TSS Visa (subclass 482): The big changes
As was the case with 457 visas, overseas workers will need to be nominated by a sponsoring employer.
The Subclass 482 visa will have three streams:
- The Short-term stream, under which overseas workers whose occupations are on the Short-term Skilled Occupation List will be able to be employed for a maximum of 2 years, unless thatlimitation would be inconsistent with an international trade obligation;
- The Medium-term stream – under this stream, workers whose occupations are on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List will be able to be employed for up to 4 years;
- The Labour Agreement Stream, which would enable skilled overseas workers to be employed under a labour agreement with the Commonwealth government, if there is a need that cannot otherwise be met by the Australian labour market and standard visa programs are not available to meet the
Q.
Are there changes that affect family units holding the TSS visa?
The visa period that will apply to dependent children who are members of the family unit will cease at the end of the day before the child’s 23rd birthday.
Q. Sponsorship Accreditation
Sponsors who qualify will receive priority processing with most applications being processed in less than 5 days. (Further details in separate article).
Q. Changing jobs? Take note!
The TSS will have a Condition 8607, which is comparable to the existing Condition 8107 that has applied to 457 visas, but will also specify that the holder may work only in the occupation in relation to which the TSS was issued.
Accordingly, in order to work in a new occupation, a TSS visa holder must obtain a new nomination from the sponsoring employer and must apply for a new visa.
Q. Who are affected?
Companies sponsoring
foreign workers under the Subclass 457, ENS or RSMS programmes and employers
planning on recruiting foreign workers on TSS visas.
Q. Is there a minimum level of work experience required?
Q. Who are affected?
Companies sponsoring
foreign workers under the Subclass 457, ENS or RSMS programmes and employers
planning on recruiting foreign workers on TSS visas.
Q. Is there a minimum level of work experience required?
Q. Who are affected?
Companies sponsoring
foreign workers under the Subclass 457, ENS or RSMS programmes and employers
planning on recruiting foreign workers on TSS visas.
Q. Is there a minimum level of work experience required?
YES. There will be a requirement that primary applicants for the TSS have at least 2 years relevant work experience.
to provide police clearance certificates where applicable.
Applicants will have to be able to satisfy Public Interest Criterion 4007; waivers will no longer be available under Public Interest Criterion 4006A, which enabled employers to provide written undertakings that they would meet health costs if the applicant otherwise failed to satisfy health criteria. A waiver will still be available under PIC 4007 – however, applicants will need to show that they will not impose an undue burden on the Australian health system or access to services by Australian citizens and permanent residents.
Q. Labour Market Testing (LMT)
The period during which LMT must be undertaken has changed from 12 months to:
(a) for a nomination application lodged on or after 18 March 2018 and before 18 June 2018 – the 12 month period immediately before the nomination application form is lodged.
(b) for a nomination application lodged on or after 18 June 2018 – the 6 month period immediately before the nomination application form is lodged.
A
new Skilling Australians Fund for training Australian workers will also be
introduced. Details has not yet been finalised.
Q. What occupations were removed?
Occupation ‘removed’ from
the 457 MLTSSL: Horse breeder
Occupations ‘removed’ from
the 457 STSOL:
- post office manager
- fitness centre manager
- sports centre manager
- aeroplane pilot
- flying instructor
- helicopter pillot
- wine maker
- agricultural technician
- property manager
- real estate representative
Q. Market Salary Rate Calculation
- TSMIT is unchanged at
53,900. - Annual Earnings for high income exemption is 250,000.
- Calculation details of AMSR detailed including priority for
Fair Work instrument or State industrial instrument if exists, and guidance for
when relevant information such as job surveys may be used.
Q. Definition of Australian Employee for Compliance purposes
- The definition of
‘Australian employee’ has changed from ‘an Australian citizen or Australian
permanent resident’ to ‘an Australian citizen or Australian permanent resident
who is an employee for the purposes of the Fair Work Act 2009’.
- ‘Employee’, which was not defined, now ‘has the definition
provided by section 15 of the Fair Work Act 2009’.
Q. Compliance with Training Benchmarks after SBS grant
- The
definition of ‘Australian employee’ has changed from ‘an Australian citizen or
Australian permanent resident’ to ‘an Australian citizen or Australian
permanent resident who is an employee for the purposes of the Fair Work Act
2009’; - Employee’, which was not defined, now ‘has the definition
provided by section 15 of the Fair Work Act 2009’. - Note that Training
Benchmarks A & B are still in place for the moment - The Bills to implement the Skilling Australians
Fund (SAF) levy are currently before the Parliament. As a result,
standard business and labour agreement sponsors are still required to meet
their training obligations.
Q. English Language Requirements
- Test date specified as 3
years prior to date of application; test dates after date of application no
longer accepted as they were on the subclass 457 visa. - TOEFL overall reduced from 36 for 457 visa to 35 for 482 ST
(Short term) stream. - Various increases to test score requirements for 482 MT
(Medium-Long term stream). - Language indicates all components of the language test must
be taken on the same day in a single attempt.
Q. Notifying DHA of Sponsorship Events
form submitted via ImmiAccount as only methods for SBS and temporary activities
sponsors to notify DHA of sponsorship events. Previous methods by mail no
longer available.
The manner in which to notify DHA is now by:
(a) by email to: sponsor.notifications@abf.gov.au; or
(b) by completing the administrative form titled “Notification of sponsorship changes” and submitting the completed form using ImmiAccount.
A SBS holder is required to notify the DHA of events within 28 days of the sponsored person/visa holder ceasing employment and in all other instances within 28 days of a change or event occurring.
