Subclass 186, 187, 189, 489 Skilled Visas Update

• Subclass 186 – Employer Occupation List has been updated.
  • A new skilled occupation list and new instrument (LIN 19/049) has been published, with eligible skilled occupations for this program included on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) only.
• Subclass 189/489 and 190 Occupation lists have been updated
  • 36 occupations are added to MLTSSL for the purposes of 189/489 applications.
    • New MLTSSL Occupation:
      • Telecommunications network planner (ANZSCO code 313213)
        Pressure welder (ANZSCO code 322312)
        Environmental Manager (ANZSCO code 139912)
        Musician (Instrumental) (ANZSCO code 211213)
        Statistician (ANZSCO code 224113)
        Economist (ANZSCO code 224311)
        Mining Engineer (excluding Petroleum) (ANZSCO code 233611)
        Petroleum Engineer (ANZSCO code 233612)
        Engineering Professionals nec (ANZSCO code 233999)
        Chemist (ANZSCO code 234211)
        Food Technologist (ANZSCO code 234212)
        Environmental Consultant (ANZSCO code 234312)
        Environmental Research Scientist (ANZSCO code 234313)
        Environmental Scientists nec (ANZSCO code 234399)
        Geophysicist (ANZSCO code 234412)
        Hydrogeologist (ANZSCO code 234413)
        Life Scientist (General) (ANZSCO code 234511)
        Biochemist (ANZSCO code 234513)
        Biotechnologist (ANZSCO code 234514)
        Botanist (ANZSCO code 234515)
        Marine Biologist (ANZSCO code 234516)
        Microbiologist (ANZSCO code 234517)
        Zoologist (ANZSCO code 234518)
        Life Scientists nec (ANZSCO code 234599)
        Conservator (ANZSCO code 234911)
        Metallurgist (ANZSCO code 234912)
        Meteorologist (ANZSCO code 234913)
        Natural and Physical Science Professionals nec (ANZSCO code 234999)
        University Lecturer (ANZSCO code 242111)
        Multimedia Specialist (ANZSCO code 261211)
        Software and Applications Programmers nec (ANZSCO code 261399)
        Horse Trainer (ANZSCO code 361112)
        Physicist – no longer restricted to medical physicist

• • The legislative instrument removed 27 occupations from the STSOL including:
    • Visual Arts and Crafts Professionals (ANZSCO code 211499)
      Textile, Clothing and Footwear Mechanic (ANZSCO code 323215)
      Watch and Clock Maker and Repairer (ANZSCO code 323316)
      Chemical Plant Operator (ANZSCO code 399211)
      Library Technician (ANZSCO code 399312)
      Arts Administrator or Manager (ANZSCO code 139911)
      Dancer or Choreographer (ANZSCO code 211112)
      Music Director (ANZSCO code 211212)
      Artistic Director (ANZSCO code 212111)
      Footballer (ANZSCO code 452411)
      Aquaculture Farmer (ANZSCO code 121111)
      Cotton Grower (ANZSCO code 121211)
      Fruit or Nut Grower (ANZSCO code 121213)
      Grain, Oilseed or Pasture Grower (ANZSCO code 121214)
      Mixed Crop Farmer (ANZSCO code 121216)
      Sugar Cane Grower (ANZSCO code 121217)
      Crop Farmers nec (ANZSCO code 121299)
      Beef Cattle Farmer (ANZSCO code 121312)
      Dairy Cattle Farmer (ANZSCO code 121313)
      Mixed Livestock Farmer (ANZSCO code 121317)
      Pig Farmer (ANZSCO code 121318)
      Sheep Farmer (ANZSCO code 121322)
      Livestock Farmers nec (ANZSCO code 121399)
      Mixed Crop and Livestock Farmer (ANZSCO code 121411)
      Dentist (ANZSCO code 252312)
      Anaesthetist (ANZSCO code 253211)
      Tennis Coach (ANZSCO code 4542316)

The relevant legislative instrument can be found here:

https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2019L00278

We will be updating the full occupation list on our site shortly to reflect the updated occupation list

Commencement of the five year subclass 870 Sponsored Parent Temporary visa

On 1 March 2019, Minister Coleman announced that applications to sponsor a parent for a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa will be open from 17 April 2019

