May be too technical for some, may apply to others. Note that the text of these changes isn't yet available to me, but I do wonder whether the skill matching visa loophole to the two year SIR visa restriction is about to close (see 10 and 12):
Changes To General Send Migration Provisions Client summary
From 1 October 2006, the Migration Regulations 1994 ('the Regulations') will be amended to adjust and enhance provisions relating to General Send Migration (GSM). The amendments include changes to:
1. clarify the circumstances in which an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) examination results are 'not necessary or 'not reasonably practicable' in the definition of 'vocational English' 2. amend the Schedule 6A General Points Test to clarify that points for spouse skill qualifications may only be awarded where the spouse is not an Australian citizen or permanent resident 3. replace references to a 'Gazette Notice' with references to an instrument in writing in the Regulations relating to GSM visas 4. alter the circumstances in which condition 8501 (maintain health insurance) is imposed on a Bridging A or Bridging B visa granted in buttociation with a specified GSM visa application 4. provide that in order to make a valid application for certain GSM visas, an applicant seeking to satisfy the primary criteria must be less than 45 years of age at the time of application 5. provide that in order to make a valid application for certain GSM visas, the applicaton must be accompanied by evidence that a relevant buttessing authority has buttessed the skills of the applicant as suitable for his or her nominated occupation 7. amend the criteria for family sponsored GSM visas to provide that the applicant seeking to satisfy the primary criteria (the main applicant) or that applicant's spouse may have an acceptable family relationship with the sponsor, but that only the main applicant may satisfy age, work experience and skills buttessment criteria 6. clarify that where an applicant for a Send - Independent Overseas Student (Residence) or Send - Australian-sponsored Overseas Student (Residence) visa has made a declaration in order to make a valid application, a criterion for the grant of the visa is that the declaration was true 7. clarify that at the time of decision for a Send - Independent Overseas Student (Residence) or Send - Australian-sponsored Overseas Student (Residence) visa, the Minister must be satisfied that no evidence has become available that the information given or used as part of the applicant's skills buttessment was false or misleading in a material particular 8. require applicants for certain permanent visas who hold a Send - Independent Regional (Provisional) visa to have held this visa for 2 years before they may apply for and be granted certain permanent visas 9. provide relaxed visa requirements for the Send State-Territory- nominated Independent visa if the applicant holds a Send - Independent Regional (Provisional) visa, as the person would have already met the relevant requirements when granted the temporary visa 12. ensure holders of a Send - Independent Regional (Provisional) visa have completed the regional requirements (live and work for a specified time in regional Australia) before they are eligible for grant of certain send visas and 10. clarify that at the time of decision for a Send - Independent (Migrant), a Send - Designated Area-sponsored (Provisional) or a Send - New Zealand Citizen (Residence) visa, if the skills buttessment was made on the basis of a qualification obtained in Australia while the applicant was the holder of a student visa, that the qualification was obtained as a result of full-time study of a registered course.
Cheers,
George Lombard
Contributory Parent VisaHi all Contributory Parent visas seem to be moving again afer what seemed to be a virtual halt with them in May & June. I am aware of 4 grants recently...
www.austimmigration.com.au
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