Free Call (Within Australia) 1800 449 858
[email protected]
Interstaff MigrationInterstaff MigrationInterstaff MigrationInterstaff Migration
Menu
  • Home
  • About
      • About Us
      • Why Interstaff?
      • Company History
      • Staff Profiles
      • Visa Agents
      • Immigration Agents
      • Visa Refusals and Appeals
    • Close
  • Businesses
      • Sponsorship
      • Temporary Work Visas
      • Permanent Work Visas
      • Complex Migration Issues
      • DAMA – Designated Area Migration Agreements
      • Supported Industry Sectors
    • Close
  • Individuals
      • Visa Extensions
      • Skilled Work Visas
      • Working Holiday Visas
      • Family & Partner Visas
      • Student Visas
      • Visitor Visas
      • Medical Treatment Visas
      • Complex Migration Issues
      • Visa Refusals and Appeals
      • Case Studies
    • Close
  • News and Info
      • Immigration News
      • Case Studies
      • Why Use a Migration Agent?
      • Visa Extensions
      • Australian Migration Services
    • Close
  • Contact Us
NextPrevious
High rise buildings with sunny blue sky

Skilled visa updates for visa holders and employers

Immigration News | 2 August, 2017 |

pexels-photo-443383

A number of changes to Australia’s skilled visas took place from 1 July 2017 and we have received some important updates on how the implemented changes are being managed by the Immigration Department. Here’s what businesses and skilled visa holders need to know.

Training benchmark legislation updates

The Immigration Department has recently updated migration legislation to reflect the new training benchmark requirements for nominations and sponsorship applications from 1 July 2017. The new legislative instruments now provide greater clarity on what the Immigration Department considers ‘acceptable expenditure’ towards a company’s Training Benchmark requirements.

Sponsors are still required to meet either Training Benchmark A or B. Training funds that may be used to meet the requirement of Training Benchmark A are:

  • an industry training fund: that is, a statutory authority responsible for providing funding for training of eligible workers in certain industries;
  • a fund managed by a recognised industry body that provides training opportunities in their industry and quarantines contributions to the fund for training purposes only; or
  • a recognised scholarship fund operated by an Australian university or TAFE college only.

Alternatively, acceptable expenditure for Training Benchmark B includes:

  • Payments for Australian employees to undertake a formal course of study, including any reasonable and necessary associated costs (e.g. costs of travelling to the training venue or access an online training programme);
  • Payments to RTOs to deliver face-to-face training to Australian employees that will contribute to an Australian Qualifications Framework qualification;
  • The purchase of an eLearning platform or standalone training software;
  • Payments to cover the salary of Australian employees: engaged by the business as apprentices or trainees under a formal training contract, or who have completed an undergraduate or higher degree in a university within the last 2 years, and are participating in a formal, structured graduate program for up to 2 years, or completing a professional year following their graduation;
  • The salary of a person whose sole role is to provide training to Australian employees;
  • Expenditure to attend conferences for continuing professional development.

The training benchmarks will be abolished from March 2018 once the new Skilling Australians Fund is introduced.

Changes to labour market testing evidence arrangements

Previously, employers were encouraged to complete and sign a ‘Domestic Recruitment Table’ (DRT) as evidence that they have undertaken adequate labour market testing and advertising for a particular role.

The Immigration Department’s systems now allow for this information to be collected through the sponsor’s nomination form, therefore the DRT will no longer be accepted as evidence of labour market testing from October 2017.

Instead, documentation such as a copy of the relevant published advertisements and receipts for any advertising fees must be provided. The change will allow the Immigration Department greater scrutiny over whether the advertised conditions of employment are the same for both Australian and overseas candidates.

Nomination transfers to receive priority processing

The Immigration Department’s systems now automatically allow for priority processing of nomination transfers for 457 visa holders who are changing employers. This means 457 visa holders will be out of work for a shorter duration between employers, and businesses will experience a reduced waiting period before the employee is able to begin work with the company.

