The Department of Home Affairs (formerly the Department of Immigration) has announced that the new TSS visa (Temporary Skills Shortages Visa) subclass 482 will commence from Sunday 18 March 2018.
Main features are as follows:
- The rules remain very similar to the old Subclass 457 temporary work visa – it will require a company-sponsorship stag, a company-nomination stage and the visa-application stage.
- The Department’s fees also remain the same at A$420 for company sponsorship stage, A$330 for company nomination stage, etc.
- The Training Expenditure requirement was to be amended to include a fixed “Training Levy” amount per nominee per year. But the relevant legislation has not passed yet. For the moment the old regime regarding the 457-visa will continue i.e. Training Benchmarks A and B ( 1% to 2% of the gross company-payroll to be spent on training Australian staff per year).
- Visa applicants holding a 457-visa before 18th March 2018, or those who hold the new subclass 482 under the Medium Term Stream or the Short Term Stream WILL be eligible for the transitional arrangements (TRT system).
- Qualifying period for the TRT stream will increase from 2 years to three years in most occupations.
- As from 18 June 2018 the Labour Market Testing (LMT) must have been undertaken within last SIX months (currently it is last 12 months).
- For occupations on the TSS Short Term stream list: The English-language skill requirements remain the same as the previous Subclass 457 visa – Average 5.0 (or equivalent) with no band less than 4.5. Exemption can be obtained by providing proof of five-years full time study at secondary or higher education level where the medium of instruction was English.
- For occupations on the TSS Medium Term stream list: Same as above, except that the English-language skills requirements have been raised to a MINIMUM score of 5.0 in EACH component.
- The Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) has remained the same: A$53,900 per annum based on 38 hours per week, plus superannuation plus leave entitlements.
- Mandatory Skills Assessment – A formal Skills assessment completed within last THREE years will be required for Project & Program Administrators and most Specialist Managers (NEC).
Mandatory Skills assessment completed within last THREE years will also be required for most “trade” applicants who hold the following passports: Brazil, China, Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Macau, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, Vietnam or Zimbabwe. This will cover most trade occupations including, Carpenters, Motor Mechanics, Electricians, Fitters, Metal Fabricators, Panel beaters etc. Mandatory Skills assessment completed within last THREE years will also be required for Chefs, Cooks, Bakers, Pastrycooks who hold the following passports: Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Macau, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, Vietnam or Zimbabwe; Exemptions from Mandatory Skills Assessment may be available to (a) current 457 or 482 holders, (b) employees of an established overseas business, (c) holders of AUSTRALIAN QUALIFICATIONS specified in ANZSCO, (d) Holders of Offshore Skills Assessment Program (OSAP), (e) have income of more than A$180,000 per annum |