Hi, How Can We Help You?
  • Level 3, 58 Kitchener Pde, Bankstown Sydney NSW
  • contact@emkglobal.com.au
  • (+61) 487 026 666

Monthly Archives: December 2024

December 17, 2024

Graduate visas Sc 485  

Migration Amendment (Graduate Visas No. 2) Regulations 2024 – this instrument includes an express definition of ‘degree’, specifically for the purposes of the Sc 485 visa and ensures that the Sc 485 visa criteria operate as intended following the 1 July 2024 changes to the Sc 485 Post Higher Education Work (PHEW) stream.

Following this, it requires an applicant for an initial Subclass 485 visa in PHEW stream, in the period six (6) months immediately before the application for that visa was made, to have completed one or more degrees for award by an Australian educational institutions as a result of a course or courses:

  • that are registered courses; and
  • that were completed in a total of at least 16 calendar months; and
  • that were completed as a result of a total of at least two (2) academic years study; and
  • for which all instruction was conducted in English; and
  • that the applicant undertook while in Australia as the holder of a visa authorising the applicant to study

This instrument commences on 14 December 2024. 

Ministerial Direction 112 – National Innovation Visa Sc 858

As per section 8 of Ministerial Direction 112 (MD 112) the order of priority for allocating applications for the Sc 858 National innovation visa (NIV) are the following: 

  • Priority one- Exceptional candidates from any sector who are global experts and recipients of international ‘top of field’ level awards. This includes but are not limited to Nobel Prizes; Breakthrough Prizes; Rousseeuw Prize; Eni Award; Institution of Electrical Engineers Medal of Honor; Fields Medal; Chern Medal; Abel Prize; L’Oreal-UNESCO Award for Women in Science; Turing Award; ACM Prize in Computing; Pulitzer Prize; International Booker Prize; International Tchaikovsky Competition Gold Medal; Olympic Gold Medal and Laureus World Sportsman or Sportswoman of the year.
  • Priority two- Candidates from any sector nominated on the approved Form 1000 by an expert Australian Commonwealth, State or Territory Government agency.
  • Priority three- Candidates with exceptional and outstanding achievementsin a Tier One sector:
    • Critical Technologies
    • Health Industries
    • Renewables and low emission technologies
  • Priority four – Candidates with exceptional and outstanding achievements in a Tier Two sector:
    • Agri-food and AgTech
    • Defence Capabilities and Space
    • Education
    • Financial Services and FinTech
    • Infrastructure and Transport
    • Resources

s 9 of MD 112 specifies that decision makers should have regard to a demonstration of multiple achievements, which may include but are not limited to:

  • receipt of a national research grant in Australia or overseas indicating that the individual is ‘top of their field’ level talent, including from:
    •  the Australian Research Council; Department of Education Accelerator grants; or other similar level grants;
    • equivalent level grants from other countries, such as the United Kingdom research and Innovation Grants program; funding from the EU Commission; funding from the US National Science Foundation.
  • holding a PhD with high-levels of academic influence or thought leadership in their field, including:
    •  recent publications in top ranked journals, such as Nature, Lancet or Acta Numerica
    • a high h-index for their stage of career, for example an early career researcher with an h-index of 14
    • research-based degree from a top global university, for example ranked in top 100 World University Rankings by Times Higher Education
  • recent keynote appearance at a high-profile international conference, for example Web Summit, International Congress of Mathematicians, American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting or International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium.
  • having recognised intellectual property attributed to them, such as holding relevant international patents.
  • earning at or above the high income threshold (employment offer or current salary) where
    • there is written communication from an Australian employer offering employment in Australia with an annual salary equivalent to or higher than the high income threshold; or
    • the primary applicant’s current earnings is an amount equal or greater than the high income threshold

In considering exceptional and outstanding achievements for applications under Priority 2 which are for candidates from any sector nominated on the approved Form 1000 by an expert Australian Commonwealth, State or Territory Government agency, decision makers should have regard to a broader range of achievements, which may include but are not limited to:

