Australian Skilled Migration Changes 2018

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The 1 July 2018 saw the beginning of a new migration year in Australia. Over the last 6 weeks there have been an abundance of changes to the skilled migration process. These changes are outlined below:

1) Minimum points required for skilled migration increase to 65

Applicants applying for a Skilled Visa for Australia must achieve a minimum of 65 points to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI). This change applies to all applicants on 60 points who have not yet received an invitation to apply for a skilled visa.

Achieving the new minimum point score of 65 does not assure you an invitation to apply for a visa. As per previous invitation rounds, applicants currently need a minimum of 70 points to apply for a Skilled Independent 189 Visa.

Completing a recognised English Language Test or securing State Sponsorship are the two primary ways in which to increase your points score. Most Australian states have reopened their nomination programmes to new applicants.

2) SkillSelect rounds now occur monthly

As of 11 August 2018, SkillSelect invitation rounds will take place monthly. The number of invitations issued monthly will remain the same; however this is subject to change in accordance with the department’s processing capacity and pipeline.

Once submitted, an Expression of Interest is valid for 2 years.

3) Visa application charges have increased

As of 1 July 2018, the new visa application charges for General Skilled Migration (subclass 189, 190 and 489) are as follows:

Base application charge$3755.00
Additional applicant aged 18+$1875.00
Additional applicant under 18$940.00

 
The Department of Home Affairs charge a card fee on payments of 1.32% (Visa and Mastercard) and 1.40% (AMEX).

If you are interested in migration to Australia you can complete our free online assessment.

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The Australian Job Market is strong

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Economists reported that Australia’s unemployment rate has fallen to a four-year low. Figures show that the unemployment rate was just 5.5% in September this year which is the lowest rate since March 2013. According to Nine News, more than 4,000 new jobs are created in Western Sydney every month alone.

The increase in jobs has been the primary reason for unemployment rates falling. In Australia, job vacancies have continued to steadily increase and are now at the highest they’ve been in five years. With the demand for skilled workers in Australia increasing it’s a great time to think about migrating.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics jobs survey, healthcare has been the biggest source of additional employment vacancies. If you work in the healthcare industry and would like to migrate to Australia then complete our free online skilled visa assessment here.

Another expanding industry is construction, with approvals to build new homes climbing to a 7-month high in September. The housing construction boom is great news for trades workers as more jobs are being generated to meet the demand. Furthermore it’s good for the economy with boosted sales of furniture and electronics. If you are a skilled trades person who would like to migrate to Australia, why not explore your visa options today.

In Western Australia the economy is bouncing back from recent struggles, and engineers are once more in high demand. The state has added 20,000 jobs since the start of the 2017.

If you’re looking to migrate to Australia Visa-Go can provide the expertise and assistance you require. As a Visa-Go client your visa case will be managed by Registered Migration Agent Darren Chatt MARN: 0211214 and a dedicated Case Processor. You can read more about Visa-Go here.

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