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

Author Archives: Shaleem Danish

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!

November 30, 2024

To claim gold, green or orange-plus attributes related to employment, the role must be skilled ANZSCO Skill Level 1, 2 or 3.


When evaluating a claim to be in ANZSCO Skill Level 1, 2 or 3 role, Migration Tasmania considers 3 main factors: the applicant’s skills and qualifications, the duties they undertake, and their pay rate.

A pay rate above the current Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (currently $73,150) can also be an indicator of skilled employment. However, this will still be considered in conjunction with the other indicators mentioned in this section.

Migration Tasmania may also compare pay rates to those of other roles in the same industry and the pay those roles normally receive.


In cases where there is some overlap between lower (ANZSCO 4-5) and higher (ANSZSCO 1-3) roles there must be a substantial proportion of duties listed on the applicant duty statement that are consistent with an ANZSCO occupation classified as Skill Level 1, 2 or 3. For the Tasmanian Skilled Employment pathway, there should be at least a 70 per cent match between the duties of the applicant role and the duties listed for the position on ANZSCO.

For the Tasmanian Skilled Graduate and Tasmanian Established Resident pathways; the match should be at least 40 per cent.

Key statistics (as of 26 November 2024)

Since 1 July 2024

Registrations of interest (ROIs)

  • 1,924 submitted
  • 1,230 invited to apply for nomination (64 per cent)


 Applications for nomination

  • 1,235 lodged (includes ROIs invited before 1 July 2024)
  • 755 approved
  • 7 withdrawn
  • 356 yet to be processed
  •  108 declined

    The primary reason applications are declined is the submission of false or misleading information. This includes fabricated employment details or exaggerated claims, such as:
  • Claiming gold, green, or orange-plus attributes without working in a skilled role.
  • Misrepresenting salary levels or other employment details.

Source: Tasmanian Government

November 30, 2024

Skilled Migration Update: Construction Trade Occupations Prioritised for Visa Nomination

The Victorian Government has announced updates to its skilled visa nomination program for the 2024-25 period. Certain construction trade occupations will be prioritised under the Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) and Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) categories.

The prioritised occupations are listed below:

ANZSCO CodeOccupation Name
331211Carpenter and joiner
331212Carpenter
331213Joiner
333111Glazier
333211Fibrous plasterer
333212Solid plasterer
334111Plumber (general)
334112Air conditioning and mechanical services plumber
334115Roof plumber
341111Electrician (general)
341112Electrician (special class)
342111Electrical lines worker
342411Cabler (data and telecommunications)
394111Cabinetmaker

Submitting a Registration of Interest (ROI)

To be considered for Victorian skilled visa nomination, eligible candidates must first submit a Registration of Interest (ROI).

Key Points:

  • The online ROI form takes less than 10 minutes to complete.
  • There is no cost to submit an ROI or nomination application.

Steps to Apply:

  1. Submit your Expression of Interest (EOI) on the Australian Government’s SkillSelect system.
  2. Complete the Registration of Interest (ROI) on the Live in Melbourne website.
  3. If invited, submit your nomination application on the Live in Melbourne portal.
  4. Once nominated, proceed to submit your visa application to the Australian Government.
November 21, 2024

The Australian Department of Home Affairs has announced the recommencement of Evidence Level updates under the Simplified Student Visa Framework (SSVF), with the latest changes effective from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM AEDT today. This update follows the temporary pause announced in September 2024 and is based on visa outcomes from 1 October 2023 to 30 September 2024.

The new updates aim to reward education providers demonstrating improved performance while ensuring integrity within Australia’s student visa program. Adjustments will support genuine education providers to prepare for semester 1 of 2025, with country-specific Evidence Levels also being revised.

Key Highlights of the Update

  • Improved Performance: Providers showing better Evidence Level ratings will advance in Evidence Levels.
  • Addressing Decline: Providers with deteriorating Evidence Level ratings will be downgraded, except those in higher education, schools, and public vocational education and training sectors, which remain paused at their current levels.
  • Monitoring Integrity: The Department will closely monitor outcomes and may implement further interim changes if inappropriate recruitment practices are detected.

Context and Trends

Student visa applications for the first quarter of 2024-25 have decreased by 28% compared to the same period last year, with 99,868 applications lodged compared to 112,605 in 2018-19. Encouragingly, some offshore markets are seeing improved visa application quality and lower refusal rates. However, refusal rates for older onshore applications have risen due to stricter integrity measures and the introduction of the Genuine Student test.

