The work experience for General Skilled Migration (GSM)

Any visa applications lodged after 1st September 2007 come under a new interpretation of what work can be allowed in meeting DIACs requirements.

For some applicants you need to meet the requirement of "12 months work experience in the last 24 months" for others you need to meet "3 years in the last 4 years", there are several.

So DIAC will not count any work until AFTER you have obtained the equivalent Australian level. For example as a Marketing Specialist the Australian standard is 5 years work in that profession or a bachelor degree. So NO work will be counted until after this has been attained, towards the GSM requirements.
So if you had worked as both an engineer and a marketing specialist (even if at the high skilled level of these occupations having gained previous qualifications). DIAC will only allow you to include work in ONE of these occupations. Not both.

Calls for one million extra people in the Australian workforce

The skills shortage in Australia's economy is being labeled the "success disease" and the Business Council of Australia has called on the new government to bring at least one million extra people into the workforce to lift productivity. Australia's economic boom is fuelling demand for skilled Australian immigration.

Australian National University economist and labour market expert Bob Gregory agreed that skilled labour is now very hard to find.

Australia needs skilled workers: Anyone applying for an Australian visa should begin by completing the Australian Migration Office's online free assessment to see if they meet the criteria for Australian visa.

Changes to the General Skilled Migration Programme

Changes to the General Skilled Migration programme (GSM) will be introduced on 1 September 2007. People who have made an application for a skilled visa on or before 31 August 2007 will not be affected by the changes.

Changes will include:
- increasing the English language threshold for GSM visa applicants
- rewarding GSM visa applicants who have very good English language proficiency
- greater emphasis on skilled work experience
- introduction of a new temporary work visa for graduates
- simplifying the GSM visa structure.

The threshold level of English language proficiency will be raised from an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of 5 (vocational) to 6 (competent) on all four components. However, applicants applying for trade occupations will be required to meet the current threshold of an IELTS score of 5.
Under the points test system, bonus points will be given to applicants who achieve English language scores above the threshold level and additional points will be allocated for skilled work experience in Australia.
Note: Migration Occupation in Demand List (MODL) points will only be awarded to applicants with at least 12 months experience in their nominated occupation or one that is closely related.

To ensure skilled migrants have the skills Australian employers need, there will be tighter requirements on links between study, work experience and nominated occupation.

International students who are unable to meet the new requirements for a permanent skilled visa will have an opportunity to apply for an 18 month Skilled-Graduate (subclass 485) to build on their skills and work experience. This visa will have unrestricted work rights.

The changes aim to ensure that overseas students who decide to stay on in Australia after completing their studies have a much better chance of competing for jobs in their chosen vocation.

There are currently 15 GSM visa subclasses available to people onshore and offshore, who are wishing to apply to migrate to Australia. Under the new visa structure, this will be reduced to nine visa subclasses - four offshore and five onshore. This new structure enables applicants to more easily identify the visa subclass best suited to their circumstances.

Delay in Citizenship Legislation changes

Delays in the passing of legislation have meant that the proposed changes to the requirements of obtaining Australian citizenship now look like being delayed until 1st July 2007.

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Certifying Documents

From 1 October 2006 the “Migration Regulations 1994” provide that registered migration agents, in Australia and outside Australia, may certify copies of original documents that relate to visa applications.

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Changes to the Skilled Points Test

A number of articles have been written on these changes. There are possible changes to the points for English, occupations in demand, work in Australia, second language skills and others. Discussions with DIMA indicate that these changes are likely now to be implemented in July 2007.

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