Immigration South Australia will prioritise the visa processing and nomination of health and medical professionals to support the state government’s response to the coronavirus outbreak.
Highlights:
- SA changes work experience requirements for medical and health professionals
- SA to prioritise visa processing and nomination of these professionals
- The relaxation only applies to international graduates and professionals working and living in SA
Source: AAP
Medical and health professionals who have graduated from a South Australian higher education provider and currently reside and work in the state will now be exempt from the three-month work experience requirement.
The exemption will only apply to those applicants who are currently working in their nominated or closely related occupation (minimum 40 hours per fortnight).
Melbourne-based migration agent Navjot Kailay said the change reflects the state government’s commitment to boost skilled migration.
“If you look closely, South Australia has always protected its state nomination and they have always preferred to assimilate those who study, reside and ultimately choose to work within the state.
“Therefore, this change will also impact only those who have graduated from a South Australian higher education provider in medical and health fields,” said Mr Kailay.
Applicants accessing the work experience exemption will only be eligible for nomination for a provisional 491 visa, a skilled visa which allows successful candidates to stay and live in the state for five years.
For those currently working in South Australia:
A nurse prepares for patients at the newly opened Covid-19 Clinic at the Mount Barker Hospital in Adelaide. Source: AAP
Medical and health professionals who currently reside and work in South Australia in their nominated or closely related occupation (minimum 40 hours per fortnight) will now be exempt from current work experience requirements.
All those accessing this exemption will only be eligible for a provisional 491 visa.
For Registered nurses working in their occupation or closely related occupation, the SA Immigration has removed the five-year work experience requirement.
Mr Kailay said this is a significant relaxation for those in the nursing profession or in closely related occupations.
“A lot of migrants from India are either studying or working in the nursing sector (254499 group) who will be hugely impacted provided they have studied or are currently working in SA,” said Mr Kailay.
The state immigration has further declared that the processing times for state nomination will depend on the volume of application they would receive, but priority would be given to applications from medical and health professionals in the “first instance.”
Changes to requirements for 190 visa subclass nomination:
As per the latest information, only applicants currently working for the last one year in their nominated or closely related occupation in the state or the last six months in their nominated or closely related occupation in the state’s country region will be eligible to apply for permanent 190 visa nomination.
For all other applicants and current visa holders who may be required to lodge from overseas have been directed to fill an online enquiry form available on the state’s immigration .
Disclaimer: We’d like to point out that the information contained in this article is general and is not specific advice. If you would like accurate information relevant to your situation, you should consult a registered migration agent.
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