The Honorable Minister for Immigration Australia announced the replacement of the current Skilled Occupation List (SOL) in the second half of 2010, with a new list of targeted occupations determined by the independent body, ‘Skills Australia’. As the new SOL will be a comprehensive, targeted list, the current Critical Skills List will be revoked. 

The new SOL will come into effect from mid-2010 and will apply to all applicants lodging visa applications made on or after this date, except to GSM applicants who at the date of announcement ( 8 February 2010):

• hold a Skilled—Graduate (subclass 485) visa, or had a pending subclass 485 visa application and had not yet lodged an application for a provisional or permanent GSM visa and who make an application by 31 December 2012, or
• have a pending GSM visa application.

In addition, the new SOL will not apply to people applying for a Skilled—Graduate (subclass 485) visa who at 8 February 2010 hold a:

• Vocational Education and Training Sector (subclass 572) visa
• Higher Education Sector (subclass 573) visa 
• Postgraduate Research Sector (subclass 574) visa.

However these student visa holders will be required to have an occupation on the new SOL to apply for a permanent GSM visa.

Who do the changes to GSM apply to?

Given these new changes in Australian immigration policies, it is even more important for potential applicants to contact one of the Australian Qualified Immigration Attorney/Practitioner directly rather than relying on the so called local Migration Consultants in UAE.

ACT NOW - BEFORE FURTHER CHANGES OCCUR and our Principal Migration Advisor Mr. Rasheed Backer RMA, M.Liv, MMIA from Australia is currently available in our office to consult clients.  If you are interested then contact our office on URGENT basis to organize an appointment to meet with one of the Australia’s qualified Immigration Law Advisor who can assist you on how to adapt your application to suit the new requirements or suggest alternative "routes" to achieve your residency visa under the Australian Law.

 If you meet the requirements to apply for a visa to Australia, we recommend that you lodge your applications as soon as possible to avoid being caught out by policy changes.

The Australian economy has remained strong throughout the past year, and is expected to continue in future. Unemployment remains relatively low at 5.6%, and there are still major skills shortages in many Australian industries. Now may be the perfect time to take the next step and begin your Australian Immigration Process!

Urgent Notice to Prospective Applicant: