The latest order of consideration for certain skilled migration visas announced by the Minister effective from 1 July 2011 is as follows:-
Processing priorities:
1. Applications for Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) and Subclass 887
2. Applications for Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS)
3. Applicants nominated by a state / territory government and nominated skilled occupation is on the relevant State Migration Plan (SMP)
4. Applications with a nominated skilled occupation on the 2011 Schedule 1 Skilled Occupation List (SOL)
5. All other applications
Note: the pre-1 July 2011 Processing Priority Groups 2, 3 and 4 have become Processing Priority Groups 3, 4 and 5 because the former Processing Group 1 has become Priority Groups 1 and 2.

First Stage Partner http://www.immi.gov.au/about/charters/client-services-charter/visas/5.0.htm
Onshore Current New
Low Risk 6 months no change
High Risk 6 months 8 months
Offshore
Low Risk 5 months no change
High Risk 10 months 12 months

Prospective Spouse http://www.immi.gov.au/about/charters/client-services-charter/visas/5.0.htm
Onshore Current New
Low Risk N/A N/A
High Risk N/A N/A
Offshore
Low Risk 5 months no change
High Risk 10 months 12 months

Child http://www.immi.gov.au/about/charters/client-services-charter/visas/5.0.htm
Onshore Current New
Low Risk 6 months 7 months
High Risk 7 months 8 months
Offshore
Low Risk 3 months no change
High Risk 10 months 14 months

Employer Sponsored http://www.immi.gov.au/about/charters/client-services-charter/visas/8.0.htm
Onshore Current New
Low Risk 5 months no change
High Risk 7 months 8 months
Offshore
Low Risk 5 months no change
High Risk 7 months 8 months

Business Skills http://www.immi.gov.au/about/charters/client-services-charter/visas/8.0.htm
Onshore Current New
Low Risk 9 months 11 months
High Risk 15 months 22 months
Offshore
Low Risk 9 months no change
High Risk 15 months 28 months

The minimum salary level for 457 visas has increased efective 1 July 2011. The changes are summarised as follows:
TSMIT increases to $49,330
The TSMIT (Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold) has increased from $47,480 to $49,330. The TSMIT is the lowest possible base salary to be eligible for a 457 visa. In order for a nomination to be approved the market rate to be higher than TSMIT. IF it is then the 457 holder must be paid at the market salary.

English Testing Exemption Salary increased to $88,410
The minimum salary for the English language testing exemption for trades will increase from $85,090 to $88,410. Applicants in professional and management roles are exempt from English language testing. Those in trade occupations would normally need to do English language testing unless they are from a native English speaking background or meet the minimum salary level for the exemption.

No Change to High Income Threshold for Market Rate
Where the salary proposed for the nominated worker is equal to or greater than $180 000 (which equates to the threshold for the top personal income tax rate), the sponsor is not required to provide evidence that this proposed salary is set according to the market salary rate for that occupation. There is no change to the high income threshold to be exempt from salary market rate testing.

In response to labour market conditions the Skilled Occupation List is review and updated annually by Skills Australia. The changes for the 2011/12 year have been announced and the the main beneficiaries of the changes are pharmacists, lawyers, fitters, welders and metal machinists who have all been added to the list.

There are 13 occupations added to the List:
ANZSCO Occupation
234914 Medical Physicist
251311 Environmental Health Officer
251312 Occupational Health and Safety Adviser
251511 Hospital Pharmacists
251513 Retail Pharmacists
271111 Barrister
271311 Solicitor
323211 Fitter (General)
323212 Fitter and Turner
323213 Fitter-Welder
323214 Metal Machinist (First Class)
399111 Boat Builder and Repairer
399112 Shipwright

Barristers and Solicitors have been added too.

Occupations Removed from the List are the following:

ANZSCO Occupation
251411 Optometrist
251412 Orthoptist
324111 Panel Beater
324311 Vehicle Painter

The effect of these changes mean that those applying on or after the 1st of July 2011 will need to nominate an occupation on the new list.

This may also impact the processing time for any applciations made prior to 1 July 2011 if your occupation is no longer on the new list. Applicants who now on the new list would benefit from quicker processing.

Let us assess your prospects for migration.

A new points system comes into effect for all General Skilled Migration Applications effective from 1 July 2011. The new points test is focused on selecting highly skilled people to deliver a more targeted migration program. It has been developed following a review of the current points test, which considered submissions from a variety of experts and the wider Australian community. The intention is to deliver the best and brightest skilled migrants by emphasizing high level qualifications, better English language levels and extensive skilled work experience who are expected to have a better labour outcome.

The points test affects the following types of visas:

• Subclass 885 Skilled Independent
• Subclass 886 Skilled Sponsored
• Subclass 175 Skilled Independent
• Subclass 487 Skilled Regional Sponsored
• Subclass 176 Skilled Sponsored
• Subclass 475 Skilled – Regional Sponsored

The new points test will not apply to unfinalised applications lodged prior to 1 July 2011.

The new points test will not change the transitional arrangements in place until 31 December 2012 for former international students. Transitional arrangements apply to people who, on 8 February 2010 held or had applied for a Temporary Skilled Graduate visa (subclass 485). Until the end of 2012, this group is able to apply for a permanent skilled visa under the points test in effect as at 8 February 2010. Student visa holders who lodge an application for points tested skilled migration from 1 July 2011 will be assessed under the new points test. There are still transitional arrangements which may apply to those students affected by the reforms announced on 8 February 2010. People who held an eligible Student visa on 8 February 2010 still have until the end of 2012 to apply for a Temporary Skilled Graduate visa (subclass 485) under the arrangements in place for that visa as at 8 February 2010.
The pass mark will be set at 65 points for all of the GSM visas.

Details of the new points test are as follows

Age

• 18-24                             25 points
• 25-32                             30 points
• 33-39                             25 points
• 40-44                             15 points
• 45-49                              0 points

English language

• Competent English – IELTS 6          0 points
• Proficient English – IELTS 7            10 points
• Superior English – IELTS 8              20 points

Australian work experience in nominated occupation or a closely related occupation

• One year Australian (of past 10 years)           5 points
• Three years Australian (of past 10 years)    10 points
• Five years Australian (of past 10 years)       15 points

Overseas work experience in nominated occupation or a closely related occupation

• Three years overseas (of past 10 years)       5 points
• Five years overseas (of past seven years)  10 points
• Eight years overseas (of past 10 years)      15 points

Qualifications(Australian or recognised overseas)

• Offshore recognised apprenticeship                         10points
• Diploma completed in Australia                                10points
• Bachelor degree (incl. with Honours or Masters)   15 points
• PhD                                                                                   20 points

Other

• Recognition of Australian Study Minimum two years fulltime (Australian study requirement) 5 points
• Designated language                                                      5 points
• Partner skills                                                                    5 points
• Professional Year                                                            5 points
• Sponsorship by state or territory government         5 points
• Sponsorship by family or state or territory government to regional Australia 10 points
• Study in a regional area                                                 5 points

Points are no longer awarded for occupational skills (i.e. previously occupations were awarded 40, 50 or 60 points)
Family members will be able to sponsor applicants for Subclass 176 or 886 visas but no points will be awarded. Points may be awarded to applicants for a Subclass 475 and Subclass 487 visas that are sponsored to a regional area by family members or a state or territory and people granted these provisional visas may later qualify for a permanent Subclass 887.

The age limit has increased to 49, however people aged over 44 will not be awarded any points for age.
The minimum English threshold is 6 in each of the 4 areas of the IELTS test (Competent English), however this does not attract any points. Points will be awarded for applicants with a minumum of 7 in each of the 4 categories of the IELTS test. A new category of English – called Superior English has also been introduced for thoe scoreing 8 in each of the 4 categories.
For designated language points, 5 points will awarded to applicants who are accredited by the NAATI in a designated language but points will no longer be awarded on the basis of an applicant having completed a qualification from a university where instruction was a designated language.
Applicants will be able to claim points for both Australia and overseas work experience (depending on their duration of work experience both in Australia and overseas) but this will be limited to a total of 20 points for both categories combined.
Applicants may be able to claim points for both a professional year and Australian work experience.
Applicants will be able to claim points of both an Australian qualification and also for study in Australia.

Check out our FREE Points Calculator allows you to see how many points you may be eligible for. This test is the Proposed Points calculator effective 1 July 2011. This Points Calculator provides an estimate of your points for the GSM Points Test.