Opinion: Visa Fast Track For Highly Skilled Migrants Is A Good Idea.
As part of a promised overhaul of the ‘broken’ migration system, reports suggest that the Federal Government will introduce a Three-Tier Visa Fastrack for highly skilled migrants.
Simon De Vere, Director of Migration Services at Stirling Henry Global Migration explains,
"A visa fast track for skilled migrants will help ensure migrants are paid fairly, can achieve a visa for them and their family in a timely manner and perhaps mitigate any risk of being beholden to their employer sponsor."
“Australian employers are competing internationally for talent and skilled workers at every level. So often they are obstructed by the medium- and short-term skills shortage lists and beaten by the time it takes to get a visa.”
“We must accept that Australia is no longer the most desirable place to migrate to and our migration system is a major influence of that sentiment.”
“The highly anticipated rework of our migration system, whilst no doubt a complex task which won’t please all stakeholders, needs a starting point and the proposed ‘Three-Tier Visa Fasttrack for the highly skilled is welcomed by our firm and clients.”
The salary threshold for access to the new high-skill visa stream is likely to be about $120,000, potentially as high as $150,000, this group would include many high-paid and highly skilled migrants. People who typically bring global skills that are non-existent or in short supply in Australia. They often come to deliver specific time sensitive projects, without the intention of staying long term.
The ‘Core’ visa stream will be available to migrants earning above $70,000 (but less than the salary threshold, for the high-income tier). An interim review recommended the creation of a data-driven skills list for employers hiring workers in the mid-tier group, and no labour market testing – which is currently mandatory on skilled visa applications.
The ‘Essential Industries’ pathway for jobs paid less than $70,000, will be the lowest of the three-tiers and is likely to be for care & health workers. This compliments the Government’s new industry-wide ‘Aged Care Labour agreement’ which allows employers to bring in carers on a minimum salary of $51,222 in exchange for special access rights for trade unions.
Other changes include making it easier for temporary migrant workers to switch employers, putting an end to the system where migrants are bound to their sponsor.
Fast tracked visas will attract processing fees but the Department of Home Affairs have indicated a ‘service level guarantee’ which would likely ensure visa grants are received in days or weeks, rather than months.
To date, there is no confirmation of the recommended abolishment of either Skilled Occupation Lists or Labour Market Testing.
Simon De Vere.