Simplifying Sponsorship for Permanent Skilled Migrants
Friday, 09 March 2012
The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Bowen MP, today announced the government will cut red tape for businesses looking to address critical skills gaps by simplifying the permanent employer-sponsored visa program.
'The government will establish a fast–tracked pathway from the temporary skilled subclass 457 visa to permanent residence under the employer-sponsored visa program, enabling skilled migrants to settle and work in regional and metropolitan Australia,' Mr Bowen said.
'These reforms will make it easier for businesses and potential migrants to navigate the permanent employer-sponsored visa program, while ensuring the integrity of our visa system.'
Around four in five permanent employer-sponsored visa applicants previously held a 457 visa and the majority of them stay with the same employer doing the same job.
'Skilled migrants deliver major benefits to the Australian economy in terms of contributing to economic growth and offsetting the impacts of an ageing population,' Mr Bowen said.
'We know these workers can do the job and are ready to make a commitment to Australia, so it makes sense to streamline their pathway to permanent residence.'
The government will replace the current six permanent employer-sponsored visas with two new visas and consolidate the existing three sponsored occupation lists – subclass 457, employer nomination, and state and territory sponsored general skilled migration lists — into one list.
The reforms to the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) and the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) will commence on 1 July 2012.
Permanent employer-sponsored visa places currently account for 39 per cent of the total skilled migration program for 2011–12, including 16 000 places through RSMS. The program allows Australian employers to sponsor workers for permanent residence to fill skilled full-time job vacancies in their businesses.
More information on the changes is available.
See: Permanent Employer-Sponsored Visa Program Reforms
URL: http://www.minister.immi.gov.au/media/cb/2012/cb183639.htm
Last update: Friday, 09 March 2012 at 12:42 AEST