Migration agent in Brisbane. A guide to the TSS visa change and beyond
Who do they effect?
These changes are going to affect as of this Sunday. Anyone who is planning to migrate to Australia on the basis of skills required in Australia will be effected. Please feel free to contact our Brisbane migration agent to discuss specific issues and concerns.
When will the changes take place?
18th of March is the day the TSS visa program will replace the 457 visa?
The 457 visa was used to enable migrants who want to work in Australia to be able to live in Australia for up to four years. This visa was offered to those migrants who had a skill that was needed in Australia if it was not possible for Employers to find Australian to do the work.
When were the changes announced?
The changes were announced on the 18th of April 2017. From this date employers could only nominate skilled visa holder if the nominated occupation appeared on the Short-term skilled Occupation list or the medium-term skilled occupation list.
Are there any other other changes ?
In July 2017 visa applicants also face more rigorous character tests, and had to produce police clearance certificates if they lived in any country for more than 12 months in the 10 years prior to the application. Also English language salary exemptions were removed.
Cost of the changes to business
From the 18th of March 2018 the old 457 visa will be replaced by the TSS visa.Employers will have to pay into a skilling Australians fund for each employee they nominate.
Cost for Small business who turn over less than 10Million Australian Dollars is as follows:
TSS $1200 per visa per year
Permanent residency $3000 per applicant
For business with a turnover that is $10Millon plus the cost are as follows:
TSS $1800 per year.
Permanent Residency $5000 per applicant.
To be eligible for permanent residency an individual must have an occupation on the on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) or the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL)
Further changes to stop visa applicant from being exploited.
Further measures are before parliaments to ensure compliance. These measures include public disclosure of businesses who fail to comply with their obligations under the TSS regulations. It is also intended that tax file references for employer sponsored visas and the plan is to match these with the Australian tax office files, the aim to stop the exploitation of visa holders.