Monday 23 May 2016

English Language Testing


ENGLISH LANGUAGE
PROFICIENCY LEVEL
TEST COMPONENTIELTSTOEFL  IBTPTE ACADEMICCAMBRIDGE ENGLISH:
ADVANCED (CAE)*
OET
FunctionalAverage total overall across test components only4.53230147n/a
VocationalListening5.0436154B
Reading5.0436154B
Writing5.01436154B
Speaking5.01436154B
CompetentListening6.01250169B
Reading6.01350169B
Writing6.02150169B
Speaking6.01850169B
Proficient
(for points tested Skilled visas)
Listening7.02465185B
Reading7.02465185B
Writing7.02765185B
Speaking7.02365185B
Superior
(for points tested Skilled visas)
Listening8.02879200A
Reading8.02979200A
Writing8.03079200A
Speaking8.02679200A
*From 1 January 2015 and only for a Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) test taken on or after 1 January 2015.
Amanda Kirkpatrick amanda@rubiconmigration.com www.rubiconmigration.com

Sunday 7 July 2013

Message for Australian Businesses in need of overseas workers - Plan Ahead

Legislation introduced last week places the onus on Australian businesses wanting to sponsor overseas workers to demonstrate their genuine need for employees who are not already resident in Australia.  The changes require potential sponsors to indicate how many overseas people they would be planning to nominate over a three year period and to justify their estimate as well as the genuine need for an overseas worker to fill each position being offered.

They must also demonstrate that the market salary rate for the position being offered is more than a base annual salary of $53,900.

In addition it is now a requirement that all costs associated with the migration process are to be paid by the sponsor without any option for recovery of costs from any person.  The new measures are an attempt to combat any tendency to offer sponsorship primarily to assist an overseas person to remain in Australia. 

It has also been legislated that the required contributions made to training Australian citizens and permanent residents be maintained and recorded throughout the sponsorship period as part of the Sponsor's obligations to the Commonwealth.

Your proposed overseas worker must also be able to demonstrate that they have vocational English unless you are offering a base annual salary of at least $96,400 or they can demonstrate that they have undertaken at least 5 years full time study conducted in English or they hold a UK, US, NZ, Canadian or Irish Republic passport.  If English at a higher level is required to be licensed to work in the occupation then your proposed overseas worker would need to demonstrate that higher level.

Labour market testing is also likely to be introduced in November which would require the sponsor to demonstrate their past attempts to recruit Australian residents for positions being offered to workers from overseas.

For assistance with the migration process in your plans for an overseas worker I am available for consultation by telephoning 02 9633 3896.

Monday 10 May 2010

Short term message with long term effects

The Minister for Immigration in Australia has announced that most offshore skilled visa applications will not be accepted until further notice. The only offshore skilled visa application that can now be lodged is for the temporary Recognised Graduate visa currently available for approved engineering graduates. This action has taken away the last opportunities for permanent skilled visa applications to be made by overseas candidates wishing to nominate occupations on the current skilled occupation list that may not appear on the new skilled occupation list due to commence some time in the next couple of months - provided the Government keeps to its purported plan. Its failure to release the promised new skilled occupation list on 30 April throws into question the whole timetable and the Government's degree of preparedness. The message relayed internationally by recent measures taken to cease processing most permanent skilled visa applications - and now to refuse offshore applications altogether - may have far reaching effects on future skilled immigration needs. We are cultivating a reputation for unstable migration policy that may take years to turn around and ultimately result in Australia falling way behind in the future global market for the best international talent . It is ironic that the upcoming changes in legislation are purported to attract better educated migrants and yet we risk sending the message that we don't want them - merely to ameliorate some provincial administrative difficulties to 'facilitate the transition'. This is the message that will be sent when an application that has taken a great deal of time to put together is given back. It will be very easy to replace the application form on the front with another application form to be lodged with another Embassy where it will be accepted. How long will it be that professional migration agents remain in a position of only being able to say 'we don't know' to so many reasonable questions to which an answer should be available. Government policy makers should understand that they are working with the community and not against them - both locally and internationally. Better to facilitate relationships in order to achieve smooth working systems than to alienate the community in this way. Amanda Kirkpatrick amanda@rubiconmigration.com www.rubiconmigration.com

Thursday 1 April 2010

Cooks still on the sizzle in ACT

The Australian Capital Territory has released its new skills list today which may be an indication of things to come in the State/Territory plan they are submitting to the Immigration Minister for approval as part of the revamped skilled visa priorities. Engineering and Health are industries that feature highly on the list along with Information Technology professions. Trades in the construction, automotive, horticulture and electrical industries also feature as do chefs, cooks, pastry chefs, bakers and butchers. If these occupations are in the ACT's plan submitted to the Minister there may still be hope for those who are not in a position to lodge a permanent skilled visa application before mid 2010 and are not expecting to see their nominated occupation on the new Skilled Occupation List due to commence at that time. State or Territory Government Sponsorship may yet provide a window of opportunity to those feeling a little down in the dumps since the Minister announced the pending skilled visa changes on 8 February this year. Amanda Kirkpatrick amanda@rubiconmigration.com www.rubiconmigration.com