Are you interested in Australia Immigration, under its Skilled Worker Category? If YES, apply for a visa NOW! According to a recent report, Canberra will bring in certain major changes to their scheme for skilled migrationeven as this will become effective from July 1, 2012 onwards.

However, in case you have decided to apply for immigration to the nation, under the present scheme for skilled migration, go for your skills assessment sooner than later. Those who want to apply for skilled immigration have to be prepared with their skills evaluation, and they must also clear an English language test, before they put forward their applications.

The said report also says that the new Australian program, meant for skilled workers, will be named as the Skilled Migrant Selection Register, also called SkillSelect. It is similar to the immigration system of New Zealand. The applicants will be required to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI).

The said program will work as a two-stage online process. In this process, the potential immigration candidates will initially have to submit a skilled migration claim, via online EOI. Subsequently, these applicants could be asked to present an Australian visa application based on their EOI.

From July 1, next year, all new potential Australia skilled migration aspirants will be required to present their EOI and have to wait for an invitation, prior to their lodge of visa applications. The Immigration Department will process the applications of those overseas aspirants, who have already lodged an application, in keeping with the priority processing direction in effect at that period.

However, on the basis of certain eligibility criteria, points would be awarded to the applicants. To qualify for Australian Visa, the applicants have to score a standard level of points. Apart from this, the candidates will also have to meet the requirements for English language and get the essential skills assessment, before submitting their EOI.

The new SkillSelect system is expected to affect the candidates for these visas:

• Independent Skilled Migration (subclasses 885 and175)

• Employer Nomination Scheme (subclasses 121 and 856)

• Subclass 457 Temporary Business (Long Stay) visa (subclass 457)

• Business Skills (subclasses 132, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 890, 891, 892, 893)

• State Sponsored Skilled Migration (subclasses 886 and176)

• Regional Sponsored Nomination Scheme (subclasses 119 and 857)