are the highlights of what was announced by the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, for 2009-10:

 

• Summary: the migration program will total 168,700 for 2009-10, comprising 108,100 skilled, 60,300 family and 300 special eligibility places.
  
• Permanent skilled migration intake reduced to 108,100 from 115,000, an overall reduction of 20 per cent on previous planning levels in the previous budget.
  
• Critical Skills List (CSL) to remain in place, providing priority processing to applicants whose occupation appears on the list.
  
• Employer and government sponsored visas will continue to be fast-tracked and uncapped.
  
• Family visa stream will receive an increase of 3,800 places to 60,300, including an additional 2,500 for partners, 1,000 places for contributory parents and 300 child visas.
  
• English language threshold will increase from 5 IELTS to 6 IELTS for trade occupations (non-sponsored), meaning they require a competent level of English. This change will apply from 1 July 2009 for offshore applicants and 1 January 2010 for onshore applicants.
  
• A job readiness test will be introduced on 1 January 2010 for onshore skilled trade applicants.
  
• Fewer trades-level occupations will be granted in 2009-10.
  

The Government states that it is committed to maintaining a strong migration program, which will be critical for Australia’s future prosperity.

Our recommendation

If you are considering applying for a skilled visa to migrate to Australia, start the process now. The changes announced by the Government will result in:

 

• greater competition for the fewer places available in the current skilled migrant visa program; and
  
• longer processing times for those applicants whose occupations are not in critical demand; and
  
• a proportional increase in visa grants in the employer and government sponsored visa streams.
  

 

 

 

Hope this helps somebody.....

 

 

 

 

HG

[Guest TC for short]

"Permanent skilled migration intake reduced to 108,100 from 115,000, an overall reduction of 20 per cent on previous planning levels in the previous budget"

 

According to my maths that's a reduction of just 6%. Blummin politicians!

 

TC

[Guest Kazzarazza]

"Permanent skilled migration intake reduced to 108,100 from 115,000, an overall reduction of 20 per cent on previous planning levels in the previous budget"

 

According to my maths that's a reduction of just 6%. Blummin politicians!

 

TC

 

Hi TC

The previous budget was May 2008. The 20% reduction includes the numbers that were taken out in the March review by DIAC as well as the 6900 above.

Cheers