  • achievements listed in subsection 9(3) ( all of the above);
  • top of field level sports and arts awards
  • evidence of innovative business activities, such as Significant ‘Angel’ Investors with established track record of supporting successful innovative ventures, or having led internationally reputed companies to their Initial Public Offering;
  • evidence of promising entrepreneurial activities that will lead to the commercialisation of a product or service in Australia or the development of a business or enterprise in Australia, particularly where linked to State or Territory based start-up incubators;
  • actions by individuals that provide exceptional service to the Australian community, including outstanding work in establishing organisations that improve community cohesion or wellbeing of Australians;
  • other exceptional achievements in the context of the supporting agency’s strategic priorities.

Source: MIA Notice 31 – Legislative Updates

December 10, 2024

Skilled migrants in occupations of national shortage now have a smoother path to stay in Australia permanently.

From 7 December 2024, changes have been made to the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) visa.

The changes relate to the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) and Direct Entry (DE) streams. They deliver on the Government’s commitment to offer clearer pathways to permanent residence, as outlined in the Migration Strategy.

Changes to Temporary Residence Transition stream

  • Applicants can count all periods of sponsored employment towards their 2-year work experience requirement. This does not just apply to employment with their sponsor.
  • Applicants who have been employed in a related field or received a promotion can count this work towards the work experience requirement.
  • Applicants are required to provide evidence they meet the work experience requirement, rather than the nominating employer.
  • The Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) replaces the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT). This is the same amount of AUD73,150, indexed annually.
  • Age exemptions under the Temporary Skill Shortage visa still apply under the Skills in Demand visa. These include exemptions for regional medical practitioners and high income applicants. Without an exemption, applicants need to be younger than 45 at the time of application.
  • Changes to the Temporary Residence Transition stream do not extend to the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (subclass 187). This visa closed in 2019, except for certain transitional groups who can access the program in limited circumstances. This access continues for those eligible.

Changes to Direct Entry stream

A modernised single Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) applies to this stream. This replaces the Medium and Long Term Strategic Skills List. The CSOL is based on labour market analysis and Jobs and Skills Australia stakeholder consultation. It includes occupations in sectors such as:

  • construction
  • cyber security
  • agriculture
  • health and education.

Find the entire CSOL at New Core Skills Occupation List to target the skills Australia needs​.

The CSIT also applies to this stream. It will replace the TSMIT at the same amount of AUD73,150, indexed annually.

December 10, 2024

STEM start-ups can now access accredited sponsorship.  This will help attract the workers they need to innovate.

From 7 December 2024, STEM start-ups that have received venture capital funding from a registered Early Stage Venture Capital Limited Partnership can apply to be an accredited sponsor.

Accredited sponsors receive priority processing for nominations and visa applications for:

They will continue to receive priority processing when the Skills in Demand replaces the Temporary Skill Shortage visa on 7 December 2024​.

Before we consider a start-up for accredited status we need to approve them as a standard business sponsor.

We have also strengthened the integrity of the accreditation process and will be more strictly enforcing accreditation requirements and sponsorship obligations.

From 7 December 2024 we will also update sponsorship obligations. This means that once a sponsored visa holder leaves their sponsor’s employment, the sponsor doesn’t have to ensure they only work in their nominated occupation.

Temporary employer sponsored visa holders who stop work with their sponsoring employer have up to 180 days at a time and 365 days across their entire visa grant period to:

  • find a new sponsor
  • apply for a different visa, or
  • leave Australia.
December 10, 2024

​​A new invitation-only permanent visa program for exceptionally talented migrants is now open.

From 7 December 2024 the National Innovation visa (NIV) replaced the Global Talent visa.

It is an exclusive program for migrants with world-leading skills. This may be in areas like advanced robotics, quantum computing and clean energy.

