South Australia (SA) State Sponsored Migration Plan Released

Introduction:

On 05 January 2011, SA released its State Migration Plan under which skilled migrants to Australia can apply for Australian permanent residence with state sponsorship.

Sponsorship applications for SA state sponsorship will be accepted from 05 January 2011.

Revised eligibility lists for occupation under which SA state sponsorship may by granted have now been released for Australian visa subclass categories  -

·         Subclass 176,

·         Subclass 886,

·         Subclass 475

·         Subclass 487

South Australia has a capped sponsored program and for the 2011 intake this number stands at 4,890 including primary and secondary applicants. 

South Australia has advised that applications can take up to 8weeks to be processed.

Eligibility:

International Students Applying for Subclass Visa 886

The Subclass 886 Skilled Sponsored Residence Visa, you will need to meet the following requirements to be considered under the SA State Migration plan and sponsorship;

·           have completed a recognized course of study in South Australia;

·           hold an appropriate temporary visa; either a Subclass 476 (Skilled - Recognized Graduate) visa or

A Subclass 485 (Skilled - Graduate) visa; or bridging visa granted in association with a valid Subclass 886 (Skilled – Sponsored Residence) visa

·           meet the relevant English ability level of 7.0* minimum (**conditions apply) or above and work experience criteria;

·           have a successful skills assessment in your nominated occupation;

·           Can demonstrate 1year of skilled work experience in the last 2years, this is defined as 20hours per week at a skilled level (**exceptions apply);

·           Have sufficient financial capacity to live in South Australia, one primary applicant with no dependants must be able to show $10,000AUD total funds, other family compositions must meet higher thresholds;

·           have a demonstrated commitment to living and working in South Australia for at least two years from the date your Australian permanent residence visa is granted; and

·           Meet all visa requirements for General Skilled Migration.

South Australia does not charge a fee for sponsorship applications.

South Australia does offer Off-list sponsorship and this is only available to onshore 886 visa applicants, who can meet the following criteria;

·         Completed studies in a South Australian institution;

·         Can meet the 2year study rule set by Department of Immigration & Citizenship for students in Australia;

·         Only occupations that are listed on the StatSOL but are not available on the South Australian state sponsored list (SSML) are eligible;

·         General work requirement must be completed work in South Australia and the applicant has a job offer valid for no less than 6months and the applicant has commenced working in the occupation being nominated.

     OR

·         Has completed a PHD or Masters by research program in a South Australian Institution and still resides in South Australia.

South Australia has set planning levels on the Off-list sponsorships, these are always subject to change and availability at the time of application.

The Eligibility List for the 886 Visa contains some of the following occupations:

·         Hotel or Motel Manager;

·         Primary or Secondary School Teachers;

·         Social Worker;

·         Registered Nurse;

·         Tradesmen.

The full list can be found at;

http://www.migration.sa.gov.au/sa/immigrate_from_overseas/state_migration_plan_south_australia/state_sponsored_migration_list_2011.jsp

Eligibility:

Offshore Applicants who are applying for Subclass Visa 176

The Subclass 176 Skilled Sponsored Visa, you will need to meet the following requirements to apply successfully to the South Australian government for state sponsorship –

·         Be under the age of 45 years;

·         Have a nominated occupation on the new SA state migration plan;

·         meet the relevant English ability level of 7.0* minimum (**conditions apply) or above and work experience criteria;

·         have a successful skills assessment in your nominated occupation;

·         Can demonstrate 1year of skilled work experience in the last 2years, this is defined as 20hours per week at a skilled level (**exceptions apply);

·         Have sufficient financial capacity to live in South Australia, one primary applicant with no dependants must be able to show $10,000AUD total funds, other family compositions must meet higher thresholds;

·         have a demonstrated commitment to living and working in South Australia for at least two years from the date your Australian permanent residence visa is granted; and

·         Meet all visa requirements for General Skilled Migration.

