New SOL published by Australian immigration

Australia, 25th June: Australia’s Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) has published the new SOL for those wanting to move to Australia in the near future.

The newly published SOL (Skilled Occupation List) will be replacing the previous SOL with effect from 1st July, 2010 onwards. The Australian immigration department also added that the all the state sponsored occupations will come into effect from 1st July, 2010. 

The new SOL is a much anticipated step promised by the Australian immigration department towards a reform in the Australia immigration’s points based system.

Prospective Australian immigrants wanting to know the effect of the new SOL on their chances of immigration need to scroll down to page number 5 to see the allocation of points for each occupation in Schedule One. 

To cite an example for making things clear for the new prospective Australian immigrants, an accountant wishing to move to Australia to work there will be required to possess at least 50 points as a minimum qualifying criteria set by Australian immigration department. 

The State Sponsored List is revealed on Schedule Four(page 37) and the new SOL starts from page 29(Schedule Three). 

The new list aims to provide a general idea of the points to be earned by the candidates wanting to move to Australia in accordance with their respective selected occupations. 

Moreover, the new SOL will also guide them about the inclusion of the occupations in the State Migration Plans. 

The announcement of the new State Migration Plans is expected to be announced in the next few months although the exact time of the release of migration plans of territories and states of Australia is not known yet. 

Schedule Four will comprise of occupations sponsored by states. The DIAC has clarified that an additional 100 places for occupations that are ‘off-list’ and which have not yet been announced. 

This special provision given by the DIAC is to enable the states add occupations in accordance with the labour shortages felt in the specific regions. This is in tune with Australia giving additional jurisdictions to its individual territories over the individual programmes. 

Canada has also provided additional powers to its provinces to include independent programmes in accordance with the labour shortages.