Connecting people to jobs compliantly and with administrative ease is the reason why Entity Solutions help so many businesses and individuals with their immigration requirements.
In a potentially exciting year for businesses, 2016 promises much for business and innovators. The visa reform is set to promote these initiatives even further.
To understand just how these changes may affect business, we examine the aspects currently being spoken about.
457 visa reform
The 457 visa program has been under scrutiny in recent years and reviews continue for 2016.
- In 2014 an Independent Review into the Integrity of the Subclass 457 Programme (the 457 Integrity Review) took place and a report entitled “Robust New Foundations – A Streamlined, Transparent and Responsive System for the 457 Programme” was released.
- Subsequently in March 2015, the Federal Government announced that a raft of changes would be made to the 457 visa policy following recommendations made in the report into the effectiveness of Australia’s long-term work visa program.
Following this announcement some changes were introduced late 2015. This included a strengthening of the legislation around enforcing sponsorship obligations. Importantly for visa holders, the time permitted to seek a new sponsor when ceasing work with their current employer was increased from 28 to 90 days.
Despite the 457 Integrity Review recommending the abolishment of Labour Market Testing, this policy remained. However, exemptions applied to many skilled professional occupations. A recent article published in The Australian indicated that there is a reignited push to eliminate this policy.
The Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT), set at AUD 53,900 since 01 July 2013, was retained until a further review, expected in April 2016. This review will assess what impact increasing the income threshold will have on the program.
The 457 Visa Program, is an integral talent sourcing gateway for businesses needing to plug necessary gaps in their talent requirements, but does not need to be difficult or daunting to keep up with the compliance obligations required.
New Entrepreneur Visa
In a December 2015 statement, The Minister for Immigration and Border Protection Peter Dutton said ideas, skills and talent were essential to a high performing economy.
Supporting the National Innovation and Science Agenda, a new Entrepreneur Visa will be introduced in the second half of 2016. The Entrepreneur Visa will attract innovative talent and changes will be made to retain high achieving foreign students in Australia.
In the statement Mr Dutton says;
“It will be available for emerging entrepreneurs with innovative ideas and financial backing to develop their ideas in Australia.”
“Australia’s overseas networks will be leveraged to actively encourage entrepreneurial and innovative talent to come to Australia.”
“We will make changes to facilitate a pathway to permanent residence for foreign students who are recent graduates from Australian institutions with specialised doctorate-level and Masters-by-research qualifications,” Mr Dutton said.
“Innovation is an important building block for our nation’s growth and through these reforms we will ensure Australia can benefit from the expertise of the global marketplace,” Mr Dutton said.
“These changes remove impediments in the visa system to facilitate entry and retention of highly talented people.”
Australian migration legislation is one of the more complex areas of law and because of this a detailed understanding is crucial.
For further information, please contact Entity Solutions Migration Services.
P: +61 3 9600 0333
E: enquires@entitysolutions.com.au
