The last year has seen some major changes in visa programmes in Australia which are outlined in the latest annual Migration Trends report from the Australian government. One of the biggest changes was the introduction of the online skilled migration selection register, SkillSelect in July 2012. SkillSelect allows Australia to invite the best and brightest migrants by facilitating their ranking and selection on the basis of their qualifications, work experience and language abilities.
Major change was also prompted by a report known as the Knight Review which came up with 41 recommendations for the student visa programme. The Department of Immigration and Citizenship said that it has now implemented more than half of them. These include the introduction of streamlined visa processing where eligible students, regardless of their country of origin, are assessed as though they are lower risk and have reduced evidentiary requirements.
Reforms to the Business Skills visa programme began in July 2012. These reforms are designed to better attract people with entrepreneurial talent and a successful business history to Australia. ‘Included in the reforms are a reduction in the number of different business skills visas, which is intended to provide a clearer pathway to permanent residence and an innovation points test which includes points for financial metrics, registered patents, trademarks and evidence of export trade experience,’ said a DIAC spokesman.
The visa application process is being simplified. The department’s visa simplification project, an initiative designed to reduce the number of visas, simplify the visa application process and improve integrity continued through 2012. As a result the number of different skilled visas has decreased from 27 to 11 and the number of temporary visas has gone from 17 to eight.
The Migration Programme is the main option for permanent residence in Australia and has two main categories; the Family Stream which enables the migration of immediate family members and the Skill Stream, which targets migrants who have skills, proven entrepreneurial ability or outstanding capabilities that will contribute to the Australian economy.
In 2011/2012, the Migration Programme delivered 184,998 places of which 125,755 went to Skill Stream migrants. The Family Stream outcome for 2011/2012 was 58,604 places, a 7.4% increase on the 2010/2011 level. The planning level for the 2012/2013 Migration Programme is 190,000 places, an increase of 5,000 places and the highest figure on record. Of the additional 5,000 places there are 3,400 Skill Stream places, 1,585 Family Stream places and 15 more places planned for Special Eligibility.
Depending on the purpose and duration of their visit, people can come to Australia on either a visitor visa or a temporary resident visa. Visitor visas are mostly used by people visiting Australia for holidays, tourism, recreation, or to see family and friends.
The Working Holiday Maker (WHM) Programme aims to enhance cultural exchanges and international relations with arrangement countries and has grown strongly. In 2011/2012 some 214,644 working holiday visas were granted, an increase of 15.7% and the highest number on record. In 2011/2012 some 253,047 visas were granted to international students, a rise of 1% and the first increase in student visas since 2008/2009. The decreases in student visa numbers in 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 followed 11 consecutive years of growth.
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