“Don’t Panic!”...The Message for Skilled Trades people emigrating to Australia.
Don’t believe everything you read. Recent reports about Australia closing the door on skilled trades people are without foundation, as this recent letter from Vetassess highlights. Dear Agents We have received some queries from applicants regarding the recent media reports about cuts to the trade areas of the skilled migration program. While several news reports stated that some trade migrants including carpenters, bricklayers, plumbers and electricians will be `banned from entering Australia' or `will no longer get entry' these statements are not accurate. Applicants under these trades will no longer be included on the Critical Skills List and will not receive priority from DIAC in relation to their visa applications. However, these applicants are still able to apply to migrate to Australia and their applications will be processed in due course. Pease refer to more information on the Department of Immigration and Citizenship’s website at http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/whats-new.htm#i Could you please inform your clients who are trade applicants in the occupations and countries for which VETASSESS is the assessing authority that they can continue with their skills assessment, both the competency profile application and the practical assessment. A Fact Sheet explaining the recent announcements can be found at http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/pdf/migration-program.pdf Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any further queries. Sue HamiltonMANAGER, ONSHORE OPERATIONSSKILLS RECOGNITION INTERNATIONAL VETASSESS