Lots of changes

There have been lots of changes implemented from 1 July 2012. In fact there are so many that it is very difficult to blog about them all. Nevertheless some of the highlights are:

1. There is now a points test for the Business Innovation and Investment Program (the old business skills visas) - details on that points test can be found by clicking here
2. The new Consolidated Skills Occupation List (CSOL) has been published (IMMI 12/039). It is in two sections - Schedule 2 deals with employer and state sponsored occupations, while schedule 1 applies to most other visa subclasses;
3. There has also been a change to the processing priority (which will affect previously lodged applications) - click here for details; and
4. The Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) which is relevant to 457 applications has been increased to $51,400 from 1 July 2012. The significance of the TSMIT is that employers are required to pay temporary entry visa holders the market rate for their position, but the market rate cannot be below the TSMIT.