Ongoing Engagement and Support

The Department has committed to expanding communication with the education sector and recently announced workshops on recruiting genuine students. These workshops have seen substantial interest from education providers.

Providers are encouraged to submit high-quality, decision-ready visa applications to facilitate timely processing for the 2025 academic year.

About Evidence Levels

Evidence Levels, updated biannually in March and September, reflect adverse immigration outcomes such as visa refusals and cancellations. These updates guide the financial and English language requirements for student visa applicants. The Department stresses the shared responsibility among education providers, migration agents, and students to maintain the integrity of Australia’s international education sector.

Routine Evidence Level updates are scheduled to resume in March 2025, with ongoing monitoring ensuring the program aligns with trends in visa outcomes and recruitment practices.

November 15, 2024

The Australian Nursing & Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) recently introduced two new initiatives aimed at supporting overseas-born nursing and midwifery graduates and applicants in the skills assessment process.

Gradready: Fast-Tracking Modified Skills Assessment
Launched on November 8, 2024, the Gradready initiative allows overseas-born nursing and midwifery graduates who have completed their education in Australia to apply for a Modified Skills Assessment as soon as they finish their course requirements. With Gradready, applicants can enter the ANMAC queue for assessment while they await registration from the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). Once AHPRA registration is granted, the assessment process with ANMAC can be quickly finalized, expediting pathways to professional practice.

Gradready Eligibility Requirements:

  1. Applicants must have submitted an AHPRA registration application and will need to provide their application date in the Modified Assessment form.
  2. Applicants must be residing in Australia.

Please note that while the Modified Assessment application can be submitted, it will not be finalized until ANMAC receives the official AHPRA certificate of registration.

GuideME: Expert Guidance for Applicants
Another recent launch, on November 1, 2024, the GuideME initiative offers personalized support for applicants, migration agents, and employers navigating the skills assessment process. For a fee of $195 AUD, individuals can schedule a 30-minute phone consultation with an ANMAC expert, gaining valuable, tailored insights to enhance their application readiness and compliance.

For more information on both initiatives, visit the ANMAC website.

November 15, 2024

South Australia’s 2024-2025 General Skilled Migration Program has experienced unprecedented levels of Registration of Interest (ROI) applications for the following occupations:

  • Chef 
  • Motor Mechanic (General) 
  • Enrolled Nurse 

With interest so high, Skilled & Business Migration (SBM) is advising current and prospective applicants for these occupations to consider exploring alternative visa options, such as SBM’s DAMA Program. Clients can discuss visa options with their current employer and migration agent.

Currently, the number of ROI’s submitted exceeds the quota available to SBM. 

SBM will continue to send invitations to clients living and working in South Australia on a weekly basis across all available occupations. 

October 21, 2024
October 21, 2024

The Occupation Shortage List (OSL) was established in mid-October 2024 provides an overview of shortage status of occupations in the Australian labour market, by each state and territory.

The OSL this year 2024 was released with 4-digit ANZSCO Level (Unit Group) or the 6-digit ANZSCO level (Occupations)

According to the 2024 OSL,  Key Findings and Insights Report showed a persistent shortage in 2021-2024 in Managers (Business), Professionals (Business, ICT, Cyber security), Community and Personal Service Workers (Social Work) and Technicians occupations.

And the Top industries under pressure of shortage are:

  • Construction
  • Mining
  • Healthy Care and Social Asstance
  • Other Services
  • Education and Training
  • Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services
  • Professional, Scientific and Technical Services
  • Manufacturing
  • Administrative and Support Services
  • Transport, Postal and Warehousing
  • Public Administration and Safety
  • Information Media and Telecommunications
  • Retail Trade
  • Arts and Recreation Services
  • Financial and Insurance Services
  • Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing
  • Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services

October 8, 2024

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and Statistics New Zealand have announced that while they will continue to maintain comparability, each country will now introduce their own tailored occupational classifications. This move marks a shift from the joint Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) established in 2006.

What’s Changing?

Australia will introduce the new Occupation Standard Classification for Australia (OSCA), 2024, with the first version being released on 6 December 2024.

New Zealand will implement its tailored list starting 20 November 2024, designed to better reflect its modern labour market.

