There is a new MODL released the 31st July 2007.
All the Cooks, Hairdressers and Accountants can relax, you are all still on the list!
In fact, there have been more occupations added and only one removed.
Removed from the MODL
  General Electronic Instrument Tradesperson 4314-11


Added to the MODL
  Architect 2121-11
  Computing Professional – Specialising in Network
Security/ Firewall/ Internet Security		 2231-79
  External Auditor 2212-11
  Quantity Surveyor 2122-11
  Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Avionics) 4114-15
  Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Mechanical) 4114-11
  Locksmith 4155-15
  Optical Mechanic 4999-11
  Painter and Decorator 4421-11
There is little chance of the MODL changing again before the 1st of September so students can relax now. It is surprising hairdressing is still there considering the remarks DIAC’s leader of the Skilled Migration Section made in June but it is good news for all those students.


UPDATED INFORMATION RELEASED
1st September Changes to the Points Test

Dear Students
Finally the updated information regarding the major points test changes has been released and will begin on the 1st September 2007. Most of the information seems in line with my last newsletter which outlined the proposed changes last year. There aer however a few modifications to the original information and these will be explained below.


POINTS TEST CHANGES

1) English (General or Academic IELTS results)

  • 25 points Allocated for Proficient English (7.0 on each section of the IELTS). This makes it much harder that was first anticipated as many students can reach 7.0 Overall but is much harder to reach 7.0 on each.
  • 15 points for 6.0 on each section of the IELTS exam (Academic or General).
  • 15 points for at least 5.0 on each section of the IELTS exam if you are nominating a Trade Occupation such as Cook, Hairdresser, etc. Those who are doing trade courses will have the advantage under this new arrangement.
  • 15 points for 5.5 Overall on the IELTS if you are applying for the new SIR visa (475 or 487 Visa) and willing to pay the English Language fee (the amount is yet to be advised).

    2) Australian Qualifications
  • 5 points for meeting the 2 year study requirement (there will be some tightening of this definition, especially relating to the issue of relevancy).
  • 15 points for Bachelor Degree with Honours (second class- division 1 or above). This needs to be a combination of at least three years of study in Australia
  • 15 points for the completion of a Bachelor Degree and a Masters Degree whilst studying in Australia and the combination of the two degrees took at least 3 years of full time study.
  • 25 points by completing a Doctorate Degree after at least two years of full time study in Australia.

    3) MODL
  • 15 points for nominating an occupation on the MODL list. However you must also demonstrate that you have had at least 12 months experience in this occupation (or closely related) in the 48 months immediately before the application is lodged.
  • 20 points if you have a job offer letter from an Australian Employer in an occupation on the MODL. However you need to demonstrate that his employer has employed at least 10 full time employees at all times in the 24 months immediately before the application is lodged.
    • The 20 points will be easy for Nurses who have a letter of employment offer from a public hospital but for smaller businesses you will need to provide sufficient evidence. Most people will not need the job offer letter unless you are a bit older.

    4) Australian Work Experience

  • 10 points for having 12 months work experience (in Australia) in your nominated occupation (or closely related) in the 48 months immediately preceding the application, or
  • 10 points for completing a professional year of study for at least 12 months in the past 48 months before lodging the application (these courses will be specified by DIAC later).

    • 5) Current points categories not expected to change
  • Age
  • Occupation (40, 50 or 60)
  • Specific Work Experience

    6) Points categories where the information is yet to be released

  • Spouse ( most probably will remain)
  • Bonus points of Language and 100K deposit. (The 5 points for 6 months Australian work experience will be replaced with the 10 points listed above)
  • It is expected that the 100K deposit points may be taken away. The 5 points for study in a designated language may remain as with the NAATI qualification
  • Regional Study (most probably will remain)


    • 7) New Pass Marks?

    No information has released regarding any new pass marks but history has demonstrated that when the points system has been altered significantly like this some of the pass marks were raised. Students should prepare themselves for this possibility.

    NEW VISA’s FOR OVERSEAS STUDENTS

    A) The 880 visa will be replaced by the new 885 (Skilled-Independent) P/R visa.

