The Department of Home Affairs has recently updated the Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL). In this article, we elaborate as to how this may affect you if you have not lodged your Skilled visa application yet.
What are New?
The Department has added 22 new occupations to the Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL). Those offshore applicants who have Australian businesses willing to sponsor can now apply and upon approval, seek to enter Australia. However, that does not mean the applicants can quickly get any visa. They are still subject to the usual Department’s process with the exception that they will be given priority in having their applications assessed and further will be subject to quarantine arrangements at their own expense.
The PMSOL also includes Medical Laboratory Scientist, Multimedia Specialist, Software and Applications Programmers as well as Chef.
What are the other Affected Occupations?
The Department in line with its policy to support Australia’s tourism and hospitality sector has provided more flexibility during the COVID-19 Pandemic period. For instance, the Government will remove the existing work hour caps for Student Visa holders employed in the tourism and hospitality sector. Previously, a 40-hour fortnightly limit applied during study periods.
Other changes include, temporary visa holders will be able to access the 408 COVID-19 Pandemic Event Visa for a period of 12 months if they work in the tourism and hospitality sector. They will be able to apply for the 408 COVID-19 Visa up to 90 days before their existing visa expires and then remain in Australia for up to 12 additional months.
Travel Exemptions
The Commissioner of the Australian Border Force may grant an individual exemption if the individual is a non-citizen and is found eligible to meet the criteria in either of the following circumstances:
- Traveling at the invitation of the Australian Government or a state or territory government authority for the purpose of assisting in the COVID-19 response.
- Providing critical or specialist medical services, including air ambulance, medical evacuations, and delivering critical medical supplies.
- With critical skills required to maintain the supply of essential goods and services (such as in medical technology, critical infrastructure, telecommunications, engineering and mining, supply chain logistics, aged care, agriculture, primary industry, food production, and maritime industry).
- Delivering services in sectors critical to Australia’s economic recovery (such as financial technology, large-scale manufacturing, film, media, and television production, and emerging technology), where no Australian worker is available.
- Providing critical skills in religious or theology fields.
- Sponsored by an employer to work in Australia in an occupation on the PM SOL.
- Whose entry otherwise be in Australia’s national interest, supported by the Australian Government or a state or territory government authority.
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