MIGRATION PROFESSION SAYS "SPEED IT UP"
The Rudd government's prioritising and fast-tracking of skilled migrant visas for people sponsored by State or Territory governments, or who have certain occupations or who have a guaranteed of a job, is generally welcome news, but the ramifications for skilled migration applicants not in those categories is unclear and of concern, says Maurene Horder, CEO of the Migration Institute of Australia.
Ms Horder commended the Ministers efforts to address the critical skills shortages being experienced.
"Sensible refinements of the program that help meet the community's needs are something that we are very supportive of," she said.
"But, we would also like to see inroads into the backlog of skilled migration applications. Tens of thousands of applicants remain in the pipeline. They can expect to wait up to 15 months or longer to be processed.
"We need the government to be responsive in trying to improve all processing times."
"The country is crying out for people in medicine, engineering, IT, accounts, teaching and construction. Highly skilled people have been sitting in immigration queues for months who can fill these jobs right now. Moving their applications along quickly is laudable, but let's not leave the rest languishing in limbo."
This assignment of priorities may mean that the future is very uncertain for good people who have applied in good faith prior to the changes. We are concerned about the impact on these people.
In particular, the future of students who have spent significant funds and effort to obtain Australian qualifications in the belief that they could apply successfully to remain here permanently is unclear. This may impact on Australian education sector enrolments in future years.
The MIA will do a fuller assessment of the likely ramifications for the many cases already in the system and prepare a detailed response to the Government. Much detail is unknown.
In a statement yesterday, the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans said changes would be effective from 1 January 2009.
Questions submitted to DIAC
•1. In "2008-09 Migration Program Changes Frequently asked questions" it states in Question 22:
"What will happen to those applications which are in the final stages of processing and where the department has requested applicants to provide health and character clearances? Those applications which are currently close to being finalised, will be finalised by the department, subject to health and character clearances."
What does DIAC mean by "close to being finalised"?
•2. Will the new arrangements affect current applications from people who currently hold temporary visas such as Subclass 495 (SIR) and who have applied for a Subclass 887 visa for example?
•3. (a) How many General Skilled Migration visa applications are on currently lodged with DIAC?
(b) How many GSM visas have been granted this program year?
•4. The DIAC Planning levels for skilled migration for 2008-09 have a total of 133,500 places, comprising:
•a. Employer Sponsored 28,000
•b. Skilled Independent 74,630
•c. State/Territory Sponsored 9,350
•d. Skilled Australian Sponsored 14,330
•e. Distinguished Talent 200
•f. Business Skills 7,000
What changes are expected in these planning targets?
•5. If the number of General Skilled Migration visa applications granted reaches the planning target for 2008-09, what will happen to those other undecided applications?
•6. 6. In the document entitled "2008-09 Migration Program Changes Frequently asked questions" it states in Question 8 that "Occupations that are not included in the CSL will not be given priority processing unless the applicants have a job offer or are sponsored or nominated by a state or territory government." Is this mention of a job offer only referring to employer nominated applications or is it also referring to General Skilled Migration applications.
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