    B) The 881 visa will be replaced with the new 886 (Skilled-Sponsored) P/R visa.

    C) The 495 SIR visa will be replaced with the 487 (Regional-Sponsored) T/R visa.

    D) The 497 Graduate Skilled 6 month visa will become a new Graduate 485 18 month visa.


    The New 485 Visa

    The new Graduate 485 visa will be the one of the most significant changes next to the point test revisions. This visa will be valid for 18 months and you must apply for it within six months of your course completion. Students will have full time permission to work (or study) and unlimited travel rights. You will need to meet the right criteria, such as;

    1) Hold (or have held) the right student visa (572,573, 574) in the last 6 months.

    2) Meet the basic 2 year study requirement in the last 6 months.

    3) Have applied for your skill assessment in your nominated occupation.

    4) Show the minimum 6.0 on each of the IELTS tests components (or 5.0 on each for trade occupations).


    Originally DIAC mentioned about the need to meet other criteria as mentioned in my last newsletter. There has been no further information released about these issues. They have mentioned that 50 point nominated occupations can be used to apply for the 485 visa and thus the PR visa but not mentioned any additional criteria. If it is going to easier for 50 point occupations to apply for PR then this will open a huge potential for many students who are currently excluded form the 497 visa. It appears that you will need to demonstrate your IELTS result before the 485 will be granted, so don’t delay to book your test in advance.

    There is no explanation when the 18 month period will begin, from lodgement date, course completion date or from the day it is granted. With the current 497 visa, the 6 months begins from the course completion date, not the day the visa is granted. This time frame is due to the fact that currently the PR visa must be lodged within this time frame anyway. With the new 485 visa however, you will not have to lodge your PR visa within 6 months once the 485 visa is granted. Students will be able to apply for the new PR visa’s at any time before the 18 month period expires, not just within 6 months of completing their course.

    There will be a number of students who finish their courses on July this year but their student visa’s may expire before the 1st of September 2007. In these cases there is insufficient information whether you can apply for the old 497 visa first and then apply for the new 485 visa later. We will have to provide updated advice when more information about the news laws is released.


    1st SEPTEMBER DEADLINE

     There are no transitional arrangements for when these new rules begin on the 1st September 2007. This means that if you lodge your PR or TR applications on or after the 1st of September then the new rules will apply. If you have lodged your applications before this date then you will be judged under the rules that applied at the time (the old ones). This means that it does not matter if the processing of your application takes place after the 1st of September as long as you applied before then you only need to meet the pre 01/09/07 criteria.

    If you have lodged an application for the current 497 visa then as long as you are still within 6 months of meeting the 2 year study criteria then you can apply for the new PR visa’s after the 1st of September. This may be a huge benefit to many students who are finishing in July this year (as long as DIAC doesn’t raise the pass mark). Many of you will need to make the decision of which class of visa will give you the best opportunity to gain permanent residence.

    Please visit our office for further advice ($55 fee) or attend the next seminar we hold at UTS (they occur every month with no admission fee and students from any school may attend).


    		 

    24th April 2007



    Nine new professions have been added to the Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL) as part of the Australian Government's commitment to ensuring the Migration Programme meets the skills needs of business and industry, Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs Amanda Vanstone and Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Kevin Andrews announced today.

    “The MODL now includes 35 managerial and professional occupations, one associate professional occupation, nine computing specialisations and 41 trade occupations,” Mr Andrews said.

    “From today, General Skilled Migration [GSM] visa applicants who have recognised qualifications in one of the nine new occupations and specialisations will be awarded additional points. These occupations are child care coordinator, surveyor, electrical engineer, mechanical engineer and five new computing specialisations.”

    The MODL is based on detailed labour market research and analysis undertaken by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR). This research, which includes consultation with employers and peak industry bodies, is updated on a six-monthly basis to ensure the MODL is responsive to labour market conditions.

    “Occupations and specialisations identified on the MODL gain extra points for people applying for a points-tested GSM visa, making it easier for them to come to Australia as skilled migrants,” Senator Vanstone said.

