If you are a highly skilled migrant planning to immigrate to Australia, this article is of high importance to you. Earlier, the TRA or the Trades Recognition Australia was the assessing authority for the recognition of skills for a prospective immigrant. Here, an applicant had to provide with all the relevant documentation which proves him capable of the same. But this procedure would be ruled out post 2009.
From 1st January 2010, an amendment known as the Job Ready Test would be introduced for the selection of candidates for the skilled migrant program in Australia. Under this process, all the candidates must undergo a test relevant to their job or profession. This would demonstrate their actual proficiency in the specific field.
This feature is currently being devised by the Government of Australia in collaboration with the specific industries and unions. The main objective of the test is to get such professionals who are fit to work and contribute to the Australian economy. Thus, the Australian employers do not have to spend extra time, money and resources in training these skilled migrants. Instead, the employees would be Job Ready. Also, for those not having a job when they land would find it easy to get one.
The test has to be undergone by all those applicants who have applied under the onshore General Skilled Migrant (GSM) Visa and have nominated a trade occupation. These also include immigrant students in Australia who have applied for the GSM visa and their occupation falls under the nominated occupation.
The only exemption from the test would be when the student applies under the Skilled – Graduate (Subclass 485) or for the Skilled Regional (887) visas. In addition, this test is different for both onshore and offshore candidates. Testing for the offshore candidates has been put in to action since 2007. It is being administered by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG). The test also varies for different occupations.
However, a formal announcement is yet to be made by the Department of Immigration and Australian Citizenship (DIAC). No intimation has been given regarding the prospective fees and other costs that could be incurred during the process. Also, the expiry date for the test result is yet to be decided. So stay tuned on this page to know more.
On the other hand, if you have already applied for a GSM Visa, you would be exempt from a Job Ready test. Thus, it is highly recommended that you decide the sooner, the better it is. It is best to contact an Immigration and Visa expert since he would be in constant touch with all the latest in this regard.
