NEWS 20^th July 2007

GSM CHANGES – 1 SEPTEMBER 2007

A. Summary of Changes to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the GSM programme – to take effect 1 September 2007:

1. increasing the English language threshold for all GSM visas
2. making the recent work experience requirement uniform across all offshore GSM visas
3. adjusting the points test to:

(i)  benefit applicants with

1. strong English language skills
2. Australian skilled work experience and
3. Advanced Australian tertiary qualifications

(ii) limit MODL points to applicants with work experience

4. allowing overseas students with 50 point occupations to apply for GSM in Australia
5. creating a temporary visa for Overseas Students

B.  Policy changes:

1. allowing GSM applicants to include their interdependent partner in their application
2. removing Assurance of Support
3. removing SSASSL
4. final settings for the points test including awarding points for sponsorship by a relative in a designated area and removing points for Capital Investment
5. setting the pass and pool marks for the new visas
6. clarifying the 2 year study rule
7. opening up access to RSMS for provisional holders

C. Change to English requirement

1. main applicant will need to demonstrate that they have competent English (min score of 6 in each component of IELTs)
2. Exceptions:
•  applicants with a trade occupation: vocational English
•  applicants for a provisional visa who have paid for English language tuition: concessional competent English
3. Offshore applicants and onshore permanent visa applicants must provide evidence that they meet the English requirements at time of application
4. Onshore temporary and provisional visa applicants must have either evidence they meet the relevant threshold or evidence they have booked to sit an English language test
5. Specified passport holders will be considered to have met the English language threshold without a test result
6. All applicants seeking to claim additional points for English will need to sit a test.

D. Changes to Work experience requirement

1. work experience will be uniform across the GSM visa structure
2. applicants need to demonstrated they have been employed in an occupation on the SOL for at least 12 of the last 24 months
3. the 12 month period will include paid leave bud does not include periods of leave without pay
4. employed continues to mean a position that is paid, at a skill level, or a minimum of 20 hours a week

E. Changes to 2 year study requirement

1. To meet the 2 year study requirement, an applicant must have completed one or more degree, diploma, or trade qualification for award by an Australian educational institution as a result of a course or courses:

   •  registered on CRICOS
   •  completed as a result of at least 2 academic years study
   •  completed in a total of no less than 16 calendar months
   •  that the applicant studied in Australia while holding a visa that allowed study
   •  instruction conducted in English

2. Applicants need to demonstrate that they met the requirement in the last 6 months and their studies were closely related to their nominated occupation

F. Changes to the Points test

G. Subclass 485: Skilled - Graduate Visa

1. New visa category for o/s students who are unable to immediately qualify for GSM on completing studies
2. At time of application, main applicant must:
•  be under 45
•  met the 2 year study requirement in the last 6 months
•  applied for a suitable skills assessment in their nominated 50 or 60 point occupation
•  have evidence that they meet the English language threshold or have booked to sit an English language test

3. All applicants must:
•  hold eligible student visa or have held an eligible student visa in the last 6 months
•  have booked medical
•  have applied for an AFP check if 16 or older

4. No points tested
5. No work or study restrictions but conditions that the visa holder must maintain adequate health insurance may be imposed
6. Skilled – Graduate visa holders can apply for permanent or provisional GSM or an employer sponsored visa at any time

H. Subclass 476: Recognised – Graduate Visa

1. New visa aimed at addressing ‘niche' shortages in the labour market
2. 18 month visa
3. At time of application, main applicant must:
•  be 30 years or older
•  have completed a degree in specified discipline from a specified educational institution in the last 24 months
•  have competent English

4. No points tested
5. No work or study restrictions
6. Skilled-Recognised graduate visa holders can apply for permanent or provisional GSM or an employer sponsored visa at any time

I. Permanent pathways for provisional visa holders

1. Provisional visa holders will continue to have an option to extend their 3 year visa for an additional 12 months. From 01.09.07 a person holding a 495 (skilled independent regional) , 496 (designated area-sponsored), 475 or 487 (regional sponsored) can apply for a 12 month ‘extension' of their provisional bias by lodging an application for a skilled-regional sponsored (subclass 487) visa.
2. Applicants will need to demonstrate that they have complied with the conditions of their provisional visa. There will be no nomination or sponsorship requirement.
3. The permanent GSM visa available to these same provisional visa holders is the skilled – regional (subclass 887) visa (must demonstrated they have lived for at least 2 years and worked full-time for at least one year in a specified regional area

J. Pathways for Graduate Visa holders