Australian Business Skilled Visas Programme Reduced 2009/10

     Australian Business Skilled Visa Programme Reduced 2009/10

(Applies to subclass 160,sub class 161, subclass162, subclass 163, subclass 164, sub class 165 and sub class 132)

Recently I received an email from the case officer processing a client’s application for a sub class 163 Business owner visa with some interesting news.

Firstly she advised that my client and his family’s medicals have been processed, going on to say that the applicant had met all the requiremtns of the sub class 163 visa.

At this point, you would be jumping for joy, however she then advised that the Australian Government has decided to reduce the 2008-2009 Skilled Migration programme from 133,000 to 115,000.  A decision has been taken to limit the total Business Skilled programme to 7,500 places.  Further information on this is available from the Department of Immigration  and Citizenship’s website at:-

http://www.immi/gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/pdf/faq.pdf

 Her advice than said “It is expected this outcome wil be achieed through a combination of careful management of the onshore caseload and a cap of 6,650 visas on the offshore Business Skills classes (Class UR – Provisional Business Skills Sub classes 160 to 165 and Class EA – Business Talent (Migrant) Sub class 132 visas).  Capping means that a set number of visa grants are determined by the Minister of Immigration and Citizenship for a particular visa category or categories.   Once that number is reached no further visas grants can occur until the next programme year, beginning 1 July 2009.”

As a result of the capping of the above Business Skills visa categories, a final decision on your client’s application will not be made until next programme year, beginning 1 July 2009.

Any business visa applicants out there who have completed their health and character requirement and now awaiting a decision are likely to be in the same boat as my client.  Hopefully come 1 July 2009, visa approvals will start arriving.

I for one can’t really understand why they decided to reduce the business visa places, business migrants transfer significant amounts into the Australian banking system, business market and economy in general.  Australia needs more of them.

Kind regards,

Mege Dalton