The controversial employer-sponsored 457 visa program has been abolished after the long-awaited legislation replaces it with a new visa program known as Temporary Skill Shortage visa which comes into effect on Sunday, March 18th.
The Migration Legislation Amendment (Temporary Skill Shortage Visa and Complementary Reforms) Regulations 2018 repeals the 457 visa and replaces it with the new Subclass 482 visa. The new visa enables employers to access a skilled overseas worker if they can’t find workers with the required skills in Australia.
The new visa available in different streams – short term and medium term – requires mandatory work experience besides tightened English language requirements for the longer duration visa. Applicants are also required to obtain a positive skill assessment before they can apply for the visa.
Experts believe many international students will who were earlier able to get employer-sponsored visas after completing their certificate and diploma courses, will find it “very difficult” to get the new visa due to additional requirements.
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[Source: SBS News Australia, 16th March 2018, by Shamsher Kainth]