Further to the announcement earlier in the year by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) the first wave of amendments to the Employer Nomination Scheme have been released, with most changes taking effect from 1 July 2017.
The major talking points from these amendments include:
- The reduction of the upper age limit from 49 to 44 years of age for an applicant (Direct Entry Stream);
- The removal of the exemption from providing a skills assessment due to earnings being above the high income threshold (Direct Entry Stream);
- The removal of the exemption from providing evidence of competent English due to earnings being above the high income threshold (Direct Entry Stream);
- A change in the level of English Language Skill required by primary applicants (Temporary Residence Transition Stream). This change has increased the requirements from vocational to competent which in practice this means an IELTS test score of at least 6 in all bands (or equivalent test); and
- The introduction of specific requirements, for particular occupations (known as caveats) for applications made under the Direct Entry program. This now mirrors that which applies under the Temporary Work 457 visa program which was originally introduced in April 2017.
High Income Threshold Exemptions
While most of the above reforms apply on to applications lodged after 1st July 2017, both the English Language and Skills Assessment exemptions where the High Income Threshold was met were retrospectively applied to applications lodged but not finally determined by that date. The subsequent media release made by the DIBP clarifying that these amendments would not be applied to applications lodged before 1 July 2017 has not yet been backed by formal legislative amendment supporting this statement.
Reforms Overall
In an earlier blog post we outlined the timetable of changes which is taking place. The above represents step one of the broader reform agenda due to affect both the Temporary Work Visa program (Subclass 457) and the Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186). This agenda will see changes rolled out on an on-going basis until March 2018, by which time all announced reforms will have been implemented.
Whether you are an individual visa holder considering how these changes affect you personally or an employer wondering how these and the further proposed changes affect your ability to recruit globally please feel free to contact us at Nevett Ford to see how we are able to assist.