The 457 streamlined pathway has been removed. This means that the applications lodged on and after Monday 10 September 2018 will not be fast-tracked.
The program still offers the alternate pathway to existing 457 visa holders however the applications will not be fast-tracked.
This was introduced by the Victorian Government as a “Streamlined Pathway” to permanent residency for the 457 visa holders under the General Skilled Migration category.
Source: www.liveinmelbourne.vic.gov.au
The recent changes announced to the expanded ‘Invitation Only’ application process.
According to the department’s website, to streamline the process, Victoria has introduced an invitation-only application process for three categories:
- All occupations in the Information & Communication Technology category, such as occupations like ICT Project Manager, Business Analyst, Systems Analyst etc.
- All rules in the Building & Engineering and Nursing category:
- All applicants with 457 visa and applicants holding valid job offers
“This means that the applicants first would need to submit an EOI via skill select and then if invited would have to submit an EOI application,” explains Chaman Preet, adding “Earlier the process for Victoria State nomination was that the applicants submitted their application directly to the Victorian State and were then invited.”
Source: www.liveinmelbourne.vic.gov.au
Another change that has come into effect from today includes standardising skilled nomination application processing times. The statement on the website reads, “A further change to standardise processing times will help drive more program efficiencies and improve customer experience.”
The current nomination pathway for international PhD graduates will remain, however, the processing time will be extended to 12 weeks instead of the current fast-tracked two-week processing service.
Chaman Preet says these changes have a significant impact on the current 457 visa holders and PhD graduates for whom the state nomination was very lucrative due to the quick turnaround time.
She says, “It also appears to have a massive impact on the applicants with job offers as they would now have to wait to be invited instead of directly applying for the state nomination.”
Another migration expert Mr Rohit Mohan of Lakshya Migration, Melbourne is also of the opinion that these changes would adversely impact many applicants working in Victoria on a 457 visa in Information & Technology, Engineering & Building and Nursing Sectors.
"There have been a number of professionals working in these fields in Victoria on 457 Visa, and they were easily getting sponsorship from Victoria to apply for 190 Visa. However, with new changes, they will be treated at par with the other applicants and will not get any whip hand. They will have to apply for Expression of Interest and wait till the time they get an invitation to apply for state sponsorship and 190 Visa," says Mr Mohan.
