Global – Australia Blue Card
AUSTRALIA – Changes to Subclass 457 Accredited Sponsorship Scheme
Effective 1 July 2016 the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) will implement changes to the subclass 457 visa Accredited Sponsorship criteria.
Background
Subclass 457 visa sponsors with a long history of good dealings with DIBP are eligible to apply to become Accredited Sponsors. The benefits to acquiring accredited status include longer periods of sponsorship approval (six years) and all nomination and visa applications receiving priority processing.
What are the main changes?
Changes to the qualifying criteria for Accredited Sponsorship include the following:
Companies with current sponsorship approval that meet the new requirements will be eligible to lodge a sponsorship variation application seeking to be considered for sponsorship accreditation from 1 July 2016.
Companies that have already obtained accreditation will be eligible to apply for an upgrade to their sponsorship accreditation from 1 July 2016.
What are the additional benefits?
Nomination applications lodged by sponsors that are approved for accredited status after 1 July 2016 will be prioritised and further streamlined processing given to applications where the base salary of the nominee is equal to or higher than: 1) the Fair Work High Income Threshold ($136,700 at 1 July 2015) and the occupation is classified at ANZSCO Skill Level 1 or 2; or 2) $75,000 and the occupation is classified as ANZSCO Skill Level 1 or 2, with the exception of the following occupations:
Action Items
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EUROPEAN UNION – Proposal to Revamp the Blue Card Scheme
On 7 June 2016, the European Commission presented a proposal to revamp the European Union (EU) Blue Card scheme, aiming to improve the EU’s ability to attract and retain highly skilled workers, following a public consultation on the existing scheme carried out in 2015. The proposal was launched alongside an Action Plan to support Member States in the integration of third-country nationals.
The proposed new version of the Blue Card scheme will have more flexible and inclusive qualifying criteria, standardised procedures across the EU, faster processing and enhanced benefits.
Background
The existing Blue Card scheme, adopted in 2009 and implemented in most EU Member States over the last 7 years, entitles the holder to live and work in an EU Member State for up to four years (United Kingdom, Denmark and Ireland have opted out of the scheme).
However, the European Commission admits that restrictive qualifying criteria and the existence of parallel procedures for highly skilled workers in various Member States has limited the success of the Blue Card. According to the latest available data, fewer than 14,000 Blue Cards were issued EU-wide in 2014, the vast majority of them by Germany. Only 31% of highly-educated migrants currently residing in OECD countries chose the EU as their destination, while more than half (57%) are in North America.
What are the Proposed Changes?
The proposed changes include:
Unified system
Faster and less restrictive procedures
Enhanced benefits
Next Steps
The proposal (including any amendments introduced in the coming months) will now have to be debated and approved by both the European Council and the European Parliament. Once the directive is adopted, it is proposed that the EU Member States will have two years to implement measures to fulfil the directive.
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