With significant slowdown of the processing times relating to TSS visas as well as increased scrutiny of ENS visa applications, migrants are encouraged to investigate other options that may be available to them in order to secure residency in Australia.
Some of these options include Business Stream visas (which are also limited as they are largely governed by the States) and State Nomination Visas.
What appears to be an underutilised visa framework is the Global Talent (Independent) as well as Global Talent (Employer Sponsored) visas.
Briefly, Global Talent (Independent) or GTI is designed for highly skilled migrants in selected industries will receive a pathway to permanent residency in Australia.
Foreign nationals will be eligible for permanent residency if they are likely to earn more than $149,000 per year in Australia (a figure which is above the Fairwork High Income Threshold), and they are highly skilled in one of seven key industry sectors.
The government has elected specific industry sectors are AgTech, FinTech, MedTech, Cyber Security, Energy and Mining Technology, Space and Advanced Manufacturing, and Quantum Information/Advanced Digital/ Data Science and ICT to be the candidates for this visa.
In the press statement which announced the program Hon David Coleman said:
“With this program, we are targeting the world’s most highly skilled migrants”
“We want to position Australia at the forefront of major growth trends in the world economy. By enabling local businesses to access the world’s best talent, we will help to grow high growth industries in Australia.”
“Over time, the Global Talent program has the potential to have a transformative impact on the Australian economy.”
It is hoped that this program will also lead to creation of local jobs by way of knowledge transfer and introduction as well as growth of new technology.
“These high-growth sectors exist in truly global markets. For our domestic tech industry to grow, businesses need to be able to hire skilled Australian workers as well as access the capabilities of specialists from across the world,” Minister Andrews said.
Up to 5,000 places will be offered in the Global Talent - Independent program in 2019/20.
Further information on this visa are available on the Department Of Home Affairs website.