Exceptionally talented individuals need to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the Department of Home Affairs. The department will then invite a select number of people who have made an EOI to apply for a NIV.

We will process invitations to apply and NIV applications according to the following priority order:

  1. Recipients of internationally prestigious awards. This includes: Nobel Prize laureates, Fields Medal recipients, Booker Prize winners or Olympic gold medallists.
  2. Exceptionally talented people in their field who are endorsed by a relevant Australian state, territory or federal government agency.
  3. People with exceptional skills in critical technologies, renewables and low emission technologies and health industries.
  4. Exceptionally talented people in agri-food and ag-tech, resources, defence capabilities and space, education, financial services and fin-tech, and infrastructure and transport.

There is no age limit for the NIV and English language requirements are flexible. We accept EOIs made from overseas or from people already in Australia on a temporary visa.

EOIs for the NIV are valid for 2 years. We may invite you to apply for a visa during this time.

Read more about the National Innovation (subclass 858) visa.

December 5, 2024

he NSW State Migration Program has announced its holiday closure schedule. The office will close at 12 noon on Friday, 20 December 2024, and reopen at 9 am on Monday, 6 January 2025. During this period, no applications will be processed, and enquiries will not be addressed.

Applicants with visas or supporting documents expiring during this closure are advised to contact skilled.migration@investment.nsw.gov.au by Wednesday, 18 December 2024. This ensures their applications can be reviewed before the office closes for the holidays.

The team at NSW Business and Skilled Migration appreciates everyone’s understanding and extends warm wishes for a safe and happy holiday season!

December 3, 2024

he Department of Home Affairs has released the following information on the news section of its website: On 3 December 2024, the Australian Government announced the release of the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL). The new CSOL fulfils the Government’s commitment to replace complex, out of date and inflexible occupation lists in our temporary skilled visa program. The CSOL is a single consolidated list, informed by labour market analysis and stakeholder consultations by Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) that provides access to temporary skilled migration for 456 occupations. The CSOL will apply to the Core Skills stream of the new Skills in Demand visa, which will replace the Temporary Skill Shortage (subclass 482) visa on 7 December 2024. The CSOL will also apply to the Direct Entry stream of the permanent Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) visa. More details on other reform taking place on 7 December 2024, including the Skills in Demand visa and National Innovation visa, will be announced shortly. Members can access this information and the Core Skills List on the Department’s website.

December 3, 2024
December 3, 2024

VETASSESS has announced that its Melbourne head office will close for the summer break, with the last working day being Friday, December 20, 2024. The office will reopen on Monday, January 6, 2025. During this period, Priority Processing applications will be paused, resuming on January 6.

For trade occupations, due to the Trades Recognition Australia summer shutdown, the last assessment outcome letters for 2024 will be issued by the week ending December 20, and the process will resume on January 13, 2025.

Additionally, VETASSESS has introduced webchat functionality on its website, allowing agents and applicants to contact the customer service team directly. The webchat is available Monday to Friday, from 9 AM to 4:45 PM AEDT.

For further details, visit the VETASSESS website.

December 2, 2024

Here’s the latest update from ACT Migration to help you stay informed:

  1. Visa Allocation for 2024-25
  • Total Places: 1,800
  • Skilled Nominated (Sc 190): 1,000
  • Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (Sc 491): 800
  1. Business Visas
  • Sc 188 Visa: Closed permanently as of July 2024 (BIIP discontinued).
  • Sc 888 Visa: Permanent nominations are still being processed.
  1. ACT Nomination Guidelines & Critical Skills List
  • No changes since April 2023.
  • Review expected early 2025—stay tuned for potential updates.
  1. Invitation Rounds
  • Smaller rounds earlier this financial year resulted in higher minimum scores for some occupations.
  • Larger rounds expected throughout the rest of the financial year.
  • Next round: Before 14 February 2025.
  1. Priority Occupations
  • Healthcare
  • Teaching
  • Social Assistance

Good luck with your applications—exciting opportunities await!