Highlights of the 2011-12 Budget included:

·         The Government has announced an increase in the migration program of 16,300 places in 2011-12 to 185,000. 

·         Aiming to further reduce 457 visa processing times with an allocation of $10m in the Budget.

o   Two week processing objective for decision ready sub class 457 visas.

o   There will be a new processing centre established in Brisbane to further reduce processing times for 457 visas.  The Department of Citizenship and Immigration is aiming for a 10 day median processing time for applications complete at the time of lodgement. Currently the estimated median processing time is 22 calendar days.

o   Additional information is available at 457 processing times http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/457-additional-funding.htm.

·         16000 extra skilled migration places for the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme and priority processing for regional visa categories. 

·         Introduction of Regional Migration Agreements or RMAs which allow local authorities to negotiate and coordinate access to overseas labour for employers in the region.  The consultation process will continue through 2011 with the first negotiations for Regional Migration Agreements to be commenced in 2012.

o   The new RMAs will be custom designed and geographically based, setting out the occupations and numbers needed in an area.  Individual employers may sponsor directly under the RMA.

o   The nominated position must be certified by a Regional Certifying Body and the employer must provide the skilled worker with at least two consecutive years of full-time employment.

o   Applicants must be aged less than 45 years old, hold appropriate qualifications and provide evidence of English language ability unless exceptional circumstances apply.

o   Further information is available at http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/regional-migration-agreements.htm.

·         Fast tracking permanent residency for 457 visa holders who have spent two years in regional Australia and where their employer is continuing to sponsor them for a further two years.

·         Introduction of Enterprise Migration Agreements or EMAs to address skill shortages on major resource projects with capital expenditure greater than $2billion and a peak workforce of 1500 people. Projects that utilise Enterprise Migration Agreements will be required to contribute to training Australian workers to address future skills needs in the resources sector.  Further information on the Enterprise Migration Agreements is at http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/enterprise-migration-agreements.htm.

·         A new model for selecting skilled migrants is expected to come into effect form 1 July 2012.  Consultations will continue through 2011 as the detail of the model is developed and the first round of consultations is expected to occur around January 2013.    Further information is available at http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/skilled-migrant-selection-model.htm.

·         Other changes to the migration program for 2011-12 include modest increases in the family stream with higher parent numbers offset by lower contributory parent numbers and higher skilled independent numbers with slightly lower business skills visas.  See table below for more details.

	2010-11	2011-12	Variation	%chg
Family Stream
Partner	42000	45400	3400
Child	3300	3450	150
Preferential/other Family	750	1250	500
Parent	1000	2000	1000
Contributory Parent	7500	6500	-1000
Total Family	54550	58600	4050	7.4%
Skills Stream
Employer Sponsored	44150	46000	1850	4.2%
ENS+LA	33990	30000	-3990
RSMS	10160	16000	5840
Skilled Independent	34200	44350	10150	29.7%
Skilled - State/Territory	24000	24000	0
Skilled - Australian Sponsored	3500	4100	600
Distinguished Talent	200	200	0
Business Skills	7800	7200	-600
Total Skill	113850	125850	12000	10.5%
Special Eligibility	300	550	250
Total	168700	185000	16300	9.7%

If you wish to discuss any of the Budget announcements relating to the immigration program changes, please contact your consultant at InterStaff.

Dan Engles
Managing Director

( 08 9221 3388 I 4 08 6267 8084 I È 0413 024 966
: dan@interstaff.com* PO Box 203 West Perth WA 6872 or ground level, 695 Murray Street, West Perth (near the corner of Outram Street).

The information contained herein and any attachments are intended solely for the named recipients. It may contain privileged confidential information. If you are not an intended recipient, please delete the message and any attachments, then notify the sender. Any use or disclosure of the contents of either is unauthorised and may be unlawful. Any liability for viruses is excluded to the fullest extent permitted by law. The information contained in this email is not intended for use as immigration advice, unless signed by a Registered Migration Agent. You may unsubscribe to this newsletter at any time. To review our disclaimer privacy statement online, please visit our website at www.interstaff.com.

Australian market leaders, providing integrated migration services which connect individuals and industry globally.

... it was nice working with you and I really appreciated your assistance and meticulous approach to getting all the necessary documents checked and really making sure all was good. Thank you once again!