Updates to visa grant periods and international trade obligations (ITO)

While the Short Term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL) generally allows for a two year visa, the Immigration Department has advised that a 457 visa period of four years may be granted in cases where nominated occupations on the STSOL are:

  • Requested by the sponsor; and
  • Required to meet Australia’s ITOs as outlined below

A four year visa period will still be available for ‘executive and senior mangers’ where the nominee is:

  • Currently working in a WTO member country for the associated entity of an Australian sponsor (ICTs) or
  • Seeking to establish a new branch of the nominating business that is already operating in Thailand or China (Independent Executives).

A four year visa period is also available for certain country specific scenarios for Singapore, Thailand or China.

Police certificate requirements

Currently, all 457 visa applications lodged from 1 July 2017 must provide police certificates for each country the applicant has lived in for a cumulative period of 12 months or more, over the last 10 years if their stay in Australia is expected to exceed 12 months.

The Immigration Department has advised police certificates will be required prior to lodging the visa application so it is important to consider the time it takes to receive police certificates. In our experience, some countries can take longer than others to process police certificate applications.

Interstaff will keep you updated on any further changes to Australia’s skilled visas. Read about the recent 457 visa changes here or to understand how the recent 457 visa changes impact you or your business, we encourage you to contact Interstaff’s registered migration agents for a free visa assessment at [email protected] or on +61 8 9221 3388 (or National Free Call 1800 449 858).

Source:
The Department of Immigration and Border Protection
Interstaff’s Registered Migration Agents

No tags.

Related Post

  • Interstaff workers within the migration agency HQ in perth

    Support for women seeking to migrate

    Today women around the world are celebrating International Women’s Day. It’s a day where the world recognises improvements in women’s rights, while also acknowledging that unfortunately in many parts of the world, there are still many women experiencing violence or inequality. The Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection recognises… Read More »

  • 2016 Migration Professional Seminar poster countdown

    See Us at the Skilled Migrant Professionals Seminar

    Interstaff International are proud to be Perth’s official migration agency sponsoring the Skilled Migrant Professionals Seminar held at Kim Beazley Theatre, Murdoch University on Friday 18 March from 5pm to 8.30pm. The Skilled Migrant Professionals Seminar is designed to provide networking opportunities between skilled migrants and employers, recruitment agencies, career… Read More »

  • Celebrating Australia’s Irish Past

    Did you know up to one third of Australians are of Irish heritage? Irish settlement played a formative part in Australia’s social, political and cultural background. At Interstaff, several of our team members are of Irish descent, including our Managing Director, Sheila Woods and Registered Migration Agent, Elain Flynn. On… Read More »

  • Exploitation problem facing Australian immigration authorities

    Australia has a large number of undocumented workers – some estimates suggest that the number may exceed 100,000 people. Add to this the massive international student population and temporary work visa holders and you have a big problem. Sadly this leads to exploitation by unscrupulous employers. These sentiments were published… Read More »

  • IT Professionals in High Demand in Australia

    More than 85 percent of new jobs for information and computer technology (ICT) were occupied by international workers for the year 2015, according to a report made by the Australian Computer Society. It is stated in the report that hiring overseas workers is now made a top priority in order to… Read More »

  • Visa-free ‘migration bloc’ supported by most Australia, Canada, NZ, & UK citizens

    Nearly 4,000 individuals from these 4 Commonwealth countries — Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom – have taken part in a survey and the results show that most of them strongly agree to have a Union-style system (that is similar to Europe) which would enable free movement among… Read More »

  • Interstaff stall at the 2016 Skilled Migrants Professionals Seminar

    Networking is Key for Skilled Migrants

    Over 150 people attended the Skilled Migrants Professionals Seminar on Friday 18 March at Murdoch University to access valuable networking opportunities designed to help skilled migrants compete in the Australian job market. Interstaff Visa Coordinator, Allieu Sesay said, “Seminars like the Skilled Migrant Professionals Seminar are great because they provide… Read More »