A Unified Approach with Individual Focus Australian Statistician Dr. David Gruen and New Zealand Government Statistician Mr. Mark Sowden have emphasised the importance of maintaining Trans-Tasman and international comparability while also adapting to each country’s evolving labour markets.

What This Means:

For Australia: The new classification will be tailored to the needs of the Australian labour market, ensuring that local changes are accurately represented while still supporting Trans-Tasman data comparisons.

For New Zealand: The new list will reflect the country’s unique labour market dynamics while maintaining crucial comparability with Australia.

The agencies will develop concordances to map between classifications, ensuring data continuity and consistent time-series analysis across both countries.

For more details, check out: https://www.abs.gov.au/about/consultation-and-conferences/updating-anzsco/about-osca

October 7, 2024
October 7, 2024

The Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) will commence operation on Monday, 14 October 2024 and it will replace the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT). To assist with the transition the Administrative Review taskforce have developed a factsheet which provides information about the new Tribunal and what it means for people who are seeking review of decisions, or have current matters in the AAT. Members are encouraged to distribute the factsheet to their clients and colleagues. Download the factsheet.

September 28, 2024

On 27 September 2024, the Migration Institute of Australia (MIA) made an announcement regarding legislative updates. These updates included important information about State nomination updates.as following: 

  1. ACT Skilled migration nomination invitation round 

ACT held a skilled migration nomination invitation round on 19 September 2024.

 During this round, a total of 68 nominations were issued for the Subclass 190 visa, and 62 nominations were issued for the Subclass 491 visa. Below is a detailed breakdown of the invitations provided:


Canberra residents
Matrix nominating Small Business Owners 
Matrix submissions for Small Business Owners were not considered in this invitation round.

Matrix nominating 457 / 482 visa holders

190 nominations: 12 invitations
491 nominations: 1 invitation

Matrix nominating Critical Skill Occupations
190 nominations: 43 invitations
491 nominations: 29 invitations

Overseas applicants
Matrix nominating Critical Skill Occupations
190 nominations: 13 invitations
491 nominations: 32 invitations

The next invitation round will be held before 8 November 2024. 

  • Tasmania skilled migration nomination invitation round:

An update from The Tasmanian skilled migration webpage on 26 September 2024 included important details about the requirements and processes for Sc 190 and Sc 491 skilled migration nominations, applications, and Registrations of Interest (ROI) as follow:


Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) visa:
Nominations – 360 of 2100 places used
Nomination applications lodged but not decided – 211
Invitations to apply for nomination issued but not yet accepted – 100
Registrations of interest on hand – 402

Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) visa:
Nominations – 104 of 760 places used
Nomination applications lodged but not decided – 81
Invitations to apply for nomination issued but not yet accepted – 45
Registrations of interest on hand – 386

September 20, 2024

Australia Unveils New International Student Profiles for 2025

Australian higher education providers have released updated international student profiles for 2025, outlining key attributes and academic backgrounds of prospective students. These profiles aim to help institutions attract a diverse global student body and strengthen Australia’s position as a top education destination.

For further details, a full proposal is available as a downloadable PDF.

August 31, 2024
August 31, 2024

Invitation rounds​​​​​​​​​ outcomes

Overview

Invitation rounds will be run periodically during the program year for:

  • Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)
  • Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) – Family Sponsored.

In each round, invitation numbers may vary depending on the number of onhand applications.

State or territory government nominations for skilled visas will not be affected by the departmental invitation rounds.

For results of previous SkillSelect invitation rounds, see Previous rounds.

Occupation ceilings

Occupation ceilings do not apply to these visa subclasses:

  • Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)
  • Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) – State and Territory Nominated

Invitation process

The highest ranked EOI, by points score, will be invited to apply for their visa before an EOI with a lower points score.

For EOIs who have equal points scores, we will determine the time and date at which the EOI reached its score for that subclass. We call this a ‘tie break’ or the ‘date of effect’. The EOI with an earlier date of effect will be invited before EOIs with a later date of effect.

Current round

Invitations issued on 13 June 2024

The table below shows the number of EOIs invited, and the tie break month and year, for the SkillSelect invitation round on 13 June 2024.

