From the introduction of the new TSS visa to replace the 457th visa to the update of the list of skilled immigrants, what new changes will Australia's immigration policy take in the coming year?
TSS Visa replaces 457 visa
Tan Bao (Malcolm Turnbull) and Interior Minister Dudon (Peter Dutton) plan to abolish 457 visa. (SBS picture)
According to the SBS, the current 457 visa will be abolished from March 2018 and replaced by a temporary shortage of technical work visas for TSS (Temporary Skill Shortage,).
TSS visas will be divided into two categories: two-year short-term work visas and four-year mid-term work visas.
Among them, short-term work visa can only be renewed once. The short-term Technical careers list (STSOL) will apply to TSS short-term job applicants.
The holder of a mid-term work visa may apply for a permanent residence visa after three years of employment in Australia. Medium-and long-term strategic technical career list (MLTSSL) will be applicable to TSS mid-term job applicants.
Both categories of TSS visas have stricter requirements than those of 457 visas:
- Increase in the number of years of relevant work experience
- Higher English proficiency requirements
- Enforce labour market test (Labour Market Testing)
- Setting up the Market wage rate (Market Salary Rate) Framework
- Applicants are required to pass the non-racial labour force test
- Mandatory requirement for proof of non-criminality
- Stricter requirements for employers to train employees, etc.
For more information: https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/WorkinginAustralia/Documents/abolition-replacement-457.pdf
Career list change
The short-term list of technical occupations will be adjusted for. (SBS pictures)
In April and July 2017, the short-term technical career list and the medium-and long-term strategic technical career list were significantly adjusted.
This year, the long-and medium-term career list may not be adjusted for the time being, but the short-term career list may be updated, and some of the jobs in the list have been identified by the Employment Department and may be removed. These include accommodation and hotel manager (Accommodation and Hospitality manager), beauty salon manager (Hair or Beauty Salon Manager), recruitment consultant (Recruitment Consultant) and construction assistant (Building Associate).
University mentor (University Tutor), psychotherapist (Psychotherapist), property manager (Property Manager), real estate agent (Real Estate Agent), real estate representative (Real Estate Representative) will be included in the short-term technical career list.
At the same time, the list of skilled immigrant jobs will also add airline pilot (Airline Pilot) to address the shortage of pilots in Australia. Overseas pilots will be allowed to come to Australia on a two-year work visa, according to the SBS.
To live forever and not one step at a time?
Last year, the Tan Po government sought public advice on visa system reform. Under the government's motion, Australian immigrants may need to hold a mandatory temporary visa (mandatory provisional visa) for a certain period of time before obtaining permanent residence status; the types of visas may also be significantly reduced from the current 99 to 10 to simplify the Australian visa system.
The Immigration Department has received 255 submissions, with 184 representatives from the industry, academia, community and goverment participating in the round tables across Australia and 60 representatives of the industry participating in the seminar on immigration reform.
In December 2017, immigration authorities said 55 percent of the submissions were against a temporary stay. Most supporters believe a temporary stay will take at least two years.
In addition, the percentage of support for simplified visa systems is 88%. Proponents advise the goverment to make decisions more transparent, reduce processing time and make the visa system simpler and easier to understand.
While immigration authorities do not have a specific timetable for implementing the new rules, more information is likely to be released this year.
Temporary parent visa
The 2017-18 Budget announced the introduction of a new parental immigration visa for a period of 3-5 years, with an annual quota of 15000, which could be extended overseas for a total of 10 years in Australia. The new plan, which began in November 2017, was delayed. The bill has not yet been passed by the Senate.
Spouse visa
The reform of the spouse's visa, which was carried out last year, will be postponed to 2018. The amendments to the Immigration Act (Domestic violence and other measures)> 2016 (Family Violence and Other Measures) Bill 2016 have not yet been adopted by the Senate.
If passed, a spousal visa guarantee system would be established, with greater emphasis on assessing the qualifications of guarantors.
- The procedure for assessing the qualifications of the guarantor will be separate from the visa application process
- Before the applicant submits a visa application, his guarantor must pass the examination and approval
- The guarantor who has passed the examination shall bear legal obligations
- If the guarantor fails to fulfil his legal obligations, he or she will be subject to legal sanctions
- In specific cases, the guarantor may be prohibited from guaranteeing his or her spouse