  • Woman holding her mobile phone and coffee cup with Interstaff International logo

    Exclusive offer for our Facebook fans

    Interstaff International are offering 30% off their Initial Consultation Fee to its Facebook fans for a limited time only. Simply access our digital coupon and then follow the prompts to share our offer on Facebook in order to redeem 30% off your Initial Consultation Fee. We will then validate your coupon at… Read More »

NextPrevious

Get In Touch

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
  • Home
  • About
    • About Us
    • Why Interstaff?
    • Company History
    • Staff Profiles
    • Visa Agents
    • Immigration Agents
    • Visa Refusals and Appeals
  • Businesses
    • Sponsorship
    • Temporary Work Visas
    • Permanent Work Visas
    • Complex Migration Issues
    • DAMA – Designated Area Migration Agreements
    • Supported Industry Sectors
  • Individuals
    • Visa Extensions
    • Skilled Work Visas
    • Working Holiday Visas
    • Family & Partner Visas
    • Student Visas
    • Visitor Visas
    • Medical Treatment Visas
    • Complex Migration Issues
    • Visa Refusals and Appeals
    • Case Studies
  • News and Info
    • Immigration News
    • Case Studies
    • Why Use a Migration Agent?
    • Visa Extensions
    • Australian Migration Services
  • Contact Us
Interstaff Migration

Free Call (within Australia): 1800 449 858
Email: [email protected]

Head Office: Level 1, 384 Rokeby Road, Subiaco W.A. 6008
Office Hours:
Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm (AWST).

Business Migration | Strategic Thinking.
© 2023 Interstaff.

Business Visas

  • Sponsorship
    • Standard Business Sponsorship
    • Labour Agreements
    • Training and Research Sponsor
    • Professional Development Sponsor
    • Entertainment Sponsor
    • Sponsorship Management Services
  • Temporary Work Visas
    • Employer Sponsored Work Visas
    • Short Stay Work Visas
    • Working Holiday Visas
  • Business Owner & Investor Visas
    • Business Owner Visa Stream
    • Investor Visa Stream
    • Significant Investor Visa Stream
    • Premium Investor Visa Stream
    • Permanent Residency As a Business Owner Or Investor
  • Complex Migration Issues
  • Permanent Work Visas
    • Employer Nomination Scheme
    • Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme
    • General Skilled Migration 
  • Supported Industry Sectors
    • Resources
    • Agriculture
    • Information Technology
    • Engineering & Construction
    • Trades
    • Health & Aged/Social Care
    • Restaurants & Hospitality
    • Education & Training
  • Business Migration FAQ's

Individual Visas

  • Skilled Work Visas
  • Working Holiday Visas
  • Family & Partner Visas
    • Partner Visas
    • Parent Visas
    • Child Visas
    • New Zealand Citizen Family Visa
    • Carer Visa Options
    • Remaining Relative Visa
  • Student Visas
  • Visitor Visas
  • Medical Treatment Visas
  • Complex Migration Issues
  • Individual Migration FAQ's
    • Boost Your IELTS Score
    • Settling In As A Skilled Migrant
    • Ask A Migration Agent 

Get in touch today

Contact Us

This content is not advice. It serves as a general overview of topics of interest. It is not exhaustive, and its accuracy is subject to change, therefore Interstaff is not responsible for the accuracy or timeliness of the information or any actions taken based on it. We recommend that you seek professional advice before making decisions or relying on the information provided – please enquire with our team of Registered Migration Agents for specialist advice so that your specific circumstances can be considered. 

Interstaff acknowledges that it is situated on Boorloo (Perth) - Whadjuk Noongar Country, and that Whadjuk Noongar people remain the spiritual and cultural custodians of their land, continuing to practise their values, languages, beliefs and knowledge. We pay our respects to Elders, past, present and emerging.

Copyright 2024 | Website & SEO by Start Digital