    The ministers noted the recent appointment of Trades Recognition Australia as the Australian assessment body for the occupation of child care coordinator and its inclusion on the MODL. These changes will be welcomed by the child care sector as it will help to address its need for highly skilled managerial staff.

    Regular adjustments to the MODL help to address ongoing shortages in the skilled Australian labour market by ensuring individuals with specialist skills who are in demand are selected for migration to Australia through the GSM program.

     

    MODL - SEPTEMBER 2006 ( new occupations in italics )
    Managers and Administrators ASCO Code
    Child Care Coordinator 1295-11
    Professionals
    Accountant 2211-11
    Anaesthetist 2312-11
    Chemical Engineer 2129-17
    Civil Engineer 2124-11
    Computing Professional - specialising in C++/C#/C 2231-79
    Computing Professional - specialising in CISSP 2231-79
    Computing Professional - specialising in J2EE 2231-79
    Computing Professional - specialising in Java 2231-79
    Computing Professional - specialising in Network Security/Firewall/Internet 2231-79
    Computing Professional - specialising in Oracle 2231-79
    Computing Professional - specialising in PeopleSoft 2231-79
    Computing Professional - specialising in SAP 2231-79
    Computing Professional - specialising in Siebel (particularly Siebel Analytic) 2231-79
    Dental Specialist 2381-13
    Dentist 2381-11
    Dermatologist 2312-13
    Electrical Engineer 2125-11
    Emergency Medicine Specialist 2312-15
    General Medical Practitioner 2311-11
    Hospital Pharmacist 2382-11
    Mechanical Engineer 2126-11
    Medical Diagnostic Radiographer 2391-11
    Mining Engineer (excluding Petroleum) 2127-11
    Obstetrician and Gynaecologist 2312-17
    Occupational Therapist 2383-11
    Ophthalmologist 2312-19
    Paediatrician 2312-21
    Pathologist 2312-23
    Petroleum Engineer 2127-13
    Physiotherapist 2385-11
    Podiatrist 2388-11
    Psychiatrist 2312-27
    Radiologist 2312-29
    Registered Mental Health Nurse 2325-11
    Registered Midwife 2324-11
    Registered Nurse 2323-11
    Retail Pharmacist 2382-15
    Specialist Medical Practitioners (not elsewhere classified) 2312-79
    Specialist Physician 2312-25
    Speech Pathologist 2386-11
    Sonographer 2391-17
    Surgeon 2312-31
    Surveyor 2123-13
    Associate Professionals
    Chef (excluding Commis Chef) 3322-11 (part)
    Tradespersons and Related Workers
    Automotive Electrician 4212-11
    Baker 4512-11
    Boat Builder and Repairer 4981-13
    Bricklayer 4414-11
    Cabinetmaker 4922-11
    Carpenter 4411-13
    Carpenter and Joiner 4411-11
    Cook 4513-11
    Drainer 4431-15
    Electrical Powerline Tradesperson 4313-11
    Electrician (Special Class) 4311-13
    Electronic Equipment Tradesperson 4315-11
    Fibrous Plasterer 4412-11
    Fitter 4112-11
    Floor Finisher 4423-11
    Furniture Upholsterer 4942-11
    Gasfitter 4431-13
    General Electrician 4311-11
    General Electronic Instrument - Tradesperson 4314-11
    General Plumber 4431-11
    Hairdresser 4931-11
    Joiner 4411-15
    Lift Mechanic 4311-15
    Mechanical Services and Airconditioning Plumber 4431-19
    Metal Fabricator (Boilermaker) 4122-11
    Metal Machinist (First Class) 4112-13
    Motor Mechanic> 4211-11
    Panel Beater 4213-11
    Pastrycook 4512-13
    Pressure Welder 4122-13
    Refrigeration and Airconditioning Mechanic 4312-11
    Roof Plumber 4431-17
    Roof Slater and Tiler 4413-11
    Solid Plasterer 4415-11
    Sheetmetal Worker (First Class) 4124-11
    Stonemason 4416-13
    Toolmaker 4113-11
    Vehicle Body Maker 4215-11
    Vehicle Painter 4214-11
    Wall and Floor Tiler 4416-11
    Welder (First Class) 4122-15

     

     

     
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