Australia Visa Update | 13 Aug 2011

Sub-class 457 visa

Increase of the minimum salary threshold

Subclass 457, Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold — TSMIT was increased from 1 July for all prospective employees.

Employers of 457 holders whose visas were granted prior to July 1, 2011 are not required to adjust these salaries to meet the new threshold.

• AUD 67,556 – IT professionals
• AUD 49,330 – all other employees

Market rate salary exemptions

The base rate of $180,000 remains the same

English language exemption base salary increase

English language exemption base salary increased to AUD 88410 pa, this applies to most professions with the exception of Head Chef and Chef.

Health Check

E-health has changed the format for processing the medical and x-ray checks since 1 August with all electronic visas, including 457 visas which will now create a quicker processing time of the results.

The process will create an automatic referral for the health tests once the 457 visas have been lodged online. Once an applicant has selected the appropriate panel Doctor and attended the appointment, the panel Doctor will be able to lodge the results on-line which will reduce the turnaround time for DIAC to finalise approval on the visa.

Standard Business Sponsorship

The requirements remain unaltered since the changes that came into force September 2009. As a recap, and which remains the major factor for consideration is the following:

Training

The business is required to show that the training that has been, and continues to be, provided to employees who are Australian citizens and Australian permanent residents is related to the purpose of the business.

The training benchmarks for an established business are:

A) Recent expenditure, by the business, to the equivalent of at least 2% of the payroll of the business, in payments allocated to an industry training fund, and a commitment, by the business, to maintain expenditure in each fiscal year, to that level, for the term of approval as a sponsor.

OR

B) Recent expenditure, by the business, to the equivalent of at least 1% of the payroll of the business, in the provision of training to employees of the business, and a commitment, by the business, to maintain expenditure in each fiscal year, to that level, for the term of approval as a sponsor.

Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS)

Minimum salary increase

The minimum salary for ENS has been indexed. The new ENS minimum salary level has increased from:

• $65 020 to $67 556 for certain computing professional occupations
• $47 480 to $49 330 for all other occupations

Perth

As of 12 August, Perth has been re-classified as a regional area which will increase the opportunities for migrants under the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme.

Contact Life Relocation for further details and how we we are able to support all of your Visa, Migration and Relocation requirments.

The Life Relocation Migration Team