Skilled Immigrants Urged To Start Their Visa Application Now

From a press release made by the formidable agency of immigration to Australia, Migration Expert, skilled immigrants are being asked to start working now or rush their application. This is prior to the changes happened to the immigration process which took effect last January 1 of this year, 2010. Migration expert is encouraging all those who are aiming of an Australian job, skilled immigrants to be specific, to begin “now” their application because on the coming days, it will be a lot harder as compared before. Everyone will have to undergo a tighter immigration, that will definitely put so much weight on the shoulders of applicants.

Right before 2009 ends, the changes on Priority Processing and Tighter Entry Requirements were introduced. The hardest hit by these changes were the Australia skilled visa applicants. This is to put more emphasis on the skills of every aspirants entering the country.

Quoting the agency, “Traditionally, we've found that most of our clients want to start the migration process at the beginning of the New Year. There are several steps in the skilled migration process and it's important that the client understands exactly what needs to be done at each stage. There have been a lot of changes to the immigration legislation and processing priorities recently. We've been busy obtaining sponsorship and selecting the most appropriate occupation for our clients while lodging skills assessments and visa applications to make sure our clients continue to qualify before the introduction of these changes."

Major changes includes the increase in the minimum requirements for English Language ability, qualifications and relevant work experience. Aspiring migrants who nominate a trade occupation will be required to meet a new minimum IELTS score of 6.0 in each of the four test components. Others who nominate a professional occupation will be required to posses an Australian Bachelor's degree or qualifications equivalent to it, and at least one year of work experience in their field during the last five years.

This revision is to ensure a better outcome of the search for employment and appropriate qualifications from those who are granted with visa under the General Skilled Migration Program.

AS of now, visas being offered for applicants are as follows:

• Applicants sponsored under the Employer Nomination and Regional Sponsored Migration Schemes;
• Applicants sponsored by a State/Territory Government and who have an occupation on the Critical Skills List;
• Applicants sponsored by an Australian family member and who have an occupation on the Critical Skills List;
• Applicants not sponsored but who have an occupation on the Critical Skills List;
• Applicants sponsored by a State/Territory Government and do not have an occupation on the Critical Skills List;
• Applicants who have an occupation on the Migration Occupations in Demand List; and
• Applicants sponsored by an Australian family member and do not have an occupation on the Critical Skills