Migration Industry Update November 2013
SKILLED MIGRATION NEWS
Labour Market Testing (LMT) requirement for 457 Company Sponsorship
Effective from 23 November 2013, labour market testing has become mandatory requirement for most sponsoring businesses in a manner consistent to Australia’s international trade obligations.
Similar to RSMS visa schemes, sponsoring businesses are now required to provide explanatory evidence of their 
attempts to recruit suitably qualified and experienced local employees (citizens or residents) to the nominated position. The evidence should include details of role advertising (paid or unpaid), such as copy of the ad, media and date of advertising, job advertisement fees and any explanatory responses received. In addition, the sponsoring business is also obliged to provide full details of any past retrenchments in all occupations, which have occurred during the past four months leading to the nomination.
BzMark will assist local businesses in addressing this requirement effectively based on the information provided by the sponsoring business or alternatively running the whole process on the behalf of the local company (designing the ad, finding the free of charge or cost effective media for its advertising and analyzing the responses). An incremental fee of $100.00 plus GST will apply to our standard business plan pricing (exclusive of any advertising cost if applicable).
Exclusions to satisfying the LMT requirement will apply in some cases. Some examples are listed below:
- Local businesses which are direct representations of the overseas parent companies
- South Australian approved 457 sponsors, which have employed a skilled migrant in a nominated position for the duration of twelve months.
- Where LMT would be in conflict with Australian International Trade Obligations
- Occupation based exemptions
- LMT will not be required in the regions affected with major disasters
Skilled Migration Application Numbers in Decline
In the four months to September, there were 23,450 requests from employers for 457 visas – a decline of 3,500 on the same period the year before. Requests for the visas rocketed in June to more than 12,000 applications, as applicants and employers attempted to avoid paying much higher fees from July.
The cost of applying rose for an applicant from $455 to $1035. The cost for businesses rose from $85 to $330.
BUSINESS MIGRATION NEWS
It has come to our attention that some Australian State Governments have favourably revised their original criteria for Business Innovation (subclass 188 Visa) state sponsorship by scaling down their minimum business investment requirement.
Changes occurred within the following states:
South Australia
The minimum capital investment into the business is now $200,000, (down from the initial $500,000) within the metropolitan areas. The migrant is required to fulfill one of the specified criteria; Employ 2 FT staff, or inject $200,000 into the business establishment or inject $600,000 of combined personal and/or business assets.
Western Australia
This state has no minimum capital requirement for establishing or purchasing a business.
ACT
Minimum investment into the business reduced to $200,000 from the initial $500,000.
QLD
Introduced regional business investment entry at $300,000.
The reduced business investment criteria has positioned above mentioned states as more attractive destinations for potential Business Innovation Visa Applicants.
A summary of the latest individual state criteria for Business innovation 188 subclass visa table is provided via the following BzMark’s web page link 188 Visa State summary Nov 2013
For all skilled and business visa applications, our business offer includes delivery of the sound and professionally prepared business documents, which are fully aligned with an applicable migration visa criteria, in the quickest possible time frame and at the fair Australian commercial rates. We also offer piece of mind for any potential subsequent government queries, free of charge.
Our commercial expertise lays in designing viable business models and also in effective addressing of critical issues relevant for various company sponsorships. We have a strong track record in successful resolution of a great number of difficult and complex DIAC queries coming to us from other lodging parties. This expertise coupled with over ten years of our practical experience in the industry, positions us strongly as your best business partner.
For all further inquiries on our pricing and product range please contact Vesna on 02 9960 5888 or [email protected]