IMMIGRATION FEATURE
Migration program intake
for 2017-18 to top at 190,000
AUSTRALIA has set its
migration intake for
2017-2018 to 190,000 for
skilled migration, family,
and special eligibility
visas which are aimed
at achieving a range of
economic and social
benefits to the country.
By ATTY. JESSIE ICAO
There are 128,500 places on offer to those
applying under the skilled migration which
includes on-shore and overseas applicants
under the skilled independent (subclass 189)
visa; skilled regional (subclass 149) those
willing to work and live in regional area of
Australia; state and territory sponsored
applicant to improve the productive capacity
of the Australian economy and fill the skill
shortage.
About 57,400 places for family migration
which includes partner visa and parent visa
being sponsored by a child in Australia.
There are 3,485 for child visa available for
the current migration program.
Special eligibility visa which consist of
565 are those in special circumstances that
do not fit into the above streams like those
permanent residents returning to Australia.
Humanitarian programme which
includes on shore protection/asylum seekers
www.kalatas.com.au
and offshore resettlement applicant which
account for 17,555 in 2016 have a separate
intake number.
APPLICATION PROCESS FOR
SKILLED MIGRATION
1) Only 45 years old and younger can apply
on skilled independent visa. Before applying,
the applicants must check whether their
occupations are listed in the medium and long
term strategic skills list (MLTSST) and have a
positive assessment of their qualification with
the relevant assessing authority.
For example, an engineer who wants to
migrate to Australia must first get a positive
assessment from Engineers Australia.
2) As independent skilled applicant is
points tested, it advisable that the applicant
will conduct a self- assessment whether his
points score is at least 60 points or more.
Allocation of points score is on the basis
of age; English (at least 6 in all components
of writing, listening, reading and speaking
for IELTS or equivalent score from TOEL
iBT, OET, PTE academic and CAE); overseas
employment; Australian employment;
professional year; educational qualification;
Australian study; studying and living in a
regional are ands partner skills.
3) When the applicant believes that he has
a score of 60 points, the applicant will then
submit an expression of interest (EOI) and
log in to the website of the Department of
Immigration and Border Protection (website:
www.border.gov.au).
Expression of interest is not a visa and
applicant in Australia must have a valid visa
while waiting for the result of expression of
interest, either they will study further or be
sponsored by an employer while waiting for
the invitation.
The Department of Immigration and
Border Protection has warned prospective
applicant not to increase their score to be
invited as any invitation made without proof
to back up the sore will be refused and barred
from further applying.
4) If invited to apply by the Department,
the applicant will have 60 days to apply for
skilled independent migrant visa. This visa
does not require any relative in Australia as the
visa name suggest, it is an independent skilled
visa.
INVITATION UNDER EOI
Not all applicants on EOI are invited to
apply. The Department will first invite those
who have a points score of more than 60
points. For example, in the last round of
invitation the following occupations and
points score were invited: accountant - points
score of 80; auditors - points score of 75;
electronics and industrial engineers – points
score of 70 and ICT business and system
analyst – points score of 70.
To gain an additional points score, it is
advisable that overseas applicant will consider
taking further course in Australia as there is an
additional points for having completed studies
in Australia and additional score if they have an
Australian work experience.
PRO RATA CEILING
The government has a pro rata ceiling
which means that when a certain occupation
has been filled up, no further invitation will be
offered for the current migration programme.
It is suggested that prospective applicant
will check the statistics of the Department
on what occupations has been filled up and
consider applying on another occupation
or upgrading to a higher points score to be
invited to apply as a migrant.
Nurses are not subject to pro rata
arrangement and not capped at this stage.
ASSESSMENT OF QUALIFICATION
While only a score of 6 in listening, reading,
writing and speaking or its equivalent is
required for migration, some assessing body
like the Australian Nursing and Midwifery
Accreditation Council (ANMAC) requires an
English score of 7 to get a positive assessment.
English score of 7 is also required for
assessment of accountants with its assessing
body.
It is therefore suggested that applicant
from all occupations will aim for an English
score of 7 as 10 points is allocated for score on
English proficiency.
OCCUPATIONS FOR MIGRATION
Only those occupations and assessing
authorities that are listed in the Migration
IMMI17/072 can migrate to Australia.
Among those listed occupations are:
registered nurse, software engineer, computer
network and system engineer and most
engineers, motor mechanic, welder, chef,
accountant, secondary school teacher,
medical radiation therapist and medical
practitioners. n
JESSIE ICAO is a practising
solicitor in the State of New
South Wales and registered
migration agent since 1993
(MARN 9367993). He is
admitted as a lawyer in the
Philippines. The information
provided is of general nature
and cannot be relied in
its entirety. I suggest that
you consult a registered
migration agent or refer to
the relevant law.
AK NewsMagazine, Vol 7 No 12 | SEPTEMBER 2017
07