TSS 482 ~ changes are coming...

TSS 482 Visa

IT LOOKS LIKE THE 482 TSS VISA WILL BE CHANGING...
WHAT WILL IT BE CALLED?  "SKILLS IN DEMAND" 
WHAT WILL THE NEW SUBCLASS NUMBER BE?  NO IDEA...
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​So what do we know?

​When the Labor Government came into power they immediately started to work on “fixing” the migration numbers post COVID lockdowns and re-evaluating the visa program. This was to identify how to correctly manage the desperate need for skilled persons to return to Australia and/or remain in Australia permanently, ensuring visa holders would not be taken advantage of during desperate times and into the future.
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Some of those changes took place quickly and continue today:

• increasing the minimum salary required to be paid per year (TSMIT).  It was raised from $53,900 to a minimum of $70,000AUD plus superannuation. It is expected that TSMIT will be retitled to Core Skills Threshold – aligning with the new visa program.  
  Announcement made on 28/05/2024: TSMIT indexing will commence as of 01 July 2024 and the adjusted amount is $73,150AUD.
• streamlining Labour Market Testing requirements. Where employers were previously required to attempt testing the labour market on three recruitment platforms (including one on the government platform, Workforce Australia), this has now been reduced to two. In time, it appears that advertising periods will be extended from 4-6 months and perhaps abolished altogether as the Government looks towards other independent mechanisms that are more robust in identifying genuine labour market needs.
• allowing ALL 482 visa holders to be sponsored for permanent residency two years after working on their 482 visa. This opened those sponsored in the Short-term stream to the 186 permanent residency transition visa.

The government has also committed to many other visa changes. We expect these to come in the next 6 months.

The biggest change? The 482 Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa will be replaced and the new program will be called the “Skills in Demand” visa.

What do we know about the new "Skills in Demand" Visa

It is expected to be similar to the current TSS visa, in that there are streams and will be granted for 4 years.  The streams though seem to be based around the salary one would earn and for the majority, have a skill or occupation that is deemed “in demand” per a skill list - as the name suggests.

The 3 streams are:

1. Specialist Skills Pathway: this will apply to applicants in any occupation where they will earn above $135,000AUD per year. This pathway will have priority processing however it will NOT be for trades workers, machinery operators and drivers, and labourers.  The aim is to have these visas granted within 7 days; but will be limited to 3,000 visa positions a year.
2. Core Skills Pathway: applicants earning between the minimum TSMIT and $135,000AUD will most likely make up the majority of visa applicants. The occupation will need to be on the Core Skilled Occupation List (CSOL). The aim is to have visas processed in about 3-4 weeks
3. Essentials Skills Pathway: this pathway will apply, most likely, to those skills that are paid under the TSMIT threshold and are applying under the Labour Agreement TSS visa at the moment – such as aged and disability care related workers. This pathway would be distinct from the Core Skills Pathway and the Specialist Skills Pathway. These arrangements would be sector specific, capped, and embedded with stronger regulation and minimum standards. It is expected that visa processing should also be 3-4 weeks.

The government has also indicated that it plans to increase case officer numbers at the Department in order to fulfill the reduced processing time they hope to achieve.​

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Other changes and benefits:

• Visa holder mobility and PR options – a “Skills in Demand” visa holder will have a pathway to permanent residence. Periods of employment with any approved employer will count towards permanent residence requirements. This means you may not need to be tied to one employer for the 2 years prior to applying for PR. Visa Holders may be able to apply for permanent residency through self-nomination independent pathways, such as through a reformed points test (currently Skilled Migration that is only available through invitation and those on the MLTSSL – not currently open to those on the STSOL).
• The government looks to be giving more leniency for employees to remain in Australia after their employment ends. Currently, sponsored 482 visa holders are only allowed to remain for up to 60 days once their employment ends without having re-engaged with a new employer towards nomination into a new employment position.  The government has indicated they intend to increase this to 180 days and to allow work with the new employer prior to the nomination decision.   UPDATE: the 180 days will be the new time period in which you can find a new sponsoring employer, but even better you can work during that period in any occupation and for any employer!
• At the moment, if a TSS 482 Visa holder wants to change employers, it is difficult to identify a new employer that can take on a new nomination and offer employment suitable under the visa program. The government intends to implement a public register of sponsors. Having a public register of approved sponsors, will assist visa holders wishing to find a new sponsor, and will help sponsors who are looking for skilled workers quickly.

 
At this time, all this information has been taken from the Department of Home Affairs: Migration Strategy – released in December 2023.
https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/programs-subsite/migration-strategy/Documents/migration-strategy.pdf

Nothing has been formally advised and so we will continue to monitor and bring updates as they occur throughout the remained of the year.  For now, the TSS 482 Visa is still the process to undertake and processes to be followed.

If you require visa or employer sponsorship advice, please look to Great Australian Migration…  We are here to help you!