Visa subclassTotal EOIs InvitedTie break date – month and year
Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)5,29205/2024
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) – Family Sponsored0N/A

Invitations issued by occupation and minimum score invited

Occupation*Subclass 189*
Minimum scored
Accountant (General)100
Actuary95
Aeronautical Engineer95
Agricultural Consultant95
Agricultural Engineer95
Agricultural Scientist95
Airconditioning and Mechanical Services Plumber65
Analyst Programmer95
Architect85
Audiologist85
Biomedical Engineer95
Biotechnologist95
Bricklayer65
Cabinetmaker65
Carpenter65
Carpenter and Joiner65
Chef95
Chemical Engineer95
Chemist95
Child Care Centre Manager85
Chiropractor85
Civil Engineer90
Civil Engineering Draftsperson85
Civil Engineering Technician85
Clinical Psychologist85
Computer Network and Systems Engineer100
Construction Project Manager85
Dancer or Choreographer95
Developer Programmer100
Diagnostic and Interventional Radiologist85
Drainer65
Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher85
Economist95
Electrical Engineer90
Electrician (General)65
Electrician (Special Class)70
Electronics Engineer95
Emergency Medicine Specialist85
Endocrinologist95
Engineering Manager95
Engineering Professionals nec)95
Engineering Technologist95
Environmental Consultant95
Environmental Engineer95
Environmental Research Scientist95
External Auditor95
Fibrous Plasterer65
Food Technologist95
Forester95
Gasfitter65
General Practitioner85
Geophysicist95
Geotechnical Engineer85
Glazier65
ICT Business Analyst100
ICT Security Specialist100
Industrial Engineer95
Internal Auditor95
Joiner65
Land Economist95
Landscape Architect85
Life Scientist (General)95
Life Scientists nec95
Lift Mechanic65
Management Accountant100
Management Consultant95
Marine Biologist95
Materials Engineer95
Mechanical Engineer90
Medical Diagnostic Radiographer85
Medical Laboratory Scientist85
Medical Practitioners nec85
Metal Fabricator85
Metallurgist95
Microbiologist95
Midwife85
Mining Engineer (excluding Petroleum)95
Motor Mechanic (General)95
Multimedia Specialist95
Naval Architect100
Obstetrician and Gynaecologist85
Occupational Therapist85
Other Spatial Scientist95
Paediatrician85
Painting Trades Worker65
Pathologist85
Petroleum Engineer95
Physicist95
Physiotherapist85
Plumber (General)65
Production or Plant Engineer90
Psychiatrist85
Psychologists nec85
Quantity Surveyor85
Registered Nurse (Aged Care)85
Registered Nurse (Child and Family Health)85
Registered Nurse (Community Health)90
Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency)85
Registered Nurse (Medical Practice)85
Registered Nurse (Medical)85
Registered Nurse (Mental Health)85
Registered Nurse (Paediatrics)85
Registered Nurse (Perioperative)85
Registered Nurse (Surgical)85
Registered Nurses nec85
Roof Plumber65
Secondary School Teacher85
Sheetmetal Trades Worker85
Shipwright105
Social Worker85
Software and Applications Programmers nec95
Software Engineer100
Solicitor95
Solid Plasterer65
Special Needs Teacher85
Specialist Physician (General Medicine)85
Speech Pathologist85
Statistician95
Stonemason65
Structural Engineer85
Surveyor95
Systems Analyst100
Taxation Accountant95
Telecommunications Engineer95
Telecommunications Field Engineer100
Telecommunications Network Engineer95
Telecommunications Network Planner90
Transport Engineer85
University Lecturer95
Valuer95
Veterinarian95
Wall and Floor Tiler65
Welder (First Class)85
Zoologist95
* Results could indicate that no EOIs were available to be invited, or EOIs were available but did not meet parameters to receive an invitation.
Note – ‘nec’ means ‘not elsewhere classified’.

Total invitations issued during 2023-24 program year

Visa subclassJulAugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)000008,300000005,292
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) – Family Sponsored0000079000000
The above figures do not include invitations issued for state and territory government-nominated visa subclasses. State and territory governments nominate throughout the month for specific visas.

State and Territory nominations

2024-25 program year

The number of EOIs that have received nominations from state and territory governments from 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025.

Visa subclassACTNSWNTQldSATasVicWA
Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) 37149<5<597<518
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) State and Territory Nominated 23109<5<57<5<5

Source: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/working-in-australia/skillselect/invitation-rounds