There will be changes to the interpretation of the ENS/RSMS nomination legislation from 1 July 2014.

The new policy will allow certain applications for Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream where the nominator has not been the sole standard business sponsor for the nominee during the required period of 2 years. The Department will no longer utilise s50AAA of the Corporations Act to determine whether TRT applicants had worked for the same employer for two years, specifically where businesses have undergone change in the form of restructures,takeovers and sales.

From 1 July 2014, the following changes are applicable:

Occupations added to the SOL

The following occupations will be added to the SOL:

Chef (Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) 351311)
Bricklayer (ANZSCO 331111)
Wall and Floor Tiler (ANZSCO 333411)

Occupations added to the CSOL

The following occupations will be added to the CSOL:

Hydrogeologist (ANZSCO 234413)
Exercise Physiologist (ANZSCO 234915)

Changes to occupation titles

The following titles will be changed:

Ship’s Surveyor will be titled Marine Surveyor (ANZSCO 231215)
General Medical Practitioner will be titled General Practitioner (ANZSCO 253111)

Changes to assessing authorities

For new applications for the above visas made on or after 1 July 2014, new assessing authorities will be specified for the following occupations:

Nurse Manager (ANZSCO 254311): Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC)
Nurse Educator (ANZSCO 254211): ANMAC
Nurse Researcher (ANZSCO 254212): ANMAC.
Marine Transport Professional not elsewhere classified (ANZSCO 231299): Vocational Education and Training Assessment Services (VETASSESS)

 

From 1 July 2014, skills assessments issued by assessing authorities for the purpose of visa applications are only valid for a period of three years, or if a shorter validity period is specified in the assessment, for that shorter period. Skills assessment do not currently expire for the purposes of visa applications.

From 1 July 2014, the Visa Evidence Charge (VEC) will increase from $70.00 to $150.00. The VEC is a charge payable if a person requests a visa label affixed to their passport as evidence of their visa grant. In accordance with the move toward digital services, all visa grants are recorded electronically and can be verified online. It is expected that the higher charge will encourage visa holders to use online verification.

Senators Michaelia Cash and Andrew Robb have announced that Chefs, tilers and bricklayers will be added the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) from 1 July 2014, as recommended by the Australian Workforce and Productivity Agency (AWPA).

The SOL currently lists 188 occupations that are in demand in Australia. No existing occupations will be removed from the SOL.

More information here.