‘Rewarding international students that have been long-term residents of South Australia; Expansion of the high performing graduate category for South Australian graduates; Removal of the minimum bachelor’s degree requirement under the Chain Migration category’
The Immigration South Australia’s website includes the following announcement:
Immigration SA is introducing some changes to its general skilled migration nomination policies. All involve offering greater opportunity for nomination, with graduates of South Australia’s educational institutions particularly benefiting.
- Rewarding international students that have been long-term residents of South Australia
- Expansion of the high performing graduate category for South Australian graduates
- Removal of the minimum bachelor’s degree requirement under the Chain Migration category
Rewarding international students that have been long-term residents of South Australia
- Is a current or former international student residing in South Australia; AND
- Has resided continually in South Australia since March 2012 or earlier and continues to reside in South Australia; AND
- Is currently:
- working in South Australia in any occupation (does not have to be at a skilled level) for at least the last 3 months (minimum of 40 hours per fortnight); OR
- studying a course with a minimum duration of one academic year in South Australia.
- This policy is being introduced as a pilot initially. Immigration SA reserves the right to change its nomination requirements, whilst Commonwealth requirements may also change.
- Applicants will need to show evidence that they have remained in South Australia continuously since March 2012. This includes confirmation of the various courses enrolled in, visa subclasses held and residency over time.
- Applicants who have lived, studied or worked in another Australian jurisdiction for any period of time since 2012 will not be eligible. Verification checks will apply.
- Short visits home or holidays will not break the SA residency requirement, provided that evidence of continued connection to South Australia is provided (i.e. continued enrolment and/or employment and relevant visa held).
- To be considered a former international graduate of South Australia, you must have completed a CRICOS registered course with a minimum duration of 46 weeks.
- If currently studying, this course must also be CRICOS registered for a minimum of 46 weeks.
- The applicant must meet all other state nomination and Department of Home Affairs’ requirements. As per any application for state nomination, a valid Skills Assessment and English language test result is required. For the latter, only the minimum Department of Home Affairs requirement of ‘Competent’ English is necessary (unless a higher level is required for registration purposes – see 6.5 and 9.10).
Expansion of the high performing graduate category for South Australian graduates
Minor change to Chain Migration Policy (removal of bachelor’s degree requirement)
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Sergio Zanotti Stagliorio is a Registered Migration Agent (MARN 1461003). He is the owner of Target Migration in Sydney. He can be reached at sergio@targetmigration.com.au