494 – My Migration

17 Nov 2019

Further Changes – From 16th November 2019

Occupations for Subclass 494 visas
The occupation lists for the SC 494 are comprised of the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), and the Regional Occupation List (ROL).
There are a total of 650 occupations available for the Subclass 494 with 216 occupations available on the MLTSSL and 434 occupations available on the ROL. You can check the list of eligible occupations here:

Legislative Instrument F2019L01403-LIN 19/219:Occupations for Subclass 494 Visas Instrument 2019

Exemptions from English Language Requirements for SC 186 and SC 187

English language exemption- The exemption to English for a person that has completed at least 5 years of full-time study in a secondary or higher education institution where all tuition was delivered in English will be removed as an exemption for the subclass 186 in the Temporary Residence Transition stream. From 16 November 2019 the exemption will only apply to subclass 187 in the Temporary Residence Transition Stream.

Subclass 494- Employer sponsored stream Exemptions

Age exemptions
Applicants are not required to be under 45 for the subclass 494 in the Employer Sponsored stream if they are:
a) academic applicants
b) regional medical practitioner applicants
c) science applicants
d) Subclass 444/461 workers
e) Subclass 457/482 workers
Skills and Employment History exemptions
Applicants for the subclass 494 in the employer sponsored stream are exempt from skills assessment requirements if they are:
a) academic applicants
b) 444/461 workers
Applicants for the subclass 494 in the employer sponsored stream are exempt from having to be employed in the nominated occupation for at least 3 years on a full-time basis and at the level of skill required for the occupation if they are:
a) academic applicants;
b) 444/461 workers

Occupations and Assessing Authorities for Subclass 491

From 16 November 2019

The assessing authority for Child Care Centre Manager changed from TRA to ACECQA for subclass 491, subclass 189, subclass 190 and subclass 485 visa applications made after 16 November 2019
The assessing authority for Podiatrist changed from ANZPAC to PodBA for subclass 491, subclass 189, subclass 190 and subclass 485 visa applications made after 16 November 2019
The assessing authorities for the occupations of Child Care Centre Manager and Podiatrist will remain TRA and ANZPAC respectively for skills assessments that occur prior to 16 November 2019. These skills assessment will be valid for the purpose of Subclass 494 visa.
The Assessing authority for physicist (234914) is VETASSESS except for a Medical Physicist which is ACPSEM

Read more about benefits of living, studying and working in regional areas here.

Disclaimer

The above article constitutes only generic information on migration issues, and does not constitute specific migration advice to any entity or individual.

Interested to know more?

Click here to book a FREE 15 minute phone call with one of our friendly consultants. You may also fill out the Online Assessment Form for a free assessment to know your eligibility for a visa to Australia.

15 Nov 2019

New Skilled Regional Visas (Subclass 491 and 494)

Australia, GSM, Visa

Date: 15/11/2019
The Government has recently announced the new regional visas to attract more migrants to live and work in low populated areas.

Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa
Subclass 491 replaces the Subclass 489 visa from 16 November 2019 and will offer both State/Territory and Family sponsored pathways. Subclass 491 is a point-tested visa.
Key eligibility requirements:

nominated by either a State or Territory; or sponsored by an eligible family member residing in a designated regional area; and
be invited to apply for the visa, following submission of an EOI
Must have at least competent English
Under 45 years of age
Minimum 65 points (including 15 for the sponsorship)

Key features of the 491 visa:

5 years duration
Visa holders may live in any regional area
Cannot apply for any other skilled PR or 820 partner visa for 3 years
Eligible for Medicare

Visa conditions on 491 visa:

All visa holders (family members) must live, work or study in regional area only
Any reportable change must be updated to DHA within 14 days
Must provide evidence or attend interview with DHA, if requested

Failure to non-compliance may lead to visa cancellation or loss of pathway to a PR visa.

Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa
Subclass 494 visa replaces the RSMS (Subclass 187) visa which used to be a permanent visa and is more like a regional version of Subclass 482 visa, with few differences.
Subclass 494 visa requires a regional employer (an approved sponsor) to nominate applicants for this visa.
Key eligibility requirements:

Nominated by a regional employer (an approved sponsor)
Nominated occupation must be on the relevant list
Minimum 3 years’ work experience in nominated occupation
Positive skills assessment at the time of application
Under 45 years of age
Competent English

Some features of the 494 visa:

5 years duration
Eligible for Medicare
PR pathway via Subclass 191

Visa conditions on 494 visa:

All visa holders (family members) must live, work or study in regional area only
Any reportable change must be updated to DHA within 14 days
Must provide evidence or attend interview with DHA, if requested
Must work for the nominating employer and in the nominated occupation (same as Subclass 482)

Government has also increased the total number of regional visas to be granted to 25,000 (from 23,000 previously)

Subclass 191 – Pathway to Permanent Residency for 491 and 494 visa holders

491 and 494 visa holders will be eligible for the Permanent Residency via Subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa after earning a minimum taxable annual income of $53,900 for 3 years while working and living in a regional area.
They must also comply with other visa conditions as imposed on their 491 or 494 visas.
Subclass 191 will commence from 16 November 2022 (3 years from the start of 491 and 494 visas) and won’t be point-tested.

GSM points test amended

From 16 November 2019, the amended GSM points test will give additional points to Skilled visa applicants:

15 points for applicants nominated by a State or Territory government or sponsored by a family member residing in regional Australia
10 points for having certain STEM qualifications
10 points for applicants who do not have a spouse or de facto partner
10 points for having a skilled spouse or de facto partner
5 points for applicants with a spouse or de facto partner who has Competent English

Learn more about the benefits of regional areas here.
Interested to know more? Click here to book a free call with one of our friendly consultants. You may also fill out the Online Assessment Form for a free assessment to know your eligibility for a visa to Australia.

30 Oct 2019

Medicare for Regional Visa Holders

Health, Visa

Great news for those who are planning to apply for Subclass 491 or 494 visas!

Subclass 491 and 494 visa holders will be eligible for Medicare to cover their stay period.

Compared to current visas like Subclass 489 or 482, where most visa holders had to have private health insurance, 491 and 494 visa holders will have Medicare to cover most of the expenses covered, saving thousands of dollars.

INTERESTED IN A REGIONAL VISA?

Click here to book a free call with one of our friendly consultants. You may also fill out the Online Assessment Form for a free assessment to know your eligibility for a visa to Australia.

Read more about benefits of living, studying and working in regional areas here.

29 Oct 2019

6 Benefits of Living and Studying in Regional Areas

Australia, Education, GSM, Health, Visa

There are several incentives offered to those who chose regional areas to live, study and work. Here are the top 6 benefits!

Longer 485 visas

From November, students who study in regional areas and completing Higher Education courses (Bachelors, Masters etc) will be eligible for a longer Subclass 485 (Post Study Work) visa.

Students in Perth, Gold Coast and other major regional areas, including Canberra, Sunshine Coast, Hobart, Geelong, Adelaide, Newcastle/Lake Macquarie, Wollongong/Illawarra will be eligible for an additional year on their 485 visas. This means that a student completing a Bachelor course in these areas would be eligible for a 3-year 485 visa. A student completing a PhD would be eligible for a 5-year 485 visa (previously 4 years duration).

The second Temporary Graduate visa will require ongoing residence in a regional area.

The definition of regional Australia for this purpose will be the same as the definition for skilled migration – all of Australia except Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

As students need to graduate from a regional campus and then spend at least two years residing in a regional area to qualify, the additional Temporary Graduate visa will be available to the first eligible cohort of graduates from 2021.

Students from all other regional areas, including Darwin (NT) would be eligible for an additional 2 YEARS on their Subclass 485 Graduate (Post Study Work) visa.