The Eligibility List for the 176 Visa contains some of the following occupations:

·         Engineers;

·         Registered Nurse and Midwives;

·         Management Accountants (**higher work experience requirements);

·         Primary and Secondary School Teachers;

·         Bricklayers and other Tradesmen;

The full list can be found at;

http://www.migration.sa.gov.au/sa/immigrate_from_overseas/state_migration_plan_south_australia/state_sponsored_migration_list_2011.jsp

Eligibility:

Offshore Applicants who are applying for Subclass Visa 475

The Subclass 476 Regional Sponsored (Provisional) Visa, you will need to meet the following requirements to apply successfully to the South Australian government for state sponsorship-

·         Be under the age of 45 years;

·         Have a nominated occupation on the new SA state migration plan;

·         Meet the relevant English ability level of 6.5* minimum (**conditions apply) or above and work experience criteria;

·         have a successful skills assessment in your nominated occupation;

·         Can demonstrate 1year of skilled work experience in the last 2years, this is defined as 20hours per week at a skilled level (**exceptions apply);

·         have sufficient financial capacity to live in South Australia, one primary applicant with no dependants must be able to show $10,000AUD total funds, other family compositions must meet higher thresholds;

·         have a demonstrated commitment to living and working in South Australia for at least two years from the date your Australian permanent residence visa is granted; and

·         Meet all visa requirements for General Skilled Migration.

The Eligibility List for the 176 Visa contains some of the following occupations:

·         Engineers;

·         Registered Nurse and Midwives;

·         Management Accountants (**higher work experience requirements);

·         Primary and Secondary School Teachers;

·         Bricklayers and other Tradesmen;

The full list can be found at;

http://www.migration.sa.gov.au/sa/immigrate_from_overseas/state_migration_plan_south_australia/state_sponsored_migration_list_2011.jsp

Eligibility:

International Students Applying for Subclass Visa 487

The Subclass 487 Regional Sponsored (Provisional) Visa, you will need to meet the following requirements to be considered under the SA State Migration plan and sponsorship;

·           have completed a recognized course of study in Australia;

·           hold an appropriate temporary visa; either a Subclass 476 (Skilled - Recognized Graduate) visa or

A Subclass 485 (Skilled - Graduate) visa; or

A 417 Working Holiday Visa holder;

·           meet the relevant English ability level of 7.0* minimum (**conditions apply) or above and work experience criteria;

·           have a successful skills assessment in your nominated occupation;

·           Can demonstrate 1year of skilled work experience in the last 2years, this is defined as 20hours per week at a skilled level (**exceptions apply);

·           Have sufficient financial capacity to live in South Australia, one primary applicant with no dependants must be able to show $10,000AUD total funds, other family compositions must meet higher thresholds;

·           have a demonstrated commitment to living and working in South Australia for at least two years from the date your Australian permanent residence visa is granted; and

·           Meet all visa requirements for General Skilled Migration.

**International students who did not complete their study in South Australia, can only apply for the 487 regional sponsored visa.

The Eligibility List for the 487 Visa contains some of the following occupations:

·         Social Workers;

·         Chef;

·         Hairdresser;

·         Program or Project Administrators.

The full list can be found at;

http://www.migration.sa.gov.au/sa/immigrate_from_overseas/state_migration_plan_south_australia/state_sponsored_migration_list_2011.jsp

Conclusions:

The South Australia (SA) government set specific criteria that must be satisfied if you are to be awarded SA State Sponsorship. 

Various occupations have further individual criteria that must be met in order to satisfy the states requirements as part of the State Migration Plan. If your application is incomplete inaccurate or you do not satisfy all applicable requirements, then the application will most likely fail and be refused.

Therefore, it is important to have accurate and up-to-date legal advice and assistance in preparing your State Sponsorship and correlating visa applications because quite simply, your future is riding on it!

For an assessment of your application and whether you will be successful in achieving approval through State Sponsorship please contact either Ray Turner or Stewart Coulson immediately by phoning +61 (0)2 9264 4654 or emailing us at info@tcilawyers.com.au

This article should not be taken as legal advice and cannot be relied upon as a complete or accurate representation of the law. It is meant to be indicative only and should be seen as a general informative guide to the visa application processes.