Skill Select – New Changes To The Skilled Migration Process

From 1st July 2012 the Australian Government are introducing SkillSelect. SkillSelect is a new online system that allows skilled workers who are interested in relocating to Australia from overseas to record their details online through an Expression of Interest (EIO). SkillSelect aims to make it easier for skilled workers to record their details online and be considered for a skilled visa. The new system enables Australian employers and state or territory governments to nominate people for skilled visas.

SkillSelect is designed to reflect the economic needs of the country and what type of skilled workers Australia requires in an area at a certain time. The system should make it easier for skilled workers to apply for a skilled visa and reduce the amount of time it takes. SkillSelect aims to help the Government more efficiently manage the skilled migration program and control who can apply for skilled migration and the amount of people applying at any one time.

The SkillSelect system aspires to address regional skill shortages across Australia. Through allowing overseas skilled workers the opportunity to indicate on their application if they are willing to live and work in regional Australia. This should in theory benefit businesses who are suffering from regional skill shortages and match them up with the skilled workers they need.

The addition of an Expression of Interest (EOI) on the SkillSelect visa process is designed to simplify the skilled migration program. The EOI allows skilled workers who intend to migrate to demonstrate their interest in being considered for a skilled visa. The EOI as well as expressing interest in obtaining a skilled working visa also asks the candidate for a variety of information that is recorded online. The information required includes basic personal information, previous work experience, education information, level of English, and details of a Skills Assessment. All these areas help assess the suitability of a candidate for a skilled visa.

Once an EOI is completed candidates will receive a points score based on the information given. The points score and the date the application was submitted affect a candidates visa ranking. The EOI is recorded on SkillSelect and valid for two years. Candidates can then access their EOI and update information at any point, SkillSelect will automatically update visa ranking in light of the new information. After an invitation to apply for a visa has been granted the EOI can no longer be updated or altered.

If an application to apply for a skilled workers visa is granted the information entered on the EOI will be used, meaning applicants won’t have to input the same information all over again. Another way in which SkillSelect aims to make the skilled visa process quicker and more streamlined. Candidates can also express interest in more than one type of skilled migration visa at the same time using one EOI again making the process less time consuming for workers.