5 Points for PR

Students who complete a minimum of 2-year course (meeting the Australian study requirement) in any of the regional areas, including Perth and Gold Coast, will be eligible for 5 points for Regional Study.
To obtain 5 additional points you must have at least 1 degree, diploma or trade qualification from an Australian educational institution that satisfies the Australian study requirement obtained while living and studying in a regional area.
To be eligible for the award of points, your educational qualification:

must meet the Australian study requirement
must have been obtained while you lived in, and studied at a campus in, one or more of the areas listed as regional Australia or a low population-growth metropolitan area
not include study undertaken by distance education

Access to Medicare

Subclass 491 and 494 visa holders will be eligible for Medicare, therefore saving thousands of dollars for medical expenses.

Priority Processing

Regional visas will get priority over other skilled visas and therefore, faster processing when compared to other visa types.

Onshore Bridging Visa A (BVA) work rights

Work rights will automatically be attached to BVAs granted to onshore applicants for either of the new regional visas.

Regional Occupation List

Regional visa applicants will have wider access to more occupations on the Regional Occupation List (ROL) as compared to other skilled occupation lists.
Have you heard about the Destination Australia scholarship for students in Regional Australia? Read about it here.
———————-
Interested to know more? Click here to book a free call with one of our friendly consultants. You may also fill out the Online Assessment Form for a free assessment to know your eligibility for a visa to Australia.

28 Oct 2019

Perth and Gold Coast now Regional Areas

Education, GSM, Visa

Perth and Gold Coast to be regional areas from November 2019

Both Perth (WA) and Gold Coast (QLD) have been announced to become “regional areas” for the purpose of immigration as part of the government’s focus on diverting international students and skilled migrants to low populated areas in Australia.

The change is set to commence from 16th November 2019 and coincides with the recently announced skilled regional visas (Subclass 491 and Subclass 494).

Government has also increased the total number of regional visas to be granted to 25,000 (from 23,000 previously)

Benefits of Regional Areas

There are several incentives offered to those who chose regional areas to live, study and work.

Longer 485 visas
From November, students who study in regional areas and completing Higher Education courses (Bachelors, Masters etc) will be eligible for a longer Subclass 485 (Post Study Work) visa.

This means that a student completing a Bachelor course in these areas would be eligible for a 3-year 485 visa. A student completing a PhD would be eligible for a 5-year 485 visa (previously 4 years duration).
The second Temporary Graduate visa will require ongoing residence in a regional area.

The definition of regional Australia for this purpose will be the same as the definition for skilled migration – all of Australia except Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

Students from all other regional areas, including Darwin (NT) would be eligible for an additional 2 YEARS on their Subclass 485 Graduate (Post Study Work) visa.

5 points towards PR
Students who complete a minimum of 2-year course (meeting the Australian study requirement) in any of the regional areas, including Perth and Gold Coast, will be eligible for 5 points for Regional Study.

To obtain 5 additional points you must have at least 1 degree, diploma or trade qualification from an Australian educational institution that satisfies the Australian study requirement obtained while living and studying in a regional area.

To be eligible for the award of points, your educational qualification:

must meet the Australian study requirement
must have been obtained while you lived in, and studied at a campus in, one or more of the areas listed as regional Australia or a low population-growth metropolitan area
not include study undertaken by distance education

Access to Medicare
Subclass 491 and 494 visa holders will be eligible for Medicare, therefore saving thousands of dollars for medical expenses.

Priority Processing
Regional visas will get priority over other skilled visas and therefore, faster processing when compared to other visa types.

Regional Occupation List
Regional visa applicants will have wider access to more occupations on the Regional Occupation List (ROL) as compared to other skilled occupation lists.

Have you heard about the Destination Australia scholarship for students in Regional Australia? Read about it here.

Interested to know more? Click here to book a free call with one of our friendly consultants. You may also fill out the Online Assessment Form for a free assessment to know your eligibility for a visa to Australia.

Tag Archives: 494