Australian Migration to Only Become Harder in 2009

Australia may be forced to decrease its intake of migrants in 2009 and possibly further into the future. Pressure is rising from the opposition to cut the number of new arrivals before the current financial years end. This pressure is a result of the global financial meltdown, which in turn is forecast to push unemployment rate up in Australia.

This may mean that 2008 may be the best time to commence your Australian migration, so to improve your chances of successfully obtaining a visa.

The opposition for Immigration spokeswomen, Sharman Stone, said “It is important they remain flexible because the most important thing to do is look after Australia's own unemployed”.

Such calls from the opposition seem to be coming from the result of the bigger banks cutting interest rates so to push up spending. The Commonwealth Bank (Australia’s biggest home loan lender) became the third bank to cut rates recently, shaving 0.21% off its standard variable rate fro home loans, thus resulting in repayments on a standard $300,000 loan to be cut by about $42 a month.

The worldwide slowdown is cutting growth in Australia and some economists are now predicting unemployment will surge by 200,000 and hit 6 per cent by the end of 2009.

Australia was battling a general labor shortage earlier this year but now key industries have started to shed jobs, with even the mining industry slowing down.

It is thought that the migrant intake should be re-examined and looked at via skill categories first then on settlement locations before cutting numbers willy-nilly.

Changes to Australian Visa Laws - Skilled Graduate (subclass 485)

As from the 27th October 2008, the Australian Government will introduce a change to the laws regarding the Skilled Graduate Visa (subclass 485). (note: This date may be subject to change.)

Up until the 27th October migrants were able to lodge their visa application prior to achieving sufficient IELTS scores. This is with the intention of attaining the necessary IELTS scores in the near future. The system worked favorably for the migrant as it gave them more time and options.

However, the new changes that take place on the 27th October will mean that one can only lodge their application for a skilled Graduate Visa (subclass 485) after they have received their required IELTS test results. The results (evidence) needs to be shown at the time of lodgement so to prove that they have met the relevant English language standards.

The standard for professionals, para-professionals and managerial occupations is ‘competent’ English (a score of at least six (6) on each of the four (4) components of the International English Language Test Scheme (IELTS) test or equivalent standard in a specified test).

For people who nominate an occupation in the Major Group IV in the Australian Standard Classification of Occupations, the standard is ‘vocational’ English (a score of at least five (5) on each of the four (4) components of the IELTS test).
IELTS test results must be no more than two (2) years old at the time of application.
This is a departure from the current regulations which allow an applicant to apply having only booked an English language test.

There are exceptions though, people who hold an eligible passport from either Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, United Kingdom or United States of America are not required to submit evidence of their English standard.

For further information about this policy change and how it may affect you please contact our office.

PH: +61 7 3876 4000

Email: migration@noborders-group.com

Website: http://www.noborders-group.com