Changes to the Employer Sponsored Skilled Visa Programme

Employment of illegal workers are still continuing in Australia. Compliance officers from DIAC located 11 illegal workers in the northern Perth suburb of Girrawheen last February. Another five were located in the Sydney suburb of Canley Vale. And in the last few days, compliance officers from DIAC located 14 illegal workers and visa over stayers in the New South Wales Illawarra and Southern Highlands regions. These illegal workers and over stayers where found to be coming from different countries like Malaysia, China, Thailand, Vietnam and Italy.

DIAC figures showed that in 2011/2012 there were almost 2000 people caught working illegally in Australia plus another 1,029 illegal workers found in December 31.

Be Visa Aware
Australian employers are reminded that under Commonwealth legislation, employers hiring illegal workers can face fines of up to $20,400 and two years’ imprisonment while companies face fines of up to $102,000 per illegal worker. DIAC outreach officers visit several locations to explain the changes to the employer sponsored skilled visa program introduced in July of last year. The main changes are centered around SkillSelect.

SkillSelect is an online service that enables skilled workers and business people interested in migrating to Australia to connect with Australian employers through Expression of Interest (EOI) where potential migrants skilled migrants record their details.

Since 1 July 2012, you will need to submit an EOI and receive an invitation before you can apply for the following visas:

• Subclass 189 Skilled – Independent (Permanent)
• Subclass 190 Skilled – Nominated (Permanent)
• Subclass 489 Skilled – Regional Nominated or Sponsored (Provisional)
• Subclass 132 Business Talent (Permanent)
• Subclass 188 Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional)
• Subclass 186 – Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS)
• Subclass 187 – Regional Sponsored Scheme (RSMS)
• Subclass 457 – Temporary Business (Long Stay)

Australian employers with valid AUSKey can search SkillSelect and once they find a potential skilled worker, they can submit a contact request in SkillSelect to the skilled worker and discuss employment opportunities where they can sponsor and employ them.