• The Sponsored Parent (Temporary) subclass 870 visa provides parents and grandparents with a new pathway to reunite and spend time together through having the opportunity to visit Australia for a continuous period of up to five years.
• There is also the opportunity to apply for a second visa for another five years after a short period outside Australia, meaning parents and grandparents will be able to spend up to 10 years in Australia.
• Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs David Coleman said the new visa the new visa will deliver great social benefits to families across Australia.
• “Up to 15,000 Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visas may be granted each year, ensuring reunions are possible for many families. This will make a big difference to many Australian families.”
• Measures have been put in place to strengthen the visa framework, and require Australian sponsors to act as a financial guarantor for any outstanding public health costs incurred by the visa holder whilst in Australia, including hospital and aged care fees. This ensures taxpayers are not required to cover additional costs.

Costs (Visa Application Charge)

The Visa Application Charge for the 870 parent visa will be:

• $5000 for a three-year visa,
• $10,000 for a five-year visa and
• $20,000 for a ten-year visa.

General Information 

• The sponsor (child) will be required to act as a financial guarantor for any outstanding public health costs incurred by the visa holder
• The visa application process will involve two stages
  • with sponsors and parent applicants being assessed separately, and
  • with approval of the child-sponsor required before a visa application can be made by the sponsor’s parents.
• Parents will be eligible for this new visa if:
  • their child is approved as a sponsor;
  • they meet identity, health requirement and character requirements, and
  • do not owe outstanding debts for public health services they have received in Australia.
• Applicants will be required to obtain and maintain health insurance for the entire period of their stay in Australia.
• Step-parents will be eligible only if they continue to be in a married or de factor relationship with a biological parent of the sponsoring child.
• The “Balance of Family Test”, which has previously applied to other kinds of parent visas, will not be a criterion of the new temporary parent visa.
• There will be no English language requirement for the grant of the visa.
• It will be possible to “renew” this visa. However, the maximum period of stay that will be allowed under this program will be a total of 10 years.
• Holders of the visa will not be able to engage in paid work. They will be allowed to assist with childcare and to undertake unpaid volunteer activities. They will also be allowed to undertake informal, short-term study.

Invitation process

• The highest ranked applications by points score are invited to apply for the relevant visa.
• Applicants who have equal points scores, the time at which they reached their points score for that subclass (referred to as the date of effect) determines their order of invitation.
• Expressions of Interest with earlier dates of effect are invited before later dates.

Estimates as at February 2019

Due to high levels of demand, and in keeping with previous years, the below occupation groups will be subject to pro rata arrangements to ensure availability of invitations across the program year.

Estimated Point scores required for the pro rata occupations

Note:

• these points do not apply for a 190 visa
• for a 190 application, if the state approves your sponsorship, you get a guaranteed invitation for a 190 visa

Your visa is expiring or has expired

You must have a valid visa to stay in Australia. It is unlawful to stay in Australia without a valid visa.

• Check your visa expiry date and conditions

Before you decide what to do next, you need to know:

• when your visa expires
• whether your visa has a condition that prevents further stay
• your other visa conditions

What are your Options ?

Stay longer

• If you want to stay longer in Australia, you must apply for a new visa. You can't apply for a new visa in Australia if your current visa has a no further stay condition (eg. a 8503).
• Leave Australia
• leave Australia any time before your visa expires

Take the right steps to leave Australia if your visa has already expired

• If you don't have a valid visa
• You must take steps to become lawful as soon as you can or leave Australia.
• To leave Australia after your visa expires, apply for a Bridging visa E (BVE) as soon as you can. A BVE is a short-term visa that lets you remain lawful while you make arrangements to leave Australia.

Permanent residents

As a permanent resident, you can leave Australia and return on your permanent visa as often as you wish for the first 5 years after the visa is granted. After this:

• the travel component of your permanent visa will expire
• you must apply for a Resident Return visa (RRV) if you want to leave Australia and return as a permanent resident

If you are outside Australia when the travel component of your permanent visa expires, do not return to Australia on any other kind of visa. If you do:

• you will lose your permanent resident status
• your eligibility for citizenship might be affected

Contact us if you need a RRV or have any problems with your visa expiring