SkillSelect will be introduced on 1 July 2012
On 10 May 2011 the Australian government announced the decision to implement a new way to manage Skilled Migration
based on an Expression of Interest (EOI) and subsequent invitation to apply; this new program is called SkillSelect.
SkillSelect will build upon and draw together the suite of reforms made to the skilled migration program over the past
three years. In doing so it will deliver the skills Australia needs by matching the best and brightest migrants to the
available places in the migration program.
SkillSelect will be an electronic system based upon a two-stage process. Intending migrants first submit claims for skilled
migration through an online EOI and subsequently may be invited to make a visa application. This is a significant change
from the current situation, as applicants for Independent skilled, Family Sponsored skilled, State or Territory Sponsored
skilled, or Business Skills programs will be required to receive an invitation in order to lodge a visa application.
After being invited, SkillSelect will ensure a match between the number of applicants and the number of available places.
This will result in greater certainty for visa applicants and streamlined processing times.
SkillSelect will commence on 1 July 2012. As of this date, new applicants for Independent skilled, Family Sponsored
skilled, State or Territory Sponsored skilled, or Business Skills migration will be required to submit an EOI and be issued
with an invitation before lodging a visa application. The first round of invitations is expected to be sent on 1 August 2012.
Depending upon their skills and eligibility, intending migrants will be able to express interest in a range of Skilled Migration
programs in one EOI. These programs will include:
* Independent skilled migration
* State or Territory sponsored skilled migration
* Family Sponsored skilled migration - Business Skills
* The Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS)
* The Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS)
* The Subclass 457 Temporary Business.
The current visa subclasses which will be affected by SkillSelect are:
* Independent Skilled Migration (subclasses 175 and 885)
* State Sponsored Skilled Migration (subclasses 176 and 886)
* Business Skills (subclasses 132, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 890, 891, 892, 893)
* the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclasses 121 and 856)
* the Regional Sponsored Nomination Scheme (subclasses 119 and 857)
* the Subclass 457 Temporary Business (Long Stay) visa (subclass 457).
EOI would be required for:
1- Independent or Family Sponsored
2- State or territory Sponsored
3- Regional Sponsored (Provisional)
EOI and invitation process
Independent Skilled migration
SkillSelect will automatically issue invitations on a regular basis, with the first round of invitations likely to be issued in
August 2012. For intending migrants in the Independent skilled migration stream, invitations will be issued to the highest
ranking EOIs in descending order, subject to occupation ceilings. The date and time of submission of the completed EOI
may be used to separate those who score equally in any given invitation round in order to ensure that the number of
invitations issued matches the available program places and processing resources. Departmental officers will not be
involved in the invitation issue process.
Occupation ceilings are a limit on how many people are selected for points tested skilled migration from an occupation
group. This ensures that the migration program is not dominated by a narrow range of occupations. The limit will be
calculated and announced annually in the context of announcements on the size and composition of the next year’s
Migration Program. When this limit is reached, no further invitations for that particular occupation group will be issued for
that program year. In the event that an occupation ceiling is reached, invitations would then be allocated to other
occupation groups even if they are lower scoring.
State and Territory Sponsored skilled migration
State and territory government representatives will search SkillSelect for intending migrants. State or territory
governments will be able to nominate intending migrants at any time using SkillSelect, subject to their State Migration Plan
sponsorship limit. Those nominated will receive an invitation through SkillSelect to apply for a visa.
Employer Sponsored migration
It will not be mandatory for intending migrants seeking to come to Australia under the Employer Nomination Scheme
(ENS), Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) and Temporary Business 457 visa programs to use SkillSelect
because Australian employers will retain the ability to identify and sponsor workers under the existing arrangements.
However, when submitting an EOI an intending migrant can express an interest in migrating under these programs which
would then allow approved employers to view their details. SkillSelect will serve as an online register to connect
employers and intending skilled migrants interested in employer sponsorship and will facilitate contact to discuss
sponsorship opportunities.
Employers who identify people through their own selection processes will still be able to sponsor them as per current
processes.
Visa application process
Prospective applicants who are invited to lodge a visa application will have 60 days to lodge that application using the
department’s online application system. Prospective applicants will access the department’s online application system
through SkillSelect. Visa processing will then follow the procedures in place at the time the application is lodged.
An EOI will remain active in SkillSelect for two years or until an intending migrant is either sponsored by an Australian
employer or is granted a visa on the basis of an invitation and subsequent application (whichever occurs sooner).
Intending skilled migrants will be able to update their EOI at any time and have the option to renew their EOI after the two
years.
On 10 May 2011 the Australian government announced the decision to implement a new way to manage Skilled Migration
based on an Expression of Interest (EOI) and subsequent invitation to apply; this new program is called SkillSelect.
SkillSelect will build upon and draw together the suite of reforms made to the skilled migration program over the past
three years. In doing so it will deliver the skills Australia needs by matching the best and brightest migrants to the
available places in the migration program.
SkillSelect will be an electronic system based upon a two-stage process. Intending migrants first submit claims for skilled
migration through an online EOI and subsequently may be invited to make a visa application. This is a significant change
from the current situation, as applicants for Independent skilled, Family Sponsored skilled, State or Territory Sponsored
skilled, or Business Skills programs will be required to receive an invitation in order to lodge a visa application.
After being invited, SkillSelect will ensure a match between the number of applicants and the number of available places.
This will result in greater certainty for visa applicants and streamlined processing times.
SkillSelect will commence on 1 July 2012. As of this date, new applicants for Independent skilled, Family Sponsored
skilled, State or Territory Sponsored skilled, or Business Skills migration will be required to submit an EOI and be issued
with an invitation before lodging a visa application. The first round of invitations is expected to be sent on 1 August 2012.
Depending upon their skills and eligibility, intending migrants will be able to express interest in a range of Skilled Migration
programs in one EOI. These programs will include:
* Independent skilled migration
* State or Territory sponsored skilled migration
* Family Sponsored skilled migration - Business Skills
* The Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS)
* The Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS)
* The Subclass 457 Temporary Business.
The current visa subclasses which will be affected by SkillSelect are:
* Independent Skilled Migration (subclasses 175 and 885)
* State Sponsored Skilled Migration (subclasses 176 and 886)
* Business Skills (subclasses 132, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 890, 891, 892, 893)
* the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclasses 121 and 856)
* the Regional Sponsored Nomination Scheme (subclasses 119 and 857)
* the Subclass 457 Temporary Business (Long Stay) visa (subclass 457).
EOI would be required for:
1- Independent or Family Sponsored
2- State or territory Sponsored
3- Regional Sponsored (Provisional)
EOI and invitation process
Independent Skilled migration
SkillSelect will automatically issue invitations on a regular basis, with the first round of invitations likely to be issued in
August 2012. For intending migrants in the Independent skilled migration stream, invitations will be issued to the highest
ranking EOIs in descending order, subject to occupation ceilings. The date and time of submission of the completed EOI
may be used to separate those who score equally in any given invitation round in order to ensure that the number of
invitations issued matches the available program places and processing resources. Departmental officers will not be
involved in the invitation issue process.
Occupation ceilings are a limit on how many people are selected for points tested skilled migration from an occupation
group. This ensures that the migration program is not dominated by a narrow range of occupations. The limit will be
calculated and announced annually in the context of announcements on the size and composition of the next year’s
Migration Program. When this limit is reached, no further invitations for that particular occupation group will be issued for
that program year. In the event that an occupation ceiling is reached, invitations would then be allocated to other
occupation groups even if they are lower scoring.
State and Territory Sponsored skilled migration
State and territory government representatives will search SkillSelect for intending migrants. State or territory
governments will be able to nominate intending migrants at any time using SkillSelect, subject to their State Migration Plan
sponsorship limit. Those nominated will receive an invitation through SkillSelect to apply for a visa.
Employer Sponsored migration
It will not be mandatory for intending migrants seeking to come to Australia under the Employer Nomination Scheme
(ENS), Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) and Temporary Business 457 visa programs to use SkillSelect
because Australian employers will retain the ability to identify and sponsor workers under the existing arrangements.
However, when submitting an EOI an intending migrant can express an interest in migrating under these programs which
would then allow approved employers to view their details. SkillSelect will serve as an online register to connect
employers and intending skilled migrants interested in employer sponsorship and will facilitate contact to discuss
sponsorship opportunities.
Employers who identify people through their own selection processes will still be able to sponsor them as per current
processes.
Visa application process
Prospective applicants who are invited to lodge a visa application will have 60 days to lodge that application using the
department’s online application system. Prospective applicants will access the department’s online application system
through SkillSelect. Visa processing will then follow the procedures in place at the time the application is lodged.
An EOI will remain active in SkillSelect for two years or until an intending migrant is either sponsored by an Australian
employer or is granted a visa on the basis of an invitation and subsequent application (whichever occurs sooner).
Intending skilled migrants will be able to update their EOI at any time and have the option to renew their EOI